By Laura Heller, Minister of Word and Service and Creation Care Ministry Coordinator for the Delaware-Maryland Synod.

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11, NRSV).

Reflecting on our history, we see how water was created to cleanse and give life. In the very beginning of creation, the Spirit of God breathed on the waters of the earth (Gen 1:2). The waters of the great flood marked a cleansing of sin and the possibility of a new beginning (Gen 6:13). The Israelites passed through the Red Sea and were delivered from slavery into freedom (Exo 14:22). Jesus was baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan and was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:9-10).

In baptism, we “pass through water.” This movement is a sign of our participation in the death of Christ and his emergence into new life: new life freed from the power of evil; new life in which the power of God’s life and love prevail.

It is very fitting that water is the element used in baptism because it is the STUFF of LIFE. It is vital to our existence just as our relationship with God is vital to our existence. The human body is more than 60 percent water. We need water to exist: we can live for 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water.

Earth is known as the watery planet: over 70% of  the largest habitat for life. This seeming abundance of water can make it easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly scarce. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use. That leaves only 1% of the world’s water available for human consumptive uses.

Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed the growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture – particularly the industry of raising animals for food – consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others.

At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.

As the church, we need to demonstrate leadership in sharing the message about caring for the sacred gift of water. As ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton points out in her Earth Day Statement:

“In grateful response to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, this church carries out its responsibility for the well-being of society and the environment. Our ‘concern for the environment’ is shaped by the Word of God spoken in creation, the Love of God hanging on a cross, the Breath of God daily renewing the face of the earth. Our concern is, then, propelled by hope and guided by principles of justice. We find our hope in the promise of God’s own faithfulness to everything God has made. We seek justice for all of creation in concert with God’s creative and renewing power.”

 

 

ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.

 

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

APRIL 21, PRAY. FAST. ACT: The April day to #PrayFastAct with The Episcopal Church is Saturday, April 21. This month, our focus is on economic opportunity initiatives, education workforce development and programs that help low-income families break out of poverty.

Cyclical poverty is a problem faced by millions of Americans. Many in our communities cannot access education and training because they need a pay-check to feed their family, and often there are too few affordable educational opportunities accessible to them. While some in Congress have proposed adding requirements that the entitlement program recipients must be working to receive assistance, this has historically proven to serve as an additional barrier to achieving self-sufficiency. Look forward to resources around the day of fasting from The Episcopal Church and ELCA Advocacy later this month!

RALLY-2-END RACISM: The national A.C.T. to End Racism rally, organized by the National Council of Churches, took place in Washington, D.C., on April 4. The event brought together faith leaders from dozens of denominations across the country and coincided with the 50^th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination on April 4, 1968. The rally, aimed at raising awareness of racial disparities, came as new reports indicate that higher-income youth of color are more likely to become poor than their white counterparts, and African American homeownership rates have remained virtually unchanged since the 1960s.

Churches and houses of worship have a special call to tackle the barriers of racism. The ELCA social statement “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture” (1993) affirms the church’s commitment to proactively engage on just policies that curb inequity in society. Faith leaders across the religious community continue to be advocates on civil rights issues, criminal justice and safe policing communities. Read more about some of the goals and future initiatives of the march here.

CONGRESS PASSES BUDGET: In March, Congress passed a spending bill to fund the government through Oct. 1, the end of the 2018 fiscal year. While the recently approved budget carried record funding for housing programs, addressing opioid abuse and sufficient funds for environmental conservation, many faith leaders remain deeply disappointed by some federal policies that fail to live up to our values by adequately funding programs that support the most vulnerable members of our society.

Read more about the spending bill and how it affects some faith community priorities at the ELCA Advocacy Blog.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD-AID REFORM: Senators Bob Corker and Chris Coons have once again introduced food-aid reform legislation. The Food for Peace Modernization Act of 2018 seeks to build efficiencies in the U.S. international food-aid programs so that the same amount of funding can serve millions more. The bill is timely given discussions around the farm bill reauthorization. Representatives Ed Royce and Earl Blumenauer have introduced a companion bill in the House.

 

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

Dennis Frado, Director

LUTHERANS ATTEND 62^ND SESSION OF THE U.N. COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) took place at the United Nations in New York March 12-23. The theme was “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls.” Delegates also reviewed the 47th session agreed conclusions on the theme “Participation in and access of women to the media, and information and communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women.” At the end of the session, the Agreed Conclusions, the principal outcome document of the CSW, were adopted.

The Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) welcomed 20 delegates to the Commission on the Status of Women this year. These delegates joined us from the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, Centro Bartolomé de las Casas in El Salvador (a  Lutheran World Federation World Service partner in Central America), ELCA Global Mission Diakonia and International Leaders Program, Justice for Women Program, Washington Advocacy office and United Lutheran Seminary (ULS).

Their participation was made possible by the LWF Women in Church and Society desk, ELCA Global Mission and the ELCA World Hunger and ULS’ Nolde Human Rights Fund. Lutherans came together on Saturday, March 11, for Ecumenical Women at the U.N. orientation day, and on Sunday, March 11, for a day of learning about global Lutheran programs on gender justice, as well as an opportunity to learn more about each other. They also worshiped at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

During their time at the commission, the Lutheran delegates were able to attend official and unofficial U.N. events and meet with government representatives from their home countries. On the fourth day, they hosted a parallel event, “Do you have Faith in the SDGs?.”  The event highlighted faith-based organization’s efforts to protect and promote women’s rights as well as urge the United Nations and governments to acknowledge faith-based organizations’ contributions to gender justice and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more about the commission from delegate’s blog reflections:

“Proud to tell people LWF has a gender justice policy”

“Half of humanity activating its rights”

“Reflection on the United Nations’ 62nd Commission on the Status of Women”

 

California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy                                                     loppca.org

HUNGER AND POVERTY: We were blessed to have John Johnson, ELCA program director for domestic policy and shepherd of state advocacy offices, join us for two days of site visits, sandwiched around a LOPP-CA Policy Council meeting. We visited Holy Trinity, Inglewood, whose early childhood program utilizes the federal Child Care Food Program. Fees for about half their children are subsidized through the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant. Other visits included Iglesia Luterana Fey y Esperanza, Southgate, which houses a Head Start program; the Orange County Food Bank, whose director, Mark Lowry, is Lutheran; The Giving Farm at Westminster High School FFA program; worship at Ascension Lutheran, Thousand Oaks (with a school garden); and an early World Water Day hike along the Ventura River with Farm Church–The Abundant Table near Ojai, surrounded by burned vegetation from the Thomas Fire.

