God’s Love Made Real: Conversation with Bishop Eaton

The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met Sept. 24-28, 2024 at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. At the meeting, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton described the work of the churchwide organization framed by God’s Love Made Real. Eaton emphasized the vision guiding this work — a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation — and its two distinct strategies, the church that is and the church that is becoming

“Some people might think that the wave of the future is no more buildings, no more congregations, but I don’t think that’s true,” said Eaton. “We’re going to work with our congregations, but at the same time — and we found this out during COVID — there are some people who will not set foot in one of our buildings or anything that is recognizable as church. Those people need to hear the liberating good news of the gospel.”

God’s Love Made Real is a movement that encourages the ELCA to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation. Eaton asked the assembled bishops, “How can we here at the churchwide expression walk alongside you as people start to realize that they are never out of God’s sight and that God is at work with them, through them and in them?”

To help ELCA members learn more about this work, Presiding Bishop Eaton will join congregations in the Southeast Michigan, North/West Lower Michigan, Indiana-Kentucky, Northwestern Ohio, Northeastern Ohio and Southern Ohio synods on Tuesday, October 29 at 12:00pm ET for a regional conversation on God’s Love Made Real. Bishop Don Kreiss of the Southeast Michigan Synod, will host this online conversation.

During this discussion, the presiding bishop will share why God’s Love Made Real is meaningful to her and the future of the church. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions. “The Spirit is calling us to move together as one church to share the grace and love we experience every day,” said Eaton.

ELCA members in the Southeast Michigan, North/West Lower Michigan, Indiana-Kentucky, Northwestern Ohio, Northeastern Ohio and Southern Ohio synods are invited to attend!

Join the event at: https://elcafoundation.zoom.us/j/89930584648#success

Learn more about God’s Love Made Real at lovemadereal.elca.org.