The presiding bishop and synodical bishops will call and encourage all leaders and members of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America to a time of fervent prayer, spiritual growth and renewal. For the sake of God’s love for the world, ELCA members, congregations, and other ministry settings are invited to renew prayers for friends, neighbors, and family members who are outside the church.

From the ELCA Evangelism Strategy, “Sharing Faith in a New Century: A Vision for Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” adopted on August 13, 2003 by the Churchwide Assembly:

ELCA Conference of Bishops’ Resolution on Prayer – Adopted 4/04
We acknowledge that, as bishops of this church, our personal and corporate leadership in evangelical outreach is needed and vital.

As this church implements the evangelism strategy, "Sharing Faith in a New Century: A Vision for Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," we are calling one another and this church to prayer. Together we pray:

• For God's power and blessing in faithful evangelical outreach;
   
• For God to stir up in the Church the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ;
   
• For the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest to witness and invite people to faith;
   
• For our witness to those who do not know God's love in Jesus Christ;
   
• For all congregations to grow in hospitality to the visitor and stranger;
   
• For increased participation in worship, study of Scripture, stewardship, service, prayer, encouragement, and witness; and
   
• For congregational renewal and the planting of more congregations.

As bishops of this church we commit ourselves to encourage our respective synods, members of congregations, institutions and agencies to join us in praying for evangelical outreach.

Bishop Gerald L. Mansholt
Report to 2004 Central States Synod Assembly

So, I call upon you to pray. This is the first objective the ELCA Evangelism Strategy adopted by the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. Our Lord Jesus says, ask and it will be given you, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you (Matthew 7:7). The theme of next year’s Synod Assembly will be on prayer. I call upon you to pray for renewal in our Church, that we might be empowered for evangelical outreach, that we might grow as faithful and generous stewards of the gifts of God. I call upon you to listen to the prayers of your congregation on Sunday mornings. I challenge you to include in those prayers, petitions that we might be challenged to grow in discipleship, petitions for the poor and suffering of the world, petitions that we might be bold and courageous in our witness. Following this Assembly I will be sending a letter to all our congregations inviting this Synod to enter deeply into prayer, that we may be open to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.