from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director

Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: November/December 2024

CHILD HUNGER | COP29 | ACT ALLIANCE | UNITED STATES – ISRAEL RELATIONS  | CHALLENGES TO DACA

 

CHILD HUNGER: The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), of which the ELCA is a supporter, released a new report last month highlighting modest increases to participation in after-school meal programs, but the anti-hunger programs are still widely under-utilized by eligible children in need. According to the FRAC report, 1.23 million children received an afterschool supper on an average school day in October 2023, and 1.25 million children received an afterschool snack.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Though after school meals are a critical tool to reduce childhood hunger, participation decreased after 2022 when many program expansions expired. The ELCA World Hunger Backpack Buddies Guide relates that may children in the United States depend on public programs like the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program and Summer Food Service Program. National nutrition programs ensure that kids get the food they need to fuel their brains for learning and their bodies for proper development and health..

What’s Next:

There are considerable uncertainties in this transition period prior to establishment of the new administration. ELCA staff will be working with the next administration to continue work to expand awareness of school meals, and with Congress to ensure eligibility and access are available to children in the greatest need.

COP29: The 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is being held Nov. 11-22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Two ELCA staff are attending in-person, and six others online, to advocate to global leaders for increased ambition and climate action. ELCA Young Adults with a D.C.-based ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow created an explanatory socials post, noting strong young adult representation in our delegation. Faith partners came together for a Prayer Vigil ahead of COP29 on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., which the ELCA co-sponsored. At the Prayer Vigil, a petition was delivered to officials from the U.S. Department of State that calls on the U.S. government to accelerate ambition on nationally determined contributions (NDCs), increase climate finance commitments, support loss and damage finance, and include climate and environmental justice in adaptation and mitigation.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA engages in climate advocacy year-round, but especially during the Conference of Parties for the UNFCCC every year. It is an opportunity for Lutherans to gather with faith partners across the globe to care for God’s Creation through climate action. Of the Prayer Vigil, our ELCA Program Director for Environment and Energy who is a COP29 in-person attendee said, “It was a meaningful time together as we shared music, as well as prayers of lament and hope.”

What’s Next:

ELCA staff, along with interfaith partners, will join with Lutheran World Federation colleagues during COP29. Lutheran World Federation COP29 engagement is centered on the theme “Creation Not For Sale.”

 

ACT ALLIANCE: ACT Alliance is a global faith-based coalition organized in national and regional forums operating in more than 120 countries, including the ELCA. Witness in Society staff travelled to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to attend the ACT 2024 General Assembly, which took place Oct. 28-Nov. 1. The theme was “Hope in Action.”

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Advocacy is one of ACT Alliance’s three pillars of operation, in addition to humanitarian and sustainable development. As a member of the Alliance, ELCA contributes financial resources and staff time to advance priorities of the church. ELCA staff contributed content for statements and future agenda, and used this opportunity to build relations with other Lutheran and ecumenical members. In between assemblies, ELCA advocacy staff work in collaboration with other members of the ACT Alliance to advance mutual policy priorities.

What’s Next:

Witness in Society international policy staff will continue to work with other ACT Alliance members as we advocate for just global systems and structures.

UNITED STATES – ISRAEL RELATIONS: [Editor’s Note: This message was compiled days ago and does not reflect recent developments which ELCA staff is monitoring.] ELCA Middle On Oct. 16, a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III was delivered to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which demanded that Israel allow essential humanitarian aid into Gaza and gave a 30-day deadline to comply with U.S. law or face potential consequences, such as potential stoppage of U.S. weapons transfer. The letter, dated Oct. 13, means that potential action taken by the U.S. government – or at least a legal review of Israel’s adherence to U.S. law – would take place starting Nov. 13, 2024, after the National Election. ELCA advocacy staff have been working on numerous advocacy efforts to support clarion calls for unfettered humanitarian aid access to Gaza and will continue to do so.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

As the introduction to the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World relays, the church’s vocation is peacemaking. “God’s final peace, the peace of God’s eternal reign” serves as the basis of this calling, which has two main expressions: 1) proclaiming the gospel of God’s final peace; and 2) working for earthly peace—that is, “relationships among and with nations that are just, harmonious, and free from war.”

What’s Next:

The ELCA Work continues on spearheading a letter pushing the White House to allow for unfettered humanitarian aid access into Gaza and conduct major advocacy in coalition to push for the suspension of offensive weapons and weapons financing to Israel until humanitarian access to Gaza restored and a ceasefire is signed.

 

CHALLENGES TO DACA: On Oct. 10, a federal court heard arguments over the Biden administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) regulation, which has returned to the courts after several states challenged its legality. The case will almost certainly end up at the Supreme Court.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Nearly 600,000 young people are covered by DACA, and many remain locked out because of the ongoing litigation. If DACA is found unlawful, thousands stand to lose protection from deportation, work permits and driver’s licenses. Around 750,000 U.S. citizen children have a parent who is a Dreamer, which is an undocumented immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child, who may benefit from immigration reform. Advocating for protection for Dreamers and DACA-recipients is part of a long-standing commitment by the ELCA.

What’s Next:

The federal court may rule any day that DACA is unlawful, and renewals may either be stopped or be continued.

 

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Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available.

UN | COLORADO | OHIO | PENNSYLVANIA | TEXAS | WISCONSIN

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. – ELCA.org/lowc
Christine Mangale, Director

UN General Assembly Third Committee: The UN General Assembly Third Committee, which focuses on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural issues, meets Oct. 3 through Nov. 22. Recently, the LOWC Director hosted a small delegation in advance of their attending meetings from LWF Action for Justice and Witness in Society staff. These participants attended an event titled “Comics and Human Rights,” which featured Dr. Michael Fakhri, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, who presented his report “Starvation and the right to food, with an emphasis on the Palestinian people’s food sovereignty,” and worked with renowned artist Omar Khouri to produce the first UN human rights report that uses graphic reportage. It utilized the power of comics to convey communities’ horrors and hopes, focusing on the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

Many of the topics discussed in the Third Committee focus on the advancement of women, the rights of children, racism and self-determination, and the protection and promotion of human rights. LOWC has also connected with other ELCA teams by sharing notes from the meetings related to regional and thematic work, including from the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants and from the Special Envoy of Myanmar. LOWC will continue to connect ELCA and LWF to relevant meetings at the United Nations Headquarters to ensure that Lutheran voices are heard in these multilateral decision-making and review meetings.

Diakonia Overcoming Violence Exchange: From Oct. 14-19, the Hunger Advocacy Fellow placed with LOWC attended Diakonia Overcoming Violence Exchange (DOVE) organized, by Diakonia of the Americas and Caribbean (DOTAC), an ecumenical group of 12 diaconal communities/associations. The meeting focused on migration in the context of the United States/Mexico border. Participants lived in community for a week at La Posada Provincia, a shelter for migrants who have recently arrived in the United States.

Throughout the week, participants learned about the work done by ELCA AMMPARO, Texas Impact in the ELCA-affiliated state public policy office network, and Catholic Charities, and listened to presentations from U.S. Border Patrol and immigration attorneys. The group also physically crossed the United States/Mexico border between Brownsville and Matamoros. The experiential learning and relationship building strengthens advocacy accompaniment. Our LOWC Hunger Advocacy Fellow will continue to forge meaningful connections linking LWF migration policy conversations with AMPPARO and other Lutheran networks seeking migration justice.

LOWC Presence Shares Expertise and Advances Relationships: In the United States this year as coordinated through ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, the LOWC Director with several Witness in Society D.C.-based staff hosted and resourced Branches of Peace in D.C. on Oct. 21 and intersected at other points in their Oct. 20-25 meeting. It is part of an initiative launched in 2022 by the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM), bringing together peace and reconciliation theologians and practitioners from around the world to engage in peer-to-peer contextual learning. This year, participants from nine countries explored the role of advocacy and the importance of being a public church, as well as surveyed the rise of religious extremism and tribalism globally with a particular focus on the rise of religious extremism and tribalism globally.

