Dear Friends,
On March 21, 2025, the ELCA released a draft social message on child protection and maltreatment. This draft social message is in response to a request from the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and addresses the church’s calling to protect and nurture children and youth, both within the church and within society more broadly.
The Network supports the work of the ELCA, especially when it comes to issues that surround the welfare of young people and their families.
Members of the Network are invited to attend one of two online hearings for children, youth, and family ministers to share your feedback on the draft social message. The hearings will be offered on:
- Thursday May 15, 7:30-9:00pm Eastern time
- Tuesday May 20, 12pm-1:30 Eastern
Please visit https://forms.office.com/r/ThGJkYhtR4 to register for one of the hearings. At the hearing, you will have a chance to share your comments, including affirmations and suggestions for improving the draft social message. These hearings are for anyone serving in children, youth, and family ministry – lay, rostered, paid, volunteer – all are encouraged to participate and help shape this important work.
If you cannot attend a hearing, you can complete an online survey by visiting https://tinyurl.com/3fpcjeec. You can also email comments, questions, or concerns to the Theological Ethics team of the ELCA Churchwide Organization at DraftSocialMessage@elca.org. The public comment period and survey will be open until June 30, 2025.
A revised, proposed social message will be sent to the ELCA Church Council this Fall for possible adoption as an official social teaching of our church. If adopted, this social message will serve as a guide for people of faith to think theologically and ethically about children and the church. It will also serve as an official policy document to guide the church’s public witness and to support policies at the congregational, synodical, and churchwide level.
Thank you for your partnership in this important work!
Network is a Verb 