CARE FOR CREATION: We expressed our support for a bill to promote recreation for disadvantaged communities, sponsored by Latino Outdoors, and for budget proposals to fund urban forestry.

RACIAL JUSTICE, GUN VIOLENCE: Following the tragic shooting of Stephon Clark, LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson participated in the weekly Friday evening Oak Park Peace Walk and was able to share with Police Chief Dan Hahn and the head of the Urban League how three car thieves (white), who had jumped Mark’s home fence and entered a neighbor’s backyard at 3 a.m., were apprehended by a K-9. As a child, Hahn attended Sunday School at the former First English Lutheran in Oak Park. Mark and a handful of Lutherans were among 10,000 or so at the Sacramento March for Our Lives.

Colorado

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

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The Colorado General Assembly has just passed the halfway mark for this year’s session. Highlights thus far include:

• HB 1001, Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act. This bill will soon head to the House floor. We support the creation of a paid family leave opportunity for Colorado workers.
• HB 1067, Right to Rest Act. We supported this effort to affirm the equal dignity of our homeless neighbors, but it was defeated in the House Local Government Committee.
• SB 13, Expand School Lunch Protection Act. This bill is in Appropriations, and we are optimistic that bipartisan support will continue to expand this reduced-price lunch subsidy to middle school children.
• SB 214, Request Medicaid Self-Sufficiency Waiver. We oppose this bill to impose work requirements on adult Medicaid recipients, of whom 75 percent already have at least one job. Many others have disabilities and other barriers to steady employment.

We continue to work on these and other bills related to housing, employment and community resilience. Just six weeks remain until the end of the session on May 9.

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES: The Rocky Mountain Synod joined with the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado in a joint prayer service at St. John’s Cathedral on March 24. Young leaders and allies offered lamentations for the gun violence that has plagued our communities, including several high-profile shootings in Colorado. Nearly 500 congregants then headed out to the march in Denver, one of 13 events in Colorado for March for Our Lives.

 

Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy–Minnesota                                     tammy@lcppm.org

LEGISLATIVE SESSION: The session is well under way with much activity on issues important to Lutheran Advocacy-MN. Kendrick Hall, Hunger Advocacy Fellow, and Director Tammy Walhof have been attending hearings on housing/low-income and energy concerns.

Tammy prepared testimony twice for the Senate Energy & Utilities Committee on a bill that would give the state’s main energy company undue power to set costs outside regular oversight processes, one of many attempts to weaken oversight. One hearing was cancelled when leaders realized the considerable opposition from conservative, liberal, business, faith and environmental organizations. An amendment deleting the original bill to make it “less bad” was adopted in a second hearing, but only 20 minutes was allowed for opposition testimony to the bill!

CHURCH MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS: Kendrick has been busy meeting with pastors, hunger leaders, and hunger grant recipients, both to learn more about their work and situations and to make the links to the state lack of affordable housing. Both he and Tammy have been doing meetings, presentations and sermons across various parts of the state.

HELP BUILD LEGISLATIVE CHAMPIONS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR CLEAN ENERGY: We have several target districts on both issues and need your help and action! We need letters to legislators, letters to the editor, visits with legislators and more. We also need people to be multipliers in their congregations to turn more people into citizen advocates! Give us a call; we’ll put you to work!

Willing to help build champions? Want us to come to your church?

Call us at 651-224-5499.

 

New Mexico

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

2018 LEGISLATIVE ACTION FINALIZED: Gov. Susan Martinez has completed action on the bills that reached her desk during the 2018 legislative session. There was good news and some bad news. The good news: There was an unexpected increase in the funding for the Food Bank Association’s produce initiative, which acquires and transports fresh produce to food banks and agencies through New Mexico (121,697 square miles). The state SNAP Supplement program, which serves about 16,000 seniors and people with disabilities, received additional monies. Several memorials were passed to explore ways to address hunger, and that work will begin during the interim between June and December. $25 million in additional funds was appropriated for state child-care assistance. Medicaid was fully funded for the next state fiscal year, and more money for services to human trafficking victims was approved. Legislation to reinstate the death penalty was defeated.

The bad news: New funding for the state housing trust fund was vetoed, and a constitutional amendment to substantially increase funding for the quality early childhood program passed the House but not the Senate.

 

 

Ohio

Nick Bates, Hunger Network Ohio                  Nick@HungerNetOhio.org

 

VOTE ON ISSUE 1: On May 8, Ohioans will have the opportunity to vote on Issue 1 to pass redistricting reform. The League of Women Voters and other community leaders pushed for this reform, and state legislative leaders finally got on board. The measure is designed to reduce partisan gerrymandering in Ohio’s congressional races.

Why do we care about the process as the faith community? Legislators elected from non-competitive districts are more loyal to their party activists and ideological stances than the needs of the community. As people of faith, we want legislators to bring people together to solve problems. When elected officials serve more realistic districts, they will be able to listen to community leaders and act on the issues that will improve our communities – like hunger and infant mortality.

This ballot initiative will:

• Require bipartisan support for new congressional district maps: Currently, districts are drawn by whichever party is in power to benefit their party. In Ohio, this had led to non-competitive congressional races. The new process will require additional buy-in from the minority party.
• Keep communities together: The proposal will prevent counties from needlessly being divided. Currently, many counties are divided three or four times, and other districts needlessly incorporate many partial counties, hurting a representative’s ability to know the district and relate to the needs of the community. Districts will still contain the same number of people but will be more compact.

For more information, visit our new action page on redistricting that contains sample bulletin inserts, emails and other steps to take.

