ELCA Blogs

While driving back to Chicago from Detroit a few months ago, I listened to a segment on public radio in which a business professor was talking about the national trend of lower enrollment in MBA programs. There are as many reasons for this trend as there are schools creatively addressing it, but I primarily heard affirmation for the ELCA Youth Gathering. I know that wasn’t the producer’s intention, but let me explain how I got there:

The prevailing wisdom and research indicate a growing emphasis on and necessity for career-ready degrees such as computer science, engineering and finance – often included as part of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Yet, employers are saying they are looking for new hires with creative, communicative and problem-solving skills. These are skills traditionally associated with a liberal arts education, which is at the core of Lutheran higher education. All of the ELCA colleges and universities are unanimous in their desire to use education, civic engagement and community service as pathways to develop informed citizens who engage with their neighbors. The ELCA Youth Gathering is built around the same commitment to help young people identify, embrace and nurture their vocation, a calling to live a life that serves the well-being of their community and the world.

This commitment to learning is reflected in many aspects of the ELCA Youth Gathering. Followers of this blog have already learned about the Proclaim Story program element that will help young people identify their story and other’s stories within God’s story. Especially during these times when fear and suspicion toward those who are different is becoming the prevailing narrative, it is important to hear again and again God’s promise of good news for the whole world. In addition to hearing it, teenagers will learn how to proclaim it by how they live in the world.

Another powerful aspect of the ELCA Youth Gathering is the “Getting Ready” materials. Evaluation data from previous Gatherings show a clear correlation between the impact of the Gathering experience on a young person’s faith formation and their group’s use of the “Getting Ready” materials. The groups that engage the materials in the months leading up to the Gathering are far more likely to have transformational experiences at the Gathering. I like to say that the Holy Spirit uses the materials to till the soil of young people’s hearts, preparing them for what will be planted during the five intense days of the Gathering. It is then up to the congregation to nurture those new seeds of faith discovery when young people return home. In 2015, the Gathering will offer suggestions for congregational leaders to build on the newly forming faith discoveries through a specially designed app. Later this month, you’ll find the Gathering’s “Getting Ready” materials on our resource page.

This week, Congress prepares to pass a bill to fund the government. ELCA Advocacy is working to support funding proposals and legislation focused on justice and love for our neighbor. Together with you, we strive to create room for practical solutions, open respectful bipartisan dialogues, fulfill our Biblical values, and avoid scenarios which foster a government shutdown.

Appropriation legislators recently released a $1.1 trillion spending agreement on Fiscal Year 2015. This proposal would fund all of the government, with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security, until September 2015. As legislators work to pass the new budget before December 11, the ELCA remains focused on issues that affect our faith communities and neighbors:

Nutrition: The ELCA has long advocated for food security and access for all. As part of our call to speak for a just society and love for our neighbor, we are pleased to see Congress is isupporting funding that provides supplemental food and nutrition education to new mothers in the WIC program. After facing intense threats of cutbacks, we are also pleased that work requirements for the SNAP nutrition program were not tightened. However, we are concerned by the implications of a policy rider which would give schools a one year waiver to bypass nutritional meal requirements. Nutrition standards in schools affect children’s health, their educational achievement and economic security. As a church called to strive for justice, we will continue to advocate in 2015 for policies that care for the health and nutrition of all our brothers and sisters, including the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act..

Environment: In 2014, ELCA Advocacy joined Lutherans in the People’s Climate March in New York and advocated for policies that care for God’s creation. We are deeply concerned by funding cuts that will significantly reduce EPA agency staff to the lowest number since the 1980s and will ban contributions to the international Green Climate Fund for one year. In 2015, we will continue to push for policies that care for the earth, our neighbors and all of God’s creation. After contentious debates, Senate appropriators succeeded on limiting large cuts to the EPA’s environmental programs, including language for the new proposal on Power Plant Carbon Emissions, which ELCA Advocacy championed over the summer.

Abortion: Appropriation bills maintained nearly all pro-life policy riders, with the exception of a rape and incest exception added to the Peace Corps program. Additional funding was provided to abstinence education. New language was also added which will make the Affordable Care Act disclose abortion coverage.

International Affairs: ELCA Advocacy welcomes the addition of $2.5 billion in emergency funding to help address the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. However, this amount is less than the $6.18 billion needed for immediate needs, as requested by President Obama. Through Lutheran Disaster Response and other partnerships, the ELCA has worked to provide over $100,000 to containing and addressing the Ebola crisis. We will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure that more funding resources are available to help address the Ebola emergency. In the Middle East, Jordan will receive $1 billion to help the country with hosting Syrian refugees and fighting the extremist group calling itself The Islamic State.

