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:
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 ...
Northeastern Pennsylvania to Study Divestment (2015)
The following resolution was passed at the June 2015 Assembly of the Northeastern Pennsylvania: WHEREAS, Jesus calls us as his ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Synod Resolutions: Synod Actions
Resolution to become an LRC Synod Central States Synod Approved June 2015 Resolution to become a Green Synod Northern Illinois ...
MN Area Synod Passes Climate Change Resolution
Download the Resolution & Rationale they used to discuss the issues behind the considerations. What do we do to make sure our ...
New England Synod Takes the Challenge (2013)
At the New England 2013 Assembly, June 7-9, voters agreed to urge the restraint of hydraulic fracturing and request an ...
Florida/Bahamas Synod Energy Audit Resolution (2009)
Florida/Bahamas Synod, 2009 Congregations to do Annual Energy Audits Targeted to 25% by 2020 WHEREAS, we face urgent climate perils ...
Metro NY Synod Resolution on Energy Stewardship (2010)
A Resolution on Energy Stewardship – Metro NY Synod Whereas, we in the industrialized world are consuming energy and Earth’s ...
Upper Susquehanna (PA) Synod Assembly passes three eco-related Memorials/Resolutions (2015)
At the Upper Susquehanna (PA) Synod June 2015 Assembly three eco-related Memorials/Resolutions were passed. The following is a summary of ...
Southeastern Synod’s Green Task Force
What a wonderful story of regional advocacy! The Southeastern Synod decided to enlist a caring for creation "task force" at ...
So We Can Restore Creation
While caring for the environment can feel overwhelming, it’s when we stand together, each doing our part, that we find ...
A Spectrum of Tools to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Call-9/28/21)
What tools can churches and individual members bring to the table to achieve 50% Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by ...
2021 Eco-Justice Related Synod Resolutions
The following is a list of Resolutions that we know have been adopted in 2021 - but we know there ...