At the annual Women’s Human Rights Advocacy Training in Geneva Oct. 14-18, the LOWC Program Director co-led the training of women and men gender champions to engage with UN Human Rights processes and built capacity of feminist communities of Christians that are tackling delineated challenges in their own communities.

When the bi-annual Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) conference took place in Cape Town, South Africa on Oct. 21-25, the LOWC Program Director took part. LWF and LOWC co-facilitated several events, and shared evidence from our programs. Work of Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) is moving to evidence-based models, and the conference built the capacity of our advocacy staff to learn to better engage in research spaces and to build networks with researchers investigating violence against women and girls around the world. A delegation hosted by LOWC from Lutheran churches and country programs in Jamaica, Hong Kong, South Africa, Switzerland and Uganda in addition to the United States also took part.

Presence at these events reflects common priorities between ELCA and LWF members and partners. Accompaniment is defined as walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality. The ELCA lives out accompaniment in relationships with global companions, striving to share God’s love and participate in God’s mission together.

The United States is up for review in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a UN human rights process along with Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the ELCA is participating in an ecumenical exercise to draft a common faith-based shadow report. ELCA staff and members that have attended the Women’s Human Rights Advocacy Training will be contacted to make contributions. Our advocacy will include urging the U.S. Congress to push for ratification of the CEDAW and other UN human rights conventions rather than be absent in these spaces.

A November report-back webinar is shaping with participants in the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign observed Nov. 25-Dec. 10.

 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado – lam-co.org
Peter Severson, Director

ELECTION RESULTS: Coloradans voted on 14 statewide ballot measures on Election Day. We were pleased to see the passage of three measures we supported:

• YES on Prop JJ: Colorado will keep the revenue it’s collected from sports betting to support water infrastructure and projects.

• YES on Amendment I: The bail exemption for persons arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder with evident proof and/or a greater degree of presumption is restored.

• YES on Amendment J: Old language banning same-sex marriage was removed from Colorado’s constitution.

We were advocating for the defeat of Prop 128 as well, but that measure passed. It will extend the length of time some offenders must be incarcerated before being eligible for parole while removing incentives like earned time for good behavior. It’s overly punitive, expensive, and offers no net public safety benefit.

GOODBYE AND FAREWELL: Peter Severson, the director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) for over 10 years, will end his service as director on November 30. In his own words: “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this organization for such a long and eventful term, I appreciate my excellent colleagues in this work, and I am very proud of all we’ve accomplished with our faithful advocacy over the years. Advocacy is central to our baptismal covenant and is a critical witness of our church. I pray that our God of love and grace will continue to lift up all those who lead and support this work moving forward. Peace be with you.

 

Hunger Network in Ohio – hungernetohio.com
Deacon Nick Bates, Director

On Nov. 10, Hunger Network in Ohio (HNO) hosted our second annual celebration. After the defeat of our redistricting amendment and other shortcomings at the ballot box across Ohio, many weren’t in the mood for a celebration. But we gathered to remind ourselves that the struggle for justice in our world is a constant struggle and we celebrate our community and hope in Christ.

During our time together we celebrated the great work of Kim Collum of Lutheran Community Services in Bellefontaine and Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio for their faithful service to their communities.

We also heard from movement expert James Hayes (Ohio Voice) and policy expert Sarah Hudacek (Advocates for Ohio’s Future) about what is coming in Ohio and opportunities to end hunger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

HNO is also pleased to celebrate the 10-year ordination anniversary of our director, Deacon Nick Bates who was ordained in November 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. If you would like to send congratulations to Deacon Bates for 10 years of word and service ministry, CLICK HERE.

 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Pennsylvania – lutheranadvocacypa.org
Tracey DePasquale, Director

In November, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Pennsylvania (LAMPa) continued its work of recruiting poll workers and equipping Lutherans participating in an interfaith election protection network. For many Lutherans this month, discipleship took the form of civic engagement as nonpartisan observers of their county’s official post-election ballot count. For others, it was showing up as a nonpartisan, non-anxious presence at polls– helping to lower stress and reporting and responding to (thankfully limited) acts of violence.

LAMPa used a grant from Interfaith America to seed more Love Anyway Feasts – including one at Van Kirk Lutheran Church in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The church shares a parking lot with the local fire department which acted as a polling place on election day.

“This made Van Kirk an ideal location to host a Love Anyway Feast but in a unique way,” said Vicar Amy Kelly. “The church set up a fancy coffee bar and treats station outside the church to serve, connect, and unite the community until the polls closed. This space allowed people to talk about what they were passionate about – like dogs, health, and education, and they knew they would be heard and not demeaned for their opinions. It was a beautiful experience to watch people from all parts of the political spectrum be in community with each other. We left feeling hopeful that after such a divisive political season, we could come together and remember that we are all made in the image of God.”

 

Texas Impact – texasimpact.org
Scott Atnip, Director of Public Witness

Texas Impact is coordinating a Houston Faith Votes cohort to engage in civic engagement work to demonstrate the impact congregations can have in engaging voters. The 22 congregations engaged in civic engagement and data collection work to evaluate their impact post elections. Those fifteen are joining with many other congregations using Texas Faith Votes resources.

Post-election, many congregations are asking what they can do. An increasing number are signing up to participate in Texas Impact’s Courts and Ports program, traveling to the Texas-Mexico Border to experience public policy issues being lived out on the border.

Members of Texas Impact’s Public School Defenders team organized to provide testimony and meet with State Board of Education Members as they consider a new school curriculum that heavily references religion and uses religious stories as part of the reading and language arts curriculum.

Texas Impact staff in October are preparing to attend the Conference of the Parties (COP) climate negotiations with ELCA colleagues in Baku, Azerbaijan in November.

Post-election planning is now underway as staff prepares for the biennial legislative session to convene in January.

 

Lutheran Office for Public Policy – Wisconsin – loppw.org
Rev. Cindy Crane, Director

Wednesday Noon Live

Interview with Rev. Amy Reumann, Senior Director of ELCA, Witness in Society (WiS)
Amy shared her experience with Lutherans’ involvement in this election cycle and thoughts about some of the challenges we face.

Additional Efforts Post-election: Lutheran Office for Public Policy Wisconsin (LOPPW) sent out a special email addressing the elections. The director also preached with a focus on the election at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Solon Springs.

The Farm Bill

LOPPW was invited to be one of the speakers at the Community Food Conversations’ gathering at Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit, organized by Greater Milwaukee Synod (GMS) hunger leaders. Rev. Crane discussed advocacy and the Farm Bill. Several people signed a letter to Congress. LOPPW also addressed the Farm Bill at Hope Lutheran Church in River Falls and online.

 

Training on Money in Politics

Two synods included LOPPW in their resolutions about money in politics during their 2024 assemblies. In response, LOPPW’s director met with representatives from the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin (ECSW) and GMS to discuss next steps. Everyone agreed to organizing a training for trainers. LOPPW contacted Wisconsin United to Amend, also mentioned in the resolutions. We now have a power point, created by Wisconsin United to Amend with faith-based components from LOPPW and a handful of people who have signed up for the training on Nov. 22 via Zoom.

LOPPW received many invitations for presentations in October and November. I will now focus more on completing succession planning for this ministry that I have been so blessed to steward.

by the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director, ELCA Witness in Society

High anxiety around the possibility of political violence has been with us before, during, and likely following the 2024 National Election. The images of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol are fresh in our minds, making calls by public figures for violence against political opponents or disruption of election processes even more worrisome. Election activities that used to go largely unnoticed, such as election certification or routine actions by poll workers, could now be targeted as high-risk moments. Polling reveals that two-thirds of Americans fear violence following the election. Many municipalities and communities have prepared for disruptions pre- and post-election.