Immigration: This summer, ELCA Advocacy took action to support the rights of all migrants– including children and families, and ensure that they are treated with dignity and compassion. We are happy to see Congress acknowledge the need for a holistic approach to the influx of migrant children and families seeking refuge in the United States. Proposed funding levels will help finance agencies that take care of children, and help the State Department address the root causes of migration. We look forward to continue our work in 2015 with the Administration, Congress, and partner organizations to ensure that the programs and policies supported by these funds acknowledge the humanity in all of God’s children and concentrate in effectively supporting those who are vulnerable.

Money in Politics: Among the other policy riders, a surprise piece of legislation affecting money in politics is stirring new controversy. As it stands, the proposal would increase an individual’s maximum campaign contributions from $64,800 to nearly $1.6 million. If the wealthiest can continue to overwhelm the voices of ordinary Americans, we not only cease to be a democracy, but also silence the most marginalized members of our communities who cannot afford to make large campaign contributions. This year, hundreds of Lutheran advocates voiced their concerns on the overwhelming increase of money and special interests in politics to the Senate. As advocates who work to empower all voices, we will continue to challenge social systems which weaken our democracy.

To take action, sign up for ELCA Advocacy Action Alerts (e-Advocacy Network) by visiting: www.ELCA.org/advocacy

Stay up to date on ELCA Advocacy by following us on social media!

Facebook: ELCA Advocacy Twitter: @ELCAadvocacy

ELCA Advocacy

Lutherans are taking action across the country! Below you will find our monthy State Advocacy Newsletter. Share with your friends!

———————————————

Washington, D.C.

Advocacy Director, Stacy Martin

www.elca.org/advocacy

Seeking Justice and Reconciliation in this season of Advent: This month, ELCA Advocacy released two statements expressing our sympathies for the families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and our grief for our failures to address racism. As a Church, we look to reaffirm our commitment to the hard work of racial justice and reconciliation. Drawing from the biblical witness to God’s rich forms of love and justice for all humanity, the ELCA is compelled by a “holy yearning” to take action and address the need for reforms in policies and practices in the criminal justice system.

The ABLE Act: On Wednesday, December 3, the ELCA Advocacy office urged followers to support the ABLE Act, which passed in the US House of Representatives by a 404-17 vote. The ABLE Act would allow people with disabilities to set up savings accounts for housing, transportation, educational opportunities, and other expenses without jeopardizing their eligibility for Medicaid and Social Security benefits. ELCA Advocacy continues to urge support for this legislation as it moves through the Senate later this month.

Executive action on immigration: President Obama announced historic action late November aimed to stabilize the lives of millions of migrants living in the United States. ELCA Advocacy welcomed the announcement with the firm hope that actions taken by the president do not inhibit the ability of our elected officials to fulfill their call to work across the aisles toward shared values and common ground.

The new Congress: Following Election Day, the number of Lutherans in Congress grew—from 23 members to 28. ELCA Advocacy looks forward to connecting with our new Lutheran public officials and continuing advocacy with the new Republican majority in the Senate. In the lame-duck session, Director of Advocacy Stacy Martin and faith partners visited several congressional leadership offices and head appropriation legislators to discuss budget priorities and prospects in 114^th Congress. Visits included meetings with both sides of the aisle, including the office of Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Dem. Leader Nancy Pelosi.

A message of thanks to Uruguay for opening its doors to Guantanamo detainees: ELCA Advocacy and Lutherans throughout the country give thanks to the country of Uruguay for “welcoming the stranger” by opening its doors to six Guantanamo Bay detainees who, after 12 years of imprisonment without charge, were finally resettled as refugees in Uruguay. Click here to read our message of thanks to Uruguay.

News from the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru: ELCA Director for Environmental Advocacy, Mary Minette, traveled to Lima as part of a delegation from the ACT Alliance and updated us from the UN Climate Change Conference. This meeting is expected to end with world leaders agreeing to a framework for a global agreement to address climate change. The faith community’s goals for the framework include a strong commitment from parties to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and address the needs of vulnerable people who are already suffering the impacts of climate change.

———————————————

California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- CA 

www.loppca.org

A New Legislative Session: The 2015-2016 session of the California Legislature began Dec. 1, with new members comprising over one-quarter of the 120-member body. Bills getting attention from LOPP-CA for early analysis and possible support include a raise in the minimum wage to $13, expansion of preschool to serve all children from low-income families, eligibility for Covered California (health insurance exchange/Obamacare) regardless of immigration status, and post-2020 greenhouse gas reduction goals. LOPP-CA is part of California Delivers (on its carbon reduction goals), which will be opposing new legislation to stop the Jan. 1 scheduled inclusion of gasoline and diesel fuel in the existing the cap-and-trade program, which has already generated over $700 million for reinvestment in pollution-impacted disadvantaged communities, transit, clean-fuels, etc.

Embracing the Executive Order on Immigration: On the Monday before a Friday attack on the Mexican Consulate and other targets in Austin, TX, by a right-wing extremist linked to the white supremacist Phineas Priesthood, LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson and Sacramento Conference Dean Rev. Jason Bense participated in a press event at the Sacramento Mexican Consulate supporting President Obama’s executive order on immigration. Consul General Carlos González Gutiérrez listed specific actions that the consulate will take to support the process, and warned against scam artists seeking to exploit this opportunity for families to come out of the shadows. LOPP-CA shared the ELCA Conference of Bishops’ statement, the LIRS response to the Order, and a compelling story of congregational assistance for undocumented families in a mountain resort community.

