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Election fears and global church wisdom

“Fear not, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God.” Many of us rehearse these words from Isaiah not only for their instruction, but because we need to remind ourselves of God’s presence and peace to push against contrary voices setting off anxiety. Anxiety is aroused around this election. The agitation is rational: pandemic realities and opportunistic impulses in electoral mechanisms, white supremacy and Christian nationalism stepping out of shadows, election results potentially unclear or contested and threats of violence.

“The political polarization in this country is making the temperature ripe for possible election violence,” says Christine Mangale, ELCA Program Director with the Lutheran Office for World Community. “This is the time for ELCA members to draw lessons from the ecumenical movement, in particular the Lutheran churches worldwide that have been promoting peace and working to prevent conflict for more than six decades. As churches, we have always been inspired by the rich tradition of peace, love, reconciliation and justice.”

 

FACED BY ZIMBABWEANS

On July 30, 2018, Zimbabwe held its first free elections after the almost 30-year rule of Robert Mugabe, prime minister then president of that nation. Until election results were announced on August 3, 2018, protests flared, including the death of six people in violent clashes on August 1. The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mtata, General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, said then, “What is really required in the long-run, if we going to have a deep cohesion among Zimbabweans, is to address the deep-seated anger, frustration and dissatisfaction on our land, which get an opportunity to manifest in such violence whenever there is an opportunity.”

In a letter of solidarity, the Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, wrote of the hope for a country flourishing “with the contribution of each member of the society, regardless of political identity.”

 

SUPPLIES STOCKPILED BY THE CHURCH

The ELCA social message “Community Violence” conveys a practical appreciation of what many are feeling in 2020. “Violence breeds more violence. Incidents of violence stir up anger and a craving for vengeance. Fear festers an attitude of ‘we’re not going to take it anymore.’ Increasingly, our national mood has been described as one of ‘getting mad and getting even’” (pg. 2). But this response should not be indulged by Christians. The message continues: “The Holy Spirit works among us to wrench us from violence, hate, greed, and fear, and transforms us into people who are called to trust God and live in community with one another. In doing so, we need to confront the violent tendencies within ourselves and our society, and find ways to cultivate the practice of nonviolence” (pg. 2).

While evidence suggests toilet paper is again being stockpiled and security checks for gun purchases are on the rise, churches can position themselves to declare God’s peace, marked by relationships that are just, harmonious and free from violence. “The Church as a community for peace is also to be a deliberating presence in society. As a community of moral deliberation the Church is a setting of freedom and respect where believers with different perspectives may learn from one another in the unity of faith,” says the For Peace in God’s World social statement (pg. 5). “We also advocate an early peace that provides security from violence and aggression, seeks just order in place of tyranny or anarchy, checks unrestrained power, and defends and enhances the life of people who are poor and powerless” (pg. 7).

 

MOVING TOWARD HEALING

Whether violence mars this election or not, we are a nation in need of healing. One model for local congregation leadership in this healing is available in “With Malice Towards None,” a program of Braver Angels that increases capacity for working together to address our common challenges. After the election has been decided, the initiative suggests healing through organized online or in-person gatherings where “red and blue Americans consider how they want to regard their fellow citizens who voted differently and begin building the capacity of We the People to forge ‘a more perfect union’ moving into 2021.”

As the global ecumenical communion urges us, our Christian community can hold forth a light in anxious times and not be subsumed by fear. In Zimbabwe, Junge wrote of the church’s strong commitment “to walk with… all the people of Zimbabwe in prayers for peace and stability in the country in order for all to enjoy the fruits of their land.” Spurred by the God of peace, we can address the deep-seated anger, frustration and dissatisfaction in our land and tend to our divisions by coming together to encounter, listen and learn about one another across differences.

ELCAvotes: Engagement before/during/after election

It is both privilege and responsibility for Lutherans in the United States to approach Election 2020 as faith-informed voters. Aware of needs and priorities in our own lives and connected with our neighbors who are equally beloved children of God, “Lutherans care about government because it is a gift from God intended for the safety and flourishing of human life.”* We are civically engaged, mindful that “too often and in too many ways, this gift has been abused.”*

  • Do you have your plan in place for voting?
  • Can you encourage and inform others through your congregation and/or personal circles?
  • Have you reflected on election challenges – for vote casting and after Election Day – in our unique 2020 context?

With mere days remaining in advance of Election Day 2020, here is a review of material associated with the ELCAvotes initiative.

 

VOTING BASICS

Rules vary state-by-state, which makes obtaining facts and planning ahead very important when challenges of polling in 2020 tweak familiar voting avenues.

If you’re looking for a place to start, the national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition can direct you to state-specific information from 866ourvote.org as well as the nonprofit, nonpartisan technology platform vote.gov. This includes:

  • Registration information
  • Vote-by-mail information
  • Deadlines
  • Polling locations

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Cherry-pick from archived ELCAvotes social media posts or use new items posted every Wednesday to share important messages in your and/or your congregation’s circles. On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ELCAadvocacy, find messages for sharing including:

  • Identify your polling location
  • Thinking of voting early? Deadlines matter.
  • Want to check if you are registered?
  • What is your state’s early-voting and vote-by-mail options?

Use #ELCAvotes in YOUR posts  to help us all see & share!

 

VIDEOS
  • A brand-new short video from the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, raises “Civic Engagement in 2020” themes. View on YouTube, and pass along from Twitter and Facebook.
  • Though the video is not new, “The Right to Vote” with Bishop Eaton also contains an important message. Find it on ELCA.org/votes and YouTube.

 

BLOG THEMES

While the ELCA Advocacy blog spotlights varied examples of Lutheran action, several posts carry ELCAvotes themes.

  • Voting dialogue with persons with disabilities (10/16/20)
  • Sifting through misinformation (10/5/20)
  • Churches as polling places (9/17/20)
  • Voting in 2020 takes personal and public planning (8/21/20)
  • Voter suppression damage requires challenge (6/24/20)

Review from blogs.elca.org/advocacy/ where you can also sign up to have ELCA Advocacy blog posts sent directly via email.

 

WORSHIP, BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER

Lutherans take time for study, prayer and worship in all things.

Check for local vigils near you. Plans for a national prayer vigil through the Washington Interfaith Staff Community in which ELCA advocacy staff participate will be shared when finalized.

 

ADDITIONAL ELCA RESOURCES

Check out ELCA.org/votes and ELCA.org/resources/advocacy under the “Civic Engagement” tab for more information, including:

  • Fact & activity sheet on race and voting
  • Money in politics
  • Voter guidelines for people facing homelessness
  • ELCA Civic Engagement Guide with “Get Out the Vote” tip sheet and more.

