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Living Earth Reflection: Calling on world leaders to protect God’s creation

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Policy

November, 2015

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

                                                                                                               Hebrews 10:23-25

In less than two weeks, world leaders will gather in Paris to negotiate a new global agreement to address climate change at the annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Despite the tragic events of this past weekend, the French government has announced that the core meeting will continue as planned, given the importance and urgency of the topic under discussion, although security will be paramount and non-essential events may be cancelled.

The national leaders meeting in Paris will bear not only the hopes and needs of their own people, but also those of the entire creation, suffering from the growing impacts of climate change. Representatives from businesses, environmental groups, relief and development organizations and labor unions will also be in Paris to support the negotiations in various ways. But there will also be hundreds of people of faith attending the meeting who will work and pray for an outcome that protects God’s creation from future harm and helps our global neighbors, particularly those made vulnerable by poverty, to manage the very real impacts of climate change that are already profoundly affecting their homes and livelihoods.

In his recent encyclical on care of creation, Pope Francis called on all of humanity to concern ourselves with the fate of our common home and to “cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”

People of many faiths are embracing this common responsibility and calling on our leaders to negotiate an ambitious agreement in Paris that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, encourages development of low carbon technologies, and assists populations most vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate.

Specifically, we seek an outcome in Paris that:

  • requires all nations to work to phase out energy sources that contribute to climate change and phase in more sustainable, renewable sources of energy;
  • requires all nations to improve their nationally determined goals for emissions reductions at frequent intervals, in order to account publicly for their progress and to increase ambition as needed;
  • includes a strong commitment to help the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and support for mechanisms that help build resilience and minimize and manage risks and losses; and
  • includes concrete pledges from the wealthiest countries to increase necessary financial support, technology transfer and capacity building for the most vulnerable countries– such as small island states and Least Developed Nations.

You can help support those who are traveling to Paris by:

  • Sending a message to our leaders that you support a strong agreement in Paris.
  • Pledging to reduce your own carbon footprint.
  • Praying for a peaceful meeting, particularly in light of the tragic events of this past weekend in Paris, and for a strong outcome for the meeting.

Can We Change How We Think About Central America?

Patrick Flaherty, Legislative Advocacy Intern

Patrick Flaherty, a recent college graduate from Maryland, recently started an internship in the Washington D.C. ELCA Advocacy Office. As ELCA Policy Directors send out blogs and other alerts on legislative action, we are excited to share new thoughts, stories, and perspectives on the issues from students, leaders, and Lutherans from across the country. Consider sharing your story by clicking here.

As a recent college graduate, I have had a lot of great opportunities to get involved in service and social justice work, two things I am very passionate about. As much as I love direct service I know in order to truly solve major systemic problems, you need long-term solutions. This is what created my interest in addressing issues through policy. I am excited to learn about the different aspects of policy work with the great people at ELCA Advocacy over the next couple months.

During my undergraduate studies I was able to take a number of courses that focused on the history and people of Central America. I became especially interested in U.S. international policies in the region, how they affected the people there, and how these policies continue to impact Central America-U.S. relations today. For me there is a strong connection between immigrant and migrant justice today, and the effects of U.S. policy in Central America. Keeping in mind the livelihoods of immigrants and migrants is even more important as rising violence in Central America has created major forced displacement in and outside the region, and immigration is a central topic of the public, political and presidential discourse. I believe staying informed on these issues and approaching them with compassion for the people they affect is part of our calling as people of faith.

Since starting at the ELCA Advocacy office, I’ve had the chance to go to different coalition meetings such as the Central America & Mexico Working Group and even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) office to learn what different organizations are doing on the ground to respond to the forced displacement of Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans. Currently the three countries, commonly referred to together as the Northern Triangle, are disproportionately affected by violence forcing many people to flee to safety. These people, including children and families, are asylum seekers under international law. However the U.S. government has not recognized them as such.

I often think about how—or more precisely, when— the US will change its relationships with our southern neighbors, recognize those fleeing as needing international protection, and admit our role in some of the current problems the region is facing. Two recent articles by The New York Times highlight the US’s role in deporting General Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova to El Salvador, and pushing for the deportation of former vice minister of defense Inocente Orlando Montano Morales to face justice in Spain. Both men participated in ordering the 1989 murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter in their home at the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. These extraditions can be seen as step in the right direction for the U.S., which helped fund many of the military operations in El Salvador in the 1980s that killed thousands of innocent civilians and propped up dictatorships under the guise of fighting Communism in the region.

The U.S. should continue on this path of seeking justice in the many cases of human rights violations that occurred with our government’s support in numerous Latin American countries not just El Salvador. Confronting our troubled past and accepting the roles our nation played in harming the people of Latin America should be part of building stronger relations with our neighbors. Unfortunately, at the same time the US supports these high profile deportations they are supporting the detention of thousands of children and families fleeing violence in their home countries by increasing political and financial support for efforts by Mexico to detain and deport these refugees and asylum seekers. Most of these people will be sent back to the violent neighborhoods and cities they left in the first place without ever being offered the proper legal channels to file for asylum.

Last week, I attended a hearing held by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a branch of the Organization of American States that protects and promotes human rights in the Americas, focusing on the illegal practice by governments of stopping asylum seekers from reaching safety. The Northern Triangle countries do not have the institutions or governmental infrastructure to protect people targeted by violent agents in their countries so people are forced to look for safety outside their communities, whether it means inside or outside their country. All of the nonprofit and governmental leaders testified of their work on the ground trying to assist these refugees and the need for better institutions that can comply with international laws. The U.S. is currently the best option for thousands of people who would be harmed if they stay in their home communities. Even while we try to make some amends for past injustices we supported, we cannot ignore the current plights of thousands of Central Americans simply seeking a better life and peaceful communities. As people of faith we should reflect on Jesus’s parable about ‘The Judgment of the Nations’ from Matthew 25. He tells us that when we acted for those of His family we act for Him and here we find our calling to welcome the stranger. Hopefully we can urge our government and our communities to join in this call, especially when people facing danger and violence seek our help.

ELCA Advocacy Update- November 2015

ELCA Advocacy

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

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Washington, D.C. – Mary Minette, Interim Director of Advocacy

www.elca.org/advocacy

FEDERAL SPENDING DEAL: This month, members of the U.S. House and Senate reached a bipartisan compromise with the White House on a proposed budget deal. The agreement, signed by President Obama just days before a federal default, will set raised budget limits for both defense and non-defense programs for the next two years, while simultaneously avoiding a government shutdown by raising the debt ceiling. We recognize the need to address long-term fiscal sustainability for the wellbeing of critical U.S. social service programs. However, the deal should be praised for reversing harsh and highly inefficient budget cuts, many of which have crippled programs that benefit working families and our most vulnerable neighbors. Though overall funding levels for the whole government have been decided, Congress now must work to pass a federal spending bill for the remainder of the 2016 fiscal year by Dec. 11 to avoid a government shutdown. Watch for upcoming updates and advocacy opportunities on upcoming budget talks in the coming month!

GREEN CLIMATE FUND: The budget deal that passed in late October did not specifically allocate funds for the Green Climate Fund, so it is important that members of Congress, particularly senators, hear from constituents that a final bill to fund the government through the end of the 2016 fiscal year must include the $500 million requested for the U.S.’s initial contribution to the fund.  We are working with a broad coalition of faith, development and environmental groups to advocate for the funding as an important aspect of our work to support the negotiation of a strong international climate change agreement in Paris in December.

PATH TO PARIS: Negotiators met for their final session prior to the December meeting in Paris in mid-October, and while 155 countries have so far come forward with pledges to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases beginning in 2020 as part of the new agreement, many significant issues are still undecided. These include details about financial support for emissions reductions and adapting to climate change in low-income countries, how to differentiate between the responsibilities of large industrialized nations like the U.S. and European nations and those of emerging economies like China and India, and less affluent and less developed countries, and how to deal with long-term losses that countries and communities are unable to manage or adapt to. In addition, non-governmental organizations were shut out of most of the negotiating sessions in Bonn, which does not bode well for a transparent and accountable end to the negotiations in Paris.

WORLD FOOD DAY: On Oct. 16, the ELCA joined millions of people around the world to commemorate World Food Day. This is the time to celebrate the progress we have made in reducing global hunger while also recognizing that much work remains. As part of this effort, we asked our Lutheran community to take action to ensure that Congress sustains existing food and agriculture programs that fight global hunger. Click here to learn about the ELCA’s engagement in the week leading up to World Food Day.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS: Last month, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America joined other faith and human rights organizations for a hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a regional body addressing human rights in the Americas, on the detention of asylum seekers. The ELCA, together with the Mennonite Social Action Committee in Honduras, provided a document outlining findings from our June trip to Mexico on the detention and deportation of young people seeking international protection. This document also outlined specific stories of young people with legitimate asylum claims who had been deported to Honduras from Mexico despite fearing harm. Despite numerous studies outlining the failure of Mexico to protect those seeking asylum, the U.S. government continues to praise Mexican enforcement efforts.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: A bi-partisan coalition of Senate Judiciary members recently introduced and passed out of committee S. 2123, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. This important legislation is the product of intense negotiations between Judiciary Committee Democrats and Republicans.  Both sides have credited the faith community for creating the political will to negotiate through our advocacy efforts in Iowa – home to Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives with committee action expected soon. The faith community sponsored two Capitol Hill briefings for staff to hear from faith leaders on the importance and moral urgency for criminal justice reform on Nov. 3.