 

Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy – Pennsylvania                             lutheranadvocacypa.org

ANTI-HUNGER LETTER: Thank you to Lutherans from across the state, especially synod hunger team leaders, who signed their ministries on in support of the state’s budget for major anti-hunger programs – the State Food Purchase Program and the Agricultural Surplus Program, which is a model now included in the proposed federal farm bill. The organizational sign-on campaign was undertaken by the statewide hunger coalition, of which LAMPa is a part. Lutherans garnered signatures for every lawmaker! This is something our church can do because of our statewide reach that nobody else in the coalition can.

NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD WOMEN OF THE ELCA GATHERING: LAMPa staff provided the keynote address and breakout sessions at the annual synod Women of the ELCA Gathering at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Auburn, March 10.  The program’s theme was justice.

LUTHERAN DAY: Staff continues preparations for Lutheran Day at the Capitol Monday, May 21. Click here to learn more. In the evening, LAMPA will partner with Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light to hear from Dr. Richard B. Alley, Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University, who was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

FARM BILL ROUNDTABLE:  Tracey DePasquale attended a roundtable discussion, hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, on the importance of a strong farm bill and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Attendees met with Rep. Glenn Thompson, chair of the congressional subcommittee on nutrition, and  Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

 

Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin, director              

March was an exciting month. I can’t begin to thank all of the people who took action this month building a better tomorrow. We have been busy working alongside our partners at the Capitol, marching and visiting legislators to talk about crminal justice reform, human trafficking and immigration. We had the opportunity to meet with two conferences to talk about the importance of our work. March 28 was the close of the Mississippi legislative session, and March 29  will mark the close of the Georgia General Assembly, but it was still in session for this update. So far, we have had a fairly successful season; we are still waiting to see the outcome of a couple of important bills in Georgia. We had a great turnout for the New Americans Celebration where we joined with CRSA and LSG to defeat Georgia SB 452, relating to criminal procedure and penal institutions, respectively, so as to require a peace officer to take certain actions upon verification that a suspect is an undocumented immigrant; to clarify and require certain actions by the Department of Corrections, sheriffs, municipal custodial officers, the state Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Department of Community Service regarding people not lawfully present in the United States; to prohibit release from confinement people who are undocumented immigrants; to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to consider certain factors; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. It passed the Senate; we are hoping to stop it in the House on this last day.               

Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network                                                                                             fanwa.org

Breakfast After the Bell will make breakfast part of the school day for high-need schools, helping students focus on learning.

The Washington Voting Rights Act enfranchises under-represented communities by removing the restriction under state law that prevents local governments from improving their election system.

An ombuds office bill creates an independent corrections ombuds office in Washington that is available to people in prison, as well as to their family members.

A police accountability bill enacts into law most of the provisions of Initiative 940, which requires law enforcement       to undergo de-escalation training, administer first aid after an incident, and notify tribes when incidents involve tribal members. It also amends the use of deadly force statute by defining “good faith.”

A legal financial obligations bill deals with the debt accrued due to legal fines and court fees when someone is in prison. It eliminates the 12 percent interest rate on non-restitution Legal Financial Obligations, prioritizes restitution payments, and prevents the courts from imposing these costs on those who are too poor to pay.

A bill addressing missing and murdered indigenous women requires the Washington State Patrol to work with tribal law enforcement and the governor’s Office of Indian Affairs to conduct a study to increase state resources for reporting and identifying missing American Indian women throughout Washington State.

A bill concerning the document recording fee increases and makes permanent the fee to file real estate documents, helping to fund the effort to combat homelessness.

 

Wisconsin

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

PUBLIC BENEFITS BILLS:  The Legislature suddenly introduced 10 bills, a few of which had come up earlier, as part of a proposed packet for welfare reform. LOPPW registered against seven of the bills. Six of those seven passed. We were pleased that the bill that would have required a photo ID for FoodShare recipients, the main one LOPPW advocated against, did not pass.  LOPPW met twice with a public-benefits coalition to strategize how to work with the organizations that are tasked with implementing the changes mandated in the six bills that passed. We are concerned that changes will not adequately be made known to recipients, and there will not be sufficient assistance for people to navigate the changes, causing many to fall through the cracks

LOPPW connected with volunteers to create a new project to build awareness about the toll-free number for victims of trafficking and those who suspect trafficking to call.  control to our legislative efforts. The legislative session ended with a school-safety bill and small change in background checks, but there is still a lot of work to do.

LOPPW Care for God’s Creation team  leads a workshop on climate change at a synod-wide event in Janesville

LOPPW volunteer co-leading a workshop

An Anti-sex trafficking workshop at Midvale Lutheran Church in Madison

 

In March, Congress passed a spending bill to fund the government through October 1st, the end of the 2018 fiscal year. While the recently approved budget carried record funding for housing programs and sufficient funds for environmental conservation, many faith leaders remain deeply disappointed by some federal policies that fail to live up to our values in adequately supporting the most vulnerable members of our society.

The federal budget is more than dollars and cents. It reflects our national priorities and promotes the collective common good.  In this last year, Lutherans took action on critical issues in the federal budget through the “For Such a Time as This” campaign, petitions and phone calls to their lawmakers, and other action alerts through the ELCA Action center. The Presiding Bishops of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church asked you to lift your voice in support of programs that bring us closer to a just world where all are fed. The consistent impact from people of faith made a major difference in shaping public discussion around our federal budget priorities this year. Thank you for your faithful advocacy.

As Congress and the Administration prepare to move on to the next budget cycle, here are some important outcomes of the top ELCA priorities in the FY18 budget bill:

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HUNGER:  The omnibus included increases for essential nutrition programs for low-income children and adults. It includes $28 million for the Summer EBT, which is $5 million more than FY17. It also includes $6.175 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, sufficient to meet expected need based on current estimates. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which distributes food boxes to low-income home-bound seniors, received $238.1 million, an increase of $2 million over FY17; this program was proposed for elimination in President Trump’s budget. Mandatory spending for SNAP/food stamps is included at $74 billion to cover all eligible participants. Child Nutrition Programs received $24.2 billion in mandatory funding to fully fund the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program, an increase of $1.5 billion over FY17 levels.