 

FROM OUR PARTNERS
  • Sacred Season of Voting resources to educate yourself and motivate others to go out and vote are offered by Faithful Democracy, with which the ELCA is in partnership through the Washington Interfaith Staff Community.
  • Help staff your local polling place if you feel safe doing so. Our country is facing a shortage of poll workers because of the pandemic, and Power the Polls can direct you to sign up.
  • Tools for strengthening community resilience during the election cycle and addressing possible election-related violence in communities is available from Faith in Public Life. See “Building a Resilience Network.”

 

TRUST AND CALM

In the unique environment of Election 2020, our faith-informed voices have much to contribute to inform, take action and proclaim that fear will not rule the day – before, during and after Election Day. In a media pool tainted with misinformation, cultivating multiple info sources and “knowing where to go to find accurate information or a different perspective about a topic is extremely helpful,” says a tip in the Misinformation blog post. Churches can play a role as trusted messengers in our communities.

  • Is voter intimidation illegal? Are guns permitted at polling places? Does the First Amendment protect intimidating speech? These are a sample of questions answered by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center. Review the responses in their “Fact Sheet: Protecting Against Voter Intimidation.”
  • Resources for addressing voter intimidation, including state-by-state guidance on explaining the laws barring unauthorized private militia groups near a polling place or voter registration drive, have been compiled by the same source from the page: “Addressing the Rise of Unlawful Private Paramilitaries.”
  • The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition runs the hotline 1-866-OURVOTE (1-866-687-8683) in English and additional languages (use link or see graphic). Call it with questions, including if you encounter problems when seeking to cast your ballot. Legal help is provided by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.

 

With the increase in mail-in ballots and polling place challenges, it is highly unlikely that a winner in the presidential contest will be known on November 4. As our nation awaits results, we can be centered in the blessing:

“Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold on to what is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak, and help the suffering; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (from “Worship Resources for a National Election”)

 


* From the ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.”

October Update: Advocacy Connections

from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director

Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: October 2020

COVID-19 STIMULUSREFUGEE ADMISSIONS GOAL | TPS UNCERTAINTY | ELECTION 2020 IS HERE! | WELCOME NEW LEADERS

 

COVID-19 STIMULUS: At $2.2 trillion, the revised “HEROES Act” which passed the House on Oct. 1 is not expected to go further as bipartisan talks have broken down. Through the Circle of Protection, the ELCA successfully advocated for an extension of the Pandemic-EBT program through September 2021, a significant new tool for preventing childhood hunger. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton joined a letter to Congress and the Administration urging swift approval of a COVID relief package that prioritizes those most at risk of hunger at home and abroad.

President Trump pressed negotiators in Congress to finalize a deal as soon as possible with greater spending limits, but there is little opportunity for the Senate to take action for needed relief before Election Day. As benefits to businesses and families in the greatest need continue to run out, it is critical for advocates to contact their lawmakers to pass a compromise deal that prioritizes relief that addresses the growing hunger crisis in the U.S. and globally as soon as possible.

 

REFUGEE ADMISSIONS GOAL: On the evening of Sept. 30, the Administration announced its new annual refugee admissions goal: a ceiling of 15,000 refugees, which is the lowest target in the history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. A letter signed by 243 bishops and other rostered ministers called for resettlement of 95,000 refugees, the historic norm, delivered through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS).

Through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, the ELCA presiding bishop also issued a comment decrying the Administration’s historic low goal. An action alert through LIRS is available for individual expression of concern. The goal was announced publicly in a manner unlike formal presidential determinations which have undergone a traditional consultation and signing process in the past.

The administration has consistently lowered the refugee admission ceiling over the years despite growing need globally. Presently, only 10,892 refugees have been resettled this fiscal year. COVID-19 severely disrupted refugee resettlement. By late July, it was clear that the U.S. was not on pace to meet the already low 18,000 target.

 

TPS UNCERTAINTY: A preliminary injunction blocking the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan has been lifted by a Sept. 14 decision in Ramos v. Wolf. The toll on families is extreme as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and TPS recipients live in a perpetual state of limbo and fear of being returned to countries mired in social and political crises.

The Ramos decision also opens the way for the termination of TPS for people from Honduras and Nepal that are being challenged in a separate case. Urge the Senate to take up and pass the “American Dream and Promise” Act (H.R.6), one of few legislative vehicles to support TPS, DACA, and DED recipients by establishing a pathway to citizenship, with the Action Alert “Press for American Dream and Promise Act.”

 

ELECTION 2020 IS HERE! Factual, nonpartisan information from reliable sources is valuable as the 2020 election cycle advances to Nov. 3. Share ELCAvotes posts from @ELCAadvocacy on social media in your circles (new posts on Wednesdays plus archived posts available). The ELCAvotes initiative stems from 2013 Churchwide Assembly action and is led by ELCA Advocacy, Racial Justice Ministries, and Young Adult Ministry.

Both in the Civic Engagement series and with ELCAvotes, find resources and blog entries including Bible studies, “Sifting through Misinformation,” “Money and Politics,” and much more.

 

WELCOME NEW LEADERS: Despite the challenges of getting started from one’s home base and device connection, new additions have been welcomed to advocacy staff. Giovana Oaxaca will bring leadership through the position of Policy Director for Migration; and three Hunger Advocacy Fellows have begun service. These enthusiastic and gifted young adults are Taina Diaz-Reyes, Larry Herrold and Kyle Minden.

Diaz-Reyes is now part of the D.C.-based ELCA advocacy staff, Herrold is part of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania staff, and Minden is part of the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin. We’re excited to be working together!

 


Receive monthly Advocacy Connections directly by becoming part of the ELCA Advocacy network – http://elca.org/advocacy/signup , and learn more from elca.org/advocacy .

 

Voting dialogue with persons with disabilities

By guest blogger Carol A. Johnson, ELCA Coordinator, Disability Ministries, Grants and Schools

We are close to the national day designated to vote in the United States of America for our nation’s president and other congressional representatives in our state and our nation. Persons with disabilities take great pride in going to vote, but some do experience obstacles at the voting polls or even in registering and/or voting by mail.

Twenty five percent of American citizens are known to be living with a disability; another 25% of citizens are over the age of 60 and may benefit from talking with someone about when and how they plan to vote. While some may vote by mail, some may prefer to be out at the polls with other citizens – which is their right even if COVID-19 complicates this year’s national day of voting. As adults, they should be able to decide for themselves when and how they will vote.