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New York, NY – Dennis Frado​, Lutheran Office for World Community

WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY: On Tuesday, Oct. 13, in commemoration with the 15th anniversary of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, an open debate on Women, Peace and Security was convened by the Security Council to discuss the further implementation of that resolution. In his opening remarks the secretary-general reiterated that women’s leadership in peace-building is a top priority and shared his commitment to seeing the resolutions implemented. In addition to the secretary-general, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of U.N.-Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka stressed that the most under-utilized tool in peace-building is women. She also introduced the Global Acceleration Instrument on Women Peace and Security and Humanitarian Engagement. This new fund will accelerate the implementation of UNSCR 1325 as well as channel funds to women’s organizations working on peace building. Directly after this opening segment, Resolution2242 was unanimously adopted by the Security Council. It has two key outcomes: The first is that it outlines actions to improve the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325; the second is proposing a broader Women, Peace and Security agenda, including countering violent extremism, monitoring sexual violence within U.N. peacekeeping forces, increasing the representation of women in governments, and implementing the gender recommendations of a recently released global study.

A GLOBAL STUDY AND A GLOBAL REPORT:  On Wednesday, Oct. 14, “Preventing Conflict, Transforming Justice, Securing the Peace – A Global Study on the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325” was officially launched. This study is the product of the engagement of member states, U.N. entities, regional organizations and civil society, including research institutes. Primarily, this study revealed that the ability of women to influence negotiations increased the chances of agreements being reached was positively correlated with greater implementation and had a positive impact on the durability of peace. During this time, Radhika Coomaraswamy, lead author of the global study, expressed her opinions of the recently adopted UNSC Resolution 2242. While she was overall supportive of the resolution, she had serious concerns about the mixing of women, peace and security with counter terrorism efforts. She noted the need for a clear, conceptual difference between the two, and that U.N. intentions toward civilians and military forces cannot be blurred. Finally, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs launched the 2015 edition of the World’s Women Report coinciding with the occasion of World Statistics Day. The speakers at the launch emphasized the importance of presenting empirical evidence that connects statistics and policy making. The report analyzes the status of women based on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action areas of concern. It looks at both the progress and gaps over the past 20 years.

MIGRATION CRISIS IN EUROPE: On Friday, Oct. 16, Nicholas Jaech with the Lutheran Office for World Community attended an event organized by the International Peace Institute on the migration crisis in Europe. This event featured Ninette Kelley, director of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Liaison Office in New York and Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR regional coordinator for the Europe Refugee Crisis. Kelley noted the disturbing reality of the current crisis: 42,500 people are displaced every day and 50 percent of the refugees are children, which is the highest level in decades. She went on to explain that if Europe were to take in the same proportion of refugees as Turkey, the world’s refugee crisis would be solved. Cochetel illustrated the current routes that migrants are taking. The first is from North Africa up through Italy, while others enter Europe via Turkey, which he noted was the more popular route. He noted that the current crisis is not about the number of refugees, but rather the lack of responsibility among European states. As for current objectives of UNHCR in the area, he highlighted the continued effort to reduce loss of life along the migration routes, support efforts to reform asylum structures and LOWC1policies in states, maintain strong advocacy surrounding solidarity, and provide a special focus on women and children. To learn more about the ELCA’s efforts in the migration crisis, click here. For a video of the above event, produced by the International Peace Institute, click here.

On Oct. 27, LOWC welcomed Maria Immonen, director of TheLutheran World Federation’s Department for World Service(LWS). In addition to receiving an orientation to LOWC’s work, she had appointments with ecumenical colleagues and staff of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs where they discussed LWS’ operational field programs in Central Africa and the Middle East.

 

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California – Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy

www.loppca.org​

CA1The deadline for Gov. Jerry Brown’s action on 2015 legislation passed on Oct. 11, and LOPP-CA was disappointed in the veto of AB 47 (see previous update) that would have accelerated expansion of state preschool to more children from low-income families. Citing budget pressures in the absence of action by the special legislative session on health care funding, he also vetoed an LOPP-CA supported bill expanding the state low-income housing tax credit, which helps leverage federal credits.

October was busy as LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson used study leave time to participate in the Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City; co-hosted a “Not your mother’s church supper – Celebrating women in energy & climate change” for about 45 participants in CA2the Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change Conference, with energy scientist and Lutheran Dr. Kristin Heinemeier of UC Davis; and displayed and spoke briefly at the Sierra Pacific Synod Professional Leadership Conference in Monterey.

Following the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger event on poverty and incarceration, Mark joined ELCA World Hunger staffer Ryan Cumming and two representatives from the Southwest California  Synod for worship at Trinity Lutheran, Porterville, and a water tour of East Porterville, an epicenter of drought-induced dry wells. The group accompanied volunteers in delivering water to homes, talked with families, and viewed pumps purchased with an ELCA World Hunger grant that brings water from portable tanks into homes.

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Colorado – Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado

www.lam-co.org

CO1AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado was present at the 2015 Housing Colorado Now! Conference in Beaver Creek, meeting with policy-makers and other affordable housing advocates to develop strategies for housing low- and extremely low-income families in Colorado. The critical lack of affordable housing touches all corners of Colorado, and several speakers at the conference addressed issues anticipated in the next legislative session of the Colorado General Assembly, including rental vouchers and a renewal of the state Low Income Housing Tax Credit.

ECONOMIC SECURITY: Groups working on legislation dealing with families living in poverty have begun meeting in anticipation of the 2016 session. In particular, LAM-CO has been working with the Colorado Center on Law & Policy as well as the All Families Deserve a Chance coalition to prepare an economic security agenda for the session. Issues that may come up include paid family-and-medical leave, child care for low-income parents in college programs, and a major alteration to the state hospital provider fee, which could secure hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for education.

CONGREGATION VISITS: Director Peter Severson has been on the road visiting congregations all over the state. Pictured here is Zion Lutheran in Trinidad, whose pastor is the Rev. Andrea Doeden. The building is 125 years old and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Zion’s German Lutheran Church.” Built in an eclectic Victorian Gothic style, it’s the oldest Lutheran church building in Colorado!

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Illinois – Jennifer DeLeon, Lutheran Advocacy Illinois

www.lutheranadvocacy.org

STATE BUDGET: Illinois is now entering its fifth month without a budget! Lutheran Social Services Illinois our partner agency is not receiving funding for a variety of programs that serve some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, including home care for seniors, residential substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. They are doing all they can to keep providing services but they need a state budget now! Please call or write a letter to Gov. Bruce Rauner and to your state legislators by clicking here, asking them to work together to pass a budget now!

Il1ELIMINATION OF POVERTY: Lutheran Advocacy-Il is part of the Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty. The commission is an independent body focused on eliminating poverty in our state in a manner consistent with international human rights standards. As such, the commission’s charge is twofold: 1) To create and monitor a specific, substantive, measurable strategic plan for cutting extreme poverty in Illinois; and 2) To offer advice and comment on state matters that may positively or negatively impact the state’s goal of ending poverty. Studies show that suburban poverty is growing in Illinois. In October the commission held public hearings around the state and we were able to hear directly from advocates and clients served by a broad section of suburban programs. Members of the public had the opportunity to provide their feedback and inform the work plan of the Commission. Click here to learn more about the commission.

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

PAYDAY LENDING REFORM: Over the summer, the StarTribune ran reports investigating campaign contributions to state legislators by payday lenders. Embarrassment seems to be opening legislators to reform discussions. With the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, Minnesotans for Fair Lending and Trinity Lutheran Church, LA-MN is working on a payday education event scheduled for Thursday afternoon and evening, Dec. 3.

mn2AFFORDABLE HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS: The lack of affordable rental housing is one of Minnesota’s greatest challenges, reiterated at a recent event with Julian Castro of the  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. LA-MN continues to educate about homelessness, affordable housing, and impacts on food security.

Nativity Lutheran Church (St. Anthony) hosted a weekend conference, benefit concert, and worship services based around concern for homelessness.Tammy Walhof (LA-MN) participated and was guest speaker for all five worship services.

CLEAN POWER PLAN: LA-MN is doing presentations around coal’s impact on health and the benefits of the Clean Power Plan. The encyclical by Pope Francis helps offer alternative paths into discussion. LA-MN is also part of an effort with other faith groups across the Midwest doing “climate conversations.”

IMMIGRATION: The Northeastern Minnesota Synod Immigration Task Force and LA-MN met with Jodi Harpstead, director of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, to learn more about how Minnesota has been less welcoming to immigrants in recent months. LA-MN also helped to facilitate an undocumented immigrant interview by high school students. LA-MN hopes to incorporate the immigration story into our upcoming work.