HOUSING:  The spending bill included positive news for many federal housing programs, with some of the highest funding levels most programs have seen in years. Nearly every faith tradition in the U.S. shares a common aim to end homelessness, and investments in proven programs greatly help communities striving to meet those ends. The bill offers increases in housing construction and restoration for low income seniors, incentives for private partners to further affordable housing, and maintains existing vouchers for those of us in the greatest need. High housing costs are still a critical challenge in every state of the U.S., with far too many extremely low income households paying well over half their income on their home. While more must be done, continuing funding for effective housing programs are critical in addressing poverty. Read more about some of the programs that help curb homelessness and housing poverty by clicking here.

ENVIRONMENT:  The omnibus bill provides better than anticipated funding for environmental and energy matters when compared to the Administration’s proposed budget. Congress appropriated $35.25 billion for the Departments of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies; and $43.2 billion for DOE. This goes to provide some protection of the environment and addresses some key energy matters.  The omnibus also provides support for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which addresses such matters as biodiversity and desertification; and the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund which helps developing countries phase out ozone depleting substances. While there was no mention of funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), these two entities could still receive funding from discretionary funds. You can read more by clicking here.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE:  The final text of the spending bill did not include language to repeal the “Johnson Amendment,” which would have allowed religious institutions and nonprofits to endorse political candidates running in an election. Weakening the Johnson Amendment would only have exacerbated the role of money in politics and threatened to politicize houses of worship that are not divided by partisan lines. Over 100 faith organizations, philanthropic charities, and religious denominations (including Lutheran pastors and champions through ELCA Advocacy) have mobilized against it. Interested faith leaders and congregations can still join the petition to help keep churches independent at Faith-Voices.org.

MIGRATION:  Congress failed to pass legislation that provides protection to DACA recipients alongside a budget, the likeliest timing to have reached a compromise. The budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) included funds for border repairs and fencing as well as an increase in mandated detention beds for immigrants (now over 40,000 beds, read more here). While there were no funds for a border wall or more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, there was a $6.3 billion increase in DHS funds from last year. Additionally, some U.S. funds to Central America to help address the issues driving people to flee continue to have important human rights conditions. However, this budget also provides funds for military training of forces known to have committed human rights violations. Most concerning this budget provides funds for training to the Honduran military, linked to the oppression of demonstrators after fraudulent elections.

INTERNATIONAL: The International Affairs budget was funded at a topline amount of $54.02 billion, a reduction of $3.3 billion (6%) from FY17 budget. Some programs that focus on poverty reduction received significant reductions, while a few others were maintained at same levels as last year’s.

Read more about some of the specific programs that we advocate for in the international affairs budget here.

By Amanda Silcox, Hunger Advocacy Fellow,Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Two of my favorite moments in the church year take place during Lent. The first takes place on Ash Wednesday, when everyone receives the mark of the cross in ashes on their forehead and the pastor says, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” The second is Good Friday at the end of the reading when the pastor quotes Jesus saying, “It is finished” and slams the big Bible shut. I have always looked forward to these moments, but I have never really though about why.

Of course, I enjoy the excitement of the Advent & Christmas season and the joy of Easter, but who says Lent is their favorite time of the church year? Recently, I’ve been reflecting on why I love these particular Lenten moments, and I think it’s simply because they’re different.

These moments are drastically different from other experiences in our society. In the U.S., we don’t like to think about our mortality. We don’t like to think about all the things we’ve done wrong or all of our imperfections. We would much rather talk about our successes and achievements or how we have overcome challenges in our lives.

Because we strive to avoid our problems and imperfections, so much of our society is built on finding something that is wrong with us and then finding an easy fix to sell us. Beauty companies convince us that we need so many different soaps, gels, serums, lotions, toners, oils, razors, brushes, and styling tools to fix the parts of us that aren’t deemed perfect or beautiful by society’s standards. Tech companies advertise new apps, speakers, software, computers, TVs, and social media platforms for problems that I didn’t even know existed. Every time that we’re told just how totally and completely messed up we are, we’re given a quick fix. Something we can buy to fix all of our problems! At least until we discover a new problem.

But God’s response is different. God tells us that there is nothing we can do or a product we can buy to make ourselves perfect. Humans have been messing things up for generations and will continue to do so. Yet, Jesus chose to sacrifice himself for us because we as humans are so dearly beloved. It’s a type of love that I cannot understand.

I love receiving the mark of the cross and being reminded, ”Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” I love the end of the Good Friday service when the pastor slams the Bible shut and says, “It is finished.” But most of all, I love taking time during the season of Lent to reflect on my life, my actions, & my words. Lent reminds me of all the ways I am imperfect but that no matter how many times I fail to make the “right” decision, we all have a God who loves us and chooses us, now and forever.

That’s why I love Lent.

 

By Dennis Frado, Director of Lutheran Office for World Community

After spending many years here at United Nations headquarters in New York, I suppose I could be excused for expressing disappointment – disappointment that governments tend to give priority to their national interests instead of the global common good, disappointment that the Security Council all too often is unable to end barbarous conflicts that leave innocent civilians as casualties in their wake.

But, thinking about Lenten renewal, each year around this time I find my spirit renewed and refreshed as we welcome women — and some men — to the annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Our office is fortunate to be able to host these visitors each year with the generous assistance of the Lutheran World Federation, including our member church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  

These folks do not disappoint. These people of faith – almost all Lutherans – look at the UN with fresh eyes and speak to those who would hear a word of hope and excitement about the work they are undertaking in their own contexts.  They may be acting to prevent gender-based violence, holding accountable the perpetrators, seeking justice and comforting the victims of gender-based violence or telling the stories of the empowerment and resilience of rural women and girls who too often lack access to capital, education, services, health care, etc.   It is the spirit, active engagement and advocacy of these sisters and brothers in Christ that renews my faith and, despite a shattered world, underscores a Christian word of hope for a better future for humankind.

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By Kendrick Hall, Hunger Advocacy Fellow, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Minneapolis, Minn.

I am still pretty new to the Lutheran faith tradition when it comes to Lent. But I am learning that Lent is a time for education, for cleansing through fasting, and connecting with people through prayer and fellowship.

As children of God, I believe it is important to be educated. Education can come in many different forms: institutional schooling, self/home schooling, speaking with family and friends, traveling the world, and entering new environments and people. How could we not take education, seriously? I know that when I am in school I will not be educated on how to live in a country other than the United States. I may hear about other countries, but will not know what it is like to live there unless I travel. Lent to me amplifies the importance of education.