Please consider being in dialogue with persons with disabilities about their desire to vote, about their opinions about those running for office, and consider asking what might make that day or even that week or month meaningful for them. Perhaps someone might like to go to polls when you do so that you might become more familiar with their experience. You may be surprised at the joy and independence felt despite any struggles.

We are a nation of many people who are more alike than different. Inviting someone and listening, rather than acting charitably, may be the best way for you to help someone living with a disability serve their country as a voter. Members with disabilities are your equals, your siblings in Christ, your neighbors – and are often impacted as much as yourself, if not more, by persons elected to serve as leaders of our country.

For more information and to get connected, visit ELCA.org/votes. Learn more about ELCA Disability Ministries from ELCA.org/our-work/congregations-and-synods/disability-ministry.

Sifting through misinformation

In weeks approaching the election, we are awash in messaging. Not only are we seeing politician-approved ads, but likely also items in categories* including propaganda, lies, conspiracies, rumors, hoaxes, hyperpartisan content, falsehoods and manipulated media. Such misinformation undermines healthy democratic processes and discourages civic engagement. “The political health of our nation still suffers from the stain of antidemocratic exclusion. Efforts to restrict access to voting should be condemned and resisted,” warns the ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” Much misinformation feeds this problem. Guidance to advance our public life in the social message reads, “There is a sharp distinction between public service and private gain, a distinction measured by the straightforward question ‘Whose good is being served?’”

 

What’s the problem?

Material from The Episcopal Church* cautions: “Audiences that mostly consume mainstream media see far more false insider stories and conspiracy theories than they might realize. While mainstream media itself remains highly reliable, online algorithms that favor content with high engagement instead of content with high veracity make it easier to transmit misinformation to these audiences through widely-used platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.”

When Hunger Network in Ohio, part of our Lutheran state public policy office network, reflected on online engagement, they wrote: “Social media offers everyone a chance to help shape the news and the content that each other sees. This is both a blessing and a curse…” They continued, “False news hurts our ability for civil discourse and wrestling with difficult issues to find solutions.”

Consuming a blip of information may take just a moment, but taking extra moments to clarify that information’s source and intent can help keep us from fanning destructive tendencies that divide us. “It seems that we want to cut ourselves off from each other,” said Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton in her video address “We are in this together” (9/25/20). “Not only do we disagree, but we say the other is wrong, or they say we are wrong, or we accuse each other somehow of mounting a platform – like we want to divorce each other. But this is not possible. In baptism, the Spirit has forged us together in a bond that is unbreakable by any human sin or even by our anxiety or our desire to get away from the other side.”

 

What can we do about it?

Check out the wide ranging exploration of a spectrum of misinformation, malinformation and disinformation, created and spread by “jokers, scammers, interest-driven entities, conspiracy theorists, ‘insiders’, celebrities, or your friends and family,” available from The Episcopal Church.

Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News: Why Do We Care?

We won’t catch all that is streaming past us, but we can help stop contribution to the problem.

Among remedying tips in the piece is: “Consuming high-quality, diverse media improves our understanding of the world and equips us to identify and critically evaluate misinformation. Even if you don’t follow every trusted source closely, knowing where to go to find accurate information or a different perspective about a topic is extremely helpful.” Then there are the three questions to run through before you “re-share that tweet, or tell a friend about that surprising headline you saw.” Where’s it from? What’s missing? How do you feel? [See graphic for additional description.]

The feeling when we share should be the affirmation of contribution to constructive discussion. “We are one body in Christ,” proclaimed Presiding Bishop Eaton. “This is the witness we in the ELCA need to give to the world and to understand and live ourselves.”

 


*”Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News: Why Do We Care,” post from Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church (May 21, 2020 update), content shared by permission

October Update: UN and State Edition

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices.

U.N. | Arizona | Colorado | Ohio |Pennsylvania | Washington | Wisconsin


United Nations

Dennis Frado, Lutheran Office for World Community, New York, N.Y. ELCA.org/lowc

UN 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION: The high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN was held on September 21st.  The meeting adopted a declaration acknowledging both the UN’s achievements and its disappointments, such as: “Our challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism,” “Strengthening international cooperation is in the interest of both nations and peoples.” It also included twelve pledges “to ensure the future we want and the United Nations we need.”

CELEBRATION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEIJING WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: The UN General Assembly High-level meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women was held on October 1st. According to UN Women, no country has achieved gender equality. There has been progress since the Beijing Conference held in 1995, but gaps remain, and in some areas these gains are threatened and even reversed. The meeting was therefore being held under the theme “Accelerating the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. It aimed to “demonstrate the political will and leadership that will bring about the transformative change needed to address root causes, structural barriers, discriminatory practices and social norms that underpin discrimination and inequality.” You can watch the meeting on UN Web TV.

LOWC SPEAKS TO LUTHERAN STUDIES PROGRAM COLLOQUIA 2020-2021 AT YALE: In late September, Christine Mangale and Dennis Frado spoke via Zoom with Lutheran students at Yale University as part of the Lutheran Studies Program Colloquia theme “Public Church.” The LOWC presentations focused on the church’s presence at the United Nations (UN) and the history of the ELCA’s work on human rights, including at the UN.


Arizona

Solveig Muus, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona  https://lamaz.org/

GETTING OUT THE VOTE: In the midst of racial inequity, an upcoming election, a pandemic, and a climate gone crazy, we in Arizona thank God for forgiveness and mercy, and for the miraculous ways God works in us and through us.

This month, we’re all hands on deck to get out the vote. Every faith community and advocacy group in Arizona seems to be in step; all are publicizing the importance of voting and helping in any way to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Arizona has an excellent track record for successful mail-in ballot counting. Rev. Mark Holman, Bishop’s Associate for Mobility and Leadership, wrote a study resource titled “How Would Jesus Vote?” for congregational use, and a member of LAMA’s policy team created a voter volunteer recruitment packet for congregations.

Like every other state office, LAMA continues to reach out to our 85 Arizona congregations, and are encouraged that several are considering adding an advocacy component to their social ministry teams. Building our network, producing a weekly newsletter, and feeding social media keep us busy.

UPCOMING EVENTS: We are planning LAMA’s first state-wide summit on November 7, which is to be a virtual event featuring Dr. Ryan Cumming of ELCA World Hunger. Together with Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center and Bread for the World Southwest, we are planning and promoting a Virtual Town Hall on November 17 featuring Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.


Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado https://www.rmselca.org/advocacy

BALLOT MEASURES: Coloradans will vote on eleven statewide ballot measures this fall. Lutheran Advocacy is committed to providing Lutherans and all people of faith with comprehensive and detailed analysis of each measure from our perspective. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado’s positions on the eleven measures are available now. View them at https://www.rmselca.org/ColoradoBallot2020. Our 2020 Voter Guide with analysis and information will be available on the same site in the first week of October. Ballots will be mailed to all Colorado voters on October 9th.

THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE: The Rocky Mountain Synod met virtually for its annual fall Theological Conference from September 21-24. Lutheran Advocacy was present alongside hundreds of rostered ministers, lay professionals and other leaders to learn from expert presenters, engage in Bible study, and have in-depth discussions of anti-racism and building up God’s beloved community of liberation with all present.


Ohio

Deacon Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio hungernetohio.com

HUNGER FOR JUSTICE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: As voting begins in Ohio this month, we are all diligently working to discern the best candidates for all positions – including the Ohio Statehouse, State Supreme Court, and community leaders for school board and Township Trustees. Regardless of who wins at the local, state, or national level, our work remains the same – proclaiming God’s desire that all may be fed and have justice and peace in our communities.

Our two-hour conference will be held on zoom and feature theological reflection to help frame the election results and policy landscape moving forward. We encourage clergy, congregational leaders, judicatory staff, and people curious about hunger and poverty to attend. Register at www.hungernetohio.com/summit.

OHIO COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ANTI-RACISM SUNDAY: HNO is a proud partner with the Council and their efforts to educate and engage congregations throughout the state on issues of white privilege and racism. You can watch the Livestream online here https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=620062392203248

CROP WALK KICK-OFF: HNO Director Nick Bates will be the featured speaker at the Columbus CROP Walk virtual kick-off on October 11th at noon to discuss our call to advocacy and justice around hunger issues.

PROBLEMS WITH VOTING: HNO is partnering with the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition. You can check your voter registration and find your absentee ballot at https://ohvotes.org/. You can report a problem or concern to 1-866-OUR-VOTE or view their website, https://866ourvote.org/state-information/ohio/.


Pennsylvania

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

EQUIPPING LEADERS AND VITAL CONGREGATIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP IN A DEMOCRACY: LAMPa staff and volunteers contacted Pennsylvania’s 67 counties to assess their preparedness for the Nov. 3 election and shared the results with synod leaders to target congregations so that they could support safe access to polls in areas of need. Read more.

POLICY COUNCIL RETREAT: The Rev. Amy Reumann, ELCA Advocacy Director, joined virtually to talk about advocacy as discipleship. She invited the council to imagine how congregational leaders could engage in LAMPa’s ministry as faith formation through the practice of testimony.

HUNGER ADVOCACY FELLOW: Larry D. Herrold, Jr. joined LAMPa as our ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow. A member of Zion, Sunbury (Upper Susquehanna Synod), and active in hunger ministry there, he is discerning a call to ministry. Learn more about Larry.

ADVOCACY ON RENT RELIEF AND SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS: LAMPa advocates urged state lawmakers to improve and extend the application deadline for the CARES Rent Relief Program and to end surprise medical billing.

UNITED LUTHERAN SEMINARY CONVOCATION: LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale shared whys and ways of connecting with policymakers as a form of loving our neighbor.

GWOH: Congregations around Pennsylvania added their voices to God’s work. Our hands. Sunday by writing letters to lawmakers addressing issues to which they have been called in service of neighbor.

OTHER WORK: Opposed legislation rolling back clean water protections; Supported use of CARES funding to stop utility shutoffs; Garnered signatures in support of waivers for school nutrition programs; Increased SNAP benefits


Washington

The Rev. Paul Benz and Elise DeGooyer, Faith Action Network fanwa.org


ANNOUNCING FAN’S VIRTUAL ANNUAL DINNER:
FAN’s Annual Dinner will be held virtually this year on November 15. We hope this change will allow more people from across the state to join in, expanding the traditions of our Renton and Spokane dinners! Our theme is “Rise Up Together,” which speaks to our current and future work in confronting the challenges of multiple pandemics – COVID-19, systemic racism, economic uncertainty, and environmental devastation. Learn more at fanwa.org/annual-dinner.

NEW REGIONAL ORGANIZERS: FAN is building our statewide outreach by creating a staff team of Regional Organizers! In Central Wash., we welcome Zahra Roach (pictured here) who is a Pasco City Councilmember and who worked on our Census Equity Team earlier this year. In Western Wash., we welcome Jaspreet Singh who has experience working with the legislative session in Olympia and is representing FAN at the Career and Technical Colleges coalition. More to come as we add University of Washington social work interns and a Spokane area organizer!

WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT: FAN is part of several state policy coalitions – one is the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) coalition. Several years ago, our legislature passed this law to provide tax credits to low-income working families, but it has never been funded. Now more than ever in this pandemic where so many households are struggling, funding an emergency cash assistance program like this with an annual credit is critical. Another important piece to make this program more equitable is to statutorily include Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) filers so that ALL workers in our state receive this benefit. Learn more at fanwa.org/advocacy/advocacy-toolkit/working-families-tax-credit/ or budgetandpolicy.org.


Wisconsin

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

WELCOME TO LOPPW HUNGER ADVOCACY FELLOW KYLE MINDEN:  Kyle is with us full-time for one year thanks to a generous grant from ELCA World Hunger.  He graduated from Wartburg College with a B.A. in Religion and Business Administration and a Minor in Social Entrepreneurship. Kyle is passionate about solving the systemic inequities and injustices that stem from public policy at the local, state, and federal level.

VOTING: Kyle has developed two voting resources, the Comprehensive can be found at 2020 LOPPW Voting Guide, while the one-page summary can be found here: 2020 LOPPW Voting Overview

HUNGER: We made known information about people eligible for a stimulus check but who have not filed.  Kyle used the center to create this resource:  file:///Users/cynthiacrane/Downloads/Stimulus-Payment-Outreach-Resource-1-1%20(12).pdf

As part of our project to highlight at least one hunger ministry in each synod for others to learn from, we interviewed Bill Binroth, Director of Let’s Eat Community Meals of Chassell, MI in the NGLS.  https://www.facebook.com/LOPPW/videos/377521223250082

CARE FOR CREATION: Our LOPPW statewide climate task force continues to meet.  We sent this press release as a letter to the WI Legislature:  file:///Users/cynthiacrane/Downloads/Revised-Climate-press-release-Team-Bishops.pdf

WEDNESDAY NOON LIVE & IMMIGRATION AND DETENTION: The video of Attorney Mary Campbell, Ms. Marisol Fuentes de Dubon, and Dr. Stephanie Mitchell mentioned last month was published in September: https://www.facebook.com/LOPPW/videos/743410496506120

“LIFTING OUR VOICES DURING THE PANDEMIC”: This Zoom webinar, co-sponsored by East Central Synod Women of the ELCA and LOPPW, will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 from 6:30-7:30 PM. Register here: https://www.loppw.org/evrplus_registration/?action=evrplusegister&event_id=5.

