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II. Our Mission  

Mission Statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 

Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world.

Signature Phrase

God's work. Our hands.

Statement of Purpose

  • What is the Church of Jesus Christ? 

The Church is a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world.1

  • What is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America? 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall be one church. This church recognizes that all power and authority in the Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, its head. Therefore, all actions of this church by congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization shall be carried out under his rule and authority....2

The name, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as used herein, refers, in general references, to this whole church, including its three primary expressions-congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization. The name, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is also the name of the corporation of the churchwide organization to which specific references are made herein.3

  • What are the chief purposes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America? 

The primary purposes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are expressed in the constitutions of congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization as follows: 

  1. To proclaim God's saving Gospel; 
  2. To carry out Christ's Great Commission; 
  3. To serve in response to God's love to meet human needs; 
  4. To worship God; 
  5. To nurture members in the Word of God; and 
  6. To manifest the unity given to the people of God. 

This church seeks to participate in God's mission in the world through the practice of these purposes, which are stated in churchwide constitutional provision 4.02. [†S6.02. in the Constitution for Synods and *C4.02. in the Model Constitution for Congregations] as follows: 

  1. Proclaim God's saving Gospel of justification by grace for Christ's sake through faith alone, according to the apostolic witness in the Holy Scripture, preserving and transmitting the Gospel faithfully to future generations. 
  2. Carry out Christ's Great Commission by reaching out to all people to bring them to faith in Christ and by doing all ministry with a global awareness consistent with the understanding of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
  3. Serve in response to God's love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and the aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, and standing with the poor and powerless and committing itself to their needs. 
  4. Worship God in proclamation of the Word and administration of the sacraments and through lives of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, witness, and service.
  5. Nurture its members in the Word of God so as to grow in faith and hope and love, to see daily life as the primary setting for the exercise of their Christian calling, and to use the gifts of the Spirit for their life together and for their calling in the world.
  6. Manifest the unity given to the people of God by living together in the love of Christ and by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and preserve the unity which the Spirit gives.4

1 Provision 4.01. in the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

2 Provision 5.01.

3 Provision 1.01.01.

4 Provision 4.02.

I. Theological and Biblical Foundations for Planning for Mission
II. Our Mission
III. Our Vision
IV. Our Operational Values
V. Strategic Directions for the Churchwide Organization
Roundtables - ELCA Churchwide Planning
Roundtable Outcomes - ELCA Churchwide Planning

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