Facebook  Twitter: @LuthAdvocacyMN

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New Jersey – Sara Lilja, New Jersey Synod

slilja@leamnj.org

LEAMNJ supported Senate bill S2360! The Episcopal Church and the ELCA asked the Legislature to support efforts that reduce violence and keep our communities safe. We called, visited and emailed our senators and prevailed on an override vote. The bill requires local, county and state law enforcement officers to be alerted when people with a history of serious mental illness ask a judge to expunge their record so they may buy a firearm. This bill will provide judges with relevant information regarding a person’s history when they are making important decisions on the expungement of records. It now goes to the Assembly for an override vote after the November elections. Much work to be done!

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New Mexico – Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran advocacy Ministry New Mexicowww.lutheranadvocacynm.org

NM2Legislative interim work continues as the interim committees work to develop their recommendations for the 2016 legislative session. LAM-NM is closely monitoring the work of the Legislative Finance Committee, which is developing the legislative budget proposal, as well as the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, which considers legislation affecting low-income people in our state. Interim committees will wrap up their work in early December.

NM1The LAM-NM Policy Committee met on Oct. 24 and adopted the LAM-NM 2106 Advocacy Agenda.  The 2016 Advocacy Agenda continues to focus our work on issues addressing policies that can improve the lives of people living in poverty and experiencing hunger.

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Pennsylvania – Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Associate Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

As Pennsylvania heads into its fifth month without a budget, one bright spot is the Legislature’s unanimous passage of the bill to expand the state Housing Trust Fund, which LAMPa’s network has been advocating for two years.  Although Gov. Tom Wolf endorsed the bill months ago, LAMPa is asking Lutherans to urge him to sign it so that it doesn’t get dragged under by the budget battle entering its fifth month. Chief among the sticking points is the education budget, for which LAMPa has been advocating increased funding and a formula to move the commonwealth out of its standing as dead last in the country in terms of equity.

Director Amy Reumann preached, taught and celebrated advocacy in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, where policy council members hosted a fundraiser for LAMPa and a dinner to honor local advocates. She also engaged Lutherans around the state to testify at hearings on the Clean Power Plan and attended the annual meeting of Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light.

PA1Associate Director Tracey DePasquale met with policy staff in the Department of Education to discuss trauma-responsive education and ways to build a statewide coalition to enact policy that reflects best practices.  She also taught an adult forum at Christ Lutheran, Gettysburg, about disparities in education and as part of a series on inequality.

LAMPa staff brought together immigration advocates including Lutheran Children and Family Services at a state conference on Welcoming Communities and a Lower Susquehanna Synod information session for refugee resettlement to encourage advocacy on immigration.

As a follow-up to the National Youth Gathering, LAMPa staff participated in RiseUp York —  a weekend service, learning and advocacy immersion youth retreat organized by the Lower Susquehanna Synod.  Both synod and LAMPa staff hope to duplicate this experience and curriculum for other communities.

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Southeastern Synod, Georgia – Hilton Austin Jr.,

haustin337@att.net

Two members of the Southeastern Synod Advocacy Team attended the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., this month. Bishop Julian Gordy and Patti Austin, national president of Women of the ELCA, visited several members of Congress, along with other ELCA leaders, to support refugee reform legislation, to call for an end to family detention, and to support increased funding for refugee protection and assistance.

gatext2As one of the newest ministries of the Southeastern Synod, we have been busy building our network, organizing, and developing civic and ecumenical partners. We recently added links to the ELCA Advocacy Action Center and the LIRS Action Center to our synod website. We are currently planning an advocacy training event to be held in Atlanta in mid-January; our target date for promoting the training event is Nov. 6.

Our team is organized into various, what we call, ready benches; each ready bench leader develops a network of people who are passionate about a particular issue and remain ready to take action on current state and national legislation as it arises. We currently have three in Georgia, Immigration, Human Trafficking, and Criminal Justice, and two in Tennessee, Health Care and Criminal Justice. We will continue to add ready benches as folks hear God’s call into this important work.

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Virginia – Charles Swadley, Interim President and CEO

Rob Martin, Director of Programs & Developmenthttp://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/

va1HEALTH CARE: Our Virginia Consumer Voices for Health Care program along with our Hampton Roads and New River Valley chapters recently produced forums in Norfolk and Blacksburg, respectively, titled, Health Care Access: a Moral Imperative. The forums included an interfaith panel of faith leaders, testimonies from those who suffered without health care, and a call to action to local faith communities to care for our neighbors through accepting federal Medicaid funds to close the coverage gap.

va2ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND HUNGER:  VICPP’s Northern Piedmont Chapter produced a hunger awareness event, Setting the Table: An Interfaith Event on Ending Hunger, at Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper, Va. Center staff and members attended the 2015 Clergy Convocation in Richmond with the theme “Repair the breach, restore the streets.” The center is partnering in a Hunger Summit with the ELCA Virginia Synod and the Virginia Council of Churches, which will be held at Virginia Union University in Richmond on Nov. 18.

va3CREATION CARE:  VICPP co-sponsored an event with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation titled “Living Waters” to organize statewide advocacy and policy development efforts to preserve clean water in the Chesapeake Bay and its watersheds. Important references to preserving God’s creation were made with many great examples of congregations putting their faith in action through greening programs and advocacy efforts. VICPP joined other creation-care advocacy organizations on the Interfaith Climate Change Impact Tour in Richmond organized by Creation Justice Ministries. VICPP will be propelling creation care from the mountains to the coast in its advocacy action work with congregations this fall.

ADVOCACY TRAINING: Advocacy Training Sessions are being held by our Northern Virginia Chapter in Fairfax and by our Hampton Roads Chapter in Virginia Beach on Nov. 8. Staff is also presenting training “What do we do with the Stranger? A Conversation about Immigration” in Richmond on Nov. 15.

Twitter: @vainterfaith  Facebook: www.facebook.com/virginiainterfaithcenter

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Washington – Paul Benz, Faith Action Network

www.fanwa.org

watext1ELECTION: Faith Action Network (FAN) has an annual goal of organizing “interim” meetings between our advocates and their state legislators and members of congress/staff during summer and fall.  So far, we have had 24 meetings with state legislators in 14 districts with 113 advocates, and 12 meetings with members of congress/staff from 10 districts with 50 advocates (including bishops).

FAN has also created a one-page description of four current ballot issues (three initiatives and one local proposition) and FAN’s positions on them. To see that,click here.

ANNUAL DINNER: FAN will be having its fifth annual dinner/fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 15 (click here to see our invite). This year’s theme will be “Yes We Can!” focusing on the faith community’s response to racism and violence post-Charleston. The Rev. Dr. Carey G. Anderson, senior pastor at Seattle’s historic First African Methodist watext2Episcopal Church will be our speaker, and we have invited Jennifer Pinckney (widow of the Rev. Pinckney) of Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, S.C.

FORUMS ON TAXATION: FAN just completed two forums on each side of our state on the issue of taxation (Washington has the most regressive/unfair tax structure in our nation) with the title “What Kind of State Do You Want to Live In? Conversation and mobilization regarding our regressive tax structure.” A state legislator spoke at each event, and we had a local religious leaders’ panel, which had an ELCA and Episcopal bishop present.

 

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Wisconsin – Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

www.loppw.org

WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: LOPPW’s director led workshops at First United in Sheboygan, Lake Edge in Madison, and at the Northern Great Lakes Festival of Congregations in Minocqua, where LOPPW also displayed a table.

witext1SYNOD TEAMS: LOPPW’s director met with Greater Milwaukee’s director for evangelical mission, The Rev. Sandy Chrostowski, about helping to start a hunger team. The director attended a workshop led by the Northern Great Lakes hunger team. LOPPW was involved in recruiting members for a Care for God’s Creation team for South-Central/LOPPW.  The team will access World Hunger resources. The director has also met with the senior policy director of Clean Wisconsin about relevant state witext2publicpolicy; LOPPW is now on the list of stakeholders for Wisconsin’s Clean Power Plan at the Deparment of Natural Resources.  Wisconsin’s government has threatened to not implement any clean-power plan.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING: The director testified at a hearing on the Safe Harbor bill.  LOPPW/Cherish All Children’s team in the Northwestern Synod began plans for organizing conferences accessible to people in the LaCrosse Area, Northwestern, East Central, and South-Central synods.  Council Member Venice Williams discussed placing a focus on human trafficking for the annual Milwaukee King Day event Venice helps to plan; LOPPW will be a partner in 2016.

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What advocacy efforts are going on in your synod or state? We want to hear about it!

Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​

ELCA Advocacy Update- October 2015

ELCA Advocacy

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

​​​Washington, D.C.

Mary Minette,

Interim Director of Advocacy

www.elca.org/advocacy

 

2015 ADVOCACY CONVENING: Last month ELCA, Episcopal and community leaders from around the country met in Washington, D.C., for a two-day advocacy event. The 2015 Advocacy Convening brought together bishops and grassroots leaders in a common call to action the week of Pope Francis’ first papal visit to the United States. Participants of the convening explored the role of deliberative democracy and faith in informing public service and examined the ways our shared faith perspective can cultivate mutual respect, moral reflection, and honest conversation with our government.

