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Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
 News & Info 

Click on Glorious Dei to view the most recent newsletter.

Past issues: 23:09 Getting to Know You; 23:07 Joy?; 23:06 Farewell; 23:05 Advice & Call; 23:0423:03 The Love of Christ Abounds; 23:02 Need to Find a Way to Love; 23:01 Love, the Universal Glue; 22:12 Advent & Hope; 22:11 Christ's Cycle; 22:09 A New Look at Matthew; 22:08 Perfect In Every Way; 22:06 Shooting; 22:05 A Number of Days; 22:04 Renewal; 22:03 The Transformational Path; 22:02 The Antonine Plague Lesson; 22:01 Chairs instead of pews?; 21:12 Living in Advent21:11 Cloud of Witnesses21:10 Biblical Basics?21:09 Slipping Into the Future21:08 We Belong to God21:07 It Takes More Than a Village21:06 Pentecost-Coming or Going21:05 A Return?21:04 A Season of Penance21:03 Lenten Reflection;  21:02 The Racist Lawyer20:12 Look to Fore20:10  Where are the Christians?20:09  Remember to Laugh20:08 The Bonding, the Blessing

To view, click on Sunday Bulletin above.

ELCA News

​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.

The six participating heads of churches included Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Bishop Doctor Sani Ibrahim Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Archbishop Linda Nicholls of the Anglican Church of Canada, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of The Episcopal Church, National Bishop Susan Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The six churches renewed their commitment to mutual accompaniment, solidarity and prayer as a witness to Christ's justice and peace, uniting our churches beyond all borders. This meeting, originally planned as an in-person visit, was held online; the postponed trip will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Churches Beyond Borders is an ecumenical partnership in North America, or Turtle Island, which includes the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), The Episcopal Church (TEC), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.


For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
 


 


​CHICAGO — The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 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.

The council took the following actions:

  • Reelected Lori Fedyk to a second six-year term as ELCA treasurer, beginning Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Elected the Rev. Benjamin B. Bergren to the Church Council for a term ending August 2025; he fills a vacancy left by the Rev. Karn Carroll, who has resigned.
  • Approved a current-fund spending authorization of $68,083,962 for the 2024 fiscal year.
  • Approved the 2024 ELCA World Hunger spending authorization of $26 million, provided that the fund balance exceeds $10 million as of Jan. 31, 2024.
  • Approved the emphasis of fundraising priorities to these areas: Where Needed Most, ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, and Future Church: God's Love Made Real.
  • Approved a continuing resolution amendment that allows for a pre-assembly identification process in the election of the presiding bishop.
  • Authorized formation of a task force to assist the council and administrative team in exploring needed changes to budget work and churchwide priorities. The task force will report to the council at the spring 2024 Church Council meeting.
  • Approved a motion that the Church Council will intentionally participate in racial justice education at every meeting.
  • Deferred reconsidering selected passages in the social message "End-of-Life Decisions" until after the 2023-2024 development cycle for social messages.
  • Acknowledged the Order of Lutheran Franciscans as an independent Lutheran organization relating to the Christian Community and Leadership home area.
  • Approved an amendment to personnel policies to establish Indigenous People's Day as a churchwide organization holiday.
  •  

In other business the council:

  • Received an update on the work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) and engaged in a listening session.
  • Received updates and engaged in discussion on churchwide organization priorities and developments, including a Barna Group / Fuller study on the Future Church: God's Love Made Real movement.  
  • Received a report on the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility audit of the ELCA's governing documents. The full report is available here.
  • Received reports from the church's presiding bishop, secretary, treasurer and vice president; the ELCA Conference of Bishops; the churchwide organization administrative team and home areas; and Church Council committees.
  • Received an update on the ELCA's Peace Not Walls Campaign.
  • Received an update on the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger.
  • Discussed the Quality of Call Initiative for Women in Ministry.
  • Held a prayer vigil for peace in the Holy Land, hosted by the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage.
  • Received ecumenical greetings from the Rev. Mark Goodman, ecumenical liaison of The Episcopal Church.

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
 


​November 9, 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.

The Church Council appointed former bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod, the Rev. Michael Burk, as Presiding Bishop Pro Tem to care for the responsibilities of the presiding bishop during her leave of absence. We give thanks for Bishop Eaton's tireless dedication and leadership and pray for her during this time of rest and rejuvenation.

- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

 

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org

 


​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.

The six participating heads of churches included Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Bishop Doctor Sani Ibrahim Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Archbishop Linda Nicholls of the Anglican Church of Canada, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of The Episcopal Church, National Bishop Susan Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The six churches renewed their commitment to mutual accompaniment, solidarity and prayer as a witness to Christ's justice and peace, uniting our churches beyond all borders. This meeting, originally planned as an in-person visit, was held online; the postponed trip will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Churches Beyond Borders is an ecumenical partnership in North America, or Turtle Island, which includes the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), The Episcopal Church (TEC), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.


For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
 


 


​CHICAGO — The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 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.

The council took the following actions:

  • Reelected Lori Fedyk to a second six-year term as ELCA treasurer, beginning Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Elected the Rev. Benjamin B. Bergren to the Church Council for a term ending August 2025; he fills a vacancy left by the Rev. Karn Carroll, who has resigned.
  • Approved a current-fund spending authorization of $68,083,962 for the 2024 fiscal year.
  • Approved the 2024 ELCA World Hunger spending authorization of $26 million, provided that the fund balance exceeds $10 million as of Jan. 31, 2024.
  • Approved the emphasis of fundraising priorities to these areas: Where Needed Most, ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, and Future Church: God's Love Made Real.
  • Approved a continuing resolution amendment that allows for a pre-assembly identification process in the election of the presiding bishop.
  • Authorized formation of a task force to assist the council and administrative team in exploring needed changes to budget work and churchwide priorities. The task force will report to the council at the spring 2024 Church Council meeting.
  • Approved a motion that the Church Council will intentionally participate in racial justice education at every meeting.
  • Deferred reconsidering selected passages in the social message "End-of-Life Decisions" until after the 2023-2024 development cycle for social messages.
  • Acknowledged the Order of Lutheran Franciscans as an independent Lutheran organization relating to the Christian Community and Leadership home area.
  • Approved an amendment to personnel policies to establish Indigenous People's Day as a churchwide organization holiday.
  •  

In other business the council:

  • Received an update on the work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) and engaged in a listening session.
  • Received updates and engaged in discussion on churchwide organization priorities and developments, including a Barna Group / Fuller study on the Future Church: God's Love Made Real movement.  
  • Received a report on the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility audit of the ELCA's governing documents. The full report is available here.
  • Received reports from the church's presiding bishop, secretary, treasurer and vice president; the ELCA Conference of Bishops; the churchwide organization administrative team and home areas; and Church Council committees.
  • Received an update on the ELCA's Peace Not Walls Campaign.
  • Received an update on the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger.
  • Discussed the Quality of Call Initiative for Women in Ministry.
  • Held a prayer vigil for peace in the Holy Land, hosted by the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage.
  • Received ecumenical greetings from the Rev. Mark Goodman, ecumenical liaison of The Episcopal Church.

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
 


​November 9, 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.

The Church Council appointed former bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod, the Rev. Michael Burk, as Presiding Bishop Pro Tem to care for the responsibilities of the presiding bishop during her leave of absence. We give thanks for Bishop Eaton's tireless dedication and leadership and pray for her during this time of rest and rejuvenation.

- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

 

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org

 


​Dear church,

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.

With an anticipated ground invasion, the most urgent need is for an immediate cease-fire to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gazans. Our advocacy as a church continues, guided by our long accompaniment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and our commitments as a church to peace, justice, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and collaboration.

In these days of continued grief and distress over the horrific attack by Hamas on Israelis and the largely indiscriminate Israeli military response affecting civilians in Gaza, we lament with all who mourn and live in fear.

We believe that God is the one who makes "wars to cease to the end of the earth" (Psalm 46:9).

In Christ,        

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America  

Here are worship resources and ways that you can be involved in advocacy. Join a prayer vigil hosted by Churches for Middle East Peace.

- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org


 


"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?" —Psalm 22:1

 

Dear church,
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.

