Today at churchwide assembly we heard from our federal chaplaincy ministry. 180 ELCA pastors serve as federal chaplains. These individuals bring the Word of God and our Lutheran understanding of grace and inclusion to active duty servicewomen and men as well as veterans and their families.

Was wonderful to see Chaplain Kerstin Hedlund who served as an intern and pastor in NT-NL Synod, ELCA at Calvary, Richland Hills before moving to Chicago and active duty.

I also learned two of our newly elected bishops have or are currently federal chaplains. Bill Tesch (NW Minnesota) and Michael Lozano (NW Penn) were both in uniform today. We are so grateful for the witness and work of ELCA federal chaplains. #NTNL #ELCAFedChaplains #InMissionTogether