CHICAGO (July 22, 2020) — This week, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) unveiled a new, innovative design for the future of the church that will ensure the answering of God’s call to invite more into the way of Jesus. This design will focus on attracting young, diverse people, to positioning the ELCA for the future.
“The world has changed but the message of the gospel has not,” said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop. “What needs to change is the way the church engages the world to invite more people into the way of Jesus – the way of love, grace and justice. This new design positions the ELCA to accomplish this mission.”
The ELCA is one church body organized in three expressions – congregations, synods and the churchwide organization. In this new design, these three interdependent expressions will work holistically to bring the gospel to the world. Staff from the churchwide organization will be aligned around the design for the launch in early 2021.
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.