Global Mission
Rooted and built in Jesus! This is the core of our work as the ELCA walks with more than 80 companion churches in other countries to participate in God’s mission. Through these relationships, ELCA members see how people’s lives are touched by the gospel, how their lives are transformed and renewed, and how their communities live in hope.
In response, we share out gifts and talents to address the root causes of poverty and hunger and meeting human needs, fight malaria and HIV and AIDS, build communities that coexist in peace, and prepare women and men to preach the good news throughout the world.
Bishop Dunlop visited the Konde Diocese in 2014.
Our synod has an active partnership with the Konde Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. We welcome guests for our synod assembly, we send delegations to the diocese, we collaborate with other faith-based non-profit partners (such as tech4Tanzania) to expand and deepen our relationships and projects, and we co-sponsor an advanced degree theological student with Gettysburg Seminary.
Walking and working together, we seek to accompany our companions. Accompaniment is awalking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality. The ELCA lives this out in its relationships with global companions, striving to share God’s love and participate in God’s mission together:
- Mutually
- Inclusively
- Vulnerably
- Empowering
- Sustainably
But that’s not all! Many of our congregations help to sponsor ELCA missionaries, students in Haiti, Guatemala, and the Philippines, and support and participate in short-term mission and education trips around the world. Congregations support Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and Lutheran Children and Family Services. There are many ways to be involved in global mission, including serving on our synod’s Committee for Global Mission.
How can I Help and Learn More about the Current Refugee Crisis and Refugee Resettlement?
Click here for more information about what’s going on across our synod, as well as links to agencies and resources.
Celebrate Global Church Sunday
Every fall, ELCA congregations and ministries are invited to pick a day to celebrate our connections and common mission in Christ’s global church. For worship, educational, communication, ecumenical, global, and fellowship resources, visit http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Global-Church/Global-Church-Sponsorship. Click here to be redirected to the homepage for ELCA Global Mission.
Links of Interest:
ELCA missionary Pastor Chad Rimmer enjoys attaya tea in Senegal. (Photo: Chad Rimmer)
Quilts ready to be blessed for the LWR Ingathering (Photo: Creative Commons)