Our faith tradition is based on a life-transforming story. The ELCA’s story is both ancient and timely. It’s a story of a powerful and patient God who has boundless love for all people of the world, who brings justice for the oppressed. It’s a story of Jesus Christ, changing lives. It’s a story that brings comfort and strength to people who today live in modern, often unsettling times. Learn more about our beliefs—and become a part of our story.

Spotlight On...

Man walks through a dark tunnel toward light. (Photodisc)

Keeping a Good Lent

"Keeping a good Lent," which we are exhorted to do in the Ash Wednesday liturgy, is not for the fainthearted.

Nor is it for settled Christians who rest secure amid old familiar surroundings and traverse predictable pathways to lovely lily-saturated sanctuaries on Easter morning. Pilgrims are people of courage.  |  More

Related articles in The Lutheran:
•  Early Easter
•  Return Trip

The Journal of Lutheran Ethics, an online publication, celebrates its eighth anniversary this month.

Journal of Lutheran Ethics Celebrates Eight Years

Energy and the ethics involved in decisions about energy use are the focus of the November 2009 issue of Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE).

For eight years, JLE has promoted awareness of, study of, and conversation about Christian ethics in the Lutheran tradition.

November 2009 issue  |  About JLE

Carlos Peña, ELCA vice president

A Letter from Carlos Peña

Carlos Peña, ELCA vice president, asks members to think of the actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly "as a catalyst to further strengthen our church and our relationships with each other."

The "resurrection" Peña experienced in Galveston after Hurricane Ike inspired him to write a letter to the ELCA, reminding the church of its mission in God’s world.

More  |  Read Letter

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, president, United Methodist Council of Bishops, shares communion with an assembly participant

Assembly Adopts UMC Full Communion

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly adopted a full communion agreement with the United Methodist Church (UMC) by a vote of 958-51. 

This is the ELCA's sixth full communion relationship and the first for the UMC.

UMC Bishop Gregory D. Palmer said, "God has brought both our churches to a broad place where Jesus calls us ... to all be one."

News release  |  Download agreement PDF Format  |  Sermon

New or Returning to Church?

Statements of Belief

The Bible

New or Returning to Church? Statements of Faith The Bible
Get the basics on Christianity, our Lutheran traditions and an overview on how we live our faith. As part of our worship service, learn how we express our faith together through shared creeds and our Confession of Faith.

Learn how this ancient text has continued relevance for Lutherans today and find ways to understand it in The Bible.