On the day of Pope Francis’ joint-address to Congress, convening participants met with more than 60 congressional offices and 24 members of Congress. There, leaders and advocates with first-hand experience urged their lawmakers to pass a responsible budget that provides funding for programs that fight extreme poverty, climate change, and protect children fleeing Central America. At the same time, more than 250 advocates from across the country sent letters to Congress through the ELCA Advocacy Action Center.

 

DC1 DC2 DC3

ADVOCATING FOR A JUST FEDERAL BUDGET: On Sept. 30, Congress passed a resolution that will fund the federal government until Dec. 11. However, this resolution does not provide necessary increases in funding to address our concerns for environmental issues or vulnerable people. Now, budget talks continue and there is an opportunity once again to influence our members of Congress as they debate how to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2016.

In the next few months we will continue to raise our voices in support of a budget that honors our earth and the well-being of all around the world. This includes funding for the Green Climate Fund, health and refugee services, emergency food assistance, and other programs that enhance the lives of families in the U.S. and abroad. Continue to check your inbox for opportunities to join us and faith communities around the country in urging Congress to pass a faithful budget.

LUTHERAN AND EPISCOPAL CHURCH LEADERS’ OPINION COLUMN FEATURED IN USA TODAY: Presiding Bishop Eaton joined leaders of Lutheran and Episcopal churches in Canada and the United States to write an opinion column on uniting to safeguard God’s Creation that was featured in USA Today on September 23. The church leaders described that “our traditions drive us to address the interrelated problems of climate change, environmental degradation, hunger and poverty… Though we represent different religious institutions, we share a common goal, and recognize that time is short to achieve it. We all know that to protect the poorest we must protect the climate.” This piece was published during Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S.

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New York, NY

Dennis Frado​, Lutheran Office for World Community

 

SITUATION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: The Lutheran Office for World Community has been following the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) very closely. On Sept. 26, an upsurge in violence occurred in the previously relatively stabilized capital of Bangui. Only four days prior, a meeting between the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and nongovernmental organizations highlighted the positive outcomes of the people-centric National Forum in Bangui, which adopted the Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction. These outcomes, especially free and fair national and legislative elections scheduled for October 2015, have become a high-priority for U.N. agencies, including the Security Council, DPKO and the U.N. Development Programme. However, violence in the country’s capital in the recent days has led CAR’s interim transitional president, Catherine Samba-Panza, to postpone the previously scheduled October elections. In a high-level U.N. meeting on CAR held on Oct. 1, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged member states to give financial contributions to CAR to fund the priorities of the Bangui Forum and to rally the support of the international community. As for the role of faith-based organizations in CAR, DPKO urges spaces of faith and worship to also be vehicles for reconciliation among marginalized and oppressed peoples. Additionally, The Lutheran World Federation and nine other nongovernmental organizations drafted and signed an advocacy memorandumoutlining the problems in CAR and recommending solutions. For more information on the situation in CAR, read here.

NY1OUTLOOK OF THE HIV AND AIDS EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS: During the 70th Session of the U.N. General Assembly, Nicholas Jaech with the Lutheran Office for World Community joined activists, health workers and governments to discuss long-term commitments to ending HIV and AIDS by 2030 – an objective outlined in the Fast-Track strategy developed byUNAIDS. On Sunday, Sept. 27, a meeting between UNAIDS and civil society was held to discuss the financial realities of achieving this goal. UNAIDS admitted a $10 billion to $15 billion global shortfall in funds necessary to successfully implement the Fast-Track strategy. On the same day, a high-level event, “Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030: Shaping New Models and Means of Implementation,” was hosted by the governments of Kenya and Malawi, in partnership with UNAIDS. At this event, the governments of Malawi, Kenya, Mali, Lesotho, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the United States pledged their support for the Fast-Track strategy. All governments that spoke highlighted the need to focus on adolescent girls, who are eight times more likely than men to be HIV positive. These governments also acknowledged the importance of concentrated efforts to support and de-stigmatize marginalized groups, specifically men who have sex with men, sex workers, and drug users. For more information on ELCA efforts concerning HIV and AIDS, click here. Additionally, follow them on Facebook and on Twitter at@ELCAHIVandAIDS.

NY2U.N. TURNS 70 AND DISCUSSES REFORMS: The United Nations celebrates its 70thanniversary in October. During the annual General Debate in September, many heads of state used this anniversary occasion to highlight the achievements of the United Nations regarding its three pillars – peace and security, development, and human rights. Nevertheless, voices also gained momentum demanding reforms of current U.N. structures. A growing number of countries support the French-Mexican initiative to encourage the permanent five members of the Security Council (China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States) to refrain from using the veto in cases of mass atrocities. A similar project was launched by the ACT-Group (Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency). About 60 countries signed a Code of Conductpledging not to vote against any drafts that would deter international action on genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. Additionally, many member states demand a more transparent and diplomatic process of the selection, nomination and appointment of the next secretary-general, who will follow Ban Ki-moon in 2017. Many members of civil society supported this demand by joining the 1 for 7 Billion Campaign.

POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA; 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINBLE DEVELOPMENT: On Sept. 25, more than 150 heads of NY3state convened for the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 and adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Transforming Our World, which is “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.” The Global Goals, as they are called in a recently launched campaign, consist of 17 new sustainable development goals and 169 targets. LOWC has been monitoring the negotiations and will continuing to follow the implementation phase including the development of target indicators by 2016 and the establishment of review mechanisms.

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LOWC Advocacy Blog

Nicholas Jaech, Lutheran Office for World Community

THE CULTURE OF PEACE: This month, Nicholas Jaech reflects on recent developments at the United Nations and the culture of peace in his blog, “Reconciling a Culture of Peace and a Responsibility to Protect.”

“I have been overwhelmed with admiration for how active faith-based groups are at the United Nations. Social justice is at the forefront of all conversations, faith is shared, and ecumenical working groups have formed to promote peace in its many forms – climate justice, gender justice, and hunger relief, just to name a few. These groups, many ecumenical and inter-faith, illustrate how justice and peace can be created in an ever-increasingly diverse world.” Read the full version at the ELCA Advocacy Blog!

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California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy

www.loppca.org​

 

ca1After the DC Advocacy Convening and a stop in Kansas for The Land Institute’s Prairie Fest that included theologians Mary Evelyn Tucker of Yale and John Cobb of Claremont, LOPP-CA director Mark Carlson arrived in Sacramento after flight delays for a press event promoting AB 47, a bill that would move California toward serving all children from low-income families with state preschool by 2018.  The bill is sitting on Gov. Brown’s desk with an Oct. 11 deadline for signature. Due to circumstances beyond his control, Mark was unable to respond to an invitation from Brown’s office to participate in the Los Angeles signing ceremony for SB 350, which sets the goal of doubling energy efficiency in all buildings, and producing half our electricity with renewable sources, by 2030.  Mark also joined a closing Saturday afternoon prayer circle on the day that Gov. Brown signed AB 953, a bill that seeks to reduce racial and identity profiling by law enforcement through expanded training, data gathering, and an ca2advisory board.  The bill’s outcome was very much in doubt, with 24/7 vigilers prepared to launch a hunger strike, “Starved for justice,” the following Monday.  LOPP-CA worked with PICO California to secure St. John’s Lutheran Church for a Sept. 2 briefing, with prayers, music, and blessing, which filled the sanctuary prior to a march to the Capitol that drew 1,000.

Upcoming events include the Sierra Pacific Synod’s annual hunger gathering, featuring ELCA World Hunger’s Ryan Cumming, and a water tour to East Porterville.

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Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado 

www.lam-co.org

CO1ELCA ADVOCACY CONVENING: Alongside bishops, community leaders, and other state public policy office directors, LAM-CO Director Peter Severson was in Washington, D.C., for the ELCA Advocacy Convening. After watching Pope Francis’ address to a joint session of Congress from a streaming video feed in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Peter joined LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman and Denver-based community leader Joy Waughtal in visiting congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Productive meetings were held with staffers for Sen. Cory Gardner, Colo., Sen. Tom Udall, N.M., and Rep. Ed Perlmutter, Colo. Peter and Ruth also acted as envoys for Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia, offering personal greetings to Rep. Cynthia Lummis, Wyo., at the ELCA Advocacy Prayer Brunch (pictured right).

CHILD NUTRITION: LAM-CO was represented at the Hungry for Change Summit 2015, hosted by Hunger Free Colorado. Many critical partners in anti-hunger advocacy and relief attended the conference, whose keynote speaker was Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. Advocates are still working with members of Congress to ensure the safe renewal of funding for key anti-hunger programs in child nutrition, including school breakfasts, summer meal programs, and WIC.

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​Illinois

Jennifer DeLeon, Lutheran Advocacy – Illinois 

www.lutheranadvocacy.org

 

We are now going into the fourth month without a budget! Every day there are people who are going without critical services because providers have had to lay off staff or close their doors entirely.