 

THE CALLING OF THE CHURCH

The church has a “calling to proclaim the Gospel of God’s final peace and to work for earthly peace” (ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World, p. 1). We witness to God’s resolve for peace rooted in the cross and resurrection of Christ and by incarnating in our lives and actions Jesus’ command to love one’s enemies and Paul’s instructions to be ambassadors of reconciliation. The Church breathes life into this calling when we share responsibility for the wellbeing of our neighbors and nation. Informed by Christ’s gift of peace, ELCA ministries and faith leaders have a unique opportunity to promote reconciliation, model peace and respond to violence. Much of this can and will take place at the local level. These resources can equip us for faithful reflection and action.

 

REFLECTION AND GUIDANCE IN ELCA SOCIAL TEACHING

The ELCA social statement on Peace provides guidance for ministry and advocacy in global conflicts and everyday struggles. The church contributes to earthly peace by equipping the faithful to act for peace within the Christian community and the broader society. It presents four distinct ways for the church, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to be “a presence for peace that disturbs, reconciles, serves, and deliberates” (p. 5).

• The Church is a disturbing presence when it refuses to be silent and speaks the truth, names false idols and calls for repentance.
• The Church is a reconciling presence by countering religious movements – including ones claiming to be Christian –that preach, and practice hate and violence, by challenging stereotypes of the “the enemy” and by encouraging imaginative solutions to violence.
• As a serving presence the Church holds power accountable, advocates justice, provides sanctuary and meets human need.
• The Church’s deliberating presence creates opportunities for moral deliberation that promote freedom and respect.

 

The statement urges churches to nurture a culture of peace through actions to:

• Foster a dynamic vision of difference in unity. The hope for earthly peace challenges people to strengthen their local communities in ways that promote respect and appreciation for people in other communities, for all share a common humanity.
• Promote respect for human rights based on the image of God in every person, as reflected in the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UN, 1948]: “Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
• Strengthen the will and ability to resolve conflicts peacefully. Disagreements, conflicts, and competition among nations, groups, and individuals are inevitable, but wars are not (ELCA social statement on Peace, pp. 13-15).

 

Additional social teaching on violence and non-violence offers guidance. The social message on “Community Violence” urges ELCA ministries to join with faith partners to “offer vital spiritual and moral resources for replacing fear and violence with hope and reconciliation in our homes, communities, and nation” (p. 6). It lays out three ways for the Church to act on our commitments to counter societal violence:

• As a Community of Worship – One place to guide our worship is the ELCA “Worship Resources for a National Election.”
• As a Community of Education and Service – The ELCA social statement on Peace is resourced with a Study Guide which can be a useful tool.
• As a Community of Advocacy – Encourage your faith community to get updates and Action Alerts when they are available through the ELCA Action Network from ELCA.org/advocacy/signup.

 

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN ACTION?

Affirm the vocation of civil servants and leaders through prayer and education. Lutherans recognize public service as a worthy calling and a means by which all individuals may serve the common good. Studies demonstrate that abuse leveled at public officials across the United States is negatively affecting how they do their jobs, making them less likely to engage with constituents, hold public events, advocate for policies that could lead to blowback, or run for re-election. Beyond the well-publicized attacks on high profile leaders in the news are reports from officials in local and state government who face harassment, intimidation or physical attacks.

Educate and equip members for nonviolent action and promote healing and reconciliation. ELCA social teaching recognizes that “citizens and residents also have an obligation to seek reform through the procedures of democratic self-rule, which may include nonviolent protest,” (ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy,” p. 12) particularly “in situations where it holds promise of being an appropriate and effective way to bring about greater justice” (ELCA social statement on Peace, p. 20). Local ministries are engaging through learning about violence interruption through active bystander and conflict de-escalation training and encouragement of civil discourse.

As centers of spiritual life, religious institutions are regarded as trusted messengers who offer reliable information and community guidance in an anxious time. Be informed about groups in your area who promote who promote violence, white supremacy and Christian Nationalism. The Episcopal Church Series on Deradicalization offers resources from two organizations known for doing this work on the largest scale – Life After Hate and the now retired Free Radicals Project. Much of the work done is through individuals who have disengaged from radical groups or ideologies and use their experience to work directly with radicalized individuals. The Southern Policy Leadership Center tracks hate and antigovernment groups. The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, has named Christian Nationalism as “a persistent threat to both our religious communities and our democracy.”

 

ADDING OUR WITNESS

In October 2024, ELCA bishops jointly issued a statement emphasizing the need to be speakers of truth. It reads, “Emboldened by the Holy Spirit, may we resist deception and lift up the truth that all members of humanity are created in the image of God.” The Dignity Index is an interesting tool to draw our attention away from the biases of partisan politics and toward, what they call, the power we each have to heal our country and each other. It invites reflection on elements of speech, not the speaker, on a scale of communicating contempt to dignity. Our ELCA AMMPARO colleagues have refreshed a resource called “Words Create Worlds,” an exploration of the power of language in shaping perceptions on migration.

In her statement addressing political violence in July 2024, Bishop Eaton wrote: “Our inevitable future belongs to God. In this certainty and bound together in Christian hope, consider how you can join me in ongoing prayer and actions for our nation, a peaceful election season, the safety of candidates for office, and a bold and life-giving witness of our church in the time ahead.”

 

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Even as National Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024, approaches and beyond, our congregations, synods, rostered leaders, ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices and members are guided by faith to acts of non-partisan civic engagement. Thank you for sharing your local activity in previous months with others through this ELCA Advocacy Blog post.

There are still new things to highlight and refresh.

RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS | HEIGHTENED CONCERNS | FAITHFUL INSISTENCE | ACTIVATORS

 

RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS

📌 “Sacred Crossroads: The Intersection of Faith and Immigration in the 2024 Election” was made available by ELCA AMMPARO in October 2024. Use this nonpartisan resource to explore key facts about immigration (one of the most important issues informing the upcoming U.S. national election) and reflect on how Christian values compel us to pursue justice, help the oppressed, promote human dignity and human flourishing, and pray for a government that serves all neighbors.

📌 The ELCA maintains a new resource page at ELCA.org/civicengagement, “Faith in Action: Our Call to Civic Engagement During the 2024 Election,” which includes videos from the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop; Living Lutheran articles; ELCA advocacy resources and more.

📌 “Guía de compromiso cívico de la ELCA” is available – the “ELCA Civic Engagement Guide” in Spanish.

 

HEIGHTENED CONCERNS

In the closing days of the election season through the presidential inauguration, anxiety surfaces frequently around possible reactions to the presidential election outcome. As spoken in the video ELCA Advocacy: Set free to do justice, “Our commitment to every human being and [creation] that Jesus cared about doesn’t sway with one election or another. Those values remain constant.” Yet facing concerns may be happening in your locality.

📌 The Episcopal Church has prepared an “Addressing Political Violence” page, which encourages: “we can prepare by being familiar with the threats of political violence, practicing de-escalation in tense moments, and having a response ready to share with your community if political violence continues.”

📌 An “Elections Dashboard” is maintained by the organization National Task Force on Election Crises which compiles election-related developments. Clicking on your state or searching other keywords can be a helpful, sourced current information.

📌 LifeAfterHate.org offers resources affiliated with envisioning a safer society in which compassion and accountability enable change.

📌 In multiple languages, Election Protection hotlines are staffed through the national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition information and assistance at all stages of voting – from registration to absentee and early voting, to casting a vote at the polls, to overcoming obstacles to their participation.

 

FAITHFUL INSISTENCE

📌 “Worship Resources for a National Election” includes new elements from ELCA Worship.