International COVID-19 Relief – Why We Should Commit

By the Rev. Kaari Reierson, contractor with ELCA advocacy

The impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. citizens are simply unfathomable. Over 200,000 people have died. Unemployment is the highest it has been in the last 70 years. Tens of thousands of businesses have closed.

As difficult as COVID-19 and its many effects have been for those in the U.S., the effects have been multiplied in other parts of the world. As of this writing, the death rate in the United States is eleventh globally. The world’s economy is predicted to be pushed to a recession greater than any since World War II, putting millions more people into poverty.

As the U.S. Congress debates how to assist its citizens, Lutherans are reminded that whatever is happening on U.S. soil is happening elsewhere in the world, in many cases amplified. Unemployment is confronting people with no savings – and no social safety net. Illness is afflicting people with minimal health care. Food scarcity is threatening people with no resources.

In response to a desperate world in 1939, Lutherans in the United States founded Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to assist Europeans displaced by World War II. Lutherans continue to participate regularly in international efforts to serve the neighbor and guard human dignity, through presence at the United Nations (U.N.), post-war relief in Europe, and engagement in development work and disaster response among many ways. ELCA social teaching recognizes that the U.S. plays a vital leadership role in world affairs and also has an obligation to share its resources with less wealthy nations.

Will our nation respond to the suffering imposed by COVID-19 outside of U.S. soil, or will we only take care of “our own?” Will the U.S. participate fully in international organizations working to quell the pandemic as our Lutheran history and social teaching would urge us to do?

To turn the tide of a virus as contagious as COVID-19 requires a coordinated effort by the international community. The pandemic respects no national boundaries. If the U.S. refuses to engage with and help resource multilateral organizations such as the World Health Organization and U.N., it is not only failing to fulfill its moral obligation, it is endangering its own future. “U.S. support through bilateral foreign assistance programs is also vital to heavily impacted low-income countries,” says Patricia Kisare, ELCA Program Director for International Public Policy. “As members of Congress work on the next COVID-19 stimulus package, they must include funding for international response to address the tremendous needs caused by this pandemic.”

Illustrated by the history of Lutherans in the U.S., expanded in our Lutheran teachings, and sourced in the words and life of Jesus, caring for others is God’s work. “For the Christian, empathy is one way in which love and compassion (Matthew 25:31-46) may be embodied in the world of civil authority, through God’s left-hand work,” reads the ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States.”

You are invited to use “Take Action on the Next Coronavirus Supplemental Bill” in the ELCA Action Center to ask Congress to incorporate international relief measures as it moves our nation’s pandemic response into law.

Churches as polling places

According to data presented by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, over 230,000 polling places were used in 2018. Less than 1% of those were located at election offices. Most were at schools, community centers… and churches.

 

The need

Experience during primary elections in our nation have led some to conclude more polling places are needed before the November 3, 2020 general election. Myrna Perez, director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, is quoted in an AP news article saying, “In the best of times, really long lines are deterring and disenfranchising. In the time of the coronavirus, long lines can be deadly.”

Several ELCA congregations have opened their facilities as polling places in previous elections. Is this a way your congregation wants to steward its building in 2020? State laws govern where polling places can be located, but ELCA Legal and Risk Assessment colleagues also have some advice to share on churches serving as polling locations.

 

Some considerations

Before your church responds to a request or steps out to offer to be a polling place, key issues must be considered in addition to operating by COVID-19 guidelines and mandates: (1) accessibility, (2) security, and (3&4) insurance/liability.

(1) If the municipality uses the church as a polling place, it should be accessible. Officials should make an accessibility determination in the portion of the building and parking lot being used for voting. Additionally, it is always a good idea to inventory the property for safety hazards.

(2) If the church has a preschool, school or similar activity in the building that is still open, security steps must be taken to make sure that there is separation between the operating school and parts of the building accessible to the public. For example, voters may be directed to a specific door and part of the building but not be allowed access to the other portion. Some churches just close the school for election day (like many public schools do).

(3) Make sure the congregation’s insurance carrier is aware of the facility’s use as a polling place to assure coverage if something happens. The aforementioned safety hazards inventory of the area being made accessible to the public can be assuring.

(4) Proof of insurance for a location as a polling place should be available from the voting authority.

    • Request that the voting authority provide the respective church with a current insurance certificate evidencing the following type of insurance and coverage.

Commercial General Liability:

(a)  Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with a $1,000,000 limit per occurrence
(b)  Personal and Advertising Liability with a $1,000,000 limit per person or organization
(c)  Products and Completed operations with a $1,000,000 limit per occurrence and in the aggregate
(d)  General aggregate with a $3,000,000 limit

    • It is very important to confirm that the church is indicated as being insured on the certificate. This confirmation may look something like: (INSERT Name of Church) is named as an additional insured under the (INSERT Name of Voting Authority’s) commercial general liability policy.

Uniquely this year, being a polling place means observing best practices in this time of pandemic. Request that the voting authority comply with all federal, state and municipal COVID-19 guidelines and mandates including those regarding masking, social distancing, equipment wipe down and sanitizing product availability. Guidelines to minimize the risk of transmitting COVID-19 at the polls are discussed in a joint release from The Brennan Center and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

 

Taking the next step

“For Lutherans, one way Christian vocation finds expression is through dedicated, competent public service,” states the ELCA social message, “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” No voter should have to choose between their safety and their fundamental right to vote in November states BrennanCenter.org which shares the joint guidelines. The ELCAvotes initiative grew from the social policy resolution, “Voting Rights to All Citizens,” which calls on us to engage in local efforts and support legislation guaranteeing the right of all to vote. With planning and awareness of best practices, your congregation may be just the place to help facilitate democratic expression in your community and be of public service.

Contact your county Board of Elections to find out how to designate a place you are connected with as a polling site. The American Association of People with Disabilities also has tips on making this connection.