For the past week we have borne witness to the horrors of the escalating crisis between Israel and Hamas. We also watch a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as Israel blocks food, water, fuel and medical supplies and as airstrikes continue to cause unbearable civilian casualties ahead of a just-announced ground assault. We see Israelis and families around the world in the agonizing wait for word about the fate of loved ones killed or taken hostage by Hamas. We are in anguish, grieving and praying for all people who are living in trauma, fear and uncertainty.

Among us are Palestinian Lutherans who are fearful for their families, their communities and their homeland. In our communities we have Jewish and Muslim neighbors, who are also facing the horrors of this crisis and its impact on their loved ones.

It is difficult to find words that suffice in the complexity of this moment, and in the web of relationships that bind us together, as church, with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and our interreligious partners. Yet God has called us to be a people who stand with others amid suffering.

We must also call a thing a thing. The power exerted against all Palestinian people — through the occupation, the expansion of settlements and the escalating violence — must be called out as a root cause of what we are witnessing. We are committed to our long-standing accompaniment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.  

The God who liberates us calls us to be a liberating witness. May it be so.

In Christ,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Things you can do: 

  • Find updated resources and statements from the ELCA here.
  • Join our partner Churches for Middle East Peace for prayer every Wednesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Eastern time. Register here.  
  • Call your lawmakers today through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and urge them to take action to deescalate the conflict and uphold unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza. Find your member of Congress at govtrak
  • Support Lutheran Disaster Response here.


You may notice that we sometimes publicize statements and other information from organizations of which we are members. We will never share information that did not go through our internal vetting process, so you should feel free to share such information on behalf of your church.

---

For information contact:
Jocelyn Fuller
Sr. Director, Strategic Communications
Jocelyn.Fuller@ELCA.org

​CHICAGO — 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.

The Rev. Yehiel Curry, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, was elected to a four-year term as chair of the conference. The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer, bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, was elected to a four-year term as vice chair. Both positions are effective Dec. 1. The Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew, bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod, has served as conference chair since 2020, and the Rev. Patricia A. Davenport, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, has served as vice chair since 2020.

In her report to the conference, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton addressed Future Church: God's Love Made Real, a movement in the ELCA that envisions a world experiencing the difference God's grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation.

"The world doesn't even know it needs to know Jesus," said Eaton. "We take very seriously the reality of human brokenness, and we also take very seriously that Jesus was raised from the dead, and that makes all the difference in the world."

In other business the conference:

  • Approved recommendations from the Roster Committee granting extensions of leave, granting of nonstipendiary calls, and exceptions to the bylaw that requires an initial three years of congregational service for ministers of Word and Sacrament.
  • Engaged in conversation about the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC), focusing discussions on the organizational principles and statements of purpose for the church. The commission was established as called for in the memorial "Restructure the Governance of the ELCA," adopted by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.
  • Received updates from the candidacy leadership development working group and engaged in conversation on a proposed process put forward by that group. Established during the conference's spring 2022 meeting, the working group is a diverse collection of 12 leaders from across the ELCA who will explore ways to adapt the church's candidacy process to the church's current and future needs.
  • Engaged in conversation around Holy Communion practices, led by Deacon John Weit, executive for Worship, and the Rev. Laurie Jungling, bishop of the ELCA Montana Synod. The ongoing discussions are called for in the memorial "Holy Communion Practices in Unusual Circumstances and in Pandemic Times," approved by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.
  • Received a presentation from Rachel Wind, executive for Development, on a pilot proposal for the synods that would focus on identifying a new and collaborative way for the synods and the churchwide organization to work together on development.
  • Received an update from the task force addressing the disciplinary concerns of leaders of color, presented by Judith Roberts, senior director for ELCA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and co-convener of the task force, and the Rev. Paul Erickson, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod and a task force member. Discussions centered on the role of an ombudsman in helping resolve conflict and the benefits and challenges of this role in an organization. The creation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office to receive discrimination complaints was recommended in the strategy toward authentic diversity, adopted by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. The task force made recommendations to the current process for discipline, considered a process for community healing and grief, and made recommendations for an office to receive complaints of harassment and discrimination.
  • Engaged in conversation on racial justice work taking place in the synods, led by Jennifer De Leon, director for racial justice.
  • Received reports from the ELCA secretary, treasurer and vice president, and updates from the conference's various committees and from home areas of the churchwide organization.

 
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org


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