📌 Ideas as we come together in prayer are available from many sources, including “Election Season Prayers” from the Kansas Interfaith Action in the ELCA-affiliated state public policy office network.

📌 With proximity to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and a faithful focus, the ELCA Metro D.C. Synod held a Pre-election Prayer Service at Lutheran Church of the Reformation. Many ELCA congregations are hosting vigils and similar reflection times.

📌 Commitment to see one another as neighbors include member or faith community initiatives like Love Anyway Feasts and stepping forward with aims at “Addressing Polarization and Building Cohesion in Your Community” like those described in the blog post among others.

 

ACTIVATORS

Thank you to the nearly 300 of us who were part of the ELCA Election Activator Network, including many who participated in support and resourcing non-partisan civic engagement as people of faith. As Activators, you have made a difference in your localities and inspired others – and will continue to do so.

🔎 Some of the resource which had previously been referenced include the “Resources & Reflections” below.

 

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RESOURCES & REFLECTIONS

“Creating Space for Conversations: Resources and Inspirations for Reaching Common Ground“ – ELCA Grand Canyon Synod (shared 5/21/24)

🔎In response to the turbulent times we face and the heartbreaking events that have transpired recently, we are creating this special section on our site devoted to promoting understanding, dialogue, and unit. Whether you are seeking guidance on how to approach sensitive topics, or looking for ways to connect with others across divides, this page will be your go-to source.

“Fair Wisconsin Maps“ – Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (recorded 4/6/24)

🔎 What the heck just happened with Wisconsin maps? was among questions posed in this “Wednesday Noon Live” interview in a state with maps WUWM reported were “recognized as among the most gerrymandered in the country.”

“Solveig’s Day as a Poll Monitor” – Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona – authored by Solveig Muus, director (originally posted 3/19/24)

🔎 “I was to observe whether the polls opened on time, whether there was adequate parking, adequate signage, easy access for voters with disabilities, ensure voters people are receiving provisional ballots if indicated, ensure any activists stayed outside the 75-foot perimeter, answer questions, etc. I received another quizzical look…”

“Autumn’s Day as a Greeter” – Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona – authored by Autumn Byars, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow (originally posted 3/19/24)

🔎“My job today was not to proselytize or advertise our services, but by volunteering at our welcome cart and offering refreshments to all our voters, I had the privilege of representing our congregation to the outside world— which is always a good opportunity.”

“In a pivotal state, ways to serve our neighbor in an election year“ – Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (originally posted 2/29/24)

🔎Facing “overwhelmed or inexperienced county elections officials” in the state, through love of neighbors we can “step up… We encourage anyone of good will, but especially our eligible teens and young adults, to get trained and serve as official poll workers on Election Day.” Offering our facilities as polling sites if needed in its neighborhood also “can be a big service to our communities.”

 

 

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BLOG PAGE LAUNCH DATE: Mar. 15, 2024

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available.

UN | ARIZONA | COLORADO |MINNESOTA | OHIO | PENNSYLVANIA | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WISCONSIN

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. – ELCA.org/lowc
Christine Mangale, Director

Summit of the Future/Pact for the Future: Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) was a strong presence at the Summit of the Future, which occurred in September, where a Pact for the Future was produced. The Pact for the Future outlines a roadmap for global collaboration in six key areas: Global Governance and Multilateralism Reform, Climate Action and Sustainability, Digital Governance and Innovation, Peace and Security, Equity and Social Justice, Financing for Development. LOWC hosted from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) the General Secretary Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt, Head of Advocacy Isaiah Toroitich, and Head of Communications Arni Danielsson, as well as from the ELCA the Executive for the Service and Justice Home Area Rev. Khader El-Yateem, Senior Director of Witness in Society Rev. Amy Reumann and a representative from the ELCA office of the Presiding Bishop Kristen Opalinski.

LOWC, LWF and other ELCA staff were well-represented at several events, including “Interfaith Youth Responses to the Century’s Biggest Challenges: Faith Based Contributions to the Summit of the Future” (Lutheran Delegate Speaker: Rev Amy Reumann), “Migration for the Future” ( Lutheran Delegate Speaker: Rev. Khader El-Yateem), ”Toward Transformative Peace: A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Transformative Peace” (Lutheran Delegate Speakers: Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt & Rev. Khader El-Yateem), as well as Jazz Vespers and more.

The ELCA has invested heavily in both programs and advocacy that work towards common aims that we share with the Pact. Faith based organizations, including the LWF and ELCA, have a critical role to play in this work, not the least of which is to inspire hope for a more dignified and right’s-based future. The Pact of the Future is a politically binding (non-legally binding) agreement. This means that it will take civil society, including LWF and ELCA, to hold states accountable to their commitments.

 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona – lamaz.org
Solveig Muus, Director

Voter Engagement: As part of our congregational engagement work around voting, we’re promoting voter registration and tracking, election monitoring, early voting, and plenty of prayer. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) developed a Voter Guide to help faithful voters as they consider Arizona’s 13 ballot propositions.

In addition, LAMA produced a series of video clips featuring people of faith expressing their feelings about the upcoming election. Filmed at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, these 90-second clips can be an excellent resource for congregations. For easy sharing in your own social media channels, you can find them on LAMA’s Facebook page or YouTube.

Video #1: Does your faith influence your political opinion?
• Taina Diaz-Reyes, Savannah Jorgensen, Dcn. Becca and Addison Graf.

Video #2: Is voting important to you?
• Rep. Lindsay James (D-Iowa), Pastor Khader El-Yateem, Rev. Ismael Calderón and Whitney Apel.

Video #3: How can people with differing opinions work together during election season?
• Silas Kulkarni, Giovana Oaxaca and Frances J. Dobbs.

Video #4: What is your advice for someone who is on the fence about voting?
• Rev. Evie Landrau, Rev. Amy Reumann and Cathy Jacobs.

Video #5: Why should Lutherans vote?
• Will Milner, Zaya Gilmer and Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Video #6: Do you think you would vote differently if you weren’t a person of faith?
• Caroline Graff, Ethan Roberts and Autumn Byars.

Video #7: What are your hopes post-election?
• Kayla Zopfi, Maya Goehner, Alexandra Murcia and Samantha Boyer.

 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado – lam-co.org 
Peter Severson, Director

LAM-CO VOTER GUIDE RELEASED: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) has released our 2024 Voter Guide. This year, Coloradans have fourteen ballot measures to consider on their statewide ballot. That’s not even including any local measures! It’s a lot to take in, but our Voter Guide is here to help. We’ve distilled all the measures into an easy at-a-glance table, with brief analysis and summaries of everything you’ll see.

We also have taken positions on four of these ballot measures:

• NO on Prop 128, Parole Eligibility: This measure extends the length of time people must be incarcerated before being eligible for parole while removing incentives like earned time for good behavior. It’s overly punitive, expensive, and offers no net public safety benefit.

• YES on Prop JJ, Retain Sports Betting Revenue: Colorado should be able to keep the revenue it’s collected from sports betting to support water infrastructure and projects. If this measure fails, “excess” tax revenue will be refunded to casinos.

• YES on Amendment I, Bail Exemption: For public safety and with care and consideration for victim families, we should restore the bail exemption for persons arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder with evident proof and/or a greater degree of presumption.

• YES on Amendment J, Remove Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: Same-sex marriage became legal de facto in Colorado in 2014, and this would remove old constitutional language. The ELCA’s social statement Human Sexuality uplifts marriage as the highest context for trust and mutuality in human relationships, and nearly 15,000 married same-sex couples now reside in Colorado.

 

Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota – lutheranadvocacymn.org
Tammy K. Walhof, Director

Hunger Advocacy Fellow: Lutheran Advocacy-MN (LA-MN) welcomed Jake Summerville in September. He is already a very valuable part of the LA-MN team, creating election materials (see below) and providing leadership in recruitment of Poll Workers. Jake comes to LA-MN with several years’ experience in youth ministry, a seminary degree (plans to be ordained as Deacon), and a background in communications.

