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:

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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Consider Caring for Creation Coaching
What is ELCA Coaching? Click here for a Ministry Description Why would you need a Creation Care Coach for your Synod ...
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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 ...
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2016 Churchwide Assembly Passes Memorial To Move Towards A Responsible Energy Future
2016 Churchwide Assembly Passes Memorial To Move Towards A Responsible Energy Future During the months leading up to the August ...
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Lutheran Responses to Fossil Fuel Dependency
Some of us bemoan the fact that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has not committed to entirely divest from ...
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Eco-Reformation & Environmental Justice: In Word & Deed
The Grace Gathering ran parallel to the 2016 Churchwide Voting Assembly in New Orleans. The goal in gathering was to ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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