A feature on the Rev. Kristen Koch, alumna of Atonement Lutheran School, Florissant, Missouri

Some stories take decades to tell. Rev. Kristen Koch’s begins in August of 1973, when she was baptized at the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Florissant, Missouri. It winds through a childhood spent in classrooms and pews, a season of missionary work in Tanzania, years of seminary, and more than two decades of ordained ministry. Today, as Director for Evangelical Mission for the Central States Synod — serving all of Missouri and Kansas — Kristen’s story is still unfolding. And it all began at an ELCA School with a big mission.

A curated list of resources that your congregation can reference and use as we approach election day, November 3, 2026.

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salina, Kansas is seeking a gifted, reliable, and spiritually grounded full-time Church Organist to support and enrich the worship life of our congregation.

One Church. One Family. One Faithful Journey. Celebrating a Century of Faith, Community, & Service

Dear church,

My heart was troubled by the recent proposal to livestream an execution in the United States. I am thankful that this plan has now been cancelled. The deliberate taking of a human life should never become a public spectacle. Such actions risk deepening the wounds of victims’ families, loved ones and communities while further desensitizing us to violence. Our society is diminished when violence is conflated with entertainment. Because of our ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21), this church opposes the death penalty and the recent plans for public display of the execution of Nidal Hasan.

“Would you rather invest money in your utilities or in your mission?” That statement from Ian Moise, Director of Catholic Energies, summarized a recent webinar from Lutherans Restoring Creation, “It’s Not Too Late for Renewables.” Moise, along with Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing and Rev. Dr. Jim Martin-Schramm, shared insights and opportunities to reduce utility bills and move toward energy efficiency.

For today’s young people, school lockdowns and active shooter drills are part of life. 7 million U.S. children live in a home with at least one unlocked, loaded firearm. Guns are the #1 means of death of children and teens in Missouri, Kansas and the U.S.

Presiding Bishop Curry issues his sixth in a series of monthly messages that continue through the end of this year, titled "All Together in One Place." Each message will share a pastoral word, rooted in Scripture, that witnesses to God's presence today, our rich theological tradition and the social teaching that connects us.

The new RMP, Office of the Bishop form and synod portal will launch Jan. 11. Current RMPs will no longer be accessible to rostered ministers after Jan. 10.

The EPA is planning to repeal the power plant endangerment finding. Written testimony will be accepted until November 2.

One-day workshop to equip community leaders to minister to those impacted by suicide.

Early bird registration for the 2027 Youth Gathering in Minneapolis is now open! 

Whatever happens up and down the ballot on November 3, we know that our work continues. And we know that, in order to do our work, we must build the beloved community.

You’re invited to the next Church Property Resource Hub webinar. “Disaster Response and Preparation”
Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m. Central time

Striving for Gender & Disability Awareness

For its 2026 webinar series, the ELCA Wittenberg Center is teaming up with the ELCA's AMMPARO team to focus on the topic of migration justice. AMMPARO, the ELCA's strategy for Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.

Something GOOD is coming. A new ELCA Good Gifts catalog, filled with meaningful ways to engage your loved ones and congregation in generosity, is coming soon!

A comprehensive Advent resource, focusing on the five women in Jesus’ family tree mentioned in Matthew 1.

In 1990, the ELCA Church Council adopted the social message “Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment.” You can read this official 1990 social message here. Since that time, much has changed in our experience and understanding of homelessness and housing insecurity in the United States.

Youth musicians in grades 8-12 are invited to Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) 2027 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN!

Inspired by Mary’s Magnificat, ELCA World Hunger’s Advent theme is “Filled With Good Things,” an invitation for all of us to strengthen our relationships with our neighbors by sharing our abundance.

Grants for Innovation: Digital Ministry Grant process offered by ELCA Innovation is now open to receive applications!