———————————————

Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado

www.lam-co.org

This month, the Policy Committee of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado met to discuss and approve the LAM-CO Policy Agenda for 2015. The agenda is focused on hunger, poverty reduction, and affordable housing. Among the agenda items is supporting an increase to the state minimum wage, which is currently set at $8.00/hour for 2014. The rate is below the self-sufficiency standard for one adult in Colorado, and well below the standard for one adult with a preschool-age child. Other items on the agenda include: improving access rates for SNAP and TANF benefits and adding incentives to the Colorado Housing Investment Trust Fund to encourage developers to build more affordable housing.

In November, LAM-CO hosted an adult forum at Our Savior’s in Greeley and also visited the campus ministry at University of Northern Colorado. Director Peter Severson preached at the Thanksgiving service for the Prairie Parish, a collection of five congregations on the eastern high plains, held at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush. Peter was also present with colleagues at the national ELCA State Public Policy Office convening in Baltimore.

LAM-CO recently hosted Rep. Dominick Moreno of HD-32, the district encompassing our neighborhood, in a meeting at the Rocky Mountain Synod office. Peter Severson, Bishop Jim Gonia, and other synod staff joined Dominick for a discussion of issues facing the neighborhood and insights into the upcoming legislative session. Rep. Moreno will serve as Assistant Majority Leader in the Colorado House of Representatives for the upcoming session, which begins January 7, 2015.

———————————————

Illinois

Jennifer DeLeon, Lutehran Adovcacy – Illinois

www.lutheranadvocacy.org

Savings Program: We are happy to report that last week one of the bills we have been working on was approved by the Illinois General Assembly; SB2758 will give millions of private sector workers in our state the opportunity to save their own money for retirement by expanding access to employment-based retirement savings accounts. More than 2.5 million workers do not have access to a retirement savings account through their employer, according to a report from the Woodstock Institute. The report found lack of access is most serious for low-wage workers, of whom 60 percent lack access, but even for workers making $40,000 or more, 49 percent do not have access to an employment-based retirement savings plan.

Immigration: We have joined the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Right’s “IL is Ready Campaign” to educate and prepare the immigrant community on the administrative relief for undocumented immigrants. Our first information workshop was held this Sunday at Sagrado Corazon Lutheran church in Waukegan. Thank you to Pastor Hector Carrasquillo Director of Latino Ministries for the invitation. To request an information workshop contact Jennifer.deleon@lssi.org to receive updates and learn more about Il is ready sign up here!

———————————————

Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota

tammy@lcppm.org

EPA Clean Power Plant Plan: Lutheran Advocacy: Minnesota collected “photo messages” for the EPA and the Minnesota senators in support of the EPA Clean Power Plant Plan. Some of the people participating agreed to allow their photos to be used for media. Some of those photos, with street addresses removed, are available here!

Clean Energy & Jobs Campaign: Given significant changes in the MN House of Representatives following the election, campaign members, including LA-MN, are trying to rework the message points for the Renewable Energy Standard and Energy Efficiency Standard to make them more rural, ag, and small business-focused.

Homes for All Coalition: As part of the Community Engagement Team, LA-MN is involved with some of the other partners in developing some creative tools around which groups & churches can organize and educate. LA-MN Director, Tammy Walhof, and others on the team originally tried to remake a game like Monopoly or Life, but those ideas were dropped upon learning of challenges that groups in other states had with copyright issues. The focus is now leaning toward the development/rewrite of a song & music video.

Payday Lending: Many groups that are part of the Fairness in Lending Coalition, including LA-MN, sent a letter to Minnesota’s U.S. senators encouraging action at the federal level on Payday Lending. The coalition plans to continue the legislative effort in Minnesota. LA-MN will continue to have it as a second tier issue.

———————————————

New Jersey

Sara Lilja, Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry, New Jersey

http://www.njsynod.org/

Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry co-sponsors the Anti-Poverty Summit in New Jersey. Legislatures from both parties, clergy, non-profit organizations and leading policy experts attended a sold out conference on Dec. 4^th that was themed, “Changing Attitudes, Changing Laws, Changing Lives.” Rev. Sara Lilja led a standing room only workshop entitled “Community Conversations”, this session was a skill building opportunity that focused on shaping Public Opinion as the beginning place for Advocacy.

Criminal Justice Reform: A bill has just been filed in the Senate (S2588) that would limit the use of Solitary Confinement in New Jersey’s State and Country Jails. LOGM will be working with other coalition partners to have this bill enacted into law.