I have observed that prayer and fellowship are important during Lent season. Prayer lets us know that people need healing and reassurance. Martin Luther once said, “Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.” Education leads us to pray that we may get closer to people we would not normally be connected to or we would learn about a certain topic we may not research ourselves.

Lent also encourages us to travel into a space, to engage in learning and to look at the world with a new lens. Fellowship encourages us to forge relationship and confront the chaos. It is a time to learn and get to know someone who may live differently than you, talk differently than you, or even think differently than you. Fellowship opens our hearts and mind to appreciate one another’s uniqueness. Fellowship encourages us to learn from one another, rather than judge one another. Lent offers a space to bring these things to light.

Lastly, Lent to me is about cleansing one’s being, which includes fasting and cleansing the body but also cleansing the mind and soul. Education is important because we are limited to what we learn while in school, we are limited to what we learn from our parents and sometimes the things we learn from school or our parents are not always true. This is where we cleanse our mind, body and soul to receive a new perspective and way of life; releasing the old way that has kept us limited and closed-minded. Cleansing, I believe, is the most important part of Lent which also can come in many forms.

Lent has been short in my Lutheran life, but not in my human life. I believe these aspects of Lent have helped me deepen my work of advocacy. Lent has encouraged me to not only educate myself, cleanse, pray and commune with fellowship, but to also move into action. This fire that has guided me in wanting to move into some action has led me to being employed as one of four Hunger Advocacy Fellows with ELCA Advocacy.

Surprisingly, Lent, nourishes the work I not only do as an advocate, but what partner organizations do as well. We are educating and being educated, we are praying and communing in fellowship, and we are cleansing our minds to see how we should move forward in the work around housing, hunger and homelessness.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.”

James 1:22-25, compels us to not only listen and learn from each other and the Word of God, but to do exactly what we have learned and been taught to do. It is up to us to do that and when we do, we are blessed.

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ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.

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

MARCH 21, PRAY. FAST. ACT: The March day to #PrayFastAct is Wednesday, March 21! This month we focus on international programs that support women and girls overseas. Although the U.S. government has historically been a leader in funding programs that address the needs of women and girls globally, there are indications that such initiatives are in danger of being significantly reduced or eliminated.

We are all one in Jesus Christ, and, therefore, must work to dismantle structures and norms that allow gender inequality to thrive. Studies show that when women and girls are meaningfully included in all aspects of decision-making, countries are more likely to be peaceful and prosper economically. Let us take action by asking Congress to protect programs that address the needs of women and girls around the world. ELCA Advocacy and The Episcopal Church will share resources and ways to take action later this month.

CLEAN-POWER PLAN REVISION: The ELCA submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on proposed state guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. This rule will be the replacement for the Clean Power Plan rule. We asked for a common-sense rule that is protective of the environment and considers the needs of those whose livelihoods depend on the electric generation sector.

An EPA representative responded immediately to discuss ways for collaborating on environmental justice issues. ELCA Advocacy will continue to work toward developing plans around a celebration of Earth Day.

JOIN LUTHERANS AT ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYS: Now is the time to register for the 2018 Ecumenical Advocacy Days! Ecumenical Advocacy Days, an annual weekend-long conference, will be April 20-23 in Washington, D.C. This year’s gathering theme, “A World Uprooted: Responding to Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People,” will offer ELCA leaders an opportunity to worship and learn together,  while honing their advocacy and organizing skills. Lutheran participants will have opportunities to connect at an ELCA reception at the Saturday evening denominational time and at our ELCA Advocacy exhibit booth. You can register for Ecumenical Advocacy Days by clicking here. We hope to see you there!

DACA: In February, the Senate voted down multiple immigration bills that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for people without legal status who were brought to the U.S. as children, also known as Dreamers. There are no current plans to bring additional legislation to the Senate or House floors before the March 5 deadline when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program ends. However, thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision not to rule on a lower court’s decision, young people who have DACA status can continue to apply for renewal beyond the March 5 deadline.

GUN CONTROL POLICY: A number of gun control policies are being proposed from all corners in response to the deaths in Parkland, Fla. on Feb. 14, Ash Wednesday. We continue to track these efforts and are working to advance ELCA support in both legislative and public opportunities as developments unfold. In response to the ELCA Synod Bishop’s Statement of Support for participation in the March on Our Lives, we will offer a gathering opportunity for Lutherans in advance of the Washington D.C. event on March 24th. Follow our social media for details.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: The Department of Agriculture released a notice of proposed rule making that would affect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. We are soon releasing resources to support and engage Lutherans in the comment process (ends April 18) and to encourage Congress to mitigate any negative effects people in the program.

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

Dennis Frado, director

GLOBAL COMPACT ON MIGRATION: Formal negotiations finally got started last month toward a Global Compact on Migration to be adopted by year’s end. Additional rounds are scheduled to occur monthly from now through July. Statements by member states on a “zero draft” put forward by co-facilitators Mexico and Switzerland varied considerably from strong affirmations of the human rights of migrants to warnings that the text not impinge upon national sovereignty or set international standards for migrants’ identification and documentation.  The draft sets forth 22 proposed objectives for safe, orderly and regular migration and an outline for implementation and follow-up.

WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK: The United Nations observed World Interfaith Harmony Week during the first week of February with midweek worship at the Church Center for the United Nations sponsored by the Committee of Religious NGOs of the United Nations.

Participants were welcomed by the Rev. Dionne Boissière, Tillman Chapel chaplain, and worship was moderated by Swami Parameshananda and Richard Jordan. Faith tradition representatives included the World Peace Prayer Society, the Holy See, Judaism, Won Buddhism, Shinto, Baha’i, the Episcopal Church, Aztec Conchera, Hinduism, Islam, Mennonites, and the Light of Awareness International Spiritual Family. A reflection was offered by Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, high representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Music, dance and choral song from diverse traditions rounded out the afternoon.