Election Materials & Recruitment: LA-MN created election resources in the form of fliers/posters, postcards, and stickers for synods and congregations to use (available here). LA-MN also sent poll worker recruitment information to 169 churches in Greater Minnesota, and many more in the two Metro Area synods.

Graceful Conversations: A 1.5 hour workshop Tammy developed almost 10 years ago has been turned into a 5 session workshop series with videos, worksheets, and facilitator guide with the help of Rev. Emily Meyer (Director, Ministry Lab). Instead of teaching how to be and act, it now helps develop skills to make Graceful Conversation and Action part of our core being. This series doesn’t negate the value of other trainings (Braver Angels) but uses a faith lens and is meant to have a shelf life far beyond our current contentious election cycle. (Available here).

Out & About: In addition to finishing Graceful Conversations and welcoming Jake, Tammy attended a screening of the Plastic People documentary, participated in a Synod Theological Event (short presentation & display), and played a key role in a synod/region event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ELCA World Hunger (Poverty Simulation, 2 workshops, & display).

 

Hunger Network in Ohio – hungernetohio.com
Deacon Nick Bates, Director

To End Hunger in Ohio, We Must End Gerrymandering:
The Hunger Network continues to talk with community groups and congregations on the importance of a YES VOTE on State Issue 1. State issue 1 will create a 15 member citizens commission – 5 democrats, 5 republicans, and 5 independents – to oversee the drawing of legislative maps. Sadly, our current process is marred and bi-partisan courts have declared our current maps are unconstitutional multiple times. The new process will create a way to avoid conflict of interest that hurts our democracy. When elected officials are accountable to the public, we can guide them towards prioritizing their communities and not special interests.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Annual Celebration: Nov. 10 3:30 All Saints Lutheran Church
Advocacy in Advent: Dec. 10 at the Ohio Statehouse

 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Pennsylvania – lutheranadvocacypa.org 
Tracey DePasquale, Director

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) continued equipping disciples for peacebuilding and faithful civic engagement in September-October. Working with Common Ground – USA, LAMPa offered webinars on digital peacebuilding, active listening , difficult conversations and managing conflict. Find recordings and links to resources. LAMPa activated our election support network to share accurate information, respond to needs of elections officials, and prepare to defend vulnerable communities or address attempts to undermine elections. Nearly 350 people received daily devotions through LAMPa’s 40-day Reflections Before an Election.

LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale joined Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Synod in the launch of their Love Revolution initiative. We look forward to accompanying congregations as they live into God’s call to love our neighbors.

The Rev. Erin Jones, LAMPa Communications and Advocacy Engagement Manager, attended the annual In God’s Image gathering in Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, helping to lead an advocacy workshop there and sharing LAMPa’s legislative efforts to advance equality and oppose discrimination and hate.

LAMPa was thrilled to announce recipients of the Isaiah 58:12 fellowship, supported by the inaugural Jackie Maddox Racial Justice Grant, as they began a year of transformative learning in their communities.

In the final weeks of the legislative session, LAMPa advocates pressed their senators to protect health care in Pennsylvania by strengthening reviews of proposed hospital and health system mergers.

DePasquale joined the task force working on the new social statement on civic life and faith in Chicago as they reviewed feedback on the draft statement.

 

Texas Impact – texasimpact.org 
Scott Atnip, Director of Public Witness

The Texas Impact Board of Directors recently released their biennial legislative agenda, entitled “Free, Safe, and Flourishing: A Faithful Agenda for Texas.”

Texas Impact is coordinating a Houston Faith Votes cohort to engage in civic engagement work to demonstrate the impact congregations can have in engaging voters. The fifteen congregations are joining with many other congregations using Texas Faith Votes resources.

Congregations are participating in the Vidas Robadas (Stolen Lives) displays, displaying the names of victims of gun violence on t-shirts.

An increasing number of congregations are signing up to participate in Texas Impact’s Courts and Ports program, traveling to the Texas-Mexico Border to experience public policy issues being lived out on the border.

Finally, the Weekly Witness podcast continues, and we were fortunate to have Robert Rivera, Vice President of the Synod Council of the Gulf Coast Synod, join the program to discuss immigration issues.

 

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy – virginiainterfaithcenter.org
Kim Bobo, Co-Executive Director

October has been an especially busy month for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. The organization finished the last of five regional celebrations that honored legislators, volunteers, and congregations. It hosted three Faith and Housing workshops around the state helping congregations learn how they might use their buildings or land for affordable housing. The organization also held its first Interfaith Souls to the Polls event encouraging congregations to caravan to Sunday polling locations for early voting. Registration opened for the organization’s annual lobby day, which will be Jan. 15, 2025 in Richmond. Register here: https://virginiainterfaithcenter.org/day-for-all-people-2025/

 

Lutheran Office for Public Policy – Wisconsin – loppw.org
Rev. Cindy Crane, Director

Wednesday Noon Live: We had two interviews on the first Wednesday of October rather than our usual single interview for Wednesday Noon Live, because of the significance of the upcoming election.

 

We need poll workers! Hear from Delaney Zimmer, Voter Services Coordinator at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.

 

Watch for misinformation (intentional and unintentional), know where to check out the facts about the voting process. In addition, learn about important details about absentee ballots. Hear from Riley Vetterkind, Public Information Officer at the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

 

Congratulations to the La Crosse Area Synod on their ComFest for confirmation students! There were meaningful speakers and a lot of activities. Many took the advocacy quiz and posted their advocacy interests at the Lutheran Office for Public Policy – Wisconsin (LOPPW) table.

 

 

 

Additional Activities Engaging with the Church: Between mid-September and mid-October, LOPPW’s director also led three workshops on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his context, one workshop on human trafficking, one workshop on advocacy, and one on the draft social statement on Civic Life and Faith. We also broadly advertised the showing of the film, “Bad Faith” about Christian Nationalism, which was attended by several ELCA members beyond and around the state.

LOPPW hosted the Raise the Age Coalition (returning 17-year-old youth to the juvenile justice system) annual strategy planning meeting in October. We will regroup after the elections as well as meet with the entire coalition soon.

By Joey Chin, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow 

ELCA Witness in Society is excited to introduce the six members of the 2024-2025 Hunger Advocacy Fellows cohort. The year-long fellowship integrates professional development with faith formation and offers fellows the unique opportunity to address issues at the state and national level. Engaging in the work of advocacy remains integral to the life of faith and essential to our present witness. We look forward to the work ahead as we participate in the development of a more just world.

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Emily Ahren (D.C. Policy)

Emily Ahern (she/her) is originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a lifelong member of congregations of the ELCA. She graduated from American University this past spring with a degree in Political Science, and is on track to graduate (once again) from American University this upcoming spring with a Master’s in Public Administration. Ahern is so excited to join ELCA Advocacy so that she can research and lobby for policy which will alleviate the effects of hunger and poverty for all Americans! In her free time, she can be found collecting vinyl, going to concerts, and watching Star Wars.

 

Erin Brown (New York – LOWC)

Erin Brown (she/her/ella) is a deacon consecrated by the Lutheran Diaconal Association. She is passionate about multicultural exchange, language, and the power of storytelling. Before joining the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), Brown worked at Saint Peter’s Church in Manhattan as a fellow in cross-cultural ministry. Previously, Brown taught English to university students in Colombia and to Haitian adults seeking refuge in the greater Boston area. Prior to this, she lived in Costa Rica, completing her diaconal internship with a focus on refugee rights. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & Global Service from Valparaiso University and a Master of Arts in Latin American & Caribbean Studies from Indiana University. In her free time, Brown enjoys spending her time outdoors hiking and exploring creation. She’s thrilled to continue her work with the LOWC team this year and continue to engage in international advocacy.