“We’ve been a polling place in this precinct for more than 40 years,” said Jeff Garrison, Church Council President of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Virg. “It is just part of what we do. We feel it is a ministry to our community to make available a safe environment to vote.”


This text will soon be available as a pdf from ELCA.org/votes and ELCA.org/resources/advocacy.

September Update: UN and State Edition

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices.

U.N. | Arizona | Colorado | Minnesota | New Mexico| Ohio | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington | Wisconsin

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

Dennis Frado, director

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY: The UN General Assembly High Level week which ushers in the annual General Debate will take place from 22nd to 29th September 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are limitations on holding large in-person meetings and for the first time since the founding of the UN, world leaders will not gather in person in New York. Heads of State and Government or Ministers representing Member States have been requested to address the General Debate via pre-recorded video statements. However, some may disregard this request and attend in person.  The UN is otherwise limiting in person attendance to delegates and staff with a direct role in a given meeting.  Attendees will be required to wear face masks except when directly addressing a meeting.

H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir (left), incoming President of the General Assembly, will preside over the 75th session. Mr. Bozkir is a former Member of the Turkish Parliament where he served as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee for several years.  He also served as Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the European Union.

There are several high-level meetings scheduled to take place virtually:

LWF APPEAL FOR DR. DENIS MUKWEGE: In late August, the Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations for the safety of Dr. Denis Mukwege.  In a 25th August letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Junge said the LWF “is very concerned about the safety and wellbeing of Dr Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Founder and Medical Director of Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”  Junge cited threats against Dr Mukwege and his family that are available in the public domain. Junge expressed alarm about “the risks posed by the withdrawal of the security service that was provided until recently by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).”

“Dr Mukwege’s work in defense of human rights and holistic care of women affected by sexual and gender-based violence is recognized globally. He is a beacon of hope for all, and especially the most vulnerable populations who have borne the brunt of violence and conflicts.  He is a global leader and human rights defender. He has continued to speak out against impunity and demanded accountability, particularly through the implementation of the recommendations of the 2010 report: DRC: Mapping human rights violations.”

While welcoming the fact “that the Congolese government has offered to provide National Police services to protect Dr Mukwege”, Junge said he firmly believes “that this approach is inadequate because the capacity and the reliability of the Congolese police cannot be ascertained.”

LOWC conveyed the letter to the Secretary-General’s office on behalf of the LWF.


Arizona

Solveig Muus, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona https://lamaz.org/

ARIZONA ELECTIONS AND CENSUS: For the next 60 days, the 2020 election is a Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) priority. We are partnering with other Arizona faith-based advocates to emphasize the importance of voting, particularly in low-income neighborhoods where statistics indicate both 2016 voter turnout was low, and 2020 Census reporting is low as well. We also are preparing a voting toolkit for congregations.

LAMA is continuing its survey of the 85 Lutheran congregations in Arizona and building our network. A common thread our church leaders have identified is a desire for education and resources to help them demonstrate in a visceral way the direct correlation between being people of faith and advocating for the common good. This is one way LAMA hopes to serve to our congregations.

LAMA SUMMIT: LAMA’s policy team is planning its LAMA SUMMIT, the first state-wide gathering of Lutheran advocates and friends since the LAMA office opened its doors in February. Keynote speaker for this 3-hour virtual event on November 7 is Dr. Ryan Cumming program director for hunger education at ELCA World Hunger.

Since we last reported, LAMA has launched the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona website at www.lamaz.org and also published a weekly newsletter, subscribers welcome!

Our heartfelt thanks to all our Lutheran state public policy offices for their help and counsel as the Arizona team gets up and running. We are blessed!


Colorado

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

FALL BALLOT QUESTIONS ARE SET: The Colorado Secretary of State has affirmed eleven – that’s right, eleven – questions for the November statewide ballot. All Coloradans will have the opportunity to weigh in on major issues impacting our state’s public policy. The LAM-CO Policy Committee will be meeting in early September to decide on the positions we will take, if any, on these measures.

One measure we are already supporting is Proposition 118, Paid Family & Medical Leave. This program would give workers across Colorado access to paid leave in the event of serious medical or family issues, ensuring that people are able to maintain some income and lessen the risk of losing their job. The Colorado Families First Coalition is supporting this measure – join us and learn more at http://www.coloradofamiliesfirst.org/.

Other issues on the ballot include state income tax, property tax, the National Popular Vote Compact, abortion, gray wolves, tobacco taxes, and gambling. Look for more information from Lutheran Advocacy in the next few weeks, including our annual Voter Guide!

LIVING FAITH: The Rocky Mountain Synod is pleased to offer a new curriculum, Living Faith: Church in Society, to help spark rich conversations about our Lutheran faith and social issues. ELCA Social Statements form the backbone of our policy advocacy. These deep resources are the springboard for reflections from voices around our Synod on timely issues, including scripture, prayer, and guided discussion questions. Check it out today!


Minnesota

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

HEALTH EMERGENCY: Governor Walz extended the emergency allowing him executive powers impacting businesses, physical distancing, and mask-wearing. After each extension, the legislature must meet, but both chambers much vote to end the emergency. Legislators pushing to end the emergency are mostly rural and primarily see economic impacts of closed or modified business operations. Legislators from bigger communities (more COVID-19 victims) tend to vote to continue the emergency. [Having been diagnosed with presumptive COVID five months ago, I continue to experience long-term respiratory and fatigue issues despite no pre-existing conditions, and wish legislators better understood long-term health impacts on economics. -TW]

SPECIAL SESSION #3: Minnesota Management & Budget Agency (MMB) interprets SEC rules to discourage or prohibit enactments changing state financials (including appropriations/bonds/taxes) as Minnesota goes to bond markets to sell previously authorized bonds. So, bonding must wait until the end of September to pass. In the August session, the House gaveled in & out, allowing the emergency to continue. However, the Senate unexpectedly fired the governor’s commissioner of Labor & Industry (message to the governor regarding the emergency?).

Some LA-MN partners believe September’s special session will involve postponing until late September when bonding can again be considered. Others hope the governor and MMB will take another look at whether the law actually requires ongoing special sessions during the emergency.

HOUSING: We continue to work to pass bonding for affordable housing. See our website for current talking points.

RENEWABLE ENERGY/CLIMATE CHANGE: Environmental partners are generating the best project list for a 2021 bonding bill (assuming 2020 is lost). LA-MN (with various partners) will work to educate about Minnesotans impacted by climate, and how renewable energy is growing Minnesota’s economy. Watch ELCA Advocacy & LA-MN for upcoming trainings. Check with Tammy for specific action needed in your community.

