Lutherans in the US are asking the Obama administration to “remain firm” in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian impasse in relation to the stalemate over a two-state solution.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will make decisions on issues related to human sexuality at its 2009 Churchwide Assembly from 17-23 August in Minneapolis.

As the federal government in the USA considers comprehensive reform of the health care system, faith groups, civic organisations and labour unions are mobilising for change. They want to see an end to the massive health divisions.

Urging support for decent funding for international aid programmes, 59 of the 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have signed a letter calling on members of the US Congress to act.

A Christian denomination and a major migration service in the US have expressed deep concern over the damage to communities and families by recent immigration raids, detention and other enforcement actions. They want action for justice.

More than 1,200 faith-based and antipoverty activists took part in the recent Mobilization to End Poverty event in the USA, which aimed to consolidate broad-based support for fresh policies on social justice and deprivation.

While the impact of flu viruses and the issues surrounding them is making life increasingly difficult in Mexico, churches in the USA are seeking to respond rationally and with care to a situation where panic can be a major part of the problem.

Lutherans in America have expressed concern over the impact of immigration enforcement raids on children and families in the US. They say that US immigration law is 'badly broken' and in desperate need of reform.

The image, message and reality of the crucixion of Jesus Christ "calls us [Christians] not to glorify, but to attend to the suffering in the world and to struggle for its elimination," said the participants of a recent theological consultation on cruelty organized by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).