 

Joey Chin (D.C. Communications)

Joey Chin (he/him) grew up in the greater Seattle area and earned degrees from The University of Washington in communication and political science. After graduating, he spent one year as an editorial fellow with Sojourners magazine followed by three years working as an elementary public school teacher in Redmond, Washington. Most recently Chin began a Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary. He is looking forward to joining ELCA Advocacy and being a part of all the important work being done. Chin enjoys books, movies, and podcasts and always appreciates any recommendations for new things to read, watch, or listen to.

 

Courtney Hall (California)

Courtney Hall (she/her) is the Hunger Advocacy Fellow with the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in California. She graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a double minor in Political Science and Religious Studies in May 2024. Her undergraduate pursuits were driven by her desire to understand the complex relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Additionally, while at Clemson, she was an undergraduate research assistant for the Chair of the Political Science Department, completing research for his book Dysfunctional Diplomacy: The Politics of International Agreements in an Era of Partisan Polarization. She also worked for Clemson University’s Athletic Academic Services as a tutor for student-athletes in history, political science, and English composition and rhetoric. She was born and raised in Long Beach, California and looks forward to being a faithful advocate and bettering the community that she loves.

 

Sagi Rudnick (Kansas)

Sagi Rudnick (he/him) is a political organizer, strategist, and activist with over half a decade of experience fostering community in Kansas and Missouri. During this time, with over a dozen campaigns and organizations, he has worked with diverse stakeholders and coalitions to achieve results for the community. These results include successfully lobbying for hundreds of millions in public dollars for public universities and working with faith communities and organized labor to raise the minimum wage and enact paid sick leave. Rudnick graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2023 with bachelor’s degrees in political science and professional communications, and a minor in International Studies. Raised in the Jewish faith, Rudnick believes simultaneously that the whole community is greater than the sum total of its individuals, and that every person is a whole world unto themselves. He is excited to promote justice in partnership with Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) and the ELCA! Rudnick lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his fiancée, Caitlin, and their four cats and two dogs.

 

Jake Summerville (Minnesota)

Jake Summerville (he/him) is the newest addition to the Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota team as our Hunger Advocacy Fellow! Born and raised in the ELCA with a professional background in youth ministry and direct service work, Summerville is excited to hit the ground running. He has just finished up at Luther Seminary and has been approved for ordination as a deacon in the ELCA, so this will be the first step of many on his journey. Ask him about his fiancé, his cat, the outdoors, or Dungeons and Dragons!

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available.

UN | COLORADO | MINNESOTA | PENNSYLVANIA | WISCONSIN

 

U.N.
Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), United Nations, New York, N.Y. – ELCA.org/lowc
Christine Mangale, Director

International Tax Cooperation: The United Nations adopted terms of reference on International Tax Cooperation in August, despite opposition by the United States and other developed Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The terms of reference (ToR) are the ground rules and procedures for all member states to engage in intergovernmental negotiations and the subsequent investments in these processes required to ensure their facilitation. While the European Union opposes these negotiations (along with the OECD) their members abstained rather than vote against, which allowed the ToR to be adopted.

The social statement Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All supports monitoring of taxation policy. It calls for, among other things: corporate governance that is accountable for the effects of a company’s practices on workers, communities, and the environment here and throughout the world; scrutiny of the tax breaks, subsidies, and incentives many companies receive, to assure that they serve the common good; enforcement of laws to prevent the exercise of inordinate market power by large corporations; and appropriate government regulatory reform so that governments can monitor private sector practices more effectively and efficiently in an ever-changing global economy (p. 14).

UN General Assembly Summit of the Future: Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) will be hosting a high-level delegation from the LWF and ELCA who will represent LWF at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future. The UNGA opens on Sep. 10, 2024, and will contain the following elements: General Debate, Summit of the Future. Additionally, there will be high-level meetings on sea level rise, elimination of nuclear weapons and antimicrobial resistance.

The UNGA is a critical decision-making body in multilateral policy generation and accountability. The LWF is both a stakeholder in the global response to the existential issues of our time and a watchdog of these policies to hold states accountable to their decisions. The outcomes of the UNGA and the Summit of the Future will be key UN processes that will influence our strategy for advocacy engagement moving forward to 2025 and beyond.

 

Colorado
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) – lam-co.org
Peter Severson, Director

2024 VOTER GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) is proud to once again publish our annual Voter Guide, a resource to walk voters through the myriad ballot measures on which Coloradans will be asked to vote this fall. This year, there will be 14 measures on the ballot, the most since 2008. The measures address everything from criminal justice and abortion to same sex marriage and wildlife management.

LAM-CO has taken a position on four of the ballot measures this year: we recommend voting YES on Amendment I, Amendment J, and Proposition JJ, and we recommend voting NO on Proposition 128. We are formally neutral on the rest of the measures, but check out our Guide for more information and analysis about each one, as well as information about faithful voting in elections.

View our 2024 Voter Guide here. Ballots will be going out to voters in the mail starting Oct. 11. Happy voting!

 

Minnesota
Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota (LA-MN) – lutheranadvocacymn.org
Tammy Walhof, Director

Graceful Conversations: Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota (LA-MN) and The Ministry Lab (PCUSA & UCC with LA-MN director) have teamed up to share Graceful Conversations: Building Arcs Across Divided Perspectives. It started as a workshop LA-MN Director Tammy Walhof initially created ten years ago (and has continued to improve) to help participants think about how we as Christians should ‘be’ in the world as we attempt to address ever increasing polarization. With the help of Rev. Emily Meyer, an expert on contemplative practices, it has been transformed into a five-part series of learning, reflection, and practice to help participants make Graceful Conversations part of their core being (1-1.5 hour sessions, with 15-20 minutes of video to be paused at various points for discussion). These sessions do not negate the value of Braver Angels workshops or other depolarizations initiatives. Rather, they are geared specifically to churches. Watch for it on our website soon!

Out & About: Walhof has been meeting, presenting, and sharing resources across the state over the last month, including at a statewide EcoFaith Leadership Retreat, the Saint Paul Area Synod’s Creation Care Task Force Retreat, and the Theological Conference of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. Don’t forget to invite her to your events! She loves these kinds of opportunities, especially now that things are happening in-person again.

Upcoming Event: Walking Together (Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, Saturday, Oct. 12) – An event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ELCA World Hunger has been planned by the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, with LA-MN as co-sponsor. All of Region 3 is invited.

 

Pennsylvania
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Pennsylvania (LAMPa) lutheranadvocacypa.org
Tracey DePasquale, Director

On Sept 5. approximately 100 religious leaders of various faith traditions from across the state gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol to issue a call for peace during this election season. Acknowledging the current climate of political unrest and polarization, they pledged to foster dialogue over division and urged civic leaders to use responsible rhetoric, reject all calls for violence, and inspire hope rather than fear.

In a statement signed by more than 350 religious leaders representing more than 3 million Pennsylvanians, they called on their communities and all Pennsylvanians to prioritize understanding over assumptions and commit to truthfulness, recognizing the real harm caused by misinformation. They called on people of faith across the Commonwealth to commit to courageous peacebuilding and to sign on in support of the statement. Listen to more coverage on public radio!

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) was honored to partner with these leaders and encourages all people of faith in Pennsylvania to add their name and continue the work of building up peace.

LAMPa is offering skills training for peacebuilding throughout September and October and will launch a 40-day devotional for election season on Sept. 27. Sign up here to receive a daily emailed reflection written by Pennsylvania rostered leaders and seminarians.

Oct. 18-19 – Join us virtually or in person at the Gettysburg campus of United Lutheran Seminary for “Hope in a Divided World: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s This-Worldly Christianity as an Antidote to Christian Nationalism.” Registration is now open.

