“Our Kairos Moment:” An ELCA Climate Care Study Guide
In spring of 2024, the ELCA released a study guide to dive deeper into the Climate Care Social Statement called “Our Kairos Moment.” This is a four-session study guide for small groups and is available for Earth Day – or any day – to inspire learning and action. It uses videos, storytelling, bible studies, and […]
Young Adult Climate Summit – Reflections & Reverberations
We were lucky to hear from some of the attendees of October 2023 gathering at the ELCA Lutheran Center where young adults learned about the ELCA’s social teachings on care for creation and corporate social responsibility. They considered their most faithful next steps fueled by our theologies and the contexts of their communities. Help imagine […]
Updates from ELCA Advocacy re: Environment/Energy
Coffee with Christine: Things are changing quickly for Environmental Policy with the current administration. Because rapid changes are difficult to communicate through website and newsletter changes, we are hosting a monthly chat with Christine Moffett, Program Director for Environment and Energy Policy with the Witness in Society team in DC. Bring your questions! REGISTER HERE! (bit.ly/coffee-christine) Advocacy […]
Lutheran Theological Connections (video playlist)
2016 Churchwide Assembly Passes Memorial To Move Towards A Responsible Energy Future
On August 13, 2016, after days of conversation, discernment, and prayer, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to pass the memorial Toward a Responsible Energy Future. A grassroots divestment coalition had brought together several synod memorials, working through the proper parliamentary process to bring an amended version to the floor for a vote. 2016 Churchwide Assembly […]
Creation Care Ambassador Program
Since 2020 ELCA and ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow have trained over 300 members to reach out to their faith community in order to activate congregations to work towards climate solutions in their areas. There are dozens of certified Ambassadors ready to share their new skills and resources with your church and community. All “Certified Ambassadors” who […]
Voices from the ELCA – Caring for Creation Today
Watch God’s Work. Our Hands. created in partnership with ecoAmerica’s BlessedTomorrow ELCA churches across the country are working to serve our neighbors and to ensure that how we live does not harm others, including those yet to be born, vulnerable populations, and even life other than human. We have an ELCA Social Statement written over […]
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 or Congregation? To help transform the action plans, resolutions, pledges, etc. into active progress by having a trained individual accompany you/your team as you ensure goals are clear and attainable. How can you find a […]
Tools for Synods Restoring Creation
Lutherans Restoring Creation (“LRC”) is working to collaborate with ELCA synods in bringing care for creation into the full life of the church. Might your synod be interested? There are already several synods with active expressions of this ministry (see map here). We are now pleased to offer a Synod Organizing Kit for creating a […]
Synod Resolutions: Synod Actions
Resolution to become an LRC Synod Central States Synod Approved June 2015 Resolution to become a Green Synod Northern Illinois Synod Assembly Approved April 2008 Resolution on Establishing an Environmental Stewardship Committee Metropolitan New York Synod, 2009
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 local initiatives. Transition to Cleaner Energy Memorial Upper Susquehanna (PA) Synod June 2015 Study Impacts of Divestment Resolution Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod’s Creation Care Task Force pledges to investigate what divestment would mean for the synod and […]
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 together this month in agreement that the 500th anniversary of the Reformation is a time to see how churches can work together to solve some of our most pressing justice issues: including the state of […]
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 Fuel Divestment Resolution PASSED a vote at the ELCA Oregon Synod. Now it will be forwarded for consideration at this summer’s Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh. In a meeting also attended by Secretary of the ELCA […]
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 1, 2015 (New York, NY) – On Friday, March 29, the annual Assembly of the Metropolitan New York Synod, one of the most populous geographical divisions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), resolved to […]
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 disciples to both love God and love our neighbor, and climate change is a direct threat to both God’s creation and God’s people, the church should be a leader in all efforts to preserve and […]
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 with the care of the earth (Gen 2:15); and WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has adopted social policy statements, “Caring for Creation” (1993) and “Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood” (1999) that call for economic and […]
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 Synod, 2009
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 2Statement at the Churchwide Assembly in 1993 to address the church’s understanding of God’s 3 call to us to care for the earth; and, 4 WHEREAS, the ELCA has created materials to guide congregations, schools, […]