ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Amy Reumann, director                                                                                       ELCA.org/advocacy 

ELCAvotes:In the lead up to Election Day on November 6th, this coming “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday on Sept. 9, will feature ELCAvotes advocacy resources to use during the day of service.This year’s resources will focus on voting rights, including a background resource guide and a template letter to Congress supporting the Voting Rights Advancement Act.  

ELCAvotes is a non-partisan initiative to expand the role of the church in encouraging voter participation. Updated congregational resources, Lutheran Bible studies, factsheets and civic participation guides are online at ELCA.org/votes. More ELCAvotes resources, such as interfaith webinars, blogs and social media toolkits, will be released over the summer and fall. Be sure to sign up to ELCAvotes to be the first to receive new resources!

FARM BILL UPDATE: In late July, the House of Representatives voted to conference with the Senate on the 2018 farm bill. Many of our nation’s most critical food and farm policies depend on the renewal of the farm bill, impacting people from rural America to developing countries. Among the differences between the House and Senate bills that need to be addressed are conservation programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

As House lawmakers head to their home districts for August recess, now is a critical time to reach out to legislators in support of compassionate, comprehensive policies that religious leaders have long supported. Find out how you can coordinate action with your lawmakers while they are in town with the ELCA In-District Guide. ELCA Advocacy will share an updated action alert in support of a comprehensive, bipartisan farm bill in August. Stay up to date with the farm bill through ELCAadvocacy blogs.

PREVENTION OF GENOCIDES AND ATROCITIES: On July 17, the House passed the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act. If signed into law, it would recognize preventing genocide and other atrocities as a core national security interest and moral responsibility. ELCA Advocacy and ecumenical partners are major supporters of the bill and its focus on atrocities worldwide.

As currently written, the act would help coordinate U.S. efforts to prevent global atrocities from occurring and also introduce prevention training for foreign service officers. It would also require the president to update Congress on efforts taken to minimize violence in countries at risk and provide global assessments of instability, conflict and atrocities. Lutherans are encouraged to share their opinion on the bill, and ELCA Advocacy will share an action alert with more information on it in the coming weeks.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND JUST TRANSITION: Ruth Ivory Moore, ELCA Advocacy’s Director for Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility, is leading a committee in planning a Talanoa Dialogue on  “ just transition” and “loss and damage” as an affiliate event of the Global Climate Action Summit in September.  The planning committee includes the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University, the Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance, Brot für die Welt, Lutherans Restoring Creation, and the Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California.   The Talanoa Dialogue brings together faith-based organizations to produce a submission for the consideration of the UNFCCC Secretariat on how to reach zero carbon and resilient economies without leaving stranded employees and communities. The submission will also address the plight of millions of people facing unprecedented humanitarian crises due to environmental degradation resulting  in devastating losses for which no means of adequate compensation exists.

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. 

Dennis Frado, director 

FORUM DISCUSSES “SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT SOCIETIES”: In 2012, the U.N. High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was mandated by the Conference on Sustainable Development. This year’s HLPF met July 9-18 with the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies,” reviewing progress made toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year’s conference included 25 meetings, more than 250 side events and 46 voluntary national reviews attended by more than 2,200 participants. Read the closing remarks of Marie Chatardová, president of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, here; those delivered by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres may be read here.

On July 16, the U.N. Population Fund, in collaboration with U.N. faith-based partners, including The Lutheran World Federation and ACT Alliance, offered the HLPF side event “Strengthening Resilience Through Faith-Based Partnership: Women and Girls’ Health in the Context of SDG 11.”

Faustina Nillan Manyangu, national director for women and children in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, was a panelist. Her work focuses on vulnerable groups of women and children who are marginalized and susceptible within the church and the community at large.

CONSENSUS REACHED ON MIGRATION COMPACT: The final intergovernmental negotiations for the draft Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration were concluded on July 13 by consensus, with formal adoption of the compact slated for December in Marrakech, Morocco. A joint civil-society statement at the conclusion of the negotiations highlighted some of the significant achievements:

• working to end child detention;
• expanding regular avenues for migration and measures for regularization as a way to increase safe, orderly, and regular migration and reduce vulnerabilities;
• emphasizing community-based alternatives to detention and not promoting detention as a deterrent to irregular migration;
• protecting migrants in situations of vulnerability, including those fleeing slow and sudden natural disasters, the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation;
• safeguarding the rights of children by adhering to the principle of the best interest of the child at all times and ensuring their protection and access to sustainable solutions;
• ensuring decent work and labor rights;
• promoting concrete gender-responsive policies and the empowerment of women as agents rather than from the lens of victims;
• guaranteeing due process, individual assessment and effective remedy in return procedures by upholding the prohibition on collective expulsion and the principle of non-refoulement;
• strengthening the collection of data on migration to better inform humane policy responses in a manner that respects the right to privacy;
• investing in sustainable development at national and local levels in order to honor the right of migrants to live and support their families in their countries of origin; and
• cooperating to provide international protection to migrants in situations of vulnerability at borders.

They also noted: “Unfortunately, the compact falls short in several important areas and in some aspects steps away from current international standards and regional practice. For example: we regret that no stronger language could be achieved on the non-criminalization of migrants and of those who provide support to them, on firewalls, access to basic services and on full labor rights and freedom of association for irregular migrant workers.”

At a news conference hailing the agreement, Miroslav Lajčák, president of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, said, “The reality is that migration is here. It has been here for centuries. And it will be here for centuries more. And this agreement addresses this reality. And it offers a way to deal with it.”

Miroslav Lajčák (center), president of the 72nd session of the General Assembly, and co-facilitators for the Global Compact on Migration process: Juan José Gómez Camacho (second from right), permanent representative of Mexico, and Jürg Lauber (right), permanent representative of Switzerland, hold up the gavel at the end of the meeting.

California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy                                                                       http://loppca.org 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Before the Legislature left for its summer “work session” (recess), the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee passed SB 100, which has a goal of reaching 100 percent carbon-emission free electrical energy by 2045. Celebrating with LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson (right in photo) were author Sen. Kevin De Léon (center) and representatives from the Friends Committee on Legislation of California, California Interfaith Power & Light and Yolo Interfaith Coalition for Climate Justice. California is already ahead of the goals set in its Renewable Portfolio Standard.

LOPP-CA is hosting the August Advocacy Day for California Interfaith Power & Light and will be joined by Jane Affonso for the Green California Lobby Day and Awards Reception on Aug. 8. Jane is a Southwest California Synod Council member, co-chairs its Green Faith Team, and is vice chair of the LOPP-CA Policy Council.  On Aug. 7, Jane will join a group from The Belfry, Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of California-Davis, for a Build the Dream Alliance Lobby Day with a focus on bail reform, reform of law enforcement’s use of deadly force (from “reasonable” to “necessary”), and a ban on required employee arbitration, a reform recommended by advocates for those affected by sexual harassment.

BALLOT MEASURES: The Policy Council met July 14 to consider the 10 measures in addition to Propositions 1 and 2 (housing funds, support). It supported returning rent control authority to local governments, currently pre-empted by the state.

