+Bishop Jon V. Anderson  When I was a young pastor, in the days before there were cell phones, I remember my failure to provide sanctuary to a woman in the first congregation I served. As we walked out of the mundane work of a committee, we encountered her enraged husband wondering what she had been […]

What does it mean to be a sanctuary denomination? We publicly state that walking alongside refugees and immigrants is a matter of faith. +A letter from the Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton Dear siblings in Christ, As many of you know, last week the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution that, among other things, declared […]

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Foundation seeks a Regional Gift Planner for Northwest and Southwest Minnesota. ELCA Synod Territory includes:  Northwest Minnesota Synod and Southwest Minnesota Synod. The Regional Gift Planner (RGP) will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing planned and current gifts from individuals in support of churchwide ministries, congregations, […]

The synod vice president ballot had three nominees:  Blair Schrader, Kristy Henriksen, and Ferman Woodberry. On the first ballot Ferman Woodberry was elected with 65% of the votes. About 400 voting members were present. Before members voted, Bishop Jon Anderson asked the nominees to share a bit about themselves. The video below captures Ferman speaking […]

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson  Here is the full job description for our next Director for Evangelical Mission. This is an ELCA churchwide position under the day-to-day supervision of the synod bishop. The staff member is nested in the synod staff and the midst of the synod where they serve. No one can replace Larry. Let’s […]

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called […]

We are free to greet this holy season knowing that Christ’s cradle defeats the grave. Life and healing and hope come to us in the child in the manger.   View & download a video message from Bishop Eaton Download English PDF | Download Spanish PDF

Lilly Foundation Economic Challenges Initiative Gives Major Grant to the Southwestern Minnesota Synod and New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) For Immediate Release