In the News: ELCA News

ELCA NEWS SERVICE
January 27, 2011

ELCA Launches LivingLutheran.Com for Sharing Stories and Conversation
10-008-JB

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- LivingLutheran.com, a new website for members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), offers a daily blend of stories and conversation about what it means to "live Lutheran."

LivingLutheran.com is the companion site to ELCA.org, the official website of the ELCA churchwide organization. The site is at http://www.livinglutheran.com.

"We really wanted to create an every-member publication but with a new twist on the concept," said Scott J. Hendrickson, ELCA director for marketing and public relations. "We could either print and mail a publication to all 4.5 million ELCA Lutherans, or we could leverage new technology to create a living, breathing publication where members can explore and talk about their faith experiences."

"It's really the first of its kind," he added. "We thought we'd take a page from Martin Luther and try our hand in new technology."

Hendrickson said one particularly significant aspect of LivingLutheran.com is the blog section, featuring members from throughout the ELCA who have "very different perspectives and life experiences."

"It's time for us as ELCA Lutherans to show the world that dialogue is possible, that there is room in our world for voices that represent faith without rushing to judgment and closing off discussion," Hendrickson said. "We're really fortunate to have people like Megan Rohrer and Erma Wolf lend their voices."

In addition to the blog entries, LivingLutheran.com visitors will also find personal profiles written by ELCA members; articles from Seeds for the Parish, the resource newspaper for ELCA congregations; stories about members and their ministries; short videos designed to inspire and amuse, and more.

The concept behind LivingLutheran.com was researched and tested with members, Hendrickson said. New content is posted daily, including stories about members and congregations, weekly text studies, and messages from leaders. The site employs social media tools to enhance member engagement with the site. Members can use their Facebook profiles to connect to LivingLutheran.com, he said.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with approximately 4.5 million members in more than 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
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