[LA-MN Director: Tammy Walhof / 651-238-6506 (call/text) / tammy@lutheranadvocacymn.org. Website: www.lutheranadvocacymn.org]


NEW MEXICO

Kurt A. Rager, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM lutheranadvocacynm.org

State-wide and Diverse Coalitions are Crucial to our Work! LAM-NM has historically been an active part of a variety of state-wide coalitions which directly connect to the priorities of our annual policy agenda.  During the months between legislative sessions, LAM-NM actively participates with coalitions focused on the issues of hunger, housing insecurity, criminal justice reform, ethics in government, healthcare, early childhood education, and immigrant justice, just to name a few.  An example is LAM-NM’s participation with the Food, Hunger, Water, Agriculture Policy and Action Team convened by New Mexico First.  This coalition, a bipartisan group of legislators, emergency food sector, farmers, ranchers, resilient agriculture advocates, faith communities, anti-hunger and anti-poverty advocates, human rights advocates, health providers and advocates, local food system advocates, researchers, philanthropy, and more has been meeting weekly to prioritize and coordinate policy efforts and put forward a policy agenda and legislation for the upcoming 2021 legislative session.  Members of the policy and advocacy team, including LAM-NM director, Kurt Rager, have met weekly during the month of August.  Our most recent meeting took place on August 27th.


OHIO

Deacon Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio hungernetohio.com

ANTI-RACISM SUNDAY, SEPT. 20th : On September 20th, HNO will join with the Ohio Council of Churches and faith communities throughout Ohio and participate in an Anti-racism Sunday. Racial injustice continues to hold our communities in bondage to sin. We encourage congregations to engage on Sept 20th (or another date that fits for your congregation) in a service to center our spiritual communities on how God is calling us to respond to racial injustice. You can access resources on the Ohio Council of Churches website and register your congregation’s participation! This builds on HNO’s advocacy work to advance racial justice throughout Ohio.

RACIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH: Declare racism a public health crisis in Ohio. Ohio’s legislature is looking into how racial injustice impacts public health. In Ohio, hunger, infant mortality, and covid-19 cases have hit the African American community hard. We need to break down systemic racism and understand how we can address these issues. Contact your state legislative leaders and tell them to hold hearings and begin to investigate these issues by clicking here


Pennsylvania

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

LAMPA CONSTITUENTS, FAITH-BASED PARTNERS SHARE CONVERSATION WITH SEN. ROBERT CASEY: More than 60 people participated in a virtual town hall on the federal response to COVID-19. Participants were invited to share questions for the senator. Topics discussed included COVID unemployment; the disproportionate impact of COVID on black and brown populations; childhood hunger and the extension of nutrition benefits, and concerns about the U.S. Postal Service.

CHILD NUTRITION ADVOCACY YIELDS SOME GOOD NEWS: As one in six children in PA experience food insecurity,  we are pleased the USDA is extending free meals for children through Dec. 31, and will continue to allow summer meal program operators to serve free meals to all children into the fall months. LAMPa advocates had been petitioning for the waivers and will continue pressing for funding to ensure nutrition support for the entire school year.

CREATION JUSTICE: LAMPa voiced opposition to state House and Senate bills aimed at stripping the power of the Department of Environmental Protection to enact a carbon reduction program such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

PA EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDS: Gov. Wolf is urging the state legislature to improve rental and mortgage assistance programs. LAMPa and Lutheran Disaster Response have been warning officials of potential for a surge in homelessness based on the witness of our ministries in their communities.

PROMOTING SAFE, SECURE ELECTIONS: LAMPa is encouraging disciples who can safely do so to register as poll workers in PA, as many volunteers are older, and at higher-risk from COVID-19. LAMPa continues to remind constituents of the deadlines for mail-in and absentee ballot applications and oppose legislative attempts to create barriers to voter access and timely ballot counting.

HATE CRIME LEGISLATION: As incidents of hate crime increase throughout the Commonwealth, LAMPa continues to promote legislation as part of the Pa. Coalition Against Hate.

Margaret Folkmer
LAMPa is pleased to be part of ULS
Seminarian Margaret Folkemer-Leonard’s
learning community.

SEMINARIAN JOINS LAMPA: Margaret Folkemer-Leonard will be serving with LAMPa and St. Matthew, York, as part of her education at United Lutheran Seminary. She hopes to focus on educational advocacy as social justice related to the service of York area congregations. Learn more.

GOD’S WORK. OUR HANDS: LAMPa shared resources with congregations adding advocacy to their service on Sept. 13.

 


Texas

Bee Moorhead, Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy texasimpact.org

TEXAS VOTING AND ELECTIONS: Texas Impact members have been busy this week participating in legislative meetings and preparing for safe, accountable voting in 2020.

In July, Texas Impact re-launched our Faith in Democracy series of local advocacy trainings online, and hosted an event August 23 in Dallas. The Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod  co-sponsored the event, and Bishop Gronberg was be a featured speaker at an event with 350 registrants. Two events are scheduled for September in Houston (September 13) featuring Bishop Michael Rinehart, and Corpus Christi (September27). Each event will include a faith and community leader panel and tools to equip congregations to be effective advocates and promote safe, accountable voting.

Texas Impact’s Legislative Engagement Groups are meeting with members of the Texas House’s district offices this month about the moral nature of the budget, discussing possible revenue options to fund important state priorities.

Texas Impact is continuing to promote the “Texas Faith Votes” campaign, encouraging congregations to promote four components: completing the safe and accountable voting checklist, encouraging mail in voting and signing the accountable Pledge to Vote prioritizing health, immigration, climate and a rejection of discrimination and recruiting election workers.

RACIAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY: Texas Impact continued the Weekly Witness podcast series featuring speakers from the Washington Interfaith Staff Community and has added a racial justice series featuring clergy of different races discussing racial justice and advocacy.

CLIMATE AND OTHER ADVOCACY: Climate advocacy was a priority in August with advocates meeting with members of Congress during the August recess. Texas Impact is also partnering with Texas Interfaith Power and Light to map Houston-area congregations engaged in environmental justice work.

Texans of faith are mobilizing and engaging for a busy fall of civic engagement, and Lutheran leaders are playing a key role.


