Resources for Congregations Surrounding the 2026 Midterm Elections
This page contains a curated list of resources that your congregation can reference and use as we approach election day, November 3, 2026.
Central States Resources - 2026 Midterm Elections
Social Media Posts -
Daily social media posts and images for October 7-November 5. Posts are non-partisan and invitational. Each post contains an image along with a scripture verse, a quote from a theologian or historical figure, or a passage from the ELCA Social Statement Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy. Each post concludes with an invitation to reflection, and a prayer prompt.
Congregations are invited to use these posts or simply like and share as they are published by the synod.
ELCA Resources - Civic Engagement and Elections
Being a Public Church in the Electoral Process: A Guide for Churches and Rostered Ministers -
Resource breaking down legal text into digestible bites, explaining what congregations and clergy can do in a nonpartisan manner and what cannot be done.
Topics include: IRS, 501(c)(3) Tax Status and Nonpartisanship, Acceptability of Election Activities Chart, Sampling of Activities, and Conclusion.
ELCA Election Engagement Toolkit -
This ELCA Election Engagement Toolkit produced by ELCA Advocacy contains succinct inspiration and tools to activate and energize love in an election season as people and communities of faith. Follow the footprints to action steps from beginning to challenging, and find reflections from ELCA social teaching along the way.
Topics Include: Faithful Civic Witness, Getting the Conversation Started, Planning to Vote, Voter Registration Initiatives, Election Day Turnout Support, Faithful Presence, Election Protection, Trusted Messengers in Confusing Times, Election Day Witness, But What About...
Worship Resources for a National Election -
This resource is provided to assist congregations surrounding a national election. The readings, prayers, and assembly song suggestions could be used in settings such as prayer vigils, as part of Morning or Evening Prayer, as part of regular weekly worship in the weeks preceding or following an election, or devotions at home or in other settings.
Topics Include: Scripture readings, prayers, charges to the people, assembly song suggestions, links to ecumenical partner resources.
Intergenerational Conversation Starter -
A simple 1-page conversation starter to help elicit in this election cycle fruitful stories of what civic engagement looks like for each of us informed by our faith. Between teens and elders, over coffee, as an ice breaker in a meeting, or other ways you think of – give these questions a try.
Topics Include: Introduction and Conversation Prompts.
Faithful Election Engagement: A Resource for Young Adults -
1-page information and study handout with scriptures, conversation prompts, and non-partisan voting resources for young adults.
Topics Include: Conversation prompts, resources for checking voter registration status and learning what’s on the ballot, and links to further resources.
WELCA Workshop: Called to be Political (But I don’t want to be political!) -
This two-hour program offers a fascinating glimpse into the teachings of Martin Luther on the role of Christians in politics. It’s the History Channel and confirmation class all rolled into one.
Topics Include: Introduction, What does the Bible say about faith and politics, What did Luther say about Christians and politics, Why didn’t Luther’s message stick, Things go from bad to worse, There is hope, God’s partners for justice, Closing prayer, Digging deeper, Resources
Craftivism As Advocacy -
Craftivism is a form of activism that employs traditional crafts as mediums for social and political change. This approach combines the personal and communal aspects of crafting with the broader goals of activism to create a dialogue around social issues through creative expression.
Topics Include: Activity Sample Quilting God’s Dream for Our Nation, Craftivism in an Election Season, Starting a Craftivism Project, Amplifying Election Activism Impact, and Trusted Community Leadership.
Cultivating Relationships with Local Election Officials -
Suggestions for how individuals and congregations can learn about and support local election officials.
Topics Include: People Make the Election Process Work, Role Recognition, Showing Up to Support and Accompany, Showing Up to Learn and Share, Invitation, Best Practices and Questions When We Show Up, Guided by Faith-Based Values, Additional Resources, and an Invitation Letter Template.
ELCA Resources - Social Statements and Social Messages
ELCA Social Statement: Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective -
This 1991 social statement articulates the teaching of the ELCA on the church's relation to society and its public presence and responsibilities. The statement begins with the claim that the witness of the church in society flows from its identity as a community that lives from and for the gospel. It sets forth the basic affirmations that structure how faith is active in a love that calls for justice in relationships and structures of society. The statement also identifies as basic commitments the church's institutional witness in society, the baptismal vocation of individual Christians, and the church as a community of moral deliberation.
ELCA Social Message: Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy -
Churchwide teaching document adopted unanimously by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on June 24, 2020.
Topics Include: Introduction, God’s Two Ways of Governing, Governmental Roles and Functions--Is the Neighbor Being Served, Called to Civic Engagement, Conclusion
All ELCA Social Statements and Messages -
Links to all of the ELCA social teaching documents: Social statements address significant social issues (such as racism or genetics) and institutions (such as healthcare or economic life) and are adopted by a two-thirds Churchwide Assembly vote. Social messages address narrower, timely topics of contemporary concern and are based on the framework provided by statements. Social messages are adopted by the ELCA Church Council. Social policy resolutions are the third type of social teaching documents. These are typically brief and establish specific policy-related directives on matters of immediate social concern.