Contents Social Statements, Social Messages, and Social Policy Resolutions Jounal of Lutheran Ethics Podcast Lutheran Ethicists Gathering

Social Statements, Social Messages, and Social Policy Resolutions

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, building upon the pattern of its predecessor bodies (specifically the Lutheran Church in America and the American Lutheran Church), engages in the study of social issues.

• Social statements are effected by the Churchwide Assembly.
• Social messages are effected by the Church Council of the ELCA. For both of these, public input is solicited.
• Social policy resolutions are adopted by the Churchwide Assembly through normal parliamentary processes (without broad public input).

Unlike social policy resolutions, development (and revision) of social statements and social messages involves broad public input. Currently, your input is solicited for the

• Reconsideration of Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment (1990) — deadline for public comment: November 30, 2026

If you would like to provide public comment, please observe the deadline.

You may access and review all the social statements and social messages of the ELCA on the ELCA Social Teachings page.

Accessing the social policy resolutions is a little trickier. Use the ELCA's resource search engine and scroll through the results.

Journal of Lutheran Ethics

The Journal of Lutheran Ethics is a free, bimonthly, ecclesial online publication living out the Lutheran tradition of addressing social issues theologically, using the resources of historical, theological, and ethical tradition, biblical interpretation, and social sciences. A bridge between the academic study of Christianity and the contemporary life of the Church, JLE is a meeting place for scholars and professors, seminary and university students, pastors and bishops, and theologically informed lay persons, advocates, and activists. JLE is updated bimonthly, and JLE readers can sign up to receive notice of updates.

Bishop Riegel has an article in JLE:

• Matthew Riegel, "The End of the Human: Relocating Sanctification in Luther’s Thought," Journal of Lutheran Ethics 17 (September/October 2017) 5
  

If you have something to contribute to the conversation, visit the JLE webpage and review the information under the buttons submit an article and call for papers (for the appropriate year).

Podcast

The JLE also has a podcast.

For your consideration... ELCA Theological Foundation Paper on AI

Lutheran Ethicists Gathering 2027: AI

The 2027 Lutheran Ethicists Gathering in St. Louis (January 6-7, 2027) will focus on the topic “Cultivating a Lutheran Theological Ethic of Artificial Intelligence.” This LEG will offer an opportunity for conversation about the relevance and adequacy of Lutheran social thought for moral understanding and responsible engagement with AI across the whole of human and planetary life. What moral questions, convictions, and assessments about AI do Lutheran ethics bring to the discussions happening across many contexts? Are these questions, convictions, and assessments adequate? If not, what can Lutheran ethics say to us about humanity’s production and use of AI today?

When the registration goes live, we will post the link here. The Lutheran Ethicists Gathering is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Christian Ethics, which will be held 7-10 January 2027 in St. Louis. It is not necessary to attend both. There are separate registrations for the two events.