Earned Sick Days: LOGM is participating in a statewide campaign that will provide Earned Sick Days for all New Jersey Workers. This legislation has passed in 7 municipalities, and now is moving on to the entire State. We will be speaking at a Press Conference this week.

———————————————

New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico

www.lutheranadvocacynm.org

In early November, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM hosted our annual advocacy conference at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Albuquerque. Almost 100 advocates from around New Mexico attended. A number of Lutherans traveled over 600 miles round trip to participate, coming from Las Cruces and from Alamogordo. All of the current volunteers from the Border Servant Corps, a border ministry of Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces, attended. Pr. David Vásquez, currently a campus pastor at Luther College and upcoming president of Pacific School of Religion, was the featured speaker and lead participants in two bible study sessions relating to faith and immigration. Breakout session topics included hunger in NM, the importance of early childhood education, local immigration issues and the 2015 LAM-NM Advocacy Agenda. The conference was attended by many of our ecumenical and interfaith partners, including Presbyterians, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Unitarians and others.

LAM-NM director, Ruth Hoffman has been busy attending interim legislative committees as they work toward the 2015 legislative session. The committees are preparing legislation for consideration during the session. Ruth testified at the most recent meeting of the Economic & Rural Development Committee about the Individual Development Accounts program and need for increased funding for that low-income matched savings account program.

———————————————

Pennsylvania

Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

Access to healthy, affordable food and fair education funding will be top issues for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania next year. LAMPa’s policy council and 7 bishops spent a day in early December prayerfully discussing concerns in their communities before adopting an agenda for 2015. The work will be carried out in a capital with divided government following November’s election that saw the nation’s only defeat of an incumbent governor, replacing Republican Tom Corbett with Democrat Tom Wolf. The election also grew Republican margins in the legislature and raised new leadership in both the House and Senate.

Environment: LAMPa launched its creation care work group with a statewide conference call that included Mary Minette from the D.C. advocacy office, sharing areas of interest in state environmental issues, with clean water being identified as a primary concern.

Immigration: Following President Obama’s announcement on immigration relief, LAMPa connected our synods and interested congregations with partner organizations looking for sites to provide information and assistance to immigrants who might be eligible.

Service: Lutherans might expect to be approached by housing advocates to connect on the ELCA “Day of Service” in September. The Center for Community Change recently spotlighted the connection between service and advocacy on the Pennsylvania housing trust fund on God’s work. Our Hands. Sunday. The network urged its members to reach out to Lutherans to add our voices to the work of our hands on behalf of our neighbors struggling with shelter. Read the article here.

———————————————

Virginia

Marco Grimaldo, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is working on several bills and policy changes to implementation of SNAP in Virginia. We are working to get a minimum wage bill introduced that would take Virginia up to $10.10 per hour over three years and a bill to make Virginia’s Earned Income Credit at least partially refundable. We are also part of a coalition effort to change the income test for who can qualify for SNAP benefits.

We met this week with faith leaders that are part of the Virginia Council of Churches and the Virginia Interfaith Center who together welcomed First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe to talk about her new role chairing a commission named, “Bridging the Nutritional Divide,” that will help address hunger in Virginia. She announced her push for a pilot program for Breakfast in the Classroom programs in Virginia. Finally, we met with Lutherans from various parts of Virginia as part of Bishop Mauney’s Childhood Hunger Task Force and that work is now underway.

———————————————

Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network

www.fanwa.org

Policy Updates: Faith Action Network’s (FAN) governing board approved our 2015 legislative agenda. Our five “policy buckets” are: Reducing Wealth Inequality (FAN’s lead issue), Forging a Sustainable Biennial Budget, Dismantling the Culture of Violence, Protecting Housing & Preventing Homelessness, and Sustaining Washington’s Environment

Advocacy Days: FAN will once again sponsor three advocacy days during our legislative session:

January 31^st in Spokane, with the theme “Raising Prophetic Voices: Faith Communities Advocate for Justice”
February 7^th in Yakima, held at the Unitarian church
February 19^th in Olympia (our main event at the state capital), with the theme “Act on the Dream: Invest in the Common Good”

Annual Dinner (Nov. 16^th): FAN’s annual dinner, Acting on the Dream: The Movement Continues, was a wonderful event where we filled over 40 tables with faith advocates and labor and community allies. One of the tables hosted ELCA Bishop Kirby Unti, DEM Rev. Jerry Buss, and ELCA DC office’s John Johnson. We exceeded what we raised last year. You can view video clips from the event, including the inspiring keynote speech by travel expert and activist Rick Steves (ELCA—Trinity-Lynwood, WA). Photos from the event are on our Facebook page.

———————————————

Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

www.loppw.org

Poverty Summit: 20 ELCA adults and youth gathered in Marinette for an inter-generational poverty summit focused on youth. In the photo is LOPPW Council Member Eric Larson, who helped to plan and lead the event, and State Representative John Nygren, who shared his journey struggling with his daughter’s heroin addiction and moving from his personal experience to advocating for public policies. LSS Case Manager Mary Busick from Escanaba, MI tied together local youth homelessness, drug addiction and trafficking. LOPPW included an hour of advocacy exercise. Feedback confirmed that it would be worthwhile to repeat the summit in other locations.

