News Releases

ELCA news releases are detailed accounts describing events and ministries of the ELCA

North American and Holy Land Heads of Churches Meet in Solidarity, Prayer

11/17/2023

On Nov. 16, the North American heads of Churches Beyond Borders met online with their Lutheran and Episcopal counterparts in the Holy Land for a time of solidarity and prayer. 

ELCA Church Council appoints the Rev. Michael Burk as Presiding Bishop Pro Tempore

11/15/2023

The ELCA Church Council of the appointed the Rev. Michael Burk as presiding bishop pro tempore after its Executive Committee approved Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s request for a four- to six-month leave of absence, to begin Nov. 17. The council, which serves as the ELCA churchwide organization’s board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly, gathered at the Lutheran Center in Chicago, Nov. 9-12.

Announcement

11/09/2023

​The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Church Council Executive Committee approved Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's request for a 4-to-6-month leave of absence. Her leave starts Nov. 17, 2023. 

A Statement from Bishop Eaton on the Conflict in the Holy Land

10/26/2023

​The ELCA's commitments call on us to denounce unequivocally any attacks — past, present or future — by any party that lead to civilians becoming victims. Our hearts are with all those who have been killed or injured, and with their families and friends.

ELCA presiding bishop issues statement on Israel-Hamas war

10/13/2023

​As Lutherans, we are accustomed to holding tension between two truths. Thus the ELCA denounces the egregious acts of Hamas, acts that have led to unspeakable loss of life and hope. At the same time the ELCA denounces the indiscriminate retaliation of Israel against the Palestinian people, both Christian and Muslim.

ELCA Conference of Bishops elects Bishop Yehiel Curry as conference chair

10/04/2023

 The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met Sept. 26-30 at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. The conference, an advisory body of the ELCA, comprises 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.