 

Wisconsin
Lutheran Office for Public Policy – Wisconsin (LOPPW) loppw.org
The Rev. Cindy Crane, Director

 

Wednesday Noon Live

Podcaster and Author Blake Chastain shares his story about responding to Christian Nationalism and the problems the movement presents. Hear about some of the themes in his book, “Exvangelical and Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That’s Fighting Back,” coming out later this month.

We have more resources on Christian Nationalism on a new page on our website.

Frances Dobbs Ended her Year as a Hunger Advocacy Fellow. She left behind fruits of her work including a unique immigration resource, Undocumented in Wisconsin 2024, and presentation on hunger in Wisconsin and on Healthy School Meals for All.

Voting

Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) has been reaching out to congregations with information on how adults and youth can find opportunities to be civically engaged on Nov. 5. We are grateful for a grant that our four ELCA state public policy offices received to support this work.

Responding to Two Synod Resolutions

In the spring, LOPPW was included in resolutions from the Greater Milwaukee Synod and East Central Synod of Wisconsin requesting that we support the synods in addressing money in politics. Both resolutions supported Wisconsin United to Amend. In August, the director gathered the key authors of the resolutions from each synod to explore how to work together. She also reached out to La Crosse Area Synod, which passed a similar resolution. With feedback from the meeting, she also met with the director of Wisconsin United to Amend to discuss empowering ELCA members to lead workshops and take other actions.

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director

Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: September 2024

PRESSURE FOR FARM BILL ACTION | INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY25 ADVANCE | CONFLICT IN SUDAN | INCREASED CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE & HUMANITARIAN AID, AND RELIGIOUS EQUALITY | ELCA BISHOPS’ HILL VISITS YIELD DIVIDENDS

 

PRESSURE FOR FARM BILL ACTION: In congressional meetings across the House and Senate over August recess, ELCA Witness in Society staff continued to press for passage of the Farm Bill alongside many Lutheran constituents from their districts. Congressional staff from both sides of the political aisle have indicated determination to pass a Farm Bill this year – but with limited legislative days remaining in the calendar year, the opportunity to advance a measure is quickly slipping away.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

This month, the Department of Agriculture released a new report showing food insecurity has continued to increase – to now 13.8% of all U.S. families, or 47.4 million food insecure Americans. Ahead of Election Day, it is critical that lawmakers continue to hear that hunger, our food systems, and the vitality of our rural communities and our environment are of core concern for Lutherans across the United States. In particular, it is important to highlight the need to preserve and boost support for BOTH hunger programs AND our farming communities in a Farm Bill.

What’s Next:

Advocates can continue to take action on domestic hunger programs via the ELCA Action Center, in addition to the highlighted Farm Bill Action Alerts in our “Farm Bill Updates” blog page. Sending a customized letter this fall urging lawmakers to pass a meaningful Farm Bill before Jan. 1, 2025, will make a critical difference.

 

INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY25 ADVANCE: Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have been working toward approving a budget for 2025 (FY25). This includes the budgets for government agencies and programs like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many environmental justice programs. The House passed a bill that would reduce funding to the EPA by 20% and eliminate these environmental justice programs. The Senate passed their proposed Interior & Environment budget out of committee. Their bill fully maintains topline funding for the EPA and environmental justice programs alike and had bipartisan support through the committee vote.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA has a history of advocating for the importance of creation care and environmental justice. The strides that the U.S. government has made in addressing environmental justice in particular can only be made possible if we continue to provide robust funding to these programs.

What’s Next:

If the Senate version passes a whole floor vote, these House & Senate versions of the Interior and Environment budget will need to be conferenced (i.e. aligned) to determine how to reconcile the differences and agree on a final budget for 2025. With little time left for Congress to get this done in September, it seems likely that an extension will be passed until the lame duck session in November/December for budget talks to continue.

 

CONFLICT IN SUDAN: Negotiations in Switzerland over the conflict in Sudan came to a close at the end of August without sound agreement to end the hostilities, but with major progress in access to humanitarian aid and inclusion of civil society. While Sudan’s military did not send a representative to Switzerland, both sides agreed to greater aid access through the Adre border crossing with Chad and through Port Sudan along the Red Sea. After a consultation meeting with the Department of State and U.S. Government representatives to the talks in Geneva, it was also notable that civil society and marginalized voices were heavily included.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The conflict in Sudan has displaced over 10 million people and more than 25 million people (over half the population) is facing acute hunger, making this one of the largest and most consequential conflicts in the world and a key focus for our global, anti-hunger advocacy. The ELCA has been in many meetings with the U.S. government to express concerns and priorities that would bring an end to the conflict in Sudan, address hunger through humanitarian aid and include voices in the negotiations that are often neglected in peace processes. With both sides moving promisingly toward greater aid access and with the inclusion of a Sudanese women’s delegation – which produced this list of priorities – steps are being made to allow for greater progress in the future.

What’s Next:

The ELCA will continue to meet with U.S. government administration officials to keep up the work that has allowed for progress on humanitarian aid access and inclusivity, while also continuing to urge that future negotiations implement the recommendations of those included voices and focus on durably resolving the violence.

 

INCREASED CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE & HUMANITARIAN AID, AND RELIGIOUS EQUALITY: [Editor’s Note: This message was compiled days ago and does not reflect recent developments which ELCA staff is monitoring.] ELCA Middle East and North Africa policy staff have organized meetings with Senior State Department and White House officials to discuss humanitarian aid in Gaza, a ceasefire and recent developments on Israeli taxation of Palestinian churches. In parallel, ELCA staff joined Churches for Middle East Peace-hosted meetings with National Security Council officials on Gaza policy.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

In the Message on the War in Gaza (6/5/24), our ELCA presiding bishop affirms that Lutherans care deeply about the people of the Holy Land and about seeking a just resolution to this conflict. “As Christ taught, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (Matthew 5:9). Let us continue to hope and to live our faith.” The ELCA’s relationship with our companion church the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land continues to inform our care for the victims of the current conflict, the ongoing dehumanization of the occupation, and the specific ways in which policies like imposing taxes on churches threatens their witness and ministry in the Holy Land.

What’s Next:

The ELCA will continue communicating directly with and advocating to senior administration officials who oversee U.S. policy to the region. Congress will return from August recess in the second week of September, when ELCA advocacy staff will take ELCA policy objectives to members officials on the Hill. Current policy adviser Susannah Cunningham (contractor) has been onboarding and transferring responsibilities to newly hired Program Director for Middle East and North Africa Policy Sasha Ghosh-Siminoff, and she will be staying on until early-October to fully transition Ghosh-Siminoff into his new role with the ELCA’s vital advocacy.

 

ELCA BISHOPS’ HILL VISITS YIELD DIVIDENDS: On June 10-12, ELCA Witness in Society and Global Refuge hosted several bishops for advocacy in Washington, D.C. Throughout their visit, the bishops were able to express how immigration policies are intricately connected to the welfare of families within their communities from Southeast Minnesota to Texas. The bishops who participated were Bishops Brenda Bos, Susan Briner, Jim Gonia, Regina Hassanally, David Nagler and Michael Rinehart. On Capitol Hill, they discussed federal policies and legislation including the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (H.R.1325), the Afghan Adjustment Act (S. 2327/H.R.4627) and FY25 appropriations for refugee and immigrant accounts.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The bishops, joined by ELCA and Global Refuge staff, met with senior staff at the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, as well as congressional staff. The visit concluded with an interfaith town hall on immigration accompaniment, featuring administration officials and faith-based organizations. The visit showcased the effectiveness of tying federal policies to local impacts. Bishops wove stories from their congregations to make the case for the Biden Administration and Congress to act in support of immigrant communities.

