In this latest Pivot podcast, Verlon Fosner shares how dinner church creates a fundamentally different entry point for faith by recovering the ancient practice of gathering around Jesus' table.
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Pastor David Pavesic invites pastors and congregational leaders into Better Together, a four-session online book study exploring partnership, shared ministry, and the church’s future. Though February sessions have begun, it’s not too late to join—and slides from the first session are now available to help participants catch up.
Offered Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. (Arizona time), this study looks honestly at congregational realities while imagining faithful, mission-centered collaboration. Register now and join the conversation about how we will be church—together.
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In this week’s Faith Lens, we revisit John 3:1–17 and Jesus’ late-night conversation with Nicodemus. What does it mean to be “born from above”? Not a moral restart or spiritual achievement—but an identity rooted in God’s Spirit and grounded in grace. Before we believe, before we prove anything, God already loves the whole world—and sends Christ not to condemn, but to save.
This reflection invites us to release the pressure to prove ourselves and instead live from an identity already claimed in love. With reflection questions, a breath prayer practice, and a closing prayer, this resource offers a timely word of freedom and courage for our congregations and ministries.
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On Wednesday, March 4, ELCA Coaching invites faith leaders to join “Wayfinding in the Commons,” a monthly 45-minute online gathering (11am PT | 12pm MT | 1pm CT | 2pm ET) focused on community, leadership clarity, and one actionable next step. Rooted in the idea that “hope is a group project,” these sessions offer Scripture grounding, bite-size learning, small-group coaching, and reflection for leaders navigating real ministry challenges.
If you’re feeling stuck, isolated, or simply seeking connection, this space is for you. Join leaders from across the church as we rediscover how shared wisdom and faithful presence create agency in uncertain times. Learn more and join the March 4 gathering.
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Thriving Leadership Formation (ELCA Region 2) invites synod leaders to join a weekly online Lectio Divina practice every Tuesday from 9–10 am Pacific / 10–11 am Arizona MST. Participants reflect on the upcoming Sunday lectionary text in a simple, spacious community setting. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
This hour can nurture your personal faith and support sermon preparation. Come as you are and join as your schedule allows.
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The 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA) will be held July 20–22, 2026, at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Designed for ministry practitioners and by ministry practitioners, this high-quality, affordable conference focuses on nourishing vocation through worship, theology, music, the arts, and spiritual renewal.
With programming centered on “Nourishing Vocation Every Time, Age, and Place,” CWTA offers practical ideas, daily worship, networking, and rest for pastors, deacons, musicians, lay leaders, and ministry partners. Learn more and register at wp.stolaf.edu/cwta/.
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The Safe Communities Coalition will host a Zoom workshop on March 2 at 12:00 p.m. (Arizona) featuring Praveen Sinha of Equality Labs. This interactive training will equip clergy and congregational leaders with practical tools to prevent doxxing, strengthen online security, and respond to digital threats during a time of heightened polarization. Registration is required—sign up now to receive the Zoom link.
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The annual Rostered Minister Report to the Bishop is now open and due Monday, March 30, 2026. This report offers rostered ministers an opportunity to reflect on their ministry and connect directly with Bishop Deborah Hutterer as part of our shared life as a synod.
All active (including those on leave or disability) and retired rostered ministers are asked to complete the appropriate online form. Every report is read by the bishop, with care given to each response. Links to both forms are on the synod website.
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The Annual Congregation Report is due March 1 for all ELCA congregations, new starts, and synod-authorized worshiping communities. This report provides essential data about people, finances, and resources and ensures your congregation is included in synod and churchwide planning and reporting.
Congregations should submit the report online at elca.org/congregationreport using the ID and password mailed in mid-January. Instructions, Form A, and support resources are available at elca.org/reportinstructions. If you are not receiving ELCA emails, be sure to update your contact information to stay informed.
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ELCA Coaching is offering Taking Flight with DISC, a four-hour online leadership training designed to strengthen self-awareness, social awareness, and style flexibility. Led by Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, MCC, this practical masterclass equips church leaders to communicate effectively, navigate change, and lead teams with greater insight. Cost is $350 (includes DISC assessment and materials). Space is limited; email guide@summitcbc.com to register.
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On November 12, 2025, the ELCA Church Council adopted a Social Message on Child Protection, calling congregations to strengthen preaching, policies, and trauma-informed care. Wartburg Theological Seminary and the Center for Faith & Child Protection are offering a free webinar series (beginning February 26 at 6:45 p.m. CST) to help leaders implement these recommendations. Pastors and lay leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to register and equip their congregations to protect and care for the “least of these.”
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This week’s ELCA Faith Lens reflection on Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7 invites us to look beyond blame and consider the deeper reality of shame, guilt, and reconciliation. Rather than focusing solely on “the fall,” Pastor Adrianne Meier highlights how shame isolates—but God moves toward humanity, clothing Adam and Eve and beginning the long work of restoration.
For youth and adult leaders alike, this resource offers discussion questions, activities, and a Gospel-centered reminder that from the very beginning, God’s response to our tangled lives has been reconciliation.
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In this special Pivot Podcast Lenten reflection, the Rev. Dr. F. Willis Johnson invites us into four transformative Lenten practices for church leaders.
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Pastor David Pavesic invites pastors and congregational leaders into a four-session online book study based on Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work. Building on the recent Possibilities in Partnership presentation, this study explores how mission can be strengthened through collaboration and shared ministry. Offered in both morning and evening Zoom sessions, the study creates space for honest conversation, faithful discernment, and hope-filled imagination—because while we may not be able to do this work alone, we are better together. Morning sessions start 2/17, evening sessions begin 2/19.
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Artificial intelligence is reshaping daily life—and raising urgent ethical and theological questions. On Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. PST), Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary will host a Disputatio on Artificial Intelligence, online and in Berkeley, inviting leaders into faithful, rigorous inquiry grounded in Lutheran tradition.
The day includes worship, lunch, expert-led conversations, and the Elizabeth and Harvey Mohrenweiser Lecture on ethical decision-making at the intersection of faith, science, and medicine. Learn more and register at admissions.callutheran.edu/register/AIDisputatio.
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Are you discerning whether seminary might be right for you? Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary invites you to Signs Along the Way, a visit and discernment weekend March 13–15 in Berkeley, California, designed for those exploring online seminary education.
Participants will meet PLTS faculty, connect with others in discernment, and learn more about the MDiv, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, and Lutheran Year programs. Lodging and meals are provided, with travel assistance available. Learn more and sign up at plts.edu/signs.
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In this latest Pivot podcast, Dr. Andrew Root and Rev. Kara Root share what they learned about letting go.
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Faith+Lead’s February 2026 Roundup includes new on-demand courses on justice and leadership in polarized times, a free mini-course on shifting from “fixing” to listening, a live February 19 workshop with Dr. Alicia Granholm, and a guided certificate cohort beginning in April. Free Lent resources, a new Bible-in-a-Year podcast, and the Rutlen Lecture are also available. Read the full newsletter for details and registration links.
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Portico’s February updates include expanded mental health support for members with ELCA-Primary health benefits, important reminders about reporting compensation changes within 60 days, and new Retirement Readiness workshops in partnership with Fidelity. Complimentary clergy and congregational tax guides are also available to help you navigate tax season with confidence.
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The Transfiguration may be one of the strangest stories in the Gospels—mountaintop glory, Moses and Elijah, and a voice from heaven. Yet at its heart is a simple truth: when the journey is hard, “it is good for us to be here.” In a world marked by war, discouragement, and disconnection, Christ gathers us into community and kindles hope like a small flame that refuses to go out.
This week’s Faith Lens reflection invites us to consider where we experience renewed hope, how church becomes a mountaintop moment, and how God sustains us together—even as we descend back into a world that still needs healing.
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