Administration Matters

Throughout the past few months, the staff of Living Lutheran has been working with a new fulfillment company for the print magazine, and we’re excited to share our new subscription system with you. If you’ve already signed up to receive the print edition of Living Lutheran but have not yet set up your subscription, or if you are interested in subscribing, follow the instructions below to get started.

Visit livinglutheran.org/subscribe to choose an individual, group or gift subscription, or visit the individual subscription page directly to sign up. We are grateful for your patience while we developed our new system. Thanks to your loyal readership, Living Lutheran continues to share stories of God’s people living their faith — online and once again, in print!

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In light of recent updates made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the Fiscal Year 2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program’s Standard Terms and Conditions relating to immigration matters, DEI, DEIA, and boycotts, the ELCA has provided the attached guidance and encourage all ELCA-affiliated entities, including congregations and synods, to carefully review these changes and consult with their legal counsel when considering applying for any federal award(s). >More

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During the 2026 enrollment this fall, sponsoring organizations will choose from four new ELCA-Primary health benefit options, designed to offer simpler comparisons and sustainable costs. These streamlined options were developed through Portico’s Benefits reExamined initiative to help meet the evolving needs of our whole church.

Portico emailed sponsoring organizations and plan members in August with all the details, including rate and benefit changes. If your organization provides Portico benefits, please discuss 2026 health benefit options with your plan members and make your election on EmployerLink, Oct. 1-14. The new Benefit Cost Estimator tool and Decision Guide are now available for registered EmployerLink users.

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A church should be a place where everyone feels welcome and included, regardless of their ability. But making your facilities more accessible doesn’t have to break the bank. Join us for this practical and inspiring webinar, designed specifically for churches seeking to improve their accessibility with limited resources. We’ll explore affordable strategies to enhance physical, sensory and digital accessibility in your church buildings and programs. From simple upgrades to creative adaptations, you’ll gain tools and ideas that can be implemented right away — no large renovation budget required. Register today.

In this workshop, you’ll learn about:

• Low-cost improvements that make a big impact.

• How to prioritize accessibility changes.

• Ways to engage your congregation in accessibility efforts.

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As organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms for fundraising, donations and giving, their staff must prioritize cybersecurity to safeguard both donations and donor data. To get started, review the following tips and information, which will help your organization mitigate potential threats and risks associated with digital money transactions. >More

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Meetings create space for participation and genuine input. Having a planned conversation with a staff member, church volunteer or ministry group lets them know that what they have to say is important. When leaders use the agenda to foster dialogue, people will know that these leaders care about what they have to say, and they will tell that leader what they really think. >More