 

Colorado

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

BALLOT MEASURES: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado is participating in two coalitions to support measures for the fall statewide ballot. One is Amendment A, an effort to remove the exception to the ban on slavery in Article II of our state constitution. The language mirrors the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, where slavery and involuntary servitude are not prohibited for those convicted of a crime. If successful, Colorado would be the first state to remove such language from its constitution.

The second measure is Initiative 126, an effort to cap payday loan interest rates at 36 percent. Currently, Coloradans who take out payday loans end up with rates averaging 129 percent, and in some cases, loan rates exceed 200 percent. This predatory, exploitative practice is condemned in the Bible as usury, and we’ve joined a broad coalition of faith-based and non-religious groups to put this measure on the ballot. To learn more, visit stoppredatorypaydayloans.com.

There will undoubtedly be many more measures on our ballot, some of which we may take a position on. For now, we are excited to be working on these two important issues.

BORDER ADVOCACY: The Rocky Mountain Synod put out the call for emergency support for several border agencies that were set to receive hundreds of migrant families during the week of July 23. Families are trying to reunite in the wake of the federal government’s logistically and morally disastrous “zero tolerance” policy. Thank you to all those who have supported this emergency fund!

 

North Carolina 

GeoRene Jones, North Carolina Synod Social Justice & Advocacy Ministries 

#KeepFamiliesTogether: The ELCA in North Carolina offered strong support for #KeepFamiliesTogether events on June 30.

St Mark’s (Asheville), Grace (Hendersonville), Cross & Crown (Matthews), Holy Trinity and Christ Lutheran (Charlotte), Haven and St. John’s (Salisbury), First and Augsburg (Greensboro), Grace and St Philip’s (Raleigh), Christ the King (Cary) Abiding Savior and St Paul’s (Durham), St. Matthew’s (Wilmington) and others across the state rallied, telephoned and emailed legislators in support of immigration and refugee policies that preserve family unity.

Grace (Hendersonville) continues the focus of welcoming the stranger when it jointly hosts “Stranger to Neighbor” presentation(s) of local agencies in their community.

RACISM: ELCA efforts against racism continue as we strive for meaningful inter-congregational relationships. In Charlotte, Holy Trinity (ELCA) and Little Rock (AME-Zion) regularly work shoulder-to-shoulder in outreach. Grace Lutheran and St Paul AME-Zion (Hendersonville) are working together to offer race-relations education, including a potential civil rights bus tour in early 2019.

WILD GOOSE FESTIVAL: Social Justice & Advocacy Ministries joined forces with Lenoir-Rhyne/Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary at the 2018 Wild Goose Festival, July 13-16, in Hot Springs. Festival attendee and presenter, the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, explains, “The Wild Goose is a progressive, justice, music and arts festival; therefore, there is nothing remotely like it in the United States. I mean, this is it!”

 

New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–New Mexico                               lutheranadvocacynm.org 

HEARING ON DETAINED IMMIGRANTS: The Legislature’s interim  Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee recently held a hearing on immigrants and refugees being held in private prisons or detention centers. The hearing room was packed with immigrants and their families, as well as many people concerned about the detention of migrants. Migrants and their families told many disturbing stories about their experiences while being held in private detention centers. There are two such facilities in New Mexico. LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman testified against the privatization of prisons using the ELCA criminal justice social statement.

New Jersey

Sara Lilja, Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ) 

SPRING EVENTS AND LEGISLATION: This summer, the Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ) is working primarily on legislative action after a spring filled with educational events. Our spring events included two regional gatherings to learn how to advocate for criminal justice reform and economic justice reform in community; a bus trip with 150 individuals to the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., to support the youth-led movement to end gun violence; and the launch of a movement to allow undocumented New Jerseyans to get driver’s licenses. Building off that momentum, we are working hard on two legislative actions: 1) Paid family leave for all New Jersey workers, and 2) Guaranteed $15/hour minimum wage.

1) In March, LEAMNJ co-hosted a lobby day in Trenton, connecting people of faith to legislators on the issue of paid family and sick leave for all New Jerseyans. At the end of that day, the legislation was passed out of the Assembly and was approved by both the Assembly and the Senate. It was a great day of putting faith into action. We anticipate this legislation being signed into law in the fall.

2) There is much support in the Legislature and from the governor for raising the New Jersey minimum wage to $15/hour by 2023. LEAMNJ is mobilizing people of faith to contact elected officials to ensure that all workers (including those working in businesses with tips) are guaranteed that wage when the bill is voted on.

HUNGER ADVOCACY FELLOW: Looking ahead to the fall, LEAMNJ is excited to welcome Erica Earnest as our Hunger Advocacy Fellow for the coming year! Erica recently earned her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and will complete her Master of Social Work from Rutgers in Spring 2019. A big welcome to Erica!

VIDEO: Finally, thanks to a generous grant, LEAMNJ was able to produce a short video to help share our story. That video can be found here.

 

Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy–Pennsylvania                                     lutheranadvocacypa.org

ENERGY-STAR STEWARDSHIP TOUR: LAMPa is joining faith-based partners, in conjunction with the EPA, planning a PA Energy-Star Stewardship Tour Sept. 23-24 at multiple locations across the state. Energy Star is the nation’s voluntary program helping congregations, businesses, schools, homeowners and tenants save energy and water – and, therefore, money.

AIR POLLUTION REPORT: LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale spoke at a Capitol news conference unveiling the report by the Frontier Group, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, “The air, which is to be life-giving, is for some, death-dealing. And climate change is only going to make this worse.” Read more here.

STATE SUPREME COURT RULING: By a decision of 7 to 0, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on July 18 found that Act 80 of 2012 was enacted in a manner that violated the Pennsylvania Constitution. Advocates, including LAMPa, opposed the measure that hurt Pennsylvanians living in severe poverty, and Community Legal Services challenged the constitutionality of Act 80 with a lawsuit. Learn more.

 

“GOD’S WORK. OUR HANDS.” SUNDAY: LAMPa continues to provide resources for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. Take your service to neighbors a step further toward justice through advocacy. Contact us at LAMPa@lutheranadvocacypa.org and put “Sept. 9” in the subject line. We can also put you in touch with congregations that have successfully incorporated advocacy into their day of service.

Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin, director               

IMMIGRATION/DETENTION: On June 30, Southeastern Synod Advocacy was involved in marches all across our four states to protest immigration detention centers and the separation of families. In Atlanta, members of our team joined approximately 10,000 people gathered at the Atlanta Detention Center and marched to the Paul D. Coverdale Legislative Office Building.

ELECTIONS: Currently, it seems everything in both Georgia and Tennessee is focused on the upcoming mid-term elections. Some of our team was involved in a get-out-the-vote campaign for July 24 primary runoff elections.

SYNOD ASSEMBLY: Under the theme “Reformation 500 … Now What?,” the assembly considered who God is calling us to be and what God is calling us to do into the future. Bishop Julian Gordy put it this way:

So be of good cheer, friends. In spite of what you may have heard, these are good days to be the church. Opportunities to be Christ for our neighbors abound in this world in which our neighbors are lonely and disconnected from community, a world in which refugees are turned away from the borders of wealthy nations and hearts are hardened against those looking for asylum, a world in which the poor are losing access to health care and nutrition in the world’s richest nation, a world in which race determines too much how people are treated by the law and by institutions and by you and me, a time in which hateful language in high places is a daily occurrence and sword rattling is ascendant, a time in which those claiming evangelical Christianity lead the chorus of condemnation –  in this world, in this Southeast, we can be, we are called to be, “the alternative face of Christianity” … to show the way of God’s love and mercy that are meant for all people.

