On August 7 the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to approve a memorial that declares the ELCA a sanctuary church. The ELCA is the first North American denomination to declare itself a sanctuary church body. As a sanctuary church the ELCA is committed to serving and supporting migrant children and families in communities across the country. To learn more about this and other action taken at the Assembly, visit https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8000
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Read Virginia Synod Bishop Humphrey's summary and response to the recent Churchwide Assembly and "Sanctuary Denomination" declaration.
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Recent Leadership Council Minutes. Minutes are posted after they are approved by Council, usually at the following meeting. These are also posted in the church lobby. March 2019 minutes will be approved at the May meeting and will be posted then.
| meeting_minutes_final_july_9_2019.pdf |
| special_meeting_minutes_june_26_2019.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_june_11_2019.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_may_2019.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_march_12_2019.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_february_12_2019.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_january_8_2019.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_december_11_2018.pdf |
| meeting_minutes_final_november_2018.pdf |
The 2018 PLC Annual Report
Use the scroll arrow to the right to read here,
or download a copy by clicking on the arrow below the report.
Use the scroll arrow to the right to read here,
or download a copy by clicking on the arrow below the report.
The 2017 PLC Annual Report
Use the scroll arrow to the right to read here, or
download a copy by clicking on the arrow below the report.
Use the scroll arrow to the right to read here, or
download a copy by clicking on the arrow below the report.
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ELCA presiding bishop pastoral letter on UMC decision
2/27/2019 6:00:00 PM Dear Church, This morning at worship in the Churchwide Office we sang; God, when human bonds are broken, and we lack the love or skill To restore the hope of healing, give us grace and make us still… Give us faith to be more faithful, give us hope to be more true, Give us love to go on learning: God, encourage and renew. (ELW 603) These words speak to many aspects of our current world. Today they resonate especially with our continuing prayers for our full communion partner, The United Methodist Church (UMC), and, as they call themselves, for all "the people called Methodists." Continue reading by clicking here |
Presiding ELCA Bishop Eaton's Statement on DACA:
CHICAGO (Sept. 4, 2017) – The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's announcement about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
"As we journey together through the time God has given us, may God give us the grace of a welcoming heart and an overflowing love for the new neighbors among us" –ELCA social message, "Immigration" (1997). Read the complete statement at elca.org/News-and-Events/7898.
CHICAGO (Sept. 4, 2017) – The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's announcement about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
"As we journey together through the time God has given us, may God give us the grace of a welcoming heart and an overflowing love for the new neighbors among us" –ELCA social message, "Immigration" (1997). Read the complete statement at elca.org/News-and-Events/7898.
ELCA Commitment to Confronting Racism and Anti-Semitism
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), stands against all forms of hatred and discrimination. The church believes that cultural, ethnic and racial differences should be seen and celebrated as what God intends them to be—blessings rather than means of oppression and discrimination.
The ELCA’s social statement “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture” states: “Racism—a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice—is sin, a violation of God’s intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers deny the truth that all people are God’s creatures and, therefore, persons of dignity. Racism fractures and fragments both church and society.”
The social statement, adopted by the ELCA 1993 Churchwide Assembly, calls on the church to make confession for complicity, name the spiritual crisis at the roots, commit to change and make pledges to public witness, advocacy, and action to confront racism.
“We recognize that the kind of violence we witnessed in Charlottesville last weekend is very real and affects all of us,” said ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton. “We need to stand up firmly against racism and anti-Semitism, show up for and advocate with others. Jesus, who makes visible those who are invisible, is already there. We need to show up, and we need to listen in each of our communities.”
The ELCA is a church that belongs to Christ and Christ’s church universal, where there is a place for everyone. The job of Christ’s people today is to celebrate the diversity of God’s creative work and embrace all people in the spirit of love, whatever race or ethnicity, economic status or gender.
To read the full statement, click here.
The ELCA’s social statement “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture” states: “Racism—a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice—is sin, a violation of God’s intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers deny the truth that all people are God’s creatures and, therefore, persons of dignity. Racism fractures and fragments both church and society.”
The social statement, adopted by the ELCA 1993 Churchwide Assembly, calls on the church to make confession for complicity, name the spiritual crisis at the roots, commit to change and make pledges to public witness, advocacy, and action to confront racism.
“We recognize that the kind of violence we witnessed in Charlottesville last weekend is very real and affects all of us,” said ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton. “We need to stand up firmly against racism and anti-Semitism, show up for and advocate with others. Jesus, who makes visible those who are invisible, is already there. We need to show up, and we need to listen in each of our communities.”
The ELCA is a church that belongs to Christ and Christ’s church universal, where there is a place for everyone. The job of Christ’s people today is to celebrate the diversity of God’s creative work and embrace all people in the spirit of love, whatever race or ethnicity, economic status or gender.
To read the full statement, click here.