ACT NOW: Tell your state representative to vote for SB 2046, which funds critical services for Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens and enables the social safety net to remain intact. The bill was approved by the Senate in early September and would give the governor authority to make payments to human services providers not already funded pursuant to court orders. Click here for more information on the bill and to take action!

CERTIFICATE OF GOOD CONDUCT: HB 3475 We also have some good news to share! A bill we worked on was signed into law. HB 3475 expands the eligibility for Certificates of Good Conduct to include people who have committed non-sex-related forcible felonies so that people who have made grave mistakes have at least one avenue beyond clemency to demonstrate they’ve turned their lives around. They may petition the court to receive one of these certificates, which can help them obtain employment or licensure. This and other bills are part of the work we are doing in coordination with the Office of Racial Justice to continue to bring awareness to the criminal justice social statement and provide concrete ways people can take action!

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​Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota

tammy@lcppm.org  

 

NEXT YEAR’S PRIORITIES: Since the 2016 legislative session will be only 2.5 months long, the LA-MN Policy Council decided to focus on constituent education, while being prepared to act on a few key issues.

PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL FOCUS: Creation Care, especially climate concerns and clean energy, through frames of 1) global poverty, 2) low income in the state and nation, and 3) clean, accessible water.

NIMBLE ACTION/EDUCATION FOCI:

Payday lending reform: LA-MN has worked on this in the past, and five Minnesota synods have payday resolutions. An ELCA congregation also started a lending program to help people get out from under payday loans.

Affordable housing and homelessness: LA-MN continues active participation in the Homes for All Coalition. The “ask” is still being decided and could include bonding, homeless youth, senior homelessness, families with children, discrimination against people of color, etc..

IMMIGRATION: Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota reports that resettlement of immigrants and refugees is facing pushback in some Minnesota communities. LA-MN will work to change the narrative toward “welcoming the stranger.” LA-MN will also be ready to lend support to state or federal efforts related to immigration and refugees.

MN1ELCA/EPISCOPAL ADVOCACY CONVENING: The convening included numerous speakers, the congressional address by Pope Francis via streaming video to a Senate office building, and advocacy. Representing Minnesota were Bishop Steve Delzer (Southeastern Minnesota Synod), the Rev. Margaret Kelly (Shobi’s Table), and LA-MN Director Tammy Walhof, who met with Rep. Tim Walz, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and staff from the offices of Sen. Al Franken, and Rep. John Kline.

 Twitter: @LuthAdvocacyMNFacebook

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​New Jersey

Sara Lilja, New Jersey Synod

logm@njsynod.org

 

LEAMNJ is working to override the Governor’s veto of bill (S2360). This legislation was drafted because the courts here in NJ asked for additional support when making decisions about expungement cases. Simply, local, county and state law enforcement officers to be alerted when people with a history of serious mental illness ask a judge to expunge their record of psychiatric treatment so they may buy a firearm. The bill would provide judges with relevant information regarding a person’s history when they are making important decisions on the expungement of records. This legislation could impact public safety and the safety of the petitioner.

Our challenge is that the NJ legislature has not been able/willing to override a single veto since this Governor has been in office. We are currently mobilizing congregational members, and many have responded! Visits, calls, and emails- the push is on in NJ to help prevent gun violence!

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​New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico 

www.lutheranadvocacynm.org

 

NM1LAM-NM recently led a forum at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Alamogordo, N.M. The forum explored poverty in New Mexico (which has among the highest rates of poverty in the nation) by putting together a household budget for a family NM2that was headed by someone earning the New Mexico’s minimum wage of $7.50 per hour. The participants estimated the cost of housing, transportation, food, child care, health care, taxes and other expenses. The group quickly concluded that those costs were much more than the gross income of $1,300 per month.  They discussed possible public policies that could address that income gap, such as increasing the minimum wage and making more affordable housing available.

LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman was honored as one of 20 leaders in state health care advocacy by Health Action-New Mexico. The recognition was given at a dinner at which Ron Pollack of Families USA was the keynote speaker.  Ruth was congratulated by U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

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​Ohio

Nick Bates, The Faith Coalition for the Common Good 

nick@oneohionow.org

 

As a person of faith, I want our elected officials to focus on ending hunger, reducing poverty, and working to improve our communities. I believe Ohio can accomplish these things only when elected officials are responsive to the needs of their constituencies. That is why I am voting YES on ISSUE 1.

When we have fair districts we will have fair elections. A yes vote on Issue 1 will improve the district drawing process, and encourage elected officials to be more responsive to the needs of their communities. Proverbs 31 calls us to speak up for the oppressed. Issue 1 will give all Ohio voters an opportunity to speak up for themselves and make a difference through the electoral process.

Our communities matter and elected officials are charged to represent our needs at the Statehouse in Columbus. Gerrymandering has weakened the voice of the voter and strengthened the voice of money, lobbyists, and ideology. Issue 1 will reform our system to bring the voters back to the center of Ohio’s Statehouse. It is our prayer that Issue 1 will pass on November 3rd and it will be successful in improving the People’s House in Columbus.

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Pennsylvania

Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania 

Tracey DePasquale, Associate Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

 

LAMPa advocacy helped lead Gov. Tom Wolf to address the serious problem of hunger and inadequate nutrition; he issued an executive order to coordinate Pennsylvania’s food and nutrition programs and revive a hunger strategy for Pennsylvania!Read more about this advocacy success!

PA1Pennsylvania is in its fourth month without a budget, with Gov. Wolf vetoing a stop-gap plan, saying it would just delay progress toward his top priority: adequate and equitable education funding. LAMPa’s network continues to urge lawmakers to approve the fair formula and fund it with a budget that adequately addresses need.

Congregations around Pennsylvania filled out postcards on school funding and child nutrition as an advocacy action on “God’s work. Our hands.”  Sunday.

LAMPa is recruiting and equipping Lutherans to testify on the state’s Clean Power Plan, including this testimony from the Rev. Paul Metzloff.

PA2Tracey participated in the kickoff of a new Welcoming Community in York and the start of the 100 Women/100 Mile March from York’s immigration detention facility to Washington, D.C., protesting family detention.

LAMPa staff accompanied state grassroots leaders to the ELCA advocacy convening in Washington, D.C., meeting with legislative staff on federal policy.

PA3Staff worked with the Gettysburg and Philadelphia seminaries about collaboration on Lutheran Day in the Capitol 2016. It will be part of Gettysburg’s Spring Academy with focus on intersections of faith, science and action.

Our Policy Council held their retreat at Susquehanna University, kicking off with a kayak trip on the Susquehanna River. Playmobil Luther came too!

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Virginia

Charles Swadley, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy     

www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

 

VA1HEALTH CARE: Our Virginia Consumer Voices for Health Care (VCV) program and Northern Virginia Chapter produced a “Medicaid Expansion: Who Benefits” forum in Arlington in partnership with the League of Women Voters. The forum included elected officials and was the first joint function of the League of Women Voters of Falls Church and the Northern Virginia and Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. Prospects are improving with statewide chamber of commerce support for Medicaid expansion. VCV will be producing multiple “Call to Action: Health Care Access as a Moral Imperative” events this month around the state (Norfolk, Newport News and Roanoke). VCV (http://www.vaconsumervoices.org/) has been actively increasing its social media outreach to promote closing the coverage gap during the general assembly session that begins in January 2016. Health care policy content is developed and distributed to thousands of followers in a weekly roundup.

HUNGER:  The Center is planning a Hunger Summit with the ELCA Virginia Synod and the Virginia Council of Churches that will be held in Richmond in November. We will producing 10+ congregation-based Social Justice University trainings for advocacy action on hunger, climate and others issues across the state as part of coordinated organizing efforts with our statewide chapter network. Also, VICPP’s Northern Piedmont Chapter is producing a hunger awareness event “Setting the Table: An Interfaith Event on Ending Hunger” at Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper, Va.

VA2GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND IMMIGRATION: The Center has initiated policy development ministries in gun violence prevention and immigration rights with grant support provided to our seminarian and public policy fellow, Lana Heath de Martinez. Lana attended the sixth-annual Virginia Immigrant Advocates Summit of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations and is preparing to work on legislative and policy issues now confronting immigrant communities in Virginia, including closing the coverage gap with Medicaid expansion and access to driver’s licenses for immigrants.

CREATION CARE:  VICPP is co-sponsoring an event with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation called “Living Waters,” which will organize statewide advocates in policy development efforts to preserve clean water in the bay. See our new video of our amazing collaborators and chapter members helping VICPP put its faith in action at http://tinyurl.com/createjustice.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network 

www.fanwa.org

WA1At the Bishops’ Advocacy Convening in Washington, D.C., Faith Action Network (FAN) was privileged to join all three of our ELCA bishops, who were in attendance. FAN was able to secure meetings with seven of our 10 House members, and one of our U.S. senators. The bishops were very engaged in presenting issues of food and hunger (especially Child Nutrition Reauthorization and the Global Food Security Act), the renewal of the Columbia River Treaty, and federal recognition for the Duwamish Tribe. Follow-up with the staff of those offices will be the next step.