BadgerCare: LOPPW’s director attended a meeting with partners to discuss next steps for encouraging the Wisconsin legislature to receive federal funding for BadgerCare. 73% of the people who voted in the 20 counties with the referendum said Yes to take the federal dollars.

Prison Reform for Youth: LOPPW’s director and Council Member Rev. Jay McDivitt met with Senator Jerry Petrowski’s legislative aid to encourage the senator to again present a bill supporting 17 year old offenders of non-violent crimes to be tried as juveniles.

Anti-Sex Trafficking: The director made contact with three anti-trafficking groups to help determine statewide coalitions in place and discussed building a campaign with Tia.

Education: LOPPW’s director met with colleagues from around the country in Baltimore deepening our efforts of working together as a team.

Other Advocacy: Council Member Rev. Sue Schneider is explaining advocacy to middle school youth in Madison at Confirmation Extravaganza.

ELCA Director of Environmental Advocacy, Mary Minette

On the eve of the first day of COP20, the UN climate talks in Lima, a Vigil for the Climate was held near the Pentagonito where the UN talks are to be held. Christiana Figueres, the head of the UNFCCC and Manuel Pulgar-Vidal the Peruvian Minister for the Environment and President of the UN meeting, spoke to the crowd and a symbolic lighting of candles began the celebration that marks the end of one year of monthly fasting by religious and environmental groups around the world in the Fast for the Climate.

In December 2015, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will meet in Paris to discuss and launch a new international climate agreement. Last week and this week, leaders from around the world gather in Lima, Peru for the last high-level round of negotiations before Paris discussions. Representatives from faith traditions around the world, environmental groups, youth, business representatives, and labor unions are also present in Lima and are working together to ensure that the framework for the new agreement reflects their priorities.

I write today from Lima, where I am representing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as part of a delegation from the ACT Alliance– a faith-based global relief and development network. The increasing involvement of people of faith in the UNFCCC meetings each December, as well as the massive presence of people of all faiths at the People’s Climate March in New York this past September, reflects our common concern about the future of the world that we believe God created and calls us to tend. This shared sense of stewardship leads us to be concerned by the changes that all of us can observe, changes that scientists tell us are the result of human-caused climate change. Another common element shared by numerous faith traditions is concern for our neighbors, and particularly for the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, those who live in poverty. We see that climate impacts such as more severe storms, long term drought, flooding and sea level rise are falling hardest on these vulnerable populations.

This meeting in Lima is expected to end with parties agreeing to a basic framework for the new climate agreement which would take effect in 2020. Faith goals for the framework include a strong commitment from parties not only to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions but also to address the needs of vulnerable people who are already suffering the impacts of climate change in the new agreement. Building climate resilience for vulnerable communities, particularly in least developed nations, is a key point for the faith community. This will require that countries with means commit to financial and technical assistance for low carbon development, adaptation to climate change, and climate impacts that can’t be adapted to, such as sea level rise that leads to permanent loss of lands.

Indigenous participants sit in a plenary hall of COP20. The UN climate talks began on Dec 1st in Lima Peru, billed as the most important meeting in the history of the world, mechanisms for reducing climate change are being negotiated. The Fast for the Climate movement, with participation of environmental and faith-based groups such as the Lutheran World Federation, is reminding diplomats of the real dangers of climate change and urging them to take immediate action.

Before the end of the meeting in Lima, we expect that parties will announce a process for countries to come forward over the next year with their emissions reductions pledges for the new agreement. This action must come with a process to evaluate these pledges for adequacy and long term impact. Some countries have already announced the basic outlines of their pledges. The U.S. made an initial pledge of future action several weeks ago when President Obama announced the terms of a bilateral agreement with China. This agreement will reduce U.S. emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, with China agreeing that its emissions would “peak” by 2030.

Finally, faith communities are looking for significant financial commitments from the U.S. and other developed countries, together with pledges from other parties with means, to fund both low carbon development and climate resilience, particularly in the least developed countries. The recent U.S. pledge of $3 billion over 4 years to the Green Climate Fund is a step in the right direction. Other countries are also slowly announcing their pledges and we hope for more to come.

At the end of the first week, many participants and observers expressed a sense of hope for the process, and a draft text released early Monday morning showed progress on some key points. Significant issues still are unresolved, but as people of faith we agree: this meeting in Lima must set us on the path to a strong, equitable and fair international agreement that will help us to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, for the sake of our children and future generations and for all of God’s creation.

Megan Brandsrud

Bernardo Anastasio Hernández, a cattle farmer, stands on the dry river bed of the Río Grande at San Francisco Libre. Drought is affecting large areas of Central America. Across Nicaragua hundreds of cattle are dying, wells are drying up and the harvests have failed.

