Heartfelt Hebrews, this summer’s Bible Reading Plan, invited readers to respond to readings and contemplation with a creative response. This year, Pastor Mike Stone (retired, Belmont) responded with this poem. Holy Meal There is no such thing as a free lunch. Unless of course you are God and you are: providing manna, feeding 5,000, or breaking bread […]
Beloved in Christ, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we write to you in this moment of national and global tension with clarity and conviction. Our faith compels us to stand where Jesus stands—with and for […]
Largest US Lutheran Denomination Installs Yehiel Curry as Its First Black Presiding Bishop The ELCA installed the Rev. Yehiel Curry as its first Black presiding bishop Saturday (October 4, 2025), a landmark moment for the predominantly white denomination. “It hasn’t really hit me yet,” Curry told The Associated Press a week before his installation. “The […]
On God’s work. Our hands. Sunday, NC Synod congregations joined thousands of ELCA members across the country in a day of service, celebrating who we are as one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbors. From wrapping diapers to assembling welcome kits, from neighborhood cleanups to food collections, each act of service […]
The 2025 ELCA model constitution for congregations includes required and recommended amendments. Required changes reflect our shared identity as this church, binding congregations together in unity while allowing local freedom. Updating your congregation’s constitution brings it into conformity, ensuring both consistency across the ELCA and alignment with collective wisdom for healthy ministry. 2025 Model Constitution […]
The Rev. Yehiel Curry was elected as the next presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, Ariz., on July 30, 2025. He will begin this role on Oct. 1, 2025, and be installed on Oct. 4 in Minneapolis. The installation is open to the public, […]
We give thanks for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and the twelve years she spent leading the ELCA. Take a look back on these fun and meaningful moments from her ministry. Download and share with your congregation: https://bit.ly/47JSnaw
Martin Luther believed in the priesthood of all believers, and that vision comes alive in the NC Synod’s Advanced Lay Ministries Program. Since 2016, this vital program has trained and commissioned lay leaders to preach, teach, and serve congregations across the synod—using the gifts of those who once only filled the pews. Lay Preachers (LP) […]
Congratulations to the Rev. Elizabeth Villegas, leader of Wingspan ILM, the campus ministry at UNC Wilmington. Pastor Elizabeth has received ELCA LuMin’s 2025 Rookie of the Year Award! In just a short time, through her passion and the power of the Holy Spirit, she has built a loving, inclusive ministry at a smaller satellite campus. […]
We celebrate with Pastor Stephen Cheyney (Niner United Campus Ministry, UNC Charlotte) on the release of his new book, Start Here: Open the Bible, Enter Its Story, Walk Its Path! Written to meet readers wherever they are, this practical and hope-filled guide makes Scripture approachable and life-giving. With rave reviews from Bishop Michael Curry and […]