This page is updated regularly as we find new resources to share with you.
Attention Rostered Ministers!
Are you receiving our regular Coronavirus resource emails to Rostered Ministers?
If not, please let us know at gmsoffice@gmselca.org.
August 19, 2021 – Updated COVID Guidance
May 20, 2021 – A Statement from Bishop Erickson on CDC Guidance on Mask Wearing by Vaccinated Individuals
January 25, 2021 – An Important Message on Returning to Church Considerations from Bishop Erickson
See the Archive section for past messages.
May 11, 2021 – Faiths4Vaccines: Love thy neighbor. Get vaccinated. (video)
May 7, 2021 – Presiding Bishop Eaton: Statement on Mental Health Awareness (video)
April 30, 2021 – Presiding Bishop Eaton: The Source of Science and Faith (video)
March 19, 2021 – Presiding Bishop Eaton: Happy Vaccination Day (video)
March 12, 2021 – Presiding Bishop Eaton: Lessons from a Pandemic (video)
ELCA Churchwide: Church Together, Apart – COVID-19 Impact Videos
Living Lutheran: Special COVID-19 Coverage
See the Archive section for past messages.
Vaccine-Related Resources:
ELCA Churchwide: Talking points on ELCA social teaching regarding vaccination during a pandemic
WI Council of Churches: COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach program
ELCA Churchwide / US DHHS: Vaccine Confidence Guidance
WI Council of Churches: Vaccine Education Resources
General Public Health Data & Resources:
WI Department of Health Services (DHHS)
WI DHHS: County Data – updated daily
Harvard Global Health Institute & Brown School of Public Health: COVID Risk Levels interactive dashboard
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
CDC: Considerations for Communities of Faith
March 11, 2020 – ELCA World Hunger: Congregational Planning Checklist for Public Health Concerns (English and Spanish)
March 9, 2021 – Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service: How parents can get up to $1,248 per child to offset costs of meals during virtual learning
ELCA Churchwide: Public Health & Worship Resources
ELCA Churchwide: Worship Resource for Re-Gathering
ELCA Churchwide: Prayers for Times of Public Health Concern (English and Spanish)
Lutheran World Federation: Intercessory Prayers in the Midst of the Spread of COVID-19 (English and Spanish)
List of ELW Hymns in the Public Domain (scroll down and click the “Show” link after bolded “Hymns Included” heading)
FCC: Guidelines for Low-Power radio
WI Funeral Directors Association: COVID-19 Officiant Preference Form
NEW: September 21, 2021 – WI Council of Churches: With One Body And One Spirit: Returning to Church 3.0
August 30, 2021 – WI Council of Churches: Can We Sing Yet?
June 8, 2021 – ELCA Churchwide: Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Lingering Pandemic
August 11, 2020 – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Which mask is best for hearing?
GMS: “Together in Mission: Year-round Resourcing” Facebook group
WI Council of Churches: Coronavirus resources
Remote Congregational Meetings:
December 16, 2020 – ELCA Churchwide: Considerations for Electronic Meetings
November 19, 2020 – GMS: Practical Tips for Electronic Congregational Meetings
November 17, 2020 – GMS: Recording of Webinar on Virtual Congregational Meetings
July 16, 2020 – GMS: Remote Meeting FAQs for Congregations (updated)
Tech Resources:
FaithLead: How to do Church Online webinar series
GMS: Thinking About Using Zoom?
