Join ELCA Young Adults for Faith & Democracy: a 4-part series on voting and public life. Topics will include faith in public life, civil rights inequalities in past and present, the power of state and local elections, and advocacy and organizing. The series will be led by Rachel Wyffels, a recent Hunger Advocacy Fellow with ELCA Advocacy.

Rachel Wyffels is a recent Hunger Advocacy Fellow with ELCA Advocacy, where she worked on legislative advocacy for hunger, housing, and climate justice. She now works with the EcoFaith Network NE-MN Synod and Saint Paul Area Care of Creation, and is beginning her first year in the Mdiv program at Luther Seminary. 

Join Andrew and other Abide small group participants as we explore the connections between the faith we have been given and the universe which God has created. We will engage topics like faith’s connection to how we value (or de-value) creation, how to interpret biblical texts from an eco-justice lens, Old Testament and New Testament perspectives on the environment, and how our faith can motivate us to care for creation and all creatures. There will be time for plenary discussion and breakout rooms as well.

Andrew Thompson (he/him) is a fourth year seminarian at Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, and serves as Intern Pastor at Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock, Texas. Andrew is passionate about God’s life-giving mission at work in the world, especially in relation to environmental justice, as we yearn for that day where God  “[makes] all things new” and all of creation will shout for joy at God’s redeeming work in the world (Isaiah 11:6, 55:12; Revelation 21:5 NRSV).

In this series we will be looking at personality tests and the memes around them. We will take tests and discuss if we find them accurate, fun, or useful. We'll be exploring Meyers-Briggs, Enneagram, ALL the Buzzfeed quizzes and more! Participants will be encouraged to bring their favorite inventories and assessments to the table!

Hello! My name is Tessa Faust and I’m a grad student studying Native American religions. In my free time I like to read, play board games, and write my friends letters. I spent part of summer working with ELCA Young Adults to design a vocational fellowship program!