 

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California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy                                                                                          loppca.org

2018 BALLOT MEASURES: The Lutheran Office of Public Policy–California endorsed the campaign for Proposition 68, a parks and water bond on the June ballot. $725 million is earmarked for parks in underserved communities. We also joined the campaign for a $4 billion housing bond on the November ballot. Several other measures on the June ballot, as well as initiatives in circulation for the November ballot, will be discussed at the March 17 Policy Council meeting.

CARE FOR CREATION: LOPP-CA joined an updated coalition letter supporting legislation to establish a fee to fund programs that provide safe, affordable drinking water to disadvantaged communities affected by contamination, drought and financial inability to build or connect to public water systems. LOPP-CA was a co-sponsor of the Green California Summit and Reception, which featured a plenary panel on the Me Too movement and sexual misconduct and discrimination and harassment (including gender identity concerns) in the Capitol community.

RACIAL JUSTICE: LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson was invited to give the opening prayer at a birthday celebration for Rosa Parks on the west steps of the Capitol. We worked with the Belfry Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry to arrange for their St. Augustine lecturer, the Rev. Robert W. Lee IV, a descendant of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s family and critic of displaying Confederate monuments, to give the invocation at a Senate floor session. We also hosted a coffee for faith leaders, toured the Unity Center and classroom at the California Museum, and provided some meditative moments in the Civil War Grove in Capitol Park that has trees from sites like Arlington, Gettysburg and Appomattox.

 

 

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Colorado

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

LUTHERAN DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE: More than 60 Lutheran advocacy leaders gathered at the Capitol on Feb. 15 for the Lutheran Day at the Legislature. Attendees met with representatives, senators or their staff. Overall, they contacted over half of our 100 legislators.

Colorado Lutherans gather on the steps of the state Capitol on Feb. 15 before meeting with their legislators to talk about hunger in schools.

The group asked legislators to support Senate Bill 18-013, a bipartisan measure that would

expand an existing state subsidy for reduced-price lunches  through middle school, allowing kids to receive hot meals without worrying about the copay. Many families struggle to regularly pay the copay, leading kids to receive different meals or to not eat at all. This leaves kids hungry, ashamed, and not ready to learn. The bill passed its first committee and is awaiting an appropriations hearing before going to the Senate floor.
Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia addressed the attendees in the morning, lifting up the importance of “incarnational advocacy” and the value of showing up in person to give a face to human needs and concerns. “For us, advocacy is not optional,” Bishop Gonia said of the Lutheran Christian witness: “It’s in our DNA.”

Attendees also heard from state Rep. Susan Lontine about her journey into public service. “I always wanted to help people,” she said, a personal commitment that led her into public policy and ultimately to elected office.

 

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Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy–Minnesota                                                tammy@lcppm.org

HOMES FOR ALL COALITION: Lutheran Advocacy-MN has been working with a subset of Homes for All Coalition members on our legislative agenda. Now we need your and your congregation’s help to make it a reality! Contact us for ideas, information, sample letters and talking points!

$150 million to provide Minnesotans with safe, stable and affordable housing

• $110 million in housing infrastructure bonds to create supportive rental housing, preserve housing and promote home-ownership
• $30 million in general obligation bonds to make improvements to the state’s public housing
• $10 million in the budget to prevent and end homelessness and promote affordable housing

UPCOMING EVENT:

FAITH AND CLEAN ENERGY CAMPAIGN: Lutheran Advocacy-MN with the Faith and Clean Energy Campaign is working on several non-partisan church and faith events. Would you like an event in your neck of the woods? If so, please call Tammy (651-238-6506). We need lots of action! (We need more signers on the faith campaign letter to legislators).

JRLC Day on the Hill (We are a sponsor!)
Tuesday, March 13 (8:30 a.m. – affordable housing session).
Central Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, Minn.
More information: jrlc.org/day-on-the-hill/details /
Registration: jrlc.org/day-on-the-hill/registration  
First-time attendee? Contact LA-MN to participate for free(get code)

Southwest Metro Forum on Faith and Clean Energy
Thursday, March 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Grace Lutheran Church
7800 West County Road 42, Apple Valley, Minn.

Renewing Energy: People, Planet, and Promise
Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
St. Andrews Lutheran Church
Grand Rapids, Minn.

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North Carolina

GeoRene Jones, Coordinator for Social Justice and Advocacy Ministry NC Synod

REDISTRICTING: Energized by recent U.S. Supreme Court actions regarding redistricting cases in both North Carolina and Pennsylvania, we are encouraged for state advocacy in efforts against legislative and judicial redistricting, as well as removal of executive branch authority with respect to our State Board of Elections. ELCA Lutherans appeared at court-required public hearings, voicing strong support for discarding proposed House and Senate maps drawn with the intent to impede voting by poor and minority residents. The 2017 legislative session stripped North Carolinians of their right to a primary election for judicial candidates. Legislative leaders continue to pursue judicial redistricting efforts that remove from office elected judges and district attorneys. Through our partnership with the North Carolina Council of Churches and non-partisan voter rights groups across the state, we are increasing the prophetic witness against discriminatory practices in public policy.

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New Mexico

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

2018 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: The 2018 legislative session is over, and bills are on the governor’s desk for action by March 7. LAM-NM’s work again focused on both funding and budget issues as well as legislation. There was some breathing room for the appropriations process since oil and gas prices have risen. New Mexico is overly dependent on the volatile oil and gas market, which makes state budget development very precarious. There were some increases in funding for affordable housing, child-care assistance, our state SNAP supplement, services for human trafficking victims and Medicaid. An effort to reinstate the death penalty was rebuffed as well as an effort to enact a right-to-work law. Unfortunately, the push to place a constitutional amendment that would greatly increase funding for early childhood education on the fall ballot failed to pass the Senate after passing the House. Action by the governor, who has line-item veto authority, on the state budget bill is expected during the next week.

ADVOCATING CONGREGATION: St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Albuquerque was recognized as an “Advocating Congregation” as LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman presented a certificate to the Rev. Joe Britton and Ann Donahue on Jan. 25.

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Ohio

Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio                                                                                    Nick@hungernetohio.com

REDISTRICTING: Redistricting reform to May’s ballot! Please remember to vote May 8. Fair districts improve policy and foster service over political ideology. You can read our testimony here.