Zoom: Securing Your Zoom Meetings
March 17, 2020 – Tech Crunch: Beware of ZoomBombing
April 20, 2020 – ELCA Churchwide: Tracking Online Worship Attendance
April 20, 2020 – Carey Nieuwhof: Some Awkward Questions About How to Measure Online Church Attendance (+ 5 Growth Strategies)
April 2, 2020 – GMS: Digital Communication Tips for Congregations During the Coronavirus
Ministry Resources:
Brotherhood Mutual: Sample activity participation agreement
Church Mutual: Sample COVID-19 waivers
ELCA Youth Gathering: Fundraising During a Pandemic: Who Knew That Was a Thing? (PDF)
Pastoral Resources:
ELCA Coaching: Recordings of Weekly Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
Way to Lead: Come to Me: Video Devotions for Weary Church Leaders
Best Practices During Times of Uncertainty – Communication and Generosity
GSB Fundraising: Stewardship in Uncertain Times
April 1, 2020 – Rev. Mike Ward: Stewardship and Mission Best Practices during uncertain times webinar recording
March 30, 2020 – Rev. Mike Ward: How to Tell Outcome Stories (video)
March 31, 2021 – ELCA Churchwide: Paycheck Protection Program FAQ II
June 8, 2021 – SBA: Updated PPP Loan Guidance
April 16, 2020 – GMS: Locating Articles of Incorporation for Payroll Protection Program
April 8, 2020 – ELCA Churchwide: Paycheck Protection Program FAQ (English and Spanish; video)
April 3, 2020 – SBA: FAQs for Faith-Based Organizations
March 30, 2020 – ELCA Churchwide: Update and Resources on COVID-19-related Benefits for ELCA Congregations, Synods, Other Ministries and their Employees
March 30, 2020 – Summary of CARES Act Provisions
March 30, 2020 – Christianity Today: The CARES Act & Your Church Staff: What You Need to Know & 4 Steps to Take Now
March 23, 2020 – UCC: Families First Coronavirus Response Act – UCC Update
Messages from Bishop Erickson:
November 11, 2020 – An Important Message (Nov. update re: indoor worship)
October 8, 2020 – An Important Message (Oct. update re: indoor worship)
September 24, 2020 – Worship Practices
May 14, 2020 – JOINT LETTER: WI Supreme Court Safer at Home Ruling
May 12, 2020 – Returning to Worship
April 23, 2020 – Extension of the Safer at Home Executive Order
April 19, 2020 – A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Easter (YouTube, Dropbox and PDF)
April 15, 2020 – Special Joint Appeal from Outreach for Hope and GMS
April 9, 2020 – JOINT LETTER: WI Faith Leaders Respond to COVID-19 Closures
April 9, 2020 – Easter Sunday Message (video – YouTube and Dropbox)
April 2, 2020 – Palm Sunday Message
March 29, 2020 – CARES Act
March 26, 2020 – “Safer at Home” Executive Order
March 25, 2020 – A Message for Rostered Ministers
March 23, 2020 – Opportunities to Connect with GMS Colleagues
March 20, 2020 – COVID-19 Resources for Rostered Ministers
March 16, 2020 – Updated COVID-19 Information
March 12, 2020 – A Proactive Response to the Coronavirus (video)
March 11, 2020 – The Growing Threat of the Coronavirus
March 5, 2020 – A Pastoral Message
Presiding Bishop Eaton & the ELCA:
ELCA Open Doors grants (applications closed)
February 28, 2021 – Be vigilant, help is on the way (video)
May 21, 2020 – Take time to enjoy God’s creation (video)
May 14, 2020 – God wants us to be whole people (video)
May 7, 2020 – God is working (video)
April 30, 2020 – We still have God and each other (video)
April 23, 2020 – Hope doesn’t disappoint (video)
April 17, 2020 – It’s okay to grieve and hope (video)
April 9, 2020 – There Will Be Joy | Bishop Eaton’s Easter Message (video)
April 3, 2020 – We Remain United | Bishop Eaton issues Holy Week invitation (video)
April 1, 2020 – Be of good courage! (video)
March 28, 2020 – A God who is faithful (video)
March 27, 2020 – Response to COVID-19
March 12, 2020 – Bishop Eaton on COVID-19 (video)
March 6, 2020 – Presiding Bishop Eaton: ELCA presiding bishop addresses concerns about COVID-19
Public Health:
CDC: Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces
Masked Sewists for SE Wisconsin: Resources and tips for sewn PPE donations (website and Facebook group)
US DHHS: Faith and Community Based COVID-19 FAQs
WI Vaccine Hunters and Angels (Facebook Group)