We had great turnout  for our advocacy workshops, “A Voice in the Wilderness,” as we continue to mobilize more Lutherans to take action on social justice issues.

HUNGER ADVOCACY FELLOW: We are excited about the addition of our new Hunger Advocacy Fellow, Kimberly Jordan Slappey. She will begin her year with us on Sept. 4.

Washington 

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network                                                                                                             fanwa.org  

WASHINGTON STATE AND NATIONAL POLICY: At the federal level, we continue to focus on the farm bill, encouraging our network to advocate for the bipartisan Senate version, which will preserve vital Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding. We have August recess meeting requests in for two moderate Republican House members to meet with faith leaders on this issue as well as on immigration issues.

At the state level, we are beginning to form our 2019 legislative agenda via policy meetings with our many partners.

STAFF TRANSITIONS: As we said goodbye to two staff members last month, we welcomed two more! We are excited to have Sarah Vatne (at left on the right) to join us as an ELCA Hunger Fellow and Tara MillerBerry (on the left) as our administrative and development coordinator.

CLUSTER GATHERINGS: Our annual fall Cluster Gatherings are in the process of being scheduled. These are 21 small group meetings held across the state every fall to gather our members and friends together to hear what is going on in their faith communities and to strategize about how to work together more effectively.

CANDIDATE FORUMS: FAN held three pre-primary (Aug. 7) candidate forums covering four legislative districts. One was hosted by one of our Jewish faith partners in which we were the prime sponsors and brought in 90 attendees to hear from five candidates. We look forward to providing more of these opportunities in the fall.

Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin                                              loppw.org  

HUNGER, THE FARM BILL, IMMIGRATION AND THE ELCA:  About 55 people attended an event LOPPW organized with hunger volunteers Cindy Dobberke and Molly Riehle of the Greater Milwaukee Synod. We included tips on advocacy, information for advocating on the farm bill and letters on immigration for people to sign. Panelists on immigration included AMMPARO Director Mary Campbell, Bishop Paul Erickson, Faith Santa Fe Lutheran Church’s Pastor Richard Suero and his parishioners, the Hernandez siblings, whose mother was almost deported.

AUGUST ACTION:  LOPPW’s director, council members and other volunteers are working to get appointments with all of Wisconsin’s members of Congress and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to discuss the farm bill and immigration in August while our representatives are in district.

Planning: 

• Oct. 6: Care for God’s Creation Conference

• Nov. 3–4 or 5: Hungry for Change Overnight Lutheran Campus Ministry Retreat for all campus ministries in Wisconsin and the UP, planned by LOPPW and campus ministries in Madison and Milwaukee, to be held in Milwaukee. The focus will be on hunger and will include visits to organizations making a difference with hunger and discussions about advocacy.
• ELCAvotes: Along with a full-time hunger fellow, LOPPW will have an intern via a program developed by Madison Campus Ministry for 10 hours per week. Sarah Schultz has not officially begun but would like to focus on getting students out to vote and sat in on a D.C. office-initiated conference call on ELCAvotes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Whylie Cook, ELCA Advocacy 2018 Summer Intern

 

Last month, we had the incredible opportunity to present about our advocacy work to a group of 50 high school youth from Wisconsin. Having spent nearly my entire life in Wisconsin, it was refreshing to connect with engaged youth that were energized to work for change in their communities.

While our presentation primarily focused on the farm bill and touched a bit on immigration and ELCA AMMPARO, I was extremely overjoyed when we turned to action by writing letters to our congressional leaders. These young people asked intelligent and passionate questions about what it means to live out our faith and love our neighbor. They took advocacy seriously and saw that they can make their voices heard in world that often speaks for them.

A couple of days later while attending a World Refugee Day event in the Senate building, we just so happened to run into the same group again. We decided to take a couple of minutes to help them unpack and debrief about their meetings with their legislators. The group had a successful meeting as well as one that was challenging. I was overjoyed when they were able to name hurtful rhetoric and realize that they were not being heard or taken seriously. They countered the “myths of poverty” with facts and spoke truth to power in love, ushering a compassionate response to poverty based on their faith which calls them to care for their neighbor. Although they felt put down, they were not defeated. In our debrief, I emphasized perseverance in holding our elected officials accountable. Calling state offices, calling national offices, and telling other constituents about their experience is an important part of holding elected officials to the people they serve.

This whole experience reminded me of the greeting among the Masai tribe in Africa, “Kasserian Ingera,” meaning “And how are the children?” These young people reminded me of how all to often, we dismiss the voices of our youth. We tell them that they can’t vote so they should not speak on issues of public policy or we dismiss them because of their age. We tell them that they have no place in our national debates which at the end of the day, immensely affect them. Our youth cry out for the longing to feel safe from gun and police violence in schools and their communities, and are instead met with not only silence, but also those who invalidate their violence and pain. How are the children? 15 million children live in poverty the United States. Instead caring for them, we cut social services, we cut affordable housing, and we debate whether or not poor children should have a right to live through health insurance. How are the children? Children are separated from their families and portrayed as criminal through our rhetoric. How are the children?

While adults often clamor about public policy, we sometimes forget to listen to the children. But the call of the Gospel is clear: ¹⁴ but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matthew 19:14). Our faith calls us to listen to the children because they are chosen and loved by God, vulnerable, and are our future. We must listen to Jesus who speaks through the children at our border. We must listen to Jesus who speaks to elected officials through young adults who call for us to feed the hungry, provide for the poor, and care for our neighbor. We must listen to our children who work toward justice and peace, refusing to let the darkness consume the light and love of God. We must listen to our children who fear violence when going to school or walking down the street. We must listen to our children who don’t have clean water to drink and clean air to breath.

In the Gospel according to Matthew Jesus commits us to “take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). It is through these vulnerable children whom God reveals God’s intending for a world where justice, love, and grace abide. May we always ask “how are the children”, listen to our children, and advocate for our children. May it be so.

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America  joined 144 Faith organizations in sending the following letter to Chairman Pete Sessions and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Representative James McGovern asking them to support amendments in the Appropriations bill that protect the Johnson Amendment.

 

                                                                                                                                              July 16, 2018

Mr. Pete Sessions                                                                               Mr. James McGovern
Chairman                                                                                             Ranking Member
House Rules Committee                                                                   House Rules Committee
Washington, D.C. 20515                                                                   Washington, D.C. 20515

 

Dear Chairman Sessions and Ranking Member McGovern:

 

The 145 undersigned organizations write to urge you to rule in order Wasserman Schultz Amendment #8 and Lewis Amendment #48 to strike the language in Section 112 of the House 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. This provision would make it effectively impossible for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enforce a long-standing federal law, sometimes referred to as the Johnson Amendment, insofar as it applies to houses of worship.

The Johnson Amendment protects the integrity of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including houses of worship, by ensuring they do not endorse or oppose candidates. Weakening current law would allow politicians and others seeking political power to pressure churches for endorsements, dividing congregations, and opening them up to the flow of secret money. Americans do not want our charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations to be torn apart by partisan campaign politics. We must keep this valuable safeguard that protects our houses of worship, our charitable and philanthropic organizations, and our political process.