What’s Next:

In the days that followed, the Biden Administration acted on three policies highlighted during the bishops’ visit: Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberia and relief for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, supporting thousands of immigrant families. The last of these, parole in place (PIP) spousal provisions, made over 500,000 undocumented spouses of American citizens eligible for legal status within the US, supporting the goal of keeping families together.

 

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STATUS ON CAPITOL HILL | ACTION ALERTS | RESOURCES AND WEBINARS | OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE

The Farm Bill, which guides much of U.S. agriculture, rural and food policy, is currently being debated in Congress. The ELCA urges Congress to pass a 2024 Farm Bill that promotes:

• food for hungry neighbors at home and abroad,
• healthy rural and farming communities,
• inclusion of people of all backgrounds,
• care of creation to feed future generations

In a world of abundance, we strive for an end to hunger and poverty, and towards a just world where all are fed. Additionally, we are to work with each other and the environment to meet needs without causing undue burdens elsewhere. The Farm Bill is one of the most influential pieces of legislation affecting hunger and conservation in the U.S. and around the world.

Our social statements call for policies that provide adequate nutrition for all and create livelihood opportunities that are genuinely sustainable. We urge lawmakers to pass a 2024 Farm Bill that reflects these faith-based values.

 

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Status on Capitol Hill

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Action Alerts

Express your priorities to lawmakers as this vital bill advances! It is critical that lawmakers hear from us. Use the messaging tools available in our Action Series on Farm Bill Priorities in the ELCA Action Center to add your voice. Currently available:

Strengthen International Food Aid Programs in the Farm Bill 

Address Farming and Worker Challenges in the Farm Bill

Advocate for Conservation and Climate-Friendly Farm Bill Measures

Fully Fund SNAP Benefits This Year

Future Farm Bill Action Alerts will be added to this page – but you can be notified directly by signing up for the ELCA Advocacy Network. New Action Alerts and monthly updates are sent to the network, which you sign up for here.

 

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Resources & Webinars

From the ELCA Witness in Society advocacy team

ELCA advocacy has produced resources stemming from ELCA Farm Bill Listening Sessions held last year.

Farm Bill Leave Behind – This summation of themes heard in listening sessions groups important priorities. Our ELCA advocacy staff has been sharing this with lawmakers, and you can too.

• It reads in part: “We heard from hundreds of Lutherans across the country who asked that their voices reach policy makers in the farm bill reauthorization process. Members brought their vocational, ministerial and civic experiences from varied parts of this country to ELCA listening sessions. They emphasized their deep concern for neighbors at home and abroad — especially the most vulnerable — and for faithful stewardship of God’s good creation.“

Farm Bill Reauthorization – Invitation to Action – At the request of state partners, this overview of the Farm Bill and template letter was prepared and can be used in various settings.

From other sources

• WEBINAR | Why is the Farm Bill Important to Us?
  • Thu. June 13, 6-7:30 p.m. PT
  • Presented by Faith Action Network, an ELCA-affiliated state public policy office in Washington state, with the ELCA.
  • This presentation was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, where it can be viewed in its entirety at this link.

 

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Our Collective Voice

By raising our collective voice, we can help enact a more just Farm Bill that leaves no one hungry. In your location and federally, let’s act boldly to end hunger and poverty in our time and ensuring healthy creation to feed future generations.

Here are some other ideas for making your voice heard.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper on the importance of anti-hunger and pro-farmer policies in the Farm Bill.
• Attend town halls or public events this August Recess with your members of Congress to ask questions about their Farm Bill priorities.
• Pray for those experiencing hunger and for our elected officials to have wisdom and compassion.

 

Some congregations use bulletin blurbs, some post a “Prepared to Vote Checklist” in the window from ELCA.org/civicengagement resources, some help neighbors check their voter registration status during church activities or at shelters they work with – among many creative approaches that fit their setting. Our civic engagement as people of faith can help ensure that everyone benefits from the good of government. Resources and ideas for this important non-partisan service by faith communities an election year are reprinted here by permission from the “Faith in Elections Playbook” of Interfaith America.

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Trustworthy information

Faith leaders and religious organizations have a tremendous opportunity to make accurate information about our elections available to our community members. Voters need to know where and how to vote, which is not always easy to find. Information coming from trusted members of the community can go a long way to help voters navigate a potentially confusing situation.

 

THE NEED

• Misinformation, disinformation, and even just plain confusing information can serve as a barrier to voting.
  • Misinformation is false or inaccurate information.
  • Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to mislead.
• Americans in different areas of the country have different options on where and how to vote. Voting rules can change between elections, which makes it difficult for everyday people to keep track.
• Some voters — especially voters from historically marginalized groups — have been targeted and purposefully misled with false or intimidating information about voting. Faith-based organizations can counter this mis- and disinformation by connecting their members and audiences with accurate information about the voting process.

 

THE RESPONSE

• Religious organizations are hubs of information and organizing within their specific communities. They provide clear information on upcoming events, holidays, and opportunities to both provide and receive help. This communication infrastructure can be used to provide accurate nonpartisan information on voting and elections.
• Organizations that serve historically marginalized communities have a particularly important role to play in providing correct information, as these communities have faced campaigns to suppress their votes in the past, including a campaign to convince Black voters not to vote in the 2020 election.
• One of the most important ways to ensure that your members have accurate information regarding voting is to share trustworthy information on your website and in communications. Be certain to link to your local or state election administration’s website for information instead of writing it on your website. This information may change over time.
• You can send election-related information to your organization or congregation multiple times during the leadup to the election to ensure that they have accurate information about how they can check their registration, vote, and even track their mail-in ballots.
• Some of the most helpful pieces of information for voters include:
  • How to register to vote and check registration status.
  • Options for voting, such as early voting, mail-in voting, or dropping off their ballot on Election Day.
  • The dates, times, and locations for voting early and on Election Day.
  • What types of identification may be required in your county and state.
  • Checking the status of mail-in ballots that have been requested or the status of mail-in ballots that voters have returned.
  • Where to call if you are having issues casting your vote.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• It is legal for houses of worship, denominational organizations, and other 501(c)(3) entities to provide information about voting.
• It is important that any shared information about voting does not privilege one candidate over another. Information on voting must not show bias toward any one candidate in the message that you send or with whom you choose to share it. All of your members should have the same access to this nonpartisan information.
• You can read more about how to ensure 501(c)3 compliance on the IRS website here.

 

RESOURCES AND LINKS

• The nonpartisan US Vote Foundation website can help voters find contact information for their local election office.
• The National Association of Secretaries of State also has specific pages that connect voters to their state’s website dealing with the following topics:
  • Registering to vote
  • Checking voter registration status
  • Finding your polling place
  • Voter ID requirements
  • Mail-in voting (also called absentee) and early voting information
• Vote.Org outlines important deadlines related to the election and allows you to sign up to get reminders of upcoming deadlines.
• The League of Women Voters has a checklist to Make Your Plan to Vote.
• You can share the following phone numbers for voters to call if they are having problems with voting:
  • 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
  • 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español)
  • 1-888-API-VOTE (Asian multilingual assistance)
  • 1-844-YALLA-US (Arabic)
• You can partner with organizations to promote voting, such as:
  • National Voter Registration Day (partnership page here)
  • Vote Early Day (partnership page here)
• If you are interested in learning how to counter misinformation or disinformation, some great resources include:
  • The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) two-pager on election misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.
  • CISA’s guide to dealing with disinformation.
• Find a faith-based partner:
  • • Faiths United to Save Democracy has a comprehensive resource page with questions and answers related to voting.

 

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ABOUT INTERFAITH AMERICA: Led by Founder and President Eboo Patel, Interfaith America inspires, equips, and connects leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity. Utilizing a research-backed approach, Interfaith America works across higher education, racial equity, health, workplace, bridgebuilding, democracy, and technology.