What does it mean to follow Jesus in the public life we share with our neighbors?
This fall, we’ll spend six weeks exploring the ELCA’s social statement, Faith & Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All. Together, we’ll consider what our Lutheran faith has to say about democracy, civic participation, political authority, disagreement, and our calling to seek the well-being of all. Our baptismal vocation calls us to “serve all people” and “strive for justice and peace.” This study is an invitation to explore what that calling might look like in the complicated civic life we share.
Questions we might consider together:
How Is God’s Invitation to Discipleship Lived Out in a Democracy?
How Do Christians Address Controversial Civic Issues?
What Are Lutheran Views on Civic Life?
What Are the Objectives of Democracy in the United States?
What’s Faith-based Living Got to Do with Civic Life?
How Do We Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord in Civic Life?
This isn’t about telling us what to think—or expecting everyone to agree. It’s an opportunity to listen, learn, ask hard questions, and practice faithful conversation with one another, even when we see things differently. Come curious, come ready to listen, and come as you are. No expertise required!
Let’s wonder together about what it means to live our Lutheran faith in the world—just in time for Reformation Day!
Resources
Faith & Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All. Social statement PDF is formatted as a booklet for printing.
Session Dates & Topics
Each session will include a short video and guided conversation that corresponds to the six sections of the Social Statement.
9/24 — Session 1: God Acts for the Well-being of All through Civic Life.
Video: https://vimeo.com/788799781
10/1 — Session 2: God Calls All People to Robust Civic Participation.
Video: https://vimeo.com/788800552
10/8 — Session 3: Assessing the U.S. Constitutional Form of Government
Video: https://vimeo.com/788802177
10/15 — Session 4: Religion and the First Amendment
Video: https://vimeo.com/788804731
10/22 — Session 5: Constructive Relationships Between Religious Organizations and Political Authority
Video: https://vimeo.com/788805985
10/29 — Session 6: Selected Contemporary Concerns in Civic Life
Video: https://vimeo.com/788806942