FAN convened interfaith leaders for lunch with Gov. Jay Inslee for conversation about his recently released rulemaking process to curb C02 emissions by our state’s 30 largest emitters. The past legislative session did nothing about meeting our state’s mandated C02 emission goals.  Eleven religious leaders of many faith traditions attended and have since issueda statement.

FAN is sponsoring two forums on taxation called “What Kind of State Do You Want to Live In?  Conversation and mobilization about our state’s regressive tax structure.” ELCA Bishop Kirby Unti will be on one of the panels of local religious leaders.

FAN is preparing for another annual fundraising dinner on Nov. 15 with the theme “Yes We Can!” Our guest speaker will be the Rev.  Carey Anderson, senior minister of Seattle’s historic First AME Church. He will speak on the efforts needed to combat the racial injustices affecting our local communities and nation. To learn more about the event or to register, go toFANWA.org.

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Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin 

www.loppw.org

WI1LUTHERAN AND EPISCOPAL ADVOCACY CONVENING SEPT. 22-24 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.: (Left) Visiting Sen. Tammy Baldwin are Melissa and Marquitta Smith of Hephatha Lutheran Church of the Greater Milwaukee Area Synod, Bishop Jerry Mansholt of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, Bishop Jim Arends of the La Crosse Area Synod, Bishop Mary Froiland of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, and LOPPW’s director, Cindy Crane.WI2

(Right) Visiting U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble’s office are Marquitta and Melissa Smith and Bishop Jerry Mansholt.

LOPPW RETREAT: We held an all-day LOPPW Advisory Council/Staff Retreat in Marathon to discuss pressing issues related to hunger in the communities of the council members, hone in our priorities, and make plans for the upcoming months.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING: Our task force met in Rice Lake to discuss upcoming legislation and begin planning conferences around the state.  We are thankful for a grant from the Women of the ELCA to help fund the events.

CONTACT WITH STATE LEGISLATORS: LOPPW’s director was in contact with legislators about the bill to return 17-year-old non-violent, first-time offenders to the juvenile justice system, the Safe Harbor Bill, redistricting, and the possible dismantling of the Government Accountability Board.

INTERNS: The director interviewed a UW-Madison student and a recent graduate of UW-Madison for internship positions at LOPPW and will gladly welcome both.  She has begun creating work plan for them. They will begin their internships in October.

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What advocacy efforts are going on in your synod or state? We want to hear about it!

Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​

Reconciling a Culture of Peace and a Responsibility to Protect

Nicholas Jaech, Lutheran Office for World Community

“In a new millennium, let us rediscover faith. Not in order to use it against others like has happened so many times in our history, but to understand our reason for existing in this world. Peace is the name of God. “ – Professor Dr. Emil Constantinescu

This statement by Professor Dr. Emil Constantinescu, former president of Romania, was made during the United Nations High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace on Wednesday, September 9 .1 The Lutheran Office for World Community had the opportunity to attend this all-day event, which focused on fostering a “culture of peace” in our world today. This concept, “Culture of Peace”, is rooted in A/RES/53/243, a resolution passed during the 53rd Session of the General Assembly in 1999. In this resolution, “Culture of Peace” is a set of attitudes and values based on non-violence, dialogue, cooperation, the promotion of human rights, developmental and environmental needs, gender equality, and the freedom of expression, just to name a few. This resolution was further bolstered by resolution A/RES/56/5 in 2001, which declared 2001-2010 the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.” Similarly, the General Assembly passed a resolution in 2012 (A/RES/68/125) reiterating the original “Culture of Peace” resolution passed in 1999. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America observed a “Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence” between 2000 and 2010.

The forum on the 9th continued in the tradition of continually reinforcing the “Culture of Peace.” Specifically, panelists, experts and national representatives focused on the upcoming 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs) and the role of the media in creating an international peace culture. Various national delegates also had the opportunity to express their visions of the future. The United States spoke of a future where freedom of expression and journalism contribute to this culture of peace, while Bangladesh spoke fervently about violence that stems from intolerance, as well as the violent division that occurs when walls between peoples are built.  Overall, the energy in the room was optimistic; optimistic for a future devoid of violence and hate.

However, just one day prior, on September 8, the Lutheran Office for World Community also took the opportunity to sit in on a General Assembly Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect. “Responsibility to Protect” is a concept that has been developing since 2005, which outlines three methods for dealing with atrocity and violence occurring in our world. The third method, arguably the most contested among Member States, provides the international community the opportunity to take collective action against crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, etc.2 This third method was most recently utilized by the Security Council in 2011 in the actions it took against authorities in Libya, following the widespread violence against civilians.3

During this dialogue on September 8, the concept of the “Responsibility to Protect” manifesting in collective action was contested. The Russian Federation spoke out against international efforts to intervene. Citing Libya as an example, they argued that the situation in Libya has spiraled into chaos and instability – a direct consequence of this policy.4 On the other hand, the United States praised the “Responsibility to Protect” and invoked the current situation in Syria as reason for further attempts of international collective action.4 While the support for the “Responsibility to Protect” was noticeable, many concerns were voiced over the use of international collective force in the face of atrocity.

These two all-day events, occurring just one day apart from each other, were my first two official experiences in the United Nations. I left the building after the second event and asked myself the following questions: How do we as Lutherans, peacemakers and followers of a loving God, who are eager and willing to build a worldwide Culture of Peace, respond to the current reality of violence and atrocity in some parts of the world? Do we invoke collective action among UN Member States, often times using violence against oppressive regimes? Or do we rely solely on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, hoping that economic and social development will provide the seeds for peaceful cultures?

As a fresh-out-of-university 22 year old, I cannot begin to answer these questions. National delegates, humanitarian organizations, and international church bodies have been discussing this complex dichotomy for years. However, I have to return to the inspiring words of Professor Dr. Emil Constantinescu about using faith as a means for peace:

“… the world powers, international organizations, the United Nations, the UNESCO, the civil society, try to create a political culture of security through negotiation and cooperation, in order to promote peace and understanding throughout the world. We are looking for the lowest common denominator, on which everybody can agree. My opinion is that we should plan for more. If we want to make real peace and understanding between people, we must focus to identify, not the lowest common denominator, but we should relate ourselves to the highest common denominator – faith.”

I have been overwhelmed with admiration for how active faith-based groups are at the United Nations. Social justice is at the forefront of all conversations, faith is shared, and ecumenical working groups have formed to promote peace in its many forms – climate justice, gender justice, and hunger relief, just to name a few. These groups, many ecumenical and inter-faith, illustrate how justice and peace can be created in an ever-increasingly diverse world.

And while I unfortunately still cannot answer my questions posed above, I will attempt to answer them with another question: How can we use faith in this millennium to reconcile the security-based concept of “Responsibility to Protect” and the development concept of ”Culture of Peace”?

Let us continue to work to bring faith into all conversations here at the United Nations and use faith as a tool for advocacy, partnership, and understanding, not as a tool for division. Through this, I am already confident that change can be made and that people will see peace.

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To view the recorded webcast of the General Assembly Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect, please click here.

To view the recorded webcast of the United Nations High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace, please click here.

  1. http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/part-2-high-level-forum-on-the-culture-of-peace-general-assembly-69th-session/4474285689001
  2. http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/adviser/responsibility.shtml
  3. http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/about/bgresponsibility.shtml
  4. http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/part-2-the-responsibility-to-protect-general-assembly-69th-session-informal-interactive-dialogue/4473202361001

ELCA Advocacy Update- September 2015

ELCA Advocacy

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

​​​Washington, D.C.

Mary Minette,

Interim Director of Advocacy

www.elca.org/advocacy

 

LOGUM GOD’S WORK. OUR HANDS. OUR VOICES!: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is right around the corner! If your congregation is planning a day of volunteering in your community on Sept. 13, consider advocacy action as one of the ways to put your faith into action! This year, you can help start a letter writing campaign by printing out customizable letters to Congress. These letters will help advocate for justice by educating your representatives about an issue and showing your community’s commitment to compassionate values. Mail your letters to the D.C. Advocacy Office at 122 C Street NW, Suite 125 Washington, D.C. 20001—and we will deliver the letters in bulk to your members of Congress! Click the links below for letters that help support public programs:

FEDERAL BUDGET: This month, members of Congress will return to Washington, D.C., after their summer recess. Looking ahead, there are many competing priorities with which lawmakers will have to grapple. Near the top of their list is the need to pass a federal budget for the 2016 financial year, which officially begins on Oct. 1. As Congress deliberates how to fund programs that help alleviate hunger, poverty, and the impact of climate change both here at home and around the world—now is a critical opportunity to take action. Remind our members of Congress about the policies we must protect by taking action here!

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: This month, the House and the Senate will have an opportunity to review the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran. The controversial deal remains a key focus in a public relations battle, although there are at least a sufficient number of Senators in support of the agreement to sustain a presidential veto. In a letter to members of Congress on Aug. 5, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, urged legislators to carefully consider ethical solutions that work toward conflict resolution and peace. You can join Presiding Bishop Eaton’s call for a peaceful solution at the ELCA Action Center!