(Pictured: Bernardo Anastasio Hernández, a cattle farmer, stands on the dry river bed of the Río Grande at San Francisco Libre in Nicaragua. Drought is affecting large areas of Central America, where hundreds of cattle are dying, wells are drying up and the harvests have failed. Credit: ACT Alliance/Sean Hawkey)

Cattle have died and crops have been completely diminished in a drought across Central America that is recorded as the region’s worst dry period in the last 30 years. The drought has impacted more than 2.5 million people across the region. Three countries that are feeling deep impacts of this drought include El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, where crops are either completely depleted or prices for grains have increased so significantly that many families cannot afford to purchase them. The drought is causing concerns for food security and livelihoods.

Lutheran Disaster Response, working with Lutheran World Federation, is assisting in early recovery and livelihood restoration through the installation of family gardens, farm plots, micro-irrigation systems and training workshops.

Family gardens: Family garden plots will be installed to assist 450 families in El Salvador, 100 families in Honduras and 200 families in Nicaragua. The garden plots will be used in areas where yield is ensured so families have access to food without having to worry about high costs.

Farm plots: In Honduras and Nicaragua, farm plots will be implemented in areas for corn and bean production. Short-cycle (native) varieties will be used to ensure yield during the short rainy season without having to worry about long-term water shortage difficulties.

Micro-irrigation systems: Water supply systems will be established to support family gardens and farm plots in Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. A total of 120 micro-irrigation systems will be installed in priority areas.

Training workshops: In order to establish the projects listed above, training workshops will be provided to ensure the success of the family gardens, farm plots and water management systems.

We will continue to walk with and pray for our brothers and sisters in Central America as they work through the difficulties caused by the drought. If you would like to support Lutheran Disaster Response’s work in Central America, please visit theLutheran Disaster Response giving page.

Training workshops: In order to establish the projects listed above, training workshops will be provided to ensure the success of the family gardens, farm plots and water management systems.

In November I was blessed to accompany ELCA Diakonia staff members to Cameroon to meet with representatives of the Lutheran church in Cameroon, Denmark, France, Germany, and the United States, all in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic as it plans and administers health, education and sustainability projects in the villages of Central African Republic.

While there, we were asked to stand in front of the congregation after worship in the Garoua-Boulai hospital chapel on Friday morning and as we were all introduced (in French) the congregation said “Ahhh” when they heard it was my first trip to the continent. We were each presented with a gift of fabric, and apparently randomly – but in the Holy Spirit there are no coincidences – mine was covered in feet, all different shades of the gold, green and reddish brown of the native vegetation and earth. The group of partners grinned, acknowledging the significance of the feet, not only for my journey to Africa, but for my journey to ELCA World Hunger.

The journey began with my father, who was national sales manager for a Chicago-based restaurant supply company. I admired his quiet, gentle yet powerful success, and followed his footsteps into national account sales and marketing with a career apparel firm based in Deerfield, Illinois. Then in mid-life the Holy Spirit called me into the ministry of word and sacrament. I attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and served congregations in Northeastern Iowa and Metropolitan Chicago Synods – until this fall when the Spirit moved once again. I began my position with ELCA World Hunger in October. My focus is on congregations and supporting them in their work, which in turn supports the domestic and international health, education and sustainability projects we do as ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response. I’ll be travelling throughout the United States to visit congregations two to three Sundays every month, learning from those who are so actively engaged, and helping to engage those who are not yet supporting this vital work of our church.

It has been a joy to begin this work with such faithful, wise, compassionate colleagues – and I look forward to getting to know you! What a journey we are all on together, all our footsteps guided by the Holy Spirit as together we partner on this journey, accompanying God’s people so that all have food, water, health care, and income.

The Rev. Robin Brown is Associate Director of ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, Congregational Support. Before joining the ELCA World Hunger Team, Robin served as a parish pastor in suburban Illinois.

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy

The earth dries up and withers,

the world languishes and withers;

the heavens languish together with the earth.

The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants;

for they have transgressed laws,

violated the statutes,

broken the everlasting covenant.

– Isaiah 24:4-5

Today marks the 30^th anniversary of the worst industrial disaster in history, a disaster that many have forgotten in the years since.

On December 3, 1984 residents of Bhopal, India awoke to a cloud of toxic methyl isocynate gas that had been accidentally released from a nearby pesticide manufacturing plant operated by the Union Carbide Corporation.

Poor maintenance practices at the barely operational plant led to the release, which ultimately killed more than 15,000 people in the largely low income communities surrounding the plant, and led to severe long-term health consequences for many of the more than half a million people exposed to toxic gas. Although Union Carbide ultimately paid nearly $500 million in settlement to the Indian government, this has not been adequate to address the continuing health problems of those who lived through the disaster. In addition, the chemical plant, though closed, has never been fully cleaned up and continues to pose a threat to nearby residents.

