It seems the flood gates have opened wide the past weeks to expose the issue of sexual harassment and assault. There is nothing new about the problem, but there seems to be something new about the discussion. Women are becoming more open about speaking out and people are taking the issue more seriously than in […]
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton likes to quip that she’s had three good ideas since being elected to her position: The Grace Gathering (a time for all ELCA members to meet at the same time as the Churchwide Assembly to observe plenary sessions and participate in other activities), studying the Small Catechism together as a […]
Lutherans have never believed that following Jesus was purely a spiritual idea that has no real consequences in the world. We recognize that our faith is not just about what we do in church on Sunday, but how we live our lives during the week. However, we also recognize that sharing one faith does not […]
As part of our six-year celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the Northeastern Iowa Synod is focusing on the Gospel this year. At the heart of the Lutheranism is our deep commitment to the good news (Gospel) that we are saved by grace through faith. So that we may obtain this faith, the […]
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth’s Eaton’s recent statement addressing President’ Trump’s Executive Order banning refugees from some countries is in line with our church’s tradition of advocating for the welcome and kind treatment of immigrants and refugees. Since 1939 the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) has been a champion for refugees from around the […]
Now that we have recovered from Christmas, it is time to look ahead towards Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1, this year so it’s not too soon to begin planning your themes. The ELCA has a resource called Living our Baptism, Five Gifts of Discipleship that can be used in many settings […]