Washington

The Rev. Paul Benz and Elise DeGooyer, Faith Action Network fanwa.org

REFERENDUM 90: The Faith Action Network Governing Board has unanimously endorsed Referendum 90 for Safe and Healthy Youth. This will appear on the November ballot in Washington State as a comprehensive sexuality education measure which is age-appropriate and inclusive. During the 2020 legislative session, a coalition of parents, educators, medical professionals, and advocates passed SB 5395 (Sen. Claire Wilson) in Washington State that mandates sex education in our public schools. Those opposed to the bill, sometimes citing religious reasons, have launched a misinformation campaign and gathered enough signatures to put that law up for a public vote this November, so FAN is working in coalition to show strong support from interfaith communities around the state. See more at the campaign’s website approve90wa.org and our Faith Leaders Statement.

INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL: FAN coordinates the Interfaith Network for Indigenous Communities (INIC), a coalition of interfaith leaders seeking solidarity between first nations peoples and allied people of faith as we confront the urgent issues of our time. INIC is co-sponsoring the first online Indigenous Film Festival from August 31 – October 5, celebrating American Indian, Alaska Native, and worldwide Indigenous films, featuring new films each week and opportunities for discussion with filmmakers. Check out this amazing opportunity here: visionmakermedia.org/online-filmfest/

STATE AND BUDGET COALITIONS: Washington State is anticipating a $9B budget deficit into the next biennium. FAN is encouraging advocates to urge their legislators not to cut vital programs, to protect those already impacted by the economic recession and COVID-19, and to pass significant revenue solutions such as eliminating the capital gains tax loophole and adding other wealth taxes. Co-Director Paul Benz is working on multiple coalitions to influence this goal, including pushing for the now-approved $40M Undocumented Worker Relief Fund, funding the Working Families Tax Credit, and working on policing reforms through the Governor’s taskforce and the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA).


Wisconsin

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

RACIAL JUSTICE: We sent out an action alert about supporting police reform in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake and an Executive Order from Governor Evers. https://support.elca.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1292&fbclid=IwAR2C5b1rRiUxcMVngDLCTNvuG-HCwxQawzDl5wOOiBAMKe7q1Cyz9PzveRg

THE PANDEMIC AND OUR HEALTH: For Wednesday Noon Live, we interviewed Madison’s Reverend Blake Rohrer, who gave a theological perspective on the state mask mandate; Green Bay Alderwoman Barbara Dorff, who discussed the death threats to the City Council after issuing a local mandate (before the state mandate) and future hopes; LOPPW Council Member Mr. William Mattson of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rhinelander, who responded to local issues with masks.  https://www.facebook.com/LOPPW/videos/303241814223287

IMMIGRATION AND DETENTION: We taped Wednesday Noon Live for Sept (it is usually live). We interviewed Attorney Mary Campbell, AMMPARO; Ms. Marisol Fuentes de Dubon, GMS Task Force & Detained Migrant Project; and Dr. Stephanie Mitchell, Professor of Latin American History at Carthage College & Emmaus Lutheran Church (Racine) member.  They shared practical ideas about what congregations can do.

CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION: Our LOPPW statewide climate task force met for the second time after the listening sessions to strategize.  The director participated in a briefing on a Climate Action Plan convened by the Dane County Executive.

VOTING: Created a video on Caring for God’s Creation and voting with Intern Kyle. Contacted Brookfield’s clerk to ask questions about absentee ballots as part of our voting coalition’s effort to survey municipalities. Participated in a panel for a webinar on voting organized by Ms. Kelly Marciales and Rev. Amy Reumann.

Raising the Refugee Ceiling

As we approach the end of the federal government’s fiscal year on Sept. 30, the Administration is considering how many refugees to welcome in 2021. Although refugee admissions have gone down each year of the current Administration, we know refugee admissions have not been eliminated due to strong advocacy – particularly from the faith community. Reflections from our summer intern give us background and conclude with an opportunity for us to again respond with impactful advocacy as the calculation is being made.


RAISING THE REFUGEE CEILING

By Jenn Werth, summer intern with ELCA advocacy

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the number of refugees on the African continent has nearly tripled over the past decade, yet the number of refugees the United States admits every year has continually fallen. As a church dedicated to supporting compassionate survival assistance and vigorous international protection for refugees*, it is essential that we hold our country responsible to increase the number of refugees it admits**.

Lutherans have a strong history of providing hospitality to refugees resettling 57,000 refugees in the United States post World War II, resettling 50,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos after the fall of Saigon in 1975, and providing sanctuary for refugees endangered by wars in Central America in the 1980s***. Today the ELCA remains active in many ways, including through its AMMPARO program, Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities. AMMPARO helps ensure basic human rights and safety of migrant children from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

With such a deep focus on the accompaniment of immigrants and refugees in one small part of the world, it can be easy to lose sight of the international expanse of refugee populations. In 2019 alone, the Lutheran World Federation supported 1.3 million refugees and internally displaced persons, most of whom reside in African countries including but not limited to Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Cameroon. We as a church can be a strong voice for both the refugees we work with close to home and the refugees we support from countries across the globe. As it is written in Leviticus 19:34, “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt”.”

Immigration, refugee and asylum policies not only can be evaluated against who we are as a church, but also express our character as a nation. As the United States commits to receiving fewer and fewer refugees every year, dropping from 45,000 in 2018 to 30,000 in 2019 to 18,000 in 2020, our country is not meeting the expectations we as a church have for a generous policy of welcome. The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) calls on Congress and the current Administration to raise that ceiling to 95,000 refugees. As advocates for generous immigration and refugee policies, we can use our voices to support the efforts to raise our refugee ceiling rather than allow further reduction.

* ELCA social statement For Peace In God’s World, pg. 20
** ELCA social message on “Immigration,” pg. 9.
*** “Immigration,” pg. 3


TO LEARN MORE

See “Frequently Asked Questions: Refugee Ceiling and the Presidential Determination” prepared by LIRS.

 

ACTION OPPORTUNITY FOR ROSTERED MINISTERS:

Over 240 rostered ministers urged the president and Secretary Pompeo to commit to resettling 95,000 refugees in fiscal year 2021 by signing a Sept. 24 letter prepared by the ELCA AMMPARO and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) advocacy teams.

TWO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAITH-BASED ACTION organized with the Interfaith Immigration Coalition in which the ELCA participates:

Join the #RefugeesWelcome2021 Campaign. Encourage your state and local elected leaders to express support for welcoming refugees by signing onto this letter.

Write letters-to-the-editor (LTEs) for your local media outlets. Here is a sample LTE that you can use/adapt for your message, as well as step-by-step instructions for how to draft, pitch, and place an LTE. Please contact media@interfaithimmigration.org if you have any questions or need help.