Ohioans will finally have the opportunity to improve the redistricting process for congressional seats. Every 10 years, states redraw congressional districts. In Ohio (and many states) the party that has legislative power can draw the districts to benefit it.

The League of Women Voters and others gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures to place their proposal on the November ballot. They accomplished this with an army of dedicated volunteers throughout Ohio. The Legislature – feeling the pressure – responded with a proposal. While the Legislature’s proposal is far from perfect, it is a much-needed improvement.

In 2001 and 2011, new data mapping software programs allowed very specific maps to be drawn to benefit one party by cracking communities into various districts. Summit County, for example, has four  congressional representatives! However, Summit County (population over 500,00 0) has no congressional representative from the county.

This process is known as gerrymandering and leaves candidates more concerned about primary challengers and currying favor with national donors and their political party. Redistricting reform will help place congressional priorities back onto the district.

If passed in May, Districts will continue to be drawn by the Legislature, but they will have rules to follow that will require districts to be compact and prevent numerous divisions. The new rules will also require minority party approval.

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Pennsylvania

Lynn Fry, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania                             lutheranadvocacypa.org

ASHES TO GO: LAMPa volunteers and staff provided Ashes to Go at the state Capitol on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14. Recipients expressed their appreciation for the opportunity for prayer and dialogue. Follow this link to Tracey DePasquale’s Lenten blog.

LUTHERAN DAY 2018: Preparation for Lutheran Day, Monday, May 21, continues. Keynote speakers for this annual event include: Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, state Senate Judiciary chair; and Dr. Richard Alley, the Evan Pugh Professor of geosciences and an associate of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State.                   

ELCA WORLD HUNGER: Hunger leaders in the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod are planning a retreat to re-energize and reorganize their synod hunger team. LAMPa staff is thankful to have the opportunity to assist with the planning and equipping these leaders with resources.

SYNOD ASSEMBLY: This year’s Lower Susquehanna Synod Assembly will focus on eradicating hunger one relationship at a time.  Tracey DePasquale is on the planning team.

ANTI-RACISM: LAMPa staff is working to share information and support synods’ organizing trips to the upcoming anti-racism events in Washington, D.C., April 3-5. For registration and bus transportation in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, click here. For the Lower Susquehanna Synod, click here.

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Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin, synod advocacy director for Southeastern Synod

IMMIGRATION AND APPROPRIATIONS: On Jan. 15, we joined with Lutheran Services of Georgia for a Martin Luther King Jr. service day; there were many activities that day. The synod Advocacy Team set up a room for participants to write letters to their senators and congressional representatives concerning Dream Act 2017, along with letters concerning the 2018 budget as it applies to hunger. We mailed over 300 letters.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: On Jan. 17, we joined with Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment for a news conference raising awareness about poverty-based detention. On Feb. 5, thanks to the work of many partners, the Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to end poverty-based detention. On Feb. 26, several of us attended Justice Day at the Capitol. SB407 passed the same day.

WORLD HUNGER: On Jan. 20-24, three of us went to Washington, D.C., for the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering and visited our senators and congressmen to talk about the farm bill.

CARE FOR CREATION: On Feb. 2-4,  we joined our Green Team and others from around the country at Lutheranch for a retreat on Care for Creation offered by Lutherans Restoring Creation.

UNTIL ALL ARE FED: On Feb. 10, we held our annual advocacy gathering at Redeemer in Atlanta with a focus on connecting our work with ending hunger. Pastors Karen Slappey and Jonathan Trapp wrapped our event in worship. Most inspiring was their use of Lectio Devina with Esther 4:1-17 and the discussion that ensued. Bishop Julian Gordy joined with Pastor Jonathan on guitars, and Pastor Karen led us in singing “Until All Are Fed.” Keith Gammage, Fulton County solicitor general, was our keynote speaker and spoke to us on his approach to restotative justice. Bishop Gordy spoke about loving our neighbor being more than acts of mercy, also being acts of justice by advocating for faith-based public policy. It was also our privilege to have John Johnson join us and speak to the group. Patti Austin spoke on domestic hunger, and Pastor Jonathan shared information from the World Hunger Leadership Gathering. We had a great lunch and welcomed some of our partner organizations. Pastor Ron Bonner spoke on current criminal justice issues. We closed with communion and “Christ Be Our Light.”

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: On Feb. 20, several of us attended the 2018 Anti-Sex Tafficking Lobby Day and talked with our state senators and representatives about proposed legislation. HB732 passed in the House on Feb. 23. HB293 passed on Feb. 27. Sb337 passed the Senate on Feb. 26

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Wisconsin

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

CO-LEADING ON ADVOCACY: In February, LOPPW’s director co-led the second of two advocacy workshops with Bishop Gerald Mansholt. Bishop Mansholt focused on refugees, immigration and advocacy. The director used LOPPW’s new advocacy resource to discuss steps congregations can take to do advocacy. Between the Appleton and Waupaca trainings, more than 50 new participants were trained to be advocacy leaders in their congregations.

The Rev. Dione Miller added to the February event in Waupaca by talking about the power of stories. The director also met with the Global Missions in the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin team and a synod staff to discuss next steps.

NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE:  Our Church Our World: Partnering with God’s Mission

BILLS ADDRESSED: The director organized teaming up with two faith-based coalition members to testify on several public-benefits bills.

Media on LOPPW’s response to the proposed welfare reform included Advisory Council member Deb Martin’s letter to the editor published in Oshkosh and an interview with the director for a La Crosse radio station.

We also addressed a trafficking bill by contacting our constituents in two assembly districts and a bill related to wetlands.

 

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By John Johnson, Director of Domestic Policy

I recently came across a meme on social media that made me think about this Sunday’s Gospel (John 2:13-22). The meme is an icon of Jesus Christ, whip-in-hand, chasing the money changers out of the temple. The heading reads, “If anyone asks you ‘what would Jesus do?’ This scene contains one of the most striking and animated depictions of Jesus of Nazareth cleansing the temple, written in three of the four Gospels. It is a reminder that flipping over tables and chasing people with a whip is within the realm of possibilities.

