News - News & Events

ELCA Presiding Bishop Pastoral Letter on UMC Decision

I ask this church, then, to continue by the side of the UMC, exchanging gifts and sharing burdens. In particular, we pray for them in their continued efforts faithfully to be church in the contexts we share. As we pray for them, we pray also for this church: may we be faithful to the calling to which we have been called, willing to confess our shortcomings and to trust in the healing, challenge and surprise of the Spirit of God, who calls us always forward.

St. John's Lutheran Church Journal for March

Monthly News from St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's February 2019 Message

A new question. Amid all the talk of the church in decline, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, in her February column for Living Lutheran, wants us to ask a new question. Instead of “What can we do?” we should ask, “What is God up to?” so we can open ourselves up to the life-giving promise of God’s future.

ELCA Launches Collaboration with Blessed Tomorrow

In its commitment to pursuing wholeness for creation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is pleased to announce collaboration with ecoAmerica and its Blessed Tomorrow program, which helps faith-based organizations elevate their leadership on the moral, religious and justice issues surrounding climate change.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Devotions Offered by Four Heads of Communion

The theme for the Week of Prayer 2019 is based the 16th chapter of Deuteronomy, which states, “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue.” In her devotion for Saturday, January 19, Eaton reflects on Jesus’ words from John 18:37: “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”In addition to Eaton, devotions were contributed by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate, Anglican Church

February News from First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie

A February bulletin with information of the activities and events of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's January 2019 Message

Ah, a new year! It opens up before us with infinite possibilities like brand new notebooks at the beginning of the school year or the beginning of football season in Cleveland—everyone has a 4.0, everyone is undefeated!At the turn of the new year it seems possible to slough off the failures and disappointments of the past, leave one’s old self behind and start a new life. In this glow we begin to make all kinds of resolutions, not just for the amendment of our lives but for the perfection of our

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's December 2018 Message

Christmas comes at a descending time. The old year is coming to an end, the new year is not yet here. It is too late to accomplish goals set on the previous New Year’s Day, and just enough time to realize that whatever shape or state you are in will be the shape or state in which you end the year. There is a hefty dose of “what might have been.”

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's October 2018 Message

This month marks the 501st anniversary of the Reformation. Last year it was all Reformation all the time. It was our year! News, media and the public paid attention. Hundreds of Reformation-themed events took place. Documentaries were produced and joyful liturgies with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters were held. I have lost track of the number of “Flat Luther” photos that were taken. Even Lutherans in parts of the U.S. where Lutherans are not dense were noticed!

ELCA Conference of Bishops statement on East Jerusalem hospitals

In early September, members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were saddened and dismayed to hear reports that the U.S. government was planning to discontinue financial assistance to Augusta Victoria Hospital and five other East Jerusalem hospitals.