ELCA’S 25th ANNIVERSARY
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. We
are a church rooted in Scripture, tradition, the Lutheran Confessions and the rich histories of our congregations. It is through God's grace
that we are made new day by day to proclaim Jesus Christ and boldly participate in God’s work. As Luther said, this faith is a living, busy,
active, mighty thing.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we get to look back at the people and events that have shaped us as a church. We celebrate
the stories that have made us vibrant and distinctive yet brought us together as nearly 10,000 congregations, 65 synods and numerous
churchwide ministries freed in Christ to love and serve neighbors in our communities, our country and around the world.
What God has done through us is indeed worth celebrating. In 25 years, we have: Started 435 new congregations, Ordained nearly
8,000 pastors, Sent more than 2,000 missionaries to serve around the world, Contributed more than $350 million toward the alleviation of
hunger and poverty
The year of our 25th anniversary begins Jan. 1, 2013, with the theme "Always being made new." I invite you to join me in celebrating these
25 years together in Christ.
- Mark S. Hanson, ELCA Presiding Bishop
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We are a church that is deeply rooted — and always being made new.
If anyone is in Christ...
We are deeply rooted. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is still
comparatively new as a church body, and yet our roots are much deeper than our 25
years together. The taproot of our life extends through the histories of predecessor
churches in the United States, through the formative witness of the 16th century
evangelical reformers and their confessional writings, to the Scriptures and the word
of Christ. Our life is in Jesus Christ. We are deeply rooted in his word of forgiveness
and the promises of God’s steadfast love and mercy. The word of Christ dwells in us
richly. God nourishes us as one body in Jesus Christ with companions from around
the globe who meet us at Christ’s table of grace.
...there is a new creation
We are being made new every day. In Jesus Christ we are not unchanged. What God does in Christ is as radical as the
death and resurrection of baptism, where new creatures in Christ rise to live “no longer for themselves, but for him
who died and was raised for them.” God is bringing that new creation to life among us in the ministry of reconciliation.
In that service we no longer see each other as we did before. We are no longer strangers, competitors or enemies to
each other. We are beloved companions in one body, restored to a communion where the rich diversity of our
experiences, wisdom and abilities serve the common good in Christ. The new creation in Christ rises to life among us
every day.
ELCA MESSAGES
LEAD MESSAGE We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. For us as the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, this faith comes through the good news of Jesus Christ and gives us
the freedom and the courage to wonder, discover and boldly participate in what God is up to in the world.
Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person - questions, complexities and all.
ELEVATOR SPEECH As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our
neighbor. With our hands, we do God's work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ's
name throughout the world.
VALUE STATEMENTS
W
e are a church that belongs to Christ. There is a place for you here. We believe God calls each of us
by name. Christ's church is not ours to control, nor is it our job to sort, divide, categorize or exclude.
Whenever we feel compelled to "draw the line" in our lives, we must acknowledge as Lutherans that Jesus
always stands on both sides of that line.
W
e are a church whose unity is in Jesus Christ, who gathers us around word and water, wine and bread.
Because we are grounded in God's love and forgiveness, we are equipped to live and serve here and
now, in the world, with all its complexities, tensions and ambiguities. We have the courage to explore the
world as saints and sinners, knowing we will never take God somewhere God has not already been.
W
e are a church that believes Jesus is God's "Yes" to us. Our lives can be a "Yes" to others. The "Yes" of
Jesus Christ compels and empowers us to be open and accessible within any community, within any
context.
W
e are a church that believes God is calling us into the world - together. We don't have to do it alone,
and we don't have to do everything. Each of us has a unique story, and we are part of a larger story
that makes up the ELCA. We work through our congregations, synods and partners, and the churchwide
organization. Together, we achieve things on a scale and scope that we could never do otherwise.
W
e are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. We do God's work in the world - restoring and
reconciling communities. We pursue justice and seek peace no matter how long the journey or wide
the chasm.
W
e are a church that is a catalyst, convener and bridge builder. Our faith calls us to see the world as
interdependent. The ELCA has become a force for connection, working across denominations, faiths,
organizations and sectors, locally and globally. We're a welcome partner because we respect the
perspectives and strengths of others and share a common vision to uphold human dignity.
W
e are a church that is energized by lively engagement in our faith and life. "Our faith is a living, busy,
active, mighty thing," said Martin Luther. We continually strive for a deeper understanding of what the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means for the world. Doing so puts us right where God wants us to be:
in the thick of life.
W
e are a church that is deeply rooted - and always being made new. Our roots are in Scripture,
tradition and the Lutheran Confessions, as well as in the vibrant communities and rich histories of our
congregations. These roots are an ongoing source of nourishment; they enable us to be a church guided by
the Holy Spirit that is both resilient and always being reformed.