India is one of the most rapidly industrializing nations on earth, and although the Bhopal disaster led to some reforms of how chemical plants are permitted to operate in that country (and around the world), its policies tend to reflect a greater concern for economic growth than for environmental and public health protections. More remains to be done, both in India and globally, to ensure that companies that manufacture toxic substances operate safely and to ensure that low income communities do not bear the majority of the risks associated with those manufacturing operations.

Today, as we remember the dead and the survivors of the Bhopal disaster in our prayers, we also pray for the leaders and advocates around the world who are working hard to ensure that chemical companies operating in our midst are safe and accountable.

Las Obispas Presidentes de la Iglesia Episcopal y de ELCA: Día Mundial del SIDA 2014

[1 de diciembre del 2014] La Obispa Presidente de la Iglesia Episcopal Katharine Jefferts Schori y la Obispa Presidente Elizabeth Eaton de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América (ELCA) han emitido una declaración conjunta para el Día Mundial del SIDA del 2014.

El texto de la declaración siguiente:

Día Mundial del SIDA del 2014

Cada año, el 1 de diciembre, los episcopales y los luteranos se unen a gente de todo el mundo para conmemorar el Día Mundial del SIDA. Este día sirve para recordar a aquellos cuyas vidas cambiaron para siempre a causa del VIH y del SIDA. También ofrece una oportunidad para renovar nuestro compromiso de construir el reino de Dios, trabajando para terminar con la pandemia del SIDA. Este año, el Día Mundial del SIDA cae en el segundo día de Adviento, tiempo de esperanza y anticipación de la vida nueva que nos trae el nacimiento de Jesús. Como lo hace el Adviento, el Día Mundial del SIDA nos invita a vivir con la alegría que ha de venir al continuar manteniendo la visión de una nueva vida libre de VIH y de SIDA.

Hace tres décadas, cuando los científicos identificaron el VIH como la causa del SIDA, el contraer el virus era una sentencia de muerte. No existía tratamiento para la enfermedad. Hoy, los avances en el tratamiento hacen posible que las personas con VIH vivan largas y plenas vidas. Mejores servicios de prevención ayudan a frenar nuevas infecciones. Reconocemos y celebramos este progreso, pero permanecemos firmes ante los grandes retos pendientes. El objetivo sigue siendo. “Llegar a cero: Cero a nuevas infecciones por el VIH Cero a las discriminaciones. Cero a muertes relacionadas con el SIDA…”

En el 2013, dos millones cien mil personas se infectaron con el VIH y un millón y medio de personas murieron a causa de enfermedades relacionadas con el SIDA en todo el mundo. De los 35 millones de personas que actualmente viven con el VIH, sólo 13,6 millones tienen acceso a los medicamentos antirretrovirales. Además, el estigma y la discriminación hacia las personas afectadas con el VIH y el SIDA siguen siendo un problema importante en esta lucha. Las iglesias y otras comunidades de fe en todo el mundo están bien adecuadas para hacer frente al estigma social asociado con el VIH y el SIDA, y oran por la unidad de propósito en esta tarea entre los líderes religiosos de todo el mundo.

La pobreza y la marginación de poblaciones clave y vulnerables como (lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero e intersexuales, trabajadores sexuales, usuarios de drogas inyectables, presos, migrantes, mujeres y niñas) son los principales contribuyentes a la propagación del VIH. Las tasas de infección dentro de estas poblaciones son desproporcionadamente altas, y sin embargo, pocos tienen acceso a un tratamiento que salve la vida. Tanto la Iglesia Episcopal como la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América se han comprometido a luchar contra el VIH y el SIDA, y a trabajar para poner fin a la pobreza, tanto en nuestras propias comunidades como en todo el mundo. El año que viene vamos a desafiar a nuestras iglesias a que encuentren mayor sinergia entre estos dos imperativos evangélicos relacionados. También vamos a seguir alentando a un asesoramiento y pruebas voluntarias.

Asegurar que todas las personas que viven con el VIH tengan acceso a servicios de prevención, atención y tratamiento debe seguir siendo el foco de nuestros ministerios de VIH y SIDA, tanto aquí en el país como en el extranjero. Animamos a los luteranos y a los episcopales de todo el mundo a que apoyen los esfuerzos de nuestros gobiernos, de iglesias y de otros socios para que proporcionen recursos a los servicios de tratamiento, atención y prevención. También desafiamos a la Administración y al Congreso a que aumenten la financiación de PEPFAR; al Fondo Mundial de Lucha contra el SIDA, la Tuberculosis y la Malaria; y a programas nacionales que proporcionan atención preventiva y tratamiento en Estados Unidos. También instamos a los gobiernos a que apoyen la inclusión de la meta propuesta de terminar con la epidemia del SIDA, la tuberculosis y la malaria para el año 2030 en la agenda de desarrollo de las Naciones Unidas post-2015.

