Innovation Needs a Foundation: Why Infrastructure Must Come First

Innovation is a powerful tool in ministry—but for many congregations, it’s a privilege they can’t afford. In this compelling piece from Rahel Mwitula Williams of the ELCA Innovation Lab, we are challenged to consider how crumbling infrastructure, financial instability, and lack of basic resources prevent many churches—especially in marginalized communities—from engaging in bold new ministry. True innovation, she argues, must be grounded in justice and stability. Click here to read the full article on the ELCA Innovation Lab blog.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJuly 1, 2025Innovation, ELCA Innovation LabComment

No One Is Upgrading Jesus—But We Are Reimagining Church

What does innovation look like in the ELCA? It’s not about rebranding Jesus but about reimagining how we share the unchanging Gospel in a rapidly evolving world. From worship in coffee shops to community-driven ministries, the ELCA Innovation Lab explores new ways to make God’s love tangible and relevant. Read more at the ELCA Innovation Lab blog.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardMarch 4, 2025ELCA Innovation LabComment

When Faith Ranks Last: Reimagining How We Pass On Shared Values

Young adult parents rate religious faith as the least important value to pass on to their children. How can congregations respond? This post in ELCA.org explores ways faith communities can engage parents, support their well-being, and foster connections between faith and shared values like empathy and responsibility. Read more for practical insights and reflection questions to spark creative ministry.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 21, 2024ELCA Innovation Lab, Youth and Young AdultComment

Raising Children as Sacred Work: Addressing Parental Stress Through Faith

The U.S. Surgeon General’s recent advisory calls attention to a growing crisis in parental mental health. Parents and caregivers face unprecedented stress, with nearly 75% expressing concerns about their children’s mental well-being. This is a profound opportunity for faith communities to step up, offering open dialogue and supportive networks to ease the burden. The latest ELCA Innovation Blog post explores actionable ways the church can stand in solidarity with families, rooted in faith’s call to care for one another.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 4, 2024ELCA Innovation LabComment

An Introduction to Equity Design

As design thinking is utilized to solve big-problems and ultimately redesign systems, the process of design thinking itself must be examined closely to mitigate the causes of inequity. Design thinking as a field often refuses to acknowledge power imbalance or the exclusive nature of many design processes. That is where equity design comes in.

ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardAugust 17, 2021Innovation, ELCA Innovation LabComment

Open Doors Initiative update

The Open Doors initiative was launched to support ELCA congregations interested in meeting new people during this time of transition and re-gathering in physical spaces. ELCA congregations were invited to share their concrete, actionable ideas for meeting new people during this critical time.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJuly 15, 2021Open Doors, ELCA Innovation Lab, InnovationComment

ELCA Innovation: An Introduction to Design Thinking

Have you or your worshipping community ever encountered a tough problem and found yourselves unable to come up with a solution? Then design thinking might be able to help! Design thinking is being used every day by global companies, top universities and people around the world to help solve big challenges.

ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardJanuary 28, 2021Innovation, ELCA Innovation LabComment

Experiments in Action: Christian Minimalism Community

This “Experiments in Action” blog series features individuals and communities who are trying something new. This post features a story from The Rev. Rebecca Ehrlich, Interim Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop in the Allegheny Synod and founder of an online community exploring Christian Minimalism.

LettersBrian FlatgardDecember 9, 2020ELCA Innovation Lab, InnovationComment

ABIDE in Failure

Last week, Mikka McCracken, Director of the ELCA Innovation Lab, spoke about our call to “fail boldly” and what it means to ABIDE in failure.

Check out this video which explores the importance of taking risks in service to our neighbor, and remembering that our worth is not defined by our success or failure but rests in our identity as loved children of God.

ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 3, 2020ELCA Innovation Lab, Innovation, Youth and Young AdultComment

What we are reading: Collective Genius

ELCA Innovation Lab is reading “Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation.”

Authors Dr. Linda A. Hill, Greg Brandeau, Emily Truelove and Kent Lineback say innovation is not about solo genius but focuses on building the culture and context for collective genius.

ResourcesBrian FlatgardOctober 28, 2020ELCA Innovation Lab, InnovationComment

Experiments in Action: Tree of Life

The “Experiments in Action” blog series features individuals and communities who are trying something new. This post features a story from Tree of Life, Minneapolis, MN a Lutheran church start-up that is queer-affirming, millennial-led, and for the spiritual but also slightly religious. Read here.

ResourcesBrian FlatgardOctober 7, 2020ELCA Innovation LabComment

Innovation Insights: Collective Genius Innovation + Lutheran Theological Thinking

As the ELCA Innovation Lab has begun to imagine ways to help the church reclaim relevancy, we have tapped into our deep reformation roots. After all, Lutheranism is a tradition founded on the new and useful ideas of Martin Luther that changed not only the church, but much of western society.

ResourcesBrian FlatgardSeptember 22, 2020ELCA Innovation LabComment

Introducing the ELCA Innovation Lab

“The way people hear and receive the gospel is changing at an increasingly rapid rate. The competitors of the gospel are many,” says Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.

“The ELCA Innovation Lab is a space to experiment and innovate in real time so more people can know more about Jesus and experience the love of God.”

News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardSeptember 15, 2020ELCA Innovation LabComment

Grand Canyon Synod

News

Connect

Communicate

create