In John’s version, Jesus demands that the dove sellers “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”. John’s account stands out for how Jesus brings attention to both the sacredness of the temple and the foretelling his own death and resurrection:

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body.” 

These accounts show three distinct threads. The first thread is “out of the mouth of babies.”, the second is the body as a “temple.” And the third is “Angry Jesus.”

I can apply these threads to the tragic events on Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2018) when Nicholas Cruz entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and used a legally purchased AR-15 assault rifle shot and killed 17 students and teachers and wounded 14 others. The worst high school shooting in U.S. history and desecration of a safe place of learning and development for the future our country, our world and the church.

With breathtaking speed and results, the students in the Parkland, FL community have effectively organized and are making their newly claimed voices heard on local and national platforms. Marches in Washington, DC and communities across the nation are being organized by these advocates. People across the country are dedicating financial support to these efforts. Policy makers are using the momentum that these young voices have galvanized to help push for better gun control policy.  Corporations are quickly distancing from the National Rifle Association (NRA), while these survivors face death threats for taking a stand.

Gun violence occurs daily. Mass shootings are a part of our history and our reality, and yet here stand these passionate voices; young survivors who push forward unafraid and hopeful for successful change for all. I think Jesus understood the fragility and sacred nature of being human. I think that was God’s intention in becoming truly human: to live and die as one of us, to celebrate and mourn all that life offers, to find joy, experience pain and sadness, and sometimes to be angry.

This church, Christians, people of faith and secular citizens watch with dismay at the staggering and preventable loss of life due to gun violence in our country.

• On an average day, 96 Americans die due to gun violence—seven are a child or teenager.
• 62 percent of gun deaths in the US, are suicides.
• In an average month, 50 women are shot to death by intimate partners in the U.S.
• Black men are 13 times more likely than non-Hispanic white men to be shot and killed with guns.
• On average there are nearly 13,000-gun homicides a year in the U.S. (Everytown for Gun Safety)

It is sobering… and it makes me angry, and maybe you are too.

A Jesus kind of angry.

A Jesus fashioning a whip of cords angry.

A Jesus chasing the money changers out of the temple angry.

A Jesus with a “zeal for your house will consume me” kind of angry.

A Jesus taking a stand where others do not kind of angry and passion not unlike the young people we see taking a stand today kind of angry.

For many years, I taught Sunday School to teenagers just like the ones who experienced gun violence in Florida last Ash Wednesday. What would I say to them if I could? I find myself compelled to confess and to apologize.

I confess my failure to do all in my power to protect so many of you in my care from the gun violence that has plagued our society for many years. I have expressed my grief of the senseless loss of life time and again, in particular, the murders of innocent students at Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook and now Stoneman Douglas along with countless lesser-known school shootings too numerous to count. 

I am sorry for this, and I am sorry that our elected officials have failed to hear calls for common sense gun control efforts that provide protection for you and for all community members from those intent on using lethal weapons to kill and maim. 

I hear your cries and pleas for action. I support, validate and “bless” your claiming of your voices to urge our society and our elected officials to respond where I and others have failed. I encourage you to organize, to march, to bear witness, to tell your stories and to vote or encourage others to vote if not yet eligible. 

I commit to support you as you demand action and I pray for your safety, wisdom and vigilance. I also, give thanks to a generous and gracious loving Creator for each of you. Be bold. Thank you for your courage. 

These forty days of Lent began with a tragic reminder of the fragility and precious nature of our being created by God. Angry Jesus reminds us that we can do something about it. The children are showing us the way.

 

By Elena Robles, Hunger Advocacy Fellow

This is the first year that I’ll be partaking in a Lenten discipline, as a part of exploring the many ways in which I can deepen my faith and understanding of Jesus. In being as transparent with myself as possible, I welcome this time before spring arrives to brush off some of the spiritual lethargy that I have allowed to set in. It’s easy for me to become consumed by the injustices of this world- systemic violence, wars, the persecution and rejection of many of our neighbors. While I do see empathy as an expression of my spirituality, it can be limiting when action is not coupled with it.

 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”(New Living Translation, John 7: 37-38)

Jesus offers us the opportunity for a deeper transformation and deeper access to the divine fountain. Lent can serve as an opportunity to awaken to our shortcoming, our complacencies to violence, and can push us into a deeper connection between ourselves, our communities, the world and the divine. Personally, my lesson during this season is to focus on deepening my spiritual practices beyond merely being a witness in this world. Deepening faith will help me to live into what theologians like Kelly Brown Douglas refers to as the moral imagination:

“With a moral imagination one is able to live proleptically, that is, as if the new heaven and new earth were already here. This means one’s life is not constrained by what is. It is oriented toward what will be.”-Kelly Brown Douglas, Stand your Ground

We are capable of living out a world where the dignity of black and brown lives is valued, where violence is not a worry for children anywhere,and where the environment is not exploited. We are capable of building a better world,  one that acknowledges our short comings and yet seeks more. Moral imagination is this and more, it dares us to have vision, commitment, and to find redemption.  I know that in all of this, I need to work towards an inward transformation. I’m seeking to build a better relationship with God, so that while I can practice deeply listening, I can equally trust in the spirit to move us toward action.

 

Yesterday, Feb. 15, the Senate failed to pass legislation to protect young Americans without legal status, called Dreamers, from deportation. We are disappointed that politics got in the way of passing sensible and compassionate policy to provide a pathway to citizenship for young people who are incredible assets to our congregations and communities. We pray today for those young people and families who face an uncertain future and reinstate our call for Lutherans to be engaged with those young people locally and through advocacy on their behalf. Our voice as people who express our faith by seeking a more just world for all of God’s children is more important than ever.

Since this administration announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Lutherans have sent out over 1,300 messages and made phone calls to their members of Congress in support of legislation to protect Dreamers. The advocacy of the faith community has been key in ensuring that trafficking protections for children are not taken away as a compromise to pass legislation.

We were dismayed to see yesterday some senators vote for the Secure and Succeed Act, which would take these protections away and would make it harder for families legally present in the U.S. to be together. As members of Congress head to their districts for recess next week, our voices must be strong and unwavering in the face of the administration’s March 5 deadline to end DACA. Continue to follow our social media and connect with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service for updates and action opportunities.