Under the current law, which has been in place for the last six decades, houses of worship have maintained robust free speech rights and can speak out on any political and social issues that they see as important. They currently can engage in public debate on any issue, host candidate forums, hold voter registration drives, encourage people to vote, help transport people to the polls and even, with a few boundaries, lobby on specific legislation and invite candidates to speak. They simply cannot endorse or oppose candidates for public office and maintain their special tax-exempt status.

Section 112 would make it very difficult for the IRS to investigate claims that churches have violated the law by requiring consent from the IRS Commissioner for each investigation and notification to two committees in Congress before such investigations commence. The first requirement would slow down, if not functionally halt, the pursuit of 501(c)(3) violations, while the second would only further politicize these law-enforcement investigations.

Additionally, although the current law applies to all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, Section 112 in the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill would apply only to houses of worship. By giving houses of worship special treatment in the enforcement of IRS restrictions on intervention in political campaigns, the amendment raises serious concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and undermines religious freedom.

Opposition to the repeal or weakening of the Johnson Amendment is overwhelming: 106 religious and denominational organizations, more than 5,800 charitable nonprofit organizations, more than 4,500 faith leaders,and state charities officials have all written to Congress to urge it to protect the Johnson Amendment.We firmly urge you to rule in order the Wasserman Schultz Amendment #8 and Lewis Amendment #48 to remove Section 112 because it would weaken the law that protects houses of worship and other charitable nonprofits.

 

Sincerely,

Action on Smoking and Health
The Afiya Center
African American Ministers In Action
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
Alliance of Baptists
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Atheists
American Baptist Churches USA
American Baptist Home Mission Societies
American Conference of Academic Deans
American Conference of Cantors
American Council on Education
American Family Voices
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Humanist Association
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
American Society of Association Executives
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Anti-Defamation League
The Arc of the United States
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB)
The Atlantic Foundation
Autism Society of America
Baptist Center for Ethics
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Baptist Women in Ministry
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
B’nai B’rith International
BoardSource
The Bright Lines Project
Burlesque Hall of Fame
Catholics for Choice
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Effective Philanthropy
Center for Faith and Giving
Center for Inquiry
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Center on Conscience & War
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Christian Board of Publication/Chalice Press
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Council for Global Equality
Council on Foundations
Democracy 21
Disciples Center for Public Witness
Disciples Justice Action Network
The Episcopal Church
End Citizens United
Equal Partners in Faith
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Every Voice
Forum for Youth Investment
Freedom From Religion Foundation
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth
Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
Girls Inc.
Greenpeace USA
Habitat for Humanity International
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
The Henry Ford
Hindu American Foundation
Hindu Mandirs Executives’ Conference
Hip Hop Caucus
Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings
Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation
Human Rights Campaign
Impact Fund
Independent Sector
Interfaith Alliance
Institute for Science and Human Values
Islamic Networks Group
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
The Jewish Federations of North America
JWI
Keshet
Land Trust Alliance
Lymphoma Foundation of America
Management Assistance Group
Medical Students for Choice
Men of Reform Judaism
MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership
Methodist Federation for Social Action
Morino Institute
Music Medicine Institute
Muslim Public Affairs Council
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National African American Clergy Network
National Association of Charitable Gift Planners
National Benevolent Association
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
National Council of Churches
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Nonprofits
National Employment Law Project
National Human Services Assembly
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New Baptist Covenant
New Ways Ministry
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
North American Bramble Growers Research Foundation
North Side Action & Resistance (Indivisible)
Nursing Students for Sexual & Reproductive Health
Partnership for America’s Children
Pension Fund of the Christian Church
People For the American Way
Phillips Theological Seminary
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Public Citizen
Rachel Carson Council
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Religious Institute
Rootstrikers Project at Demand Progress
Secular Coalition for America
Senior Executives Association (SEA)
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministry
United Philanthropy Forum
U.S. PIRG
Vibrant America, Inc.
Voices for Progress
Volunteers of America
WasteWater Education
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)
Youth Advocate Programs
YWCA USA

By Elena Robles,Hunger Advocacy Fellow

 

The House of Representatives and Senate have returned from the July 4^th Recess, and ELCA Advocacy and the Advocacy network look forward to their next movements to complete the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill funds the food system, ensuring farmers get access to the support and resources needed to produce food in sustainable ways, and guaranteeing hungry people domestically and internationally are supported through the various food programs that the bill funds.

 

 

House of Representatives

In April the House of Representatives released their version of the Farm Bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act (HR.2), which provided strong supports for farmers and international food assistance programs. HR.2 failed to pass the first time it was voted on and passed by only two votes the second time. Hunger Advocates have expressed concern for how HR.2 would impact the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps). The proposed reforms would create additional work requirements, shift funding from the programs into the creation of short-term job trainings and would ultimately negatively impact millions of low-income seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, unemployed adults and families with children who rely on the program. Learn more about the Agriculture and Nutrition Act here.

Senate

The Senate, through the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, were able to draft and pass the Agriculture and Improvement Act (S. 3042) with 85 senators voting in favor. This is the highest vote count of approval in Farm Bill history and an excellent example of bipartisanship. The Agriculture and Improvement Act was lauded for its continued support of farmers, generous funding for international food assistance and protection of structure and funding for SNAP. Learn more about the Senate Farm Bill through the Food Research and Action Center.

 

 

Next Steps?

Senators and Representatives from both parties will need to come together to pass a final  2018 Farm Bill that establishes a strong foundation for our food systems. House and Senate leaders will appoint Conferees to serve on a conference committee tasked with negotiating a Farm Bill that can be passed by both chambers.There is hard work ahead for the Conferees as they work towards navigating major differences in SNAP funding and structure, issues around conservation, and the upcoming midterm elections which could impose serious time limits on getting a bill through both chambers. The ELCA network will be mobilized to take action on contacting Conferees for a Farm Bill that reflects the needs of all of our communities. Lutherans have a powerful faith voice to share as we continue to urge legislators to support both the needs of farmers and families who rely on nutrition assistance. 

 

 

ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Amy Reumann, director               ELCA.org/advocacy

July 21, PRAY.FAST.ACT.: On Saturday, July 21, we join with The Episcopal Church in our monthly commitment to #PrayFastAct. This month, our focus is on protecting Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security for the future. Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are the core of our nation’s medical and income safety net for the elderly, unemployed, underemployed and disabled. In recent decades, investments in programs that spur the economic potential of individuals has declined, which has led to an increase in the number of people needing the support of these programs. Together, these programs and other safety net measures represent a significant amount of annual federal spending. Recently, proposals have been made to change the programs by manipulating eligibility or coverage to reduce spending. Difficult, but responsible, changes require Congress and the nation to invest in programs that reduce the long-term need for these programs and minimize the individual impact of the economic cycle so that these programs can cost less because they are needed less.

FARM BILL: The Senate passed a bipartisan 2018 farm bill last month that ELCA Advocacy supported. The bill will now go to a conference between the House and Senate. ELCA Advocacy plans to work to ensure that the Senate bill prevails over the House bill, which would make cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Learn more about the Senate and House versions of the farm bill by reading “The Senate Farm Bill: What a Difference Bipartisanship Makes” on the ELCA Advocacy blog.

