Adult Faith Formation
9am Sundays, September 10 – October 15

This study curriculum was created by the Task Force on Civic Life and Faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and published by the ELCA’s churchwide organization as a critical step toward development of a social teaching statement. It is an invitation to learn what the task force has been discussing in regard to civic life and faith, including some of the most fraught questions of our time.

The curriculum invites participants to delve into the nature of politics, the meaning of the Scriptures, the purpose of government, the responsibility of congregations and church-related organizations, First Amendment issues, the relationship of faith-based living and civic life, connections between worship life and serving neighbor in society, the nature of citizenship, and other relevant topics. These are weighty and difficult discussions for people of faith!

Your participation and response within this study will aid the task force as it considers what might be included in the draft social statement on civic life and faith that will be available for comment in 2024. The deadline for response to this study curriculum is October 15, 2023.

As will be evident throughout the study, the task force recognizes how Christians of good will can and do disagree about social issues. Though we are one in Christ and share many basic values such as neighbor love and neighbor justice, studying together can be difficult because social concerns, like political life, are complex and personal, with institutional and structural implications.  However, Scripture teaches that the Spirit of Christ is able to guide our discernment and deepen our insights (Romans 12:1-2).  We will rely on this truth to ground our dialog and growth through this interaction together.