FAMILY DETENTION: On Friday, Aug. 21, U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee ordered the Department of Homeland Security to release mothers and children held in detention “without delay.” Gee gave the department until Oct. 23 to comply with the ruling and also addressed the deplorable conditions children face while in Customs and Border Protection custody. This ruling follows her July 24 decision that family detention violates a 1997 agreement protecting children. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service called on the Obama administration to abide by the court order in a press statement last week.

GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY ACT: We are excited that a number of Lutheran members in the House and other representatives from many of your districts have signed on to cosponsor the Global Food Security Act—an important bill that will help develop and implement a comprehensive strategy and funding to promote global food security. Many of these members were convinced to support this bill because you took action. However, we still need many more members of Congress to sign on so that there is enough support to pass the legislation. As we continue our advocacy here in D.C., we ask you to take action once again, and  recruit your family, friends and colleagues to do the same. Click here to learn more about the Global Food Security Act.

 

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New York, NY

Dennis Frado​, Lutheran Office for World Community

POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: Member states of the United Nations concluded their negotiations on Aug. 2 on a proposed 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development titled Transforming Our World, “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.” The document, which sets forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets, is set to be adopted at the end of September when state leaders convene for the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015. LOWC has been monitoring the negotiations and will be continuing to follow the implementation phase, including the development of target indicators by 2016 and the establishment of review mechanisms.

lowcMISSION INTERPRETER COORDINATOR CONFERENCE: LOWC prepared a program and introduction to the work of the office for ELCA Mission Interpreters from across the church who met in New York on Aug. 28. Led by Christine Mangale, the group learned the basics about LOWC’s work and heard presentations from ecumenical colleagues and the International Organization for Migration on sustainable development, gender equality, and migratioGerman 2n and development, and toured the United Nations.

VISIT FROM THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF HESSEN AND NASSAU (Germany): At the end of the month, LOWC hosted a delegation from the Evangelical Church of Hessen and Nassau (EKHN) (Germany), led by its president, the Rev. Dr. Volker Jung. In addition to hearing about LOWC’s work, the group met with Ambassador Heiko Thoms (see photo, third from left), deputy permanent representative of Germany to the United Nations, and had lunch with the Rev. David Gaewski, conference minister for New York of the United Church of Christ, and ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod Bishop Robert Rimbo.

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California

Mark Carlson

Lutheran Office of Public Policy

www.loppca.org​

 

The Legislature returned from a month’s recess and will be completing its business in regular session on Sept. 11. There are also separate special sessions underway on transportation and health care funding. A priority for LOPP-CA is passage of ambitious, and contentious, carbon reduction goals (SB 350 and SB 32), and several Lutherans participated in an Aug. 25 lobby day organized by California Interfaith Power & Light and hosted by LOPP-CA at St. John’s Lutheran Church near the Capitol. The next day, more Lutherans participated in the Stronger California day focused on women’s economic equity and repeal of the Maximum Family Grant rule for CalWORKS/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The Rev. Leslie Welton of St. John’s andca JoAnn Anderson of Incarnation Lutheran, Davis, were among those that met with Gov. Jerry Brown’s staff. On Sept. 2, a large Capitol rally and lobby day will show support for AB 953, a bill to address racial and identity profiling by law enforcement.  LOPP-CA worked to connect PICO California, one of the rally organizers, with St. John’s Lutheran, which agreed to be the gathering place for hundreds of participants.

After viewing the webcast on racism by ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and William B. Horne II on Aug. 6 at St. John’s, LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson, Conference Dean the Rev. Jason Bense, outgoing Sierra Pacific Synod Council member Joseph Husary, and synod anti-racism leader Jane Okubo participated in a candlelight vigil at the Capitol marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act (see photo).

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Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado 

www.lam-co.org

HUNGER ADVOCACY: ELCA pastors and lay people participated in hearings around Colorado in August to advocate for better funding for child-nutrition programs and other anti-hunger efforts. The Colorado Department of Human Services hosted meetings on a listening tour of nine counties. Lutherans were present at hearings in Logan, Douglas, Kit Carson and La Plata counties to speak up about the realities of hunger in their communities. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado is working with a coalition organized by Hunger Free Colorado to raise the profile of anti-hunger and nutrition programs around the state and to encourage people to tell stories about why these programs matter and how they make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.

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​Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota

tammy@lcppm.org  

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS: The Homes for All coalition heard proposals by members for legislation focused on seniors (the fastest growing group of homeless in Minnesota), and communities of color (dedicated state funding to increase housing options for households of color).

FINAL CLEAN POWER PLAN ANNOUNCEMENT:  Director Tammy Walhof tweeted during President Obama’s live-stream Clean Power Plan briefing. LA-MN has also been part of many meetings and webinars to learn about and discuss the final plan.

mn3GOV. DAYTON:  Minnesota Environmental Partnership featured the governor (see photo) at its annual meeting. He answered questions, including one from Tammy. He mentioned a Clean Power Plan letter signed by more than 300 faith leaders that LA-MN and MNIPL organized and encouraged continued action.

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD CREATION CARE TEAM PLANNING DAY:Proposed pipeline routes will cross the synod and endanger water sources, prompting the team to action. They will also be promoting “Graceful Engagement on Difficult Issues” (based on training Tammy provided previously). New subcommittees include a group to help Tammy develop ideas for climate conversations starting from frames of hunger and poverty, water, coal, and clean energy.

mn2PUBLIC HEARING—PUBLIC UTILITLES COMMISSION: Tammy testified at the hearing, as did Diaconal Minister Mike Troutman (see photo). Breaks during the four-hour hearing allowed people to ask Tammy how their congregations can do more.

FACEBOOK: Tammy has been actively trying to increase LA-MN’s Facebook presence and has been testing issues and strategies. Lutherans, Christians of other backgrounds, and others are gradually finding the posts and page.

 Twitter: @LuthAdvocacyMN   Facebook

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​New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico 

www.lutheranadvocacynm.org

oh1Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Director Ruth Hoffman is serving on two task forces that are looking at housing issues. One task force is concerned with making supportive housing more available throughout New Mexico using the Housing First model, a proven approach that places chronically homeless people in supportive housing that is safe and affordable and then works with them to address the barriers that brought them to homelessness. The other task force is discussing alternatives for the mentally ill who have been arrested. Among the approaches that the group is looking at are better screening and treatment, alternative housing, and diversion programs. County jails have become de facto housing for people with mental illness who have been arrested for primarily minor crimes. Both task forces will be reporting to legislative interim committees this fall.

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​Ohio

Nick Bates, The Faith Coalition for the Common Good 

nick@oneohionow.org

 

Nick Bates, diaconal minister in the Southern Ohio Synod, spoke on behalf of the Faith Coalition for the Common Good on Aug. 26 in support of State Issue 1—an effort to create more fair state legislative district lines. The amendment will require bi-partisan support for a legislative map, establish guiding principles for the maps, and be a more open process.

“We have the capacity in Ohio to do many great things, like end hunger, reduce poverty, and improve education for all of Ohio’s children,” Bates said.

That is why we encourage a YES vote in November to create a fair process for drawing Ohio legislative districts. Fair districts mean fair elections, and in turn that will lead to policies that are fairer to all Ohioans.

The press conference, in the Ladies Gallery at the Ohio Statehouse, coincided with a report released by the League of Women Voters highlighting how gerrymandered legislative districts have predicted nearly every election result in recent history. Ohioans oh2will have the opportunity to vote on the issue in November.

“As people of faith, we value community,” Bates said. “As the community of Ohio, we believe our governmental officials need to be accountable and connected to the community they serve.”

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Pennsylvania

Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania 

Tracey DePasquale, Associate Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

STATE BUDGET: Pennsylvania heads into September without a budget, which is now two months overdue.  Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-led Legislature continue to wrestle primarily over major issues of education funding, public-pension system changes, the state liquor system and a severance tax on shale drilling. Non-profits are tracking the consequences of delay, and many school districts are faced with borrowing as they begin the year without state payments. Pennsylvania Lutherans continue to advocate for fair and adequate school funding and expansion of the state Housing Trust Fund.

PA1HUNGER AND ENVIRONMENT: Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia featured Director Amy Reumann and the work of LAMPa in an on-line video interview.

LAMPa continued to prepare congregations around the state to add their voices to “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday with postcard campaigns for childhood nutrition and school funding. LAMPa Director Amy Reumann helped organize and participated in an Interfaith Climate Advocacy Training sponsored by Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light.

PA2MIGRATION: Associate Director Tracey DePasquale helped train volunteers for the immigration detainees visitation program, “Walking Together,” and connected LIRS to leaders looking to make York a “Welcoming Community.”

Also in August: Lutheran hunger leaders and pastors from the Allegheny and Upper Susquehanna synods participated in a round table on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization held by congressman Glenn Thompson. Youth from St. Luke’s, Bloomsburg, visited with LAMPa to learn more about advocacy and tour the state Capitol. LAMPa had a display table at the Lower Susquehanna Synod Women of the ELCA gathering in Shippensburg.