MIGRATION and AMMPARO: In June, the House rejected a hardline immigration bill introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Securing America’s Future Act (H.R. 4760) would have drastically cut the nation’s legal immigration levels and provided funding for building a border wall, while also offering temporary status for “Dreamers.” ELCA Advocacy opposed the bill. The House has yet to vote on a proposed compromise immigration bill. You can take action on this issue by visiting the ELCA Advocacy Action Center. 

President Trump signed an executive order to address family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border. The executive order fails to end the zero-tolerance policy that criminalizes parents and expands family detention. ELCA Advocacy will continue to stand against family detention, advocating instead for community-based alternatives to detentions. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has piloted alternatives for families.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE: On June 20, the Senate passed the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act. The legislation calls on Congress to extend the authority of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 for a few more years. The act established a comprehensive U.S. global food-security strategy that has enabled the U.S. government to improve the way food and nutrition programs are implemented and accounted for. As a result, some developing countries have been able to increase agricultural productivity and education opportunities. These programs help farmers feed their families and communities and contribute to their countries’ economic growth. The House has yet to pass its version of the bill.

 

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. 

Dennis Frado, director

 

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spoke marking the start of this year’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on June 12 to a conference of signatories to the convention, which he described as one of the most widely ratified international human rights treaties. The convention reaffirms that people with disabilities are entitled to the same treatment as everyone else.

People with disabilities still often face overt discrimination, stereotyping and lack of respect for their basic human rights – with women and girls disproportionately affected. The secretary-general said that “every minute, more than 30 women are seriously injured or disabled during childbirth,” and that women and girls with disabilities face multiple barriers to accessing education, health services and jobs.

“Without women’s empowerment and gender equality, millions of women will continue to suffer from double discrimination based on both their gender and their disability,” he added. The secretary-general also spelled out the need for new approaches for and with people with disabilities, including mainstreaming disability in national legislation and development strategies.

Catalina Devandas Aguilar, U.N. special rapporteur on the rights of people with disabilities, noted that while progress has been made, it is not reaching everyone in the same way. “There is a great demand for public interventions of better and higher quality,” she said. “Only by working together will we fulfil our common goal of leaving no one behind.”

PILGRIMAGE TO PEACE PANEL FEATURES LUTHERAN EDUCATOR: On June 22 the Church Center at the United Nations was the site of Churches for Middle East Peace’s  Pilgrimage2Peace panel discussion hosted by the U.N. NGO Working Group on Israel-Palestine, of which Lutheran Office for World Community is a member. “Peacebuilding and Constructive Conflict in Israel, Palestine, and the broader Middle East” featured Georgette Hazboun Rabadi, principal of the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour, Palestine, and Mara Lee, global executive director of the OneVoice Movement. Kyle Cristofalo, director of advocacy and government relations with churches for Middle East Peace, was the moderator.

Rabadi works to empower students and families in the region from all religious, economic and social backgrounds. She educates children and young people about global issues, connecting them with their peers locally and internationally, and inspiring them to make a difference. Her school offers student exchange programs in Europe and a local school-to-career program with guest speakers offering Palestinian narratives along with the opportunity to work on projects. She reports that when Palestinians are asked what they want, the response is: “We want the right to live with dignity.”

Lee works with the OneVoice Movement, an initiative supporting grassroots activists in Israel, Palestine and globally who are working to build human infrastructure to create the necessary conditions for a just and negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In conversation about conflict resolution, the initiative’s goal is to be pro-solution, pro-peace, and pro-humanity.

 

California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy                            loppca.org

BUDGET UPDATE: With no line-item vetoes, Gov. Jerry Brown approved a General Fund budget of about $140 billion that includes items supported by LOPP-CA to increase the CalWORKS/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families assistance grants intended to relieve childhood poverty, increase spending for child care, expand census outreach and make the state Earned Income Tax Credit available for more low-income taxpayers. Proposals to provide Medi-Cal (Medicaid) coverage for low-income young adults and seniors, regardless of immigration status, did not make it into the final budget. LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson mixed with some of the Poor People’s Campaign participants and tried to connect some of the “outside” protestors with actual budget and legislative decisions being made “inside.”

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: LOPP-CA was site host for a California Interfaith Power & Light Advocacy Day, supporting bills to set stronger goals for renewable electrical energy (SB 100), protect California’s coastline should the federal government seek to expand offshore oil drilling, and establish goals for carbon reduction from ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. LOPP-CA also offered brief testimony in the Senate Elections Committee supporting stronger sponsor and funding disclosure in social media ads for ballot measures.

NOVEMBER BALLOT: California voters will decide on 12 measures, three placed on the ballot by the Legislature and nine that reached via the initiative petition process. Our priority continues to be the housing bond, cahahousing.org (Programs and Initiative). Carlson hosted the June conference of ELCA rostered leaders gathering at a permanent supportive housing site where Lutheran Social Services of Northern California provides services (photo).

 

North Carolina 

Georene Jones, North Carolina Synod Social Justice & Advocacy Ministries

THE NORTH CAROLINA SYNOD ASSEMBLY PASSED A RESOLUTION ON IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES: The first included provisions to demand a halt to detention and deportation of people not found guilty of a felony until comprehensive immigration policy reform is passed by Congress, permanent legislation providing full citizenship to “Dreamers,” and pathways to citizenship for non-felon resident immigrants without documentation, and for maintaining family unity.

Additionally, the document demanded compassionate treatment of all who seek safety and hope in the U.S., as well as encourage increased individual and congregational support of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran Services Carolinas, and participation in the ELCA’s Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO).

A second resolution regarding refugees states that in the face of the largest displacement crisis since World War II, the U.S. must honor its commitment to accept no fewer than 45,000 refugees for resettlement through fiscal year 2018 and to increase the number admitted in 2019 to 75,000.

Full-text of the resolutions as adopted are available at:

18-03 Advocacy & Action for Immigration and 18-04 Acceptance & Resettlement of Refugees.

 

 

New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico  lutheranadvocacynm.org

LAM-NM WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS: We recently attended an advocacy training for the Dental Therapy Coalition, which is working to enact a statute creating the mid-level profession of dental therapist. Having dental therapists would increase the number of dental providers particularly in underserved areas of our large state. We also attended the 2108 Kids Count Conference sponsored by New Mexico Voices for Children. Over 200 people networked and heard presentations about ways to improve the lives of New Mexico’s children. Our state ranks at or near the bottom in child well-being.

 

Ohio

Nick Bates, Hunger Network Ohio                                                            Nick@HungerNetOhio.org

A great synod assembly season! Hunger Network Ohio attended the Northeastern Ohio Synod and the Southern Ohio Synod assemblies this year. Between the two, we collected over 65 postcards for our congressional representatives to protect nutrition assistance in the farm bill. Both assemblies had a feature of justice.

The Northeastern Ohio Synod heard Amanda Silcox share her experience as an ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission participant and a Hunger Advocacy Fellow serving this year in the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, but originally from the Northeastern Ohio Synod. The assembly was moved by her passion and commitment to justice in our community. Likewise, the Southern Ohio Synod featured workshops on advocacy, hunger, immigration and racial inequality, including a powerful liturgy prepared by the synod’s race relations task force. Our synod assemblies are a great opportunity not only to accomplish the business of our synods but also a chance to come together to learn and grow in relationship and our understanding of the gospel.

We would also like to mention First English Lutheran Church, which is now the second congregation in Columbus hosting a family in sanctuary. Bishop Dillahunt and many congregational leaders, fresh off the busses and planes from Houston, attended a news conference to support Miriam Vargas on July 2. We will continue to live into our synod resolutions, the ELCA AMMPARO initiative and our gospel calling to welcome and love the neighbor.

                                        

 

 

Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy – Pennsylvania                             lutheranadvocacypa.org

LAMPa AT SYNOD ASSEMBLIES: LAMPa staff shared displays, information and workshops at the Lower Susquehanna, Allegheny and Upper Susquehanna synod assemblies.

SYNODS PASS SOCIAL JUSTICE RESOLUTION AT ASSEMBLIES: The Lower Susquehanna Synod adopted a resolution regarding homelessness. The Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod adopted a resolution on migrant minors and family separation at the U.S. borders. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod adopted a resolution of concern for migrant minors separated from family. The Upper Susquehanna Synod passed a resolution regarding migrant children calling for humane, compassionate treatment of those designated as undocumented minors.

 

LAMPa PARTICIPATES IN ELCA YOUTH GATHERING : LAMPa partnered with ELCA Advocacy and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries sharing an interactive exhibit, “Be the Change: Means of Grace, Scenes of Grace.” Visitors entered a space set apart to connect with God’s good creation. They discovered the fun and profound ways faith is nurtured in nature and left transformed, prepared to be the change.  

CONNECTING LUTHERANS WITH ISSUES: June was a busy month for LAMPa staff as they issued advocacy alerts to constituents for federal and state issues. Federal action on the House farm bill, two immigration bills and family separation at the border. State alerts were shared regarding the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and “Safe Harbor.”

BUDGET AND CLEAN-SLATE LAWS SIGNED: Gov. Tom Wolf signed the 2018-2019 budget and clean-slate bill into law making it easier for people who have committed crimes to move on with their lives. LAMPa has advocated for this bill for several years.

 

 

Virginia

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy                                              virginiainterfaithcenter.org/

WHAT’S NEXT?: After late May’s Medicaid expansion victory at the Virginia General Assembly, everyone has been asking “what’s next?” Although the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will be looking at overall policy priorities in upcoming weeks, it does plan to follow through on other priorities that need work, such as strengthening enforcement against wage theft and encouraging living wages, and making Virginia more welcoming to immigrants and others. We are also exploring what we should be doing in terms of making sure that people eligible for Medicaid expansion actually sign-up. There is no shortage of work to do.

Our staff has met with many chapters and affiliates in the last few weeks across the commonwealth. Although everyone is excited about Medicaid expansion, groups are ready and eager to continue their good work. Our chapters and affiliates are:

• making plans for how the faith community can assist with Medicaid enrollment;
• meeting with legislators about priority issues for the 2019 General Assembly;
• building Living Wage Certification programs (The Richmond program has launched and Alexandria    should launch soon; Charlottesville is in the planning phase and a new planning group has formed in Harrisonburg); and
• talking with sheriffs about how best to work with immigrant communities.

 

 

Washington 

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network                      fanwa.org

SUMMITS: FAN finished the last of four annual spring summits on June 10. Every year, we convene these regional gatherings across the state to hear our advocates’ policy priorities and share what FAN is doing. This is an important way to maintain and deepen relationships with our members. This year, we convened more than 175 advocates from many  denominations and faiths at our Puget Sound Summit.

POLICY ISSUES: This time of year, FAN is focused on Congress, advocating on the farm bill, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, immigration bills, and the related Public Charge rule. We are staying in touch with our Washington, D.C., faith-based lobbyists while educating and activating our network of almost 7,000 advocates organized in our 10 congressional districts.

CANDIDATES FORUMS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: FAN will be sponsoring, planning and conducting several candidate forums at faith communities in critical races in our state. Our state’s primary is in August, so most of these forums are in September and October. This is a great public witness for FAN and faith communities to play in the electoral process.

 

 

Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin                      loppw.org

SUMMER PLANNING FOR UPCOMING EVENTS: 

• July 17: “Hunger, the Farm Bill, Immigration and the ELCA”: LOPPW is working with two hunger volunteers, Cindy Dobberke and Molly Riehle, who attended the ELCA World Hunger gathering in January, to organize an advocacy event in Milwaukee. Register today online.
• Oct. 6: Care for God’s Creation Conference:  LOPPW and the South-Central Synod Care for God’s Creation team are planning to lift up the cutting-edge work on renewable energy in Dane County and a few other places in Wisconsin. We’ll make what’s working known and encourage grass-roots organizing to duplicate these efforts.
• Nov. 3-4 or 5: Overnight Lutheran Campus Ministry Retreat: LOPPW is working with campus pastors from Milwaukee and Madison to organize the event. We’ll encourage campus ministries from around the state and the UP and possibly beyond to attend. We’re grateful for a grant from First Lutheran Church Foundation in Gladstone, Mich.

CONSULTATION: LOPPW has been gathering information on Wisconsin ICE detention centers to offer to interested pastors and help them discern efforts they can take.

SYNOD ASSEMBLIES: LOPPW had a table and led a workshop at the La Crosse Area Synod Assembly. LOPPW was present at the Greater Milwaukee and the Northwest synod assemblies. Congratulations to the Rev. Laurie Skow-Anderson elected the Northwest Synod bishop!

HUNGER FELLOW: Candidates for the Hunger Fellow position were interviewed and LOPPW looks forward to introducing Kelsey Johnson next month!

By Barbara Kufiadan, ELCA Advocacy 2018 Summer Intern 

At a time of much political discourse, it is easy to lose faith in the process of civic engagement. As Christians, we are taught to have faith in each and every situation. Situations that are good, situations that could possibly go wrong, and even situations that will go wrong. It seems like such an easy principle to follow until you’re civically engaged. Faith-based advocacy requires you to keep the faith no matter the current policy issues and/or legislation are.

I’m Barbara Kufiadan, an ELCA Summer Advocacy Intern. As a Utah native, my journey to the ELCA Advocacy office in D.C. was a step out of my comfort zone. Faith-based advocacy organizations aren’t something that I was used to. Coming from a state where there’s only one major Christian denomination, there wasn’t much advocacy from other denominations. With little to no experience in faith-based advocacy, I have learned a lot in the two weeks that I have been here. Most importantly, I have learned how God’s word not only serves as a reminder of our faith in our personal lives but how it serves as a reminder of why we should advocate.

 

In my time here, I have attended the Poor People’s Campaign rally, made a visit to the House to regarding the Farm Bill, stood outside of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) three times waiting for Trump v. Hawaii, celebrated World Refugee Day by engaging in Refugee Road with Oxfam, taught High School Lutherans how to advocate and send letters to their representatives, as well as having a front row seat in the day- to- day decisions regarding child separation and immigration. Are most of the things I listed positive? Yes! But a lot of these issues also require a lot of faith.

It takes faith when standing in front of the SCOTUS hoping that there will be a decision made on the Travel ban. It takes faith hoping that my brothers and sisters have the opportunity to seek asylum from their war-ridden countries. It takes faith hoping that high school students get a great response from their representatives. It takes faith in hoping that there is a just, reasonable solution to ending family separation and finding a pathway to citizenship.

Each thing that we advocate for allows us to step out on faith. God reminds us that we should “bare one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), and in doing so that means advocating for racial and gender justice, accessibility to food, adequate housing accommodations, immigration policy, environmental sustainability, and much more. At the end of a lot of these days, I had to make a choice. The choice to leave the end of the work day feeling discouraged or the choice to tap into faith and hope that justice would be served. I made a huge leap of faith coming across the country to intern for ELCA Advocacy and it has already been such a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

 

At a state of political discourse, I leave you with a word of faith: “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.”(Psalms 119:30). Christians have a place in advocacy. During the times of distress, it is our faith-based advocacy that allows us to preserve and step out on what we know – faith.

 

By Rev. Dustin G. Wright, Messiah Lutheran Church in Schenectady, New York

 

About a month back during the Week One action of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, I sat with a diverse group of justice-minded folks from across New York State blocking the doors to the Capitol Building in Albany. Wearing my collar and favorite stole, I was trying to accompany children, women and people living disabilities in saying how unnecessarily hard it is for so many in a state that puts itself out there as one of the most progressive places in the country. I was simply doing what I thought people on the Way of Jesus should be focusing on, and in the midst of all the singing and chanting, I got into a conversation with a young woman from Brooklyn sitting next to me.

Seeing my collar, she said something like, “Wow, there’s a lot of religious leaders here.” A little surprised, I responded with something like, “Of course there is, this Poor People’s Campaign is just picking up where MLK left off after all fifty years ago!” And then, she said something that struck me to the core after four years of ordained ministry… “Wow, I didn’t know religious people cared about important things.”

It was in that moment that I really began to realize how truly important the Poor People’s Campaign is. A lifelong Lutheran, I was born in 1986, and despite my childhood pastor preaching against the 2003 Iraq War and teaching about issues like hunger and poverty, I also spent my entire life in a context where many Americans, for a bunch of different reasons, seem to think following Jesus is more about making LGBTQIA folks feel unwelcome; telling women what to do with their bodies; and saving souls from eternal torment in the next life rather than saying much of anything good at all about how we ought to live both individually and collectively in this life.

Jesus was a refugee, a day laborer, after all, lynched in the manner of a political revolutionary by one of the most powerful empires the world has ever known specifically because he sought to challenge and change that system. While he talked about getting into heaven, for sure, this world, not the next, was the focus of his ministry. As it says on the stoles of two leaders of the Poor People’s Campaign, Rev. Liz Theoharis and Rev. William Barber, Jesus was a poor man. How then could followers of the Way of this poor revolutionary become identified with policing folks’ bedrooms but not saying much of anything about the systemic sins of poverty, racism, militarism and ecological devastation?

The “moral narrative” of this country, influenced in part by a false, ahistoric and heretical brand of Christian Nationalism that has almost nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus, has quite simply become distorted.

“A New and Unsettling Force: Confronting the Distorted Moral Narrative” is the theme for this week of the Poor People’s Campaign, and I pray you will join me, people of faith and others of good will across this country in doing just that.

In Christ,

Rev. Dustin G. Wright

Pastor, Messiah Lutheran Church in Schenectady, New York

President, New York State Council of Churches

By  the Rev. Amy Reumann, Director of ELCA Advocacy

 

   When the Attorney General and the White House Press Secretary invoked St. Paul’s instruction “be subject to the governing authorities” to quell criticism of the Administration policy of separating families seeking asylum at the border, faith leaders reacted swiftly to the misuse of Scripture. The ensuing uproar focused on a narrow interpretation of Romans 13 that ignored the larger meaning of the passage, which holds all persons and structures to God’s higher standard of love. It can in no way be used justify the horrific practice of tearing children away from their parents or any unjust law. Many have weighed in on the misapplication of the text to falling in line behind this new interpretation of immigration policy.  But it also raises a larger question. Just what is our relationship to government, as Lutherans? When do we submit, and when is resistance called for? 

Luther had a lot to say about this. He bequeathed us with a unique take on the role of the church in society. As branches of the emerging Protestant movement wrestled with how to relate to the ruling powers – full separation from the irredeemably sinful affairs of state and society, or fully combining royal and church leadership – the Lutheran movement forged its own path. Luther’s reading of the Gospel and understanding of God’s ordering of the world led him to believe that Christians can make use of the governing structures, because they are gifts from God for order, for peace and for providence for those who have little.  

In the Large Catechism, Luther stresses the place of government three times, with an emphasis on the ways it is a means by which God cares for the most vulnerable:

• Fourth Commandment:civil government is an extension of the parental role, responsibility and authority, and is to serve so that children can live full and productive lives.
• 1st Article of the Apostles’Creed:“good governments” is lifted up as a gift of God,  alongside necessities like body, soul, life, food, drink, spouse, child, air, water, peace and security.
• 4th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer:daily bread includes all the necessities we need for our daily life and the role of the rulers was to ensure daily bread for all.

Luther drew on the poetry of the Psalms to speak further regarding governmental care for the poor. In his commentary on Psalm 82 he addresses the duties of a prince and their virtues that include furthering the Word of God by ensuring “justice for those who fear God,” and just laws to prevent the oppression of the poor, wretched, widows and orphans. The government itself is a “divine hospital” to care for those in need, to ensure no one will become a beggar.  

Luther is very clear on what makes a good government. Cooperation, participation and submission to the just laws of a benevolent government are in line with these emphases. But submission to the governing authorities is never blind nor automatic. We are to evaluate laws, discuss policies as a faith community and discern a faithful response. As the ELCA, we do so within the framework and guidance of our social teaching documents.

The ELCA Social Statement “Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective” sums up this up when it states that:

This church must participate in social structures critically, for sin also is at work in the world. Social structures and processes combine life-giving and life-destroying dynamics in complex mixtures and in varying degrees. This church, therefore, must unite realism and vision, wisdom and courage, in its social responsibility. It needs constantly to discern when to support and when to confront society’s cultural patterns, values and powers. (Church in Society, p. 3)

Lutherans are called to careful discernment on social issues and, rooted in our understanding of the Gospel, to affirm laws that align with it, oppose those that are contrary to it and to speak up in all cases. Laws and policies that do harm to the most vulnerable are to be strenuously opposed. The social statement continues:

As a prophetic presence, this church has the obligation to name and denounce the idols before which people bow, to identify the power of sin present in social structures, and to advocate in hope with poor and powerless people. When religious or secular structures, ideologies or authorities claim to be absolute, this church says, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29). With Martin Luther, this church understands that “to rebuke” those in authority “through God’s Word spoken publicly, boldly and honestly” is “not seditious” but “a praiseworthy, noble and … particularly great service to God.” (Church in Society, p. 4)

Lutherans have some wonderful theology here that we need to dust off and put it back in use. Now. When rhetoric dehumanizes or demonizes people of different races, nationalities or religious traditions the church is called to name and denounce idols of white supremacy, ethnic nationalism or religious intolerance, inside itself and in public life. When public policies perpetuate the poverty or oppression of our neighbor, we are to work tirelessly to change them. Family separation spectacularly fails the test of our faith values and has earned our rebuke and resistance. Should all the children be reunited with their parents, there are still families torn apart by our nation’s policies, caught in our broken immigration system, separated by this Administration’s travel ban, or locked up in our system of mass incarceration. If children at the border horrifies us, so should these other cases.

