Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Western churches called for cease-fire. Palestinian Christians heard empty words.
By Hanna Vioque — December 21, 2023
(RNS) — Palestinian Christians have felt abandoned by global Christian church leaders’ statements on the Israel-Hamas war, with some viewing the war as a moment for Western denominations to reckon with their colonialist past.
ELCA hears from Indigenous boarding school survivor ahead of National Day of Remembrance
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 20, 2023
(RNS) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is one of several mainline denominations reckoning with the role they played in the federal boarding school system.
Lutherans launch initiative joining Indigenous-led Truth and Healing Movement
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 13, 2023
(RNS) — ‘It’s pretty tremendous that a bishop has commissioned a movement,’ said Vance Blackfox, the ELCA’s director for Indigenous ministries and tribal relations.
Orthodox Jewish parents sue California for ban on special ed funds to religious schools
By Alejandra Molina — March 14, 2023
(RNS) — ‘It takes a special kind of chutzpah to deny Jewish kids with disabilities equal access to special education benefits,’ said Eric Rassbach, an attorney representing the parents.
Former Bishop Megan Rohrer, forced to resign over Latino pastor’s removal, sues ELCA
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 9, 2023
(RNS) — Rohrer is suing the denomination, claiming he was ‘scapegoated’ and cast as racist for following orders when he removed the pastor of a Latino congregation on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Lutheran World Federation head Anne Burghardt on historic firsts and helping Ukraine
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 6, 2023
CHICAGO (RNS) — The secretary general spoke to Religion News Service while in Chicago last week visiting the headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran denomination in the country and a member of the Lutheran World Federation.
US Hispanic Protestant churches are young, growing and largely new to the country
By Alejandra Molina — January 30, 2023
(RNS) — 'We see more and more English-speaking churches either planting a Hispanic church or adding a service in Spanish to their current congregation,' said Giancarlo Montemayor with Lifeway Recursos.
DC’s faith communities rally to protect bused-in immigrants
By Emily Neil — November 22, 2022
(RNS) — Organizing efforts in Washington have become a blueprint for other cities.
How Doug Mastriano uses faith to fend off criticism — even from other Christians
By Jack Jenkins — September 15, 2022
GETTYSBURG, Pa.(RNS) — ‘They’re actually supposed to pray for me and support me as their government leader,’ Mastriano said, referring to the Lutheran pastors who criticized him. ‘I’m over them politically. I’m their senator.’
Meet Imran Siddiqui, the first Asian American vice president of the ELCA
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 19, 2022
(RNS) — Siddiqui, who became Lutheran in 2011, said he doesn’t always get all the ELCA's 'in' jokes about hot dishes and Garrison Keillor. But he hopes he’ll bring a different perspective that will be helpful.
How a Latino congregation in California found itself at the center of ELCA’s racial reckoning
By Alejandra Molina — August 10, 2022
(RNS) — Leaders of the denomination, which is 96% white, say they’re striving toward ‘becoming a multiethnic and multicultural church’ as they grapple with accusations of racism.
ELCA apologizes to Latino congregation whose pastor was removed on sacred day
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 10, 2022
(RNS) — ‘We hope that this public apology is only the first step of many in our committed journey to dismantle
systemic racism in this church,’ representatives of Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria Peregrina said.
Why the largest US Lutheran denomination apologized to a Latino congregation
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 9, 2022
(RNS) — It’s been a ‘perfect storm’ of charismatic personalities and a heightened awareness of racism, all brewing in one of the country’s whitest denominations.
First transgender bishop of largest Lutheran denomination resigns
By Alejandra Molina — June 7, 2022
(RNS) — ‘The constant misinformation, bullying and harassment has taken too hard a toll in the Synod I love, my family and myself,’ said the Rev. Megan Rohrer.
ELCA presiding bishop releases report examining removal of Latino pastor by Bishop Rohrer
By Alejandra Molina — June 2, 2022
(RNS) — The report comes months after the Rev. Megan Rohrer’s actions were criticized by the Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la ELCA as showing a ‘lack of empathy and understanding toward their Latinx siblings.’
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