Community Connections
ELCA
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the national church of which St. Paul is a member. It is the largest Lutheran church in the United States, and one of the largest Christian denominations, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region.
Sierra Pacific Synod
The Sierra Pacific Synod is one of sixty-five synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The word synod comes from a Greek word meaning “to travel a common road – to walk together.” The congregations, the people, and the ministries in our expansive geographical region walk a common road together as a community of nearly 200 congregations in central and northern California and northern Nevada that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world.
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM)
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries anticipates a church in which queer leadership is valued, empowered, and celebrated: queer-led ministries are dynamic and thriving; all marginalized communities are liberated and honored, and justice flows from the sacraments as they overwhelm us and bring us to life.
Reconciling Works
Since 1974, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation has advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.
Lutheran Social Services Northern California
Lutheran Social Services of Northern California promotes stability and honors the dignity of those it serves by providing supportive housing services that lead to self-sufficiency. LSS NorCal is part of Lutheran Services in America — one of the largest health care and human services networks in the United States with more than 300 member nonprofit organizations. LSS NorCal is a joint mission of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). Its work is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice.
Lutheran World Relief
Founded by Lutherans in the United States at the end of World War II, grounded in Lutheran theology and building on decades of experience, Lutheran World Relief tackles global poverty by helping people adapt to the challenges that threaten their livelihoods and well-being. LWR works with people based on need, regardless of race, religion or nationality and does not evangelize.
ELCA World Hunger
More than 820 million people – that’s about 11 percent of people in our world today – are hungry.
Working with and through our congregations, in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Lutheran churches overseas and other partners, ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty.
Bread for the world
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.
We can end hunger in our time. But churches and charities can’t do it all. Our government must also do its part. By making our voices heard in Congress, we make our nation’s laws fairer and more compassionate. We leverage big changes for people in our country and around the world who struggle with hunger.
St. Mary’s Center
St. Mary’s Center is a community of hope, justice, and healing that serves at-risk seniors and preschoolers in the heart of Oakland. We strive to improve quality of life through counseling, shelter, nutrition, advocacy and social support.
An independent non-profit social service organization with headquarters and five service locations along the San Pablo Avenue corridor in West Oakland, California, St. Mary’s Center answers basic needs and offers hope for more than 1,000 Seniors and 40 Preschool families every year.
Mercy Brown Bag
Seniors helping seniors is at the heart of the Mercy Brown Bag Program, supported by Elder Care Alliance’s Mercy Retirement & Care Center. For more than 34 years, our volunteers have lovingly filled and distributed bags of fresh produce, healthy grains, canned goods, lean proteins and more. While getting food to seniors in need is our primary goal, we are also compelled to promote change in legislative policy to benefit low-income residents.
You can learn more about St. Paul’s hunger ministries here.
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
Lutheran Office of Public Policy represents the coordinated witness of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on issues of public policy in the state of California.