May 22, 2020 – Advocate Aurora Health: Capacity Management/Safe Distancing inside Facilities (PDF FAQ’s, webinar recording)
May 20, 2020 – Advocate Aurora Health: Legal Liability in Re-Opening (PDF FAQ’s, webinar recording)
May 18, 2020 – Advocate Aurora Health: Facility Sanitizing/Proper Cleaning Procedures (PDF FAQ’s, webinar recording)
April 24, 2020 – GMS: What Will the Next 12-18 Months Look Like? (video)
Worship:
Church Mutual: Safely Returning to Worship (webinar, slides, article)
ELCA Churchwide: Resources for Worship in the Home
ELCA Churchwide: Resuming Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life During a Pandemic (English and Spanish)
LEAD: Holy Week Digital Worship Resources
Music that Make Community blog
National Council of Churches: Joint Holy Week resources
WI Council of Churches: Advent and Christmas Resources
WI Council of Churches: Online and at Home Holy Week Resources and Ideas
July 28, 2021 – WI Council of Churches: By Faith We Stand Firm: A ‘Returning to Church 2.0’ Supplement
May 13, 2021 – WI Council of Churches: Love Builds Up: A ‘Returning to Church 2.0’ Supplement
April 16, 2021 – WI Council of Churches: Bearing with One Another in Love: A ‘Returning to Church 2.0’ Supplement
January 27, 2021 – GMS: A Conversation with the Rev. Kerri Parker from the WI Council of Churches (webinar recording)
January 14, 2021 – WI Council of Churches: Holding Our Plans Loosely: Returning to Church 2.0
November 12, 2020 – ELCA Worship: All Creation Sings: Teaching New Assembly Song in Challenging Times
October 6, 2020 – WI Council of Churches: Churches Urged to Return to Physically Distanced Ministry (press release)
September 21, 2020 – WI Council of Churches: Returning to Church Early Fall Update
July 30, 2020 – WI Council of Churches: Returning to Church July 2020 Update
July 27, 2020 – Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Metropolitan Chicago Synod: Communion & COVID: Eucharistic Practices and Perspectives webinar recording
July 1, 2020 – Luther Seminary: Singing Together, While Apart
May 28, 2020 – GMS: Conversations Around Reopening webinar recording
May 27, 2020 – WI Council of Churches: Returning to Our Houses of Worship
May 21, 2020 – Church Mutual: Recommendations for a Safe Return to Worship Checklist
May 12, 2020 – ELCA Churchwide: Considerations for Returning to In-person Worship (English and Spanish)
May 5, 2020 – Minneapolis Area Synod: Dr. Michael Osterholm on the pandemic and reopening in-person worship (video)
April 23, 2020 – WI Council of Churches: Guide to Returning to Church (website, PDF)
March 30, 2020 – GMS: Holy Communion during this time of Pandemic (available upon request)
March 18, 2020 – GMS: Resources for Worship
Ministry Tools:
Sparkhouse: Family Sunday School virtual curriculum
WI Council of Churches: July 2020 WI Clergy Survey on COVID-19 & Ministry Stressors (Full Report and Powerpoint)
July 28, 2020 – East Central Synod of WI: Christian Education during COVID-19 webinar recording
June 22, 2020 – ELCA World Hunger: At-Home VBS Curriculum
May 7, 2020 – VA Theological Seminary: Vacation Bible School 2020: A Panel to Discuss Possibilities (Including Cancellation) for VBS During a Pandemic (video)
April 21, 2020 – Jake Morrill: Church in these VUCA Times (video)
April 13, 2020 – VA Theological Seminary: Canceling Summer Programs: When Camps, Trips, And VBS Cannot Go On
March 26, 2020 – Youth Specialties: 15 Ways to Build Faith and Community During the Coronavirus
March 24, 2020 – GMS: Helpful webinars for rostered ministers and congregational leaders
March 19, 2020 – COVID-19 Letter to ELCA Leaders (data and video)
March 16, 2020 – ELCA World Hunger: Tips for Responding to Hunger in a Pandemic
March 13, 2020 – Augsburg Fortress: Temporary Expanded Licensing
March 12, 2020 – GMS: Ideas for Creative Worship and Support
Stewardship & Mission Resources:
May 11, 2020 – NovusWay Ministries: What to do first for a stable 2020 (podcast)
Financial:
April 2, 2020 – A Letter from ELCA Mission Investment Fund CEO Eva Roby
April 2, 2020 – Types of Assistance Available from Mission Investment Fund and ELCA Federal Credit Union