Advocacy » Resolutions

ELCA members have the opportunity to be public witnesses through the process of submitting, educating fellow members, and eventually passing synod resolutions. Some of these public statements and declarations of change also move along to be a Memorial to be passed by the entire Church-wide body which meets every three years. For details about your local submission requirements contact your synod office.

We have a history of creation care-related ELCA synod resolutions and related materials. Please contact us ASAP if you are preparing a draft or see something that we are missing! Many of these are supported by important footnotes and talking points per each topic area:

Recent resolutions:

LRC Seeks Collaboration with ELCA Synods

LRC Seeks Collaboration with ELCA Synods

Lutherans Restoring Creation ("LRC") is working to collaborate with ELCA synods in bringing care for creation into the full life ...
Read More
Actions for a Just Transition to a Healthier Climate for All

Actions for a Just Transition to a Healthier Climate for All

ELCA commits to being a role model in urgent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions!  Congratulations to all the green teams, ...
Read More
Eco-Resources for Your Synod Gatherings

Eco-Resources for Your Synod Gatherings

What can YOU do to get congregations in your area thinking about Caring for Creation as part of church? 1 ...
Read More
What Do We Know About Carbon Pricing and How is it Part of a Just Transition?

What Do We Know About Carbon Pricing and How is it Part of a Just Transition?

We are grateful for the work of Faith Action Team with Citizens' Climate Lobby and eager to share that a ...
Read More
Carbon Fee (and Dividend) Resolution Passed at Churchwide (2019)

Carbon Fee (and Dividend) Resolution Passed at Churchwide (2019)

The following Synod Resolution was passed by the SC Synod of Wisconsin and passed at Churchwide Assembly in 2019.  See ...
Read More
How Do We Truly Commit to the Earth Charter?

How Do We Truly Commit to the Earth Charter?

During the 2019 Churchwide Assembly the ELCA voted to officially sign onto the principals of the Earth Charter.  How does ...
Read More
Synod Resolutions: Divestment from Fossil Fuels

Synod Resolutions: Divestment from Fossil Fuels

Read more about the ELCA's national commitment to invest responsibly made at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly here. Below are more ...
Read More
Advocating and Acting for Reducing Greenhouse Gases (Call-8/17/21)

Advocating and Acting for Reducing Greenhouse Gases (Call-8/17/21)

A Call to Advocate and Act for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases for the Health of All Thanks to Pastor Jonathan ...
Read More

Resolution on Caring for Creation: North/West Lower MI Synod in Assembly 2004

WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted the social statement “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice” by a ...
Read More

Central States Synod Assembly Resolution Calls for “Green Action” (2017)

At the 2017 Synod Assembly in Kansas City, voting members adopted a resolution that encourages "its leaders and congregations to ...
Read More
2016 Churchwide Assembly Resolution Urging Stewardship of the Gift of Water 

2016 Churchwide Assembly Resolution Urging Stewardship of the Gift of Water 

Noting "the many biblical themes of renewal and liberation that water affords," and the importance of watersheds for environmental justice and creation ...
Read More

Motion C: Resolution Urging Stewardship of the Gift of Water

2016 Churchwide Assembly ASSEMBLY ACTION CA16.05.24 To adopt Motion C. ­­­ WHEREAS, Holy Scripture reminds us that “the Holy Habitation of ...
Read More
ELCA Churchwide Pledges to Move Towards a Sustainable Energy Future

ELCA Churchwide Pledges to Move Towards a Sustainable Energy Future

August 13th, after days of conversation, discernment and prayer the 2016 churchwide voting assembly voted to pass the Memorial: Towards a Responsible ...
Read More

Synod Resolutions: Eco-Reformation (2015 and 2016)

Memorial on Eco-Reformation in the Context of Climate Change Northwest Synod of Wisconsin  Approved May 2016 Memorial & Resolution for ...
Read More

2017 Synod Assemblies Pass More Eco-Justice Resolutions!

South Central Wisconsin passed their Carbon Fee & Dividend Resolution! MD/DE Synod Assembly for approving a Resolution on Ecological Justice (read here). And Central States passed ...
Read More

Sample resolutions to edit and submit at your next synod assembly

Carbon Pricing & Dividend Sample Resolutions & Talking Points/Issues Sample Transition to Clean, Renewable Energy Resolution Sample Fossil Fuels Divestment ...
Read More

Upper Susquehanna PA Synod Eco-Reformation 2015

Memorial on Eco-Reformation in the Context of Climate Change WHEREAS, 2017 will mark observances of the 500th anniversary of the ...
Read More

NorthEastern Iowa’s Eco-Reformation (2015)

Submitted/Approved at the June 2015 Northeastern Iowa's Synod Assembly: Eco-Reformation in the Context of the Northeastern Iowa Synod WHEREAS, in ...
Read More

Synod Resolutions: Caring for Creation – general

Resolution on Caring for Creation North/West Lower MI Synod Assembly Approved May 14-16, 2004 Resolution on Environmental Stewardship Southeastern Minnesota ...
Read More

New England Synod’s Eco-Reformation

Resolution on Eco-Reformation  WHEREAS, 2017 will mark observances of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which addressed fundamental threats to ...
Read More

Eco-Reformation in the Context of Climate Change

Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly 2015 Resolution 1  Memorial on Eco-Reformation in the Context of Climate Change WHEREAS, 2017 will mark ...
Read More
Eastern WA/ID Synod Accepts Eco-Reformation Work

Eastern WA/ID Synod Accepts Eco-Reformation Work

Congratulations to the assembly and team which brought forth a Memorial and Resolution to support the focus on ecological integrity ...
Read More

Northern Illinois Synod Resolution to Become a “Green Synod” (2008)

WHEREAS, God’s first commandments to humanity are that we care for and take care of God’s good creation (Gen. 1:28 ...
Read More

Metro New York Resolution: Establishing an Environmental Stewardship Committee (2009)

Submitted by the Tappan Zee Conference, St. Luke’s (New Rochelle), St. John’s (Mamaroneck), Our Redeemer (Chappaqua), Chapel of Christ (Yonkers), ...
Read More

Southeastern Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Resolution (2009)

Resolution 2009 - 03: Environmental Stewardship 1 WHEREAS, the ELCA adopted the “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice” Social ...
Read More

Metro NY Resolution 2015 Release: Fossil Fuel Divestment

NYC-AREA LUTHERANS RESOLVE TO DIVEST FROM FOSSIL FUELS CULMINATION OF EFFORTS BEGUN SHORTLY AFTER LAST YEAR'S PEOPLE'S CLIMATE MARCH June ...
Read More

Oregon Synod Divestment Resolution (2013)

St. Luke Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution passes at Oregon Synod meeting On Saturday, May 18th, 2013, the St. Luke Fossil ...
Read More
New England Synod's Bishop Hazelwood Connects with Catholics over Climate (and other) Changes

New England Synod’s Bishop Hazelwood Connects with Catholics over Climate (and other) Changes

On the heels of the Pope's Encyclical encouraging caring for our common home, two religious leaders in New England came ...
Read More

Synod Resolutions: Synod Actions

Resolution to become an LRC Synod Central States Synod Approved June 2015 Resolution to become a Green Synod Northern Illinois ...
Read More

Memorial for Transition to Clean, Renewable Energy; Upper Susquenanna Synod Assembly (2015)

WHEREAS, God created heaven and earth and everything therein and proclaimed it good (Gen 1:1ff); and God has entrusted humankind ...
Read More