Faith community leaders, including Presiding Bishop Eaton, have spoken resoundingly in opposition to family separation. When the Presiding Bishop speaks, it is a call to action for the church to join in confronting not only the policies but the values and powers behind them. We must speak God’s powerful Word publicly, boldly and honestly in these days. ELCA Advocacy is here to help you with that.

 

Be sure to join the ELCA e-Advocacy Network.

By John Johnson,Program Director for Domestic Policy

 

Not everything is broken in Washington DC. Last Friday, Senate leaders released their long-awaited version of the farm bill and there is good news for farmers, hungry people, people of faith and frankly the whole country. The Senate’s version of the farm bill renewal is a good bill that addresses many ELCA priorities by maintaining strong support for anti-hunger programs.  It is a model of how legislation in Washington with bi-partisan leadership ought to move in Congress.

Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)—the chair and ranking member respectively of the Senate Agriculture Committee—are fulfilling their early commitment to work together on the farm bill. Their press-release statements quote each other positively, a relief in this fiercely partisan climate. A bill that affects every person and every community in the United States and beyond deserves no less.

Hunger advocates, farmers, environmentalists, international aid stakeholders, businesses and law makers now begin pouring over the 1000-page bill in preparation for a planned “mark-up” of the bill on June 13. At this time committee members will amend and tweak the legislation before voting to move it to the Senate floor. That’s the easy part. What lies ahead gets complicated very quickly.

The House bill (H.R. 2) contains language that would restructure the program in ways that would increase food insecurity. The Senate bill contrasts starkly with the House version by making technological investments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) and making it easier for states to manage the complex requirements for work and job training while receiving benefits. It also includes restored funding for conservation programs, maintains our commitment to international food aid, includes funding for research and development and protects the farm “safety net.”

The House bill passed out of the House Agriculture Committee on a party-line vote with no cooperation between Democrats and Republicans last month. It failed on the floor to get enough support to pass out of the House and was dramatically pulled and tabled. It is expected to return to the House floor around June 22. That bill’s fate is uncertain, and it is unknown now if leaders in the House will be able to muster the votes needed to send it to a conference with the Senate.

The Senate draft now puts pressure on the House, but as of this writing, several scenarios exist.  Ideally, both chambers should pass their respective bills, meet in conference to iron out differences, vote again on the compromise of the two versions, and send it to the President to sign into law. It all must happen before the current farm bill expires at the end of September. If the School House Rock episode of, “I’m Just A Bill” comes to mind, that’s the way the legislative process is supposed work.

The differences in the bill, however, could become a mountain too steep to climb for some members. If managed poorly, ideological gridlock could create a stalemate in both chambers as the deadline looms closer and stakeholders become more impatient. If the deadline is not met, it’s very likely that lawmakers could toss up their hands and let the outcome of the 2018 mid-term elections drive what happens in a lame-duck session after the November 6 elections. This outcome leaves farmers in the lurch and states with more uncertainty that neither can afford. While unlikely, some have floated the idea of a short-term extension, but this also creates uncertainty and chaos.

As Lutherans, we are reminded of the holy commitment we have to each other in our common life when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” As we find in the Large Catechism, “When you say and ask for daily bread, you ask for everything that is necessary in order to have and enjoy daily bread and, on the contrary, against everything that interferes with enjoying it. You must therefore expand and extend your thoughts to include not just the oven or the flour bin, but also the broad fields and the whole land that produce and provide our daily bread and all kinds of sustenance for us.”

Now Lutherans need to get to work. We need to call our lawmakers at 202-224-3121 with a simple message: work together, do no harm, don’t put farmers and hungry people in peril and do it sooner than later. Our voices will be critical in the coming weeks and they make a difference. Time and again when we lift our voices in the thoughtful ways that Lutherans approach issues like the farm bill, we become a catalyst that lawmakers can’t ignore. It is time do that Gospel work of advocacy now more than ever.

Interested advocates can follow the Senate’s hearing on the farm bill on Wednesday, June 13 starting at 9:30 a.m. EST by clicking on this link.

By The Rev. Dr. Clint Schnekloth of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church  in Fayetteville, Arkansas 

 

Prescott, Helena, Conway, Yellville, Ponca, Bull Shoals, Benton, Springdale, Beebe, Monticello, Little Rock, and Fayetteville.

That’s just a few of the communities represented this weekend at the Arkansas Citizens First Congress (CFC) Legislative Convention. This convention gathers representatives from dozens of organizations across the state. It is intentionally racially and economically diverse, and centers the progressive Southern voice.

The Congress follows a very democratic process. Organizations participate in caucuses and vote up issues they believe CFC should advocate for at the state level. Once the priorities are selected, the whole organization votes, and then those become the priorities staff members advocate for at the state house during the next legislative session.

A researcher with the Institute for Southern Studies is interviewing here all weekend, because the Institute, among many others, sees the new Southern progressive community exposing injustice, strengthening democracy and building community for change in the South.

This isn’t necessarily the story the rest of the country tells about the South, but it is our story. This is the new South, and the South you never knew, but should have. There are emerging populations in our state, and all across the South, who are strengthening the progressive perspective. For example, 40,000 Latino youth will turn 18 this year in Arkansas, and we hope they will vote.

The Arkansas Poor People’s Campaign (APPC) is another organization, pursuing a shorter-term and focused campaign strategy to effect change in many of the directions CFC pursues as well. Where CFC takes the long and lobbying approach, the APPC is attempting to re-center the moral narrative in our nation, lifting up the voices of the poor and especially the voices of those affected by racism, poverty, militarism and ecological degradation.

Through all of this, one slowly emerging voice is that of the progressive faith community. Because the noise of voices of faith on the right has been so very loud, it seems Southern progressive people of faith have had to walk slowly, disambiguating themselves from misunderstandings and misuses of the faith in order to clearly proclaim the way they see their progressive moral commitments as aligned with the way of Jesus.

But it is happening, more and more, and it is beautiful. I believe we are seeing through the Poor People’s Campaign, and many other initiatives in our state and in the South, what the PPC is calling “a new unsettling force.” A different story is going to be told about the South than has been told. It’s a new civic imagination, a world in which many women are elected to public office, young Latinos increasingly gain voice and votes, rural and urban progressives work across the geographical lines that frequently divide us, and we all grow spirituality as our increasing awareness of intersectionality contributes not to fracture or division, but maturity and moral vision.

But it is happening, more and more, and it is beautiful. I believe we are seeing through the Poor People’s Campaign, and many other initiatives in our state and in the South, what the PPC is calling “a new unsettling force.” A different story is going to be told about the South than has been told. It’s a new civic imagination, a world in which many women are elected to public office, young Latinos increasingly gain voice and votes, rural and urban progressives work across the geographical lines that frequently divide us, and we all grow spirituality as our increasing awareness of intersectionality contributes not to fracture or division, but maturity and moral vision.