“El Señor me ha ungido… para consolar a los que lloran”, escribe el profeta Isaías en un pasaje que episcopales y luteranos oirán este Adviento, “para darles gloria en lugar de ceniza, óleo de gozo en lugar de luto, el manto de la alegría en lugar de un espíritu angustiado”. Que en este Adviento podamos vivir estas palabras con fervor y alegría al paso que nos comprometemos nuevamente a la búsqueda de un mundo sin SIDA.

La Revdma. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Obispa Presidente
Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América

La Revdma. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Obispa Presidente y Primado
Iglesia Episcopal

David Dodson, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Warm-up Question

What sort of vestments (special clothing) are worn by people leading your worship services? Do you feel that these vestments change or enhance your worship and fellowship?

Invictus

A casual glance at the cover of the October issue of Airmen magazine, the official magazine of the United States Air Force, might have left readers stunned. In the cover photo, a 28-year-old woman with dark hair pulled loosely back holds a large barbell loaded with weights high above her head. The woman, retired Captain Sarah Evans, looks incredibly strong and athletic. There is just one surprise: she only has one leg.

shutterstock_125563616edit

During a deployment to Afghanistan, Capt. Evans was diagnosed with stage three bone cancer in her left hip. Doctors worked quickly to save her life, but were forced to amputate Capt. Evans’ leg below her pelvis. Some of us, if we had this happen to us, might feel the need to slow down and be limited by this change. Not so with Capt. Evans. On the contrary, Evans has become a champion of the Wounded Warrior project, has continued to work for the Air Education Training Command, and has even climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa!

What brought Capt. Evans to the cover of Airmen magazine, though, was her determination to compete in the Invictus Games, held in Great Britain. “Invictus” means “unconquered” – an appropriate name for a set of Olympic-like Games in which the wounded warriors of fourteen nations vie against one another in imposing events. This year was the first for the Invictus Games, which were conceived by Prince Harry of Wales after he saw the inter-service Warrior Games during a visit to Colorado. Pressure was high for the USA Team at the Invictus Games. After all, they were not only representing their country, but also the spirit of determination that drove them to keep themselves strong and mighty, even in the face of adversity. In the end, their victory was so much more than simply winning at an event. Each competitor showed the triumph of spirit and fortitude over fear and resignation.

And Capt. Evans? She took home the Gold medal in cycling and the Bronze in the shot-put and the discus. Sounds like she earned the title of “Invictus”!

For more information on Captain Sarah Evans, visit http://goo.gl/n9QbhO.

Discussion Questions

If you could ask one question of a competitor at the Invictus Games, what would you ask?
Who is someone that you admire? What would someone notice about that person right away?

Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 40:1-11

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

Anyone meeting John the Baptist for the first time would surely know something about him was different. First of all, this cousin of Jesus dressed far differently from others, wearing “clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.” He also subsisted on strange food: locusts and wild honey. What a sight he must have been!

It was John, though, who was called to be “a voice calling in the wilderness”, meant to proclaim the coming of Jesus to the people of God. John was sent to a complacent world to announce something new and incredible to a people desperately in need. It’s no wonder that he wanted to get people’s attention for that!

John was a “holy man” in the true sense of the world. “Holy” means “set apart for a purpose”. John wasn’t worried about fitting in. John accepted that his faith called him to be set apart for a purpose. There were certainly those who thought that John was crazy, or at least that he was a bit weird. In the end, though, it was John’s refusal to conform to his society that helped him preach a powerful witness to God’s people.

Discussion Questions

When is it important to conform to what people expect of you?
How can you be a powerful witness to your faith by being different from others?
Many churches have very different traditions of pastoral vestments and even acceptable dress by members of the congregation. Why might some people believe that special clothing and vestments are helpful or necessary? Why might others disagree?

Activity Suggestion

One part of the pastoral vestments in the ELCA is the stole worn behind the pastor’s neck. This item is a sign and symbol of the ordination of the pastor, and it is laden with imagery and significance. As a gift to your congregation’s pastor, craft a stole or fabric or paper to decorate and present. Select a theme for the stole, such as virtues and gifts or Gospel stories.

Be aware that your pastor may or may not elect to wear the stole during a service; stoles are traditionally colored to match the liturgical season. Regardless, however, your pastor will greatly appreciate the thought and care taken to craft this important symbol!

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, you call each of us to a life of holiness. You give us the strength and the conviction to accept this call, and for this we are always thankful. We praise you for giving us new life and new purpose with every new morning. Bless us to be your holy hands to a world longing for your touch. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

A calling to live a life that serves

Advocacy Summary of FY15 Spending Package

ELCA State Advocacy Update: December 2014

From Lima, Peru: The faith community stands ready for a real commitment to addressing climate change

Central America: Drought causes concerns for food security and livelihoods

Central America: Drought causes concerns for food security and livelihoods

All the fabrics were beautiful, but only one was covered in feet!

Remembering the Bhopal disaster of 1984

Las Obispas Presidentes de la Iglesia Episcopal y de ELCA: Día Mundial del SIDA 2014

December 7, 2014–Invictus