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Virginia

Charles Swadley

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy     

www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

 

The Virginia Interfaith Center For Public Policy (VICPP) activities include:

  • Sent action alerts on a number of federal policy issues, including feeding program reauthorization and economic policy, to approximately 10,000 statewide faith-based supporters.
  • Organized and hosted two statewide educational webinars/teleconferences on the topic of redistricting in Virginia that attracted more than 125 participants. The events were produced in partnership with the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, New Virginia Majority, and One Virginia 2021.
  • Organized and hosted a chapter meeting of American Families United, a national organization of families working to help improve immigration law.
  • Hosted Virginia Department of Health for a policy and grassroots education planning sessions for nutritional and feeding programs.
  • Exhibited at the Interfaith Center of Greater Richmond’s annual meeting.
  • VAHosted a table with our New River Valley Chapter at “Steppin’ Out” in downtown Blacksburg on Aug. 7 and 8 (see photo). Handed out more than 200 “Building Community” stickers. People filled in blanks on the stickers about what builds community. The stickers were intended to counter the pro-gun elements that permeate the event.
  • VICPP and Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare (VICPP’s healthcare advocacy program) attended and exhibited at Happily Natural Day on Aug. 29 and presented at the New River Valley Chapter’s annual “Coming Together to Make a Difference” of social justice organizations in Roanoke Valley on Aug. 30.
  • Participated in planning meetings for an Anti-Poverty Summit to be held February 2016 in Hampton Roads in partnership with the Center for American Progress and a number of statewide organizations planning.
  • Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare supported our Northern Va. Chapter’s organizing a Medicaid Expansion event on Sept. 10 in partnership with the League of Women Voters.
  • Worked with Virginia United Methodist Conference leaders to plan for seven “Social Action 101: Effective Advocacy with the General Assembly” educational events to be held across Virginia in November.
  • Chapter leaders, including Virginia Union Seminary faculty member, the Rev. Dr. Faith Harris, are working with the center to produce social justice and action coursework and workshops.
  • Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare will be participating in Labor Day activities in the Hampton/Newport News area to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network 

www.fanwa.org

POLICY UPDATES:  The lead congressional issue for Faith Action Network (FAN) continues to be the reauthorization of our nation’s child-nutrition programs. We are supporting summer hunger reduction bills and urging support for all of this as we meet with members of congress and their staffs. We are also setting interim meetings with our state legislators in preparation for the next legislative session in January. Additionally, FAN is excited that all three of our ELCA bishops are going to Washington, D.C., for the congressional convocation with bishops of the Episcopal Church USA.

wa1FAITH BASED ORGANIZING:  FAN’s Network of Advocating Faith Communities (now at 101) is divided into 17 geographic clusters around our state. We are in FAN’s third programmatic season of gathering in cluster meetings to build relations between FAN and our advocates and their faith communities. We discuss FAN’s policy work as well as best practices for advocacy at the congregational level.

STAFFING:  FAN is excited about our two new interns. One is an ELCA seminary student at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and will be shared with an ELCA congregation two days a week. Our other new intern is from the United Church of Christ and will be at FAN four days a week. We also sadly say goodbye to Kelle Rose, who is moving on to graduate school—but welcome Erin Parks, who is a Pacific Lutheran University grad and recently spent a Lutheran Volunteer Corp year with the ELCA churchwide organization’s Justice for Women program.

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Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin 

www.loppw.org

DIALOGUE WITH BISHOPS: The director met with four bishops at a Region 5 meeting to review LOPPW’s priorities and resources and receive input and ideas for future priorities. They also discussed ways LOPPW could play a role in supporting and rejuvenating ELCA World Hunger teams in their synods.

CARE FOR CREATION/WATER CAMPAIGN: LOPPW and the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin began working together to create a team that will access resources from ELCA World Hunger and the Washington, D.C., Advocacy Office. The team will focus on the impact of climate change on water availability and hunger and the interrelatedness of the three.

TRAFFICKING: LOPPW is working with UW-Madison to secure an intern for 10 hours per week for one semester beginning this fall. The intern will work with the director and the LOPPW/Cherish All Children advocacy team to create resources for congregations.

MONEY IN POLTICS:  The director discussed this as one of the root causes of hunger in relationship to public policy with the bishops and one legislator to prepare for part of the agenda of our September annual Advisory Council/Staff Retreat. More immediately, LOPPW will address the threat of dismantling our state’s Government Accountability Board.

TRAINING: The director participated in a one-week community organizing training hosted by the ELCA.

INTERFAITH: The director met with staff from the Wisconsin Council of Churches to begin discussions about partnering on a future project with a focus on a public policy.

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What advocacy efforts are going on in your synod or state? We want to hear about it!

Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​

Connecting Mental Health and Hunger

Leah Shelton, ELCA Advocacy

One in five  children in the United States experience a mental disorder each year. That’s nearly 16 million children every year. Mental disorders can be extremely debilitating, leading to isolation, self-harm, and a life-long stigma of weakness and danger. These effects, if not treated in childhood, can affect the child’s entire life.

With that statistic in mind, now consider that only 20% of childhood mental disorders are treated. This is the 20-20 effect: 20% of children have a mental disorder and 20% are treated. Treatment exists for such a small number for many reasons, including a scarcity of pediatric and adolescent psychiatrists and the cost of treatment. Childhood mental health awareness and treatment in the United States is detrimentally dismal.

We have a problem.

What is causing mental illness in children? There is an innumerable set of influences, but among the many risk factors is poverty. Recent evidence points specifically to poor nutrition. While there is not yet evidence of a causal relationship (lack of/poor nutrition causing mental disorders), it is evident that there is a definite relationship between child nutrition and mental health. The grips of poverty force families to go hungry, and without proper nutrition children may have an increased risk of developing a mental disorder or worsening a pre-existing one.

Childhood nutrition in the U.S. is as bleak as mental illness: 1 in 5 children in the U.S. do not know where their next meal will come from. Approximately 16 million U.S. children are food-insecure.  Although I have never experienced the kind of anxiety that comes from searching for food, during my time interning at the ELCA’s Advocacy Office in Washington D.C., I’ve witnessed advocates from across the country telling their members of Congress stories about the constant anxiety they and their friends suffer because of food insecurity. Their stories opened my eyes to both the desperation of hunger and the vital role that public policy must play to keep them from starvation.

The federally funded National School Lunch Program makes possible school breakfasts and lunches, which these children depend on as a consistently reliable source of nutrition. While it may appear as if these hungry children will receive at least one meal a day for the rest of their school years, Congress has the power to change this, for better or worse. The National School Lunch Program and other programs, such as The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), are set to expire at the end of September. ELCA Advocacy is calling upon Congress to reauthorize  these programs in order to continue providing nutrition for low-income families and children. So far, Congress has not reauthorized these programs, leaving 16 million children with food-insecurity.

By defunding programs such as the National School Lunch program, Congress is essentially sweeping the carpet out from under the feet of these children and telling them that their lives are not worth the $16 billion school breakfasts and lunch cost, combined. Even in terms of money, compared to the $247 billion childhood mental healthcare costs each year, funding nutrition programs is much more fiscally feasible and responsible. Even if the programs are reauthorized, special interest groups are lobbying Congress to neutralize federal nutrition standards for these programs. Students, some of whom find school lunch to be their only meal of the day, could find lower health standards in their food and continue this long term problem.

Why would Congress remove a program which is so closely linked to a risk factor for mental illness when the rates for both child nutrition and mental illness are oppressive? This  would be detrimental, not only for children like the ones I met, but also for the federal budget. It is moral, fiscal, rational, and imperative that Congress fund child nutrition programs.

ELCA Advocacy has long supported child nutrition programs and intervening in the cycle of hunger and poverty which mental illness is so frighteningly connected to. As Lutherans, we must raise our voices to this injustice and ask Congress to stand by Matthew 23:35: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” By doing this, we stand by our challenge to ourselves to “become good stewards of … physical and mental health by attending to preventive care, personal health habits, diet, exercise, and recreation” (ELCA Health Care Statement).

*Check out  how Lutherans are getting involved in healthcare initiatives at Lutheran Services in America.

**For more information on other public policy initiatives for preventing common mental disorders click here.

ELCA Advocacy Update- August 2015

ELCA Advocacy

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

​​​Washington, D.C.

Mary Minette,

Interim Director of Advocacy

www.elca.org/advocacy

 

LOGUMEPA CLEAN POWER PLAN ANNOUNCED: This week, President Obama unveiled details about a new EPA Clean Power Plan. The plan will work with states and industries to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and help combat climate change. Following the release of the rule, ELCA Advocacy’s new interim director, Mary Minette, released the following statement applauding the announcement:

“Reducing carbon emissions from power plants must be a top priority for the U.S. and the world if we hope to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and protect communities around the world.

The rule released today by the Environmental Protection Agency is a critical step in reaching that goal. It provides individual states the flexibility to implement the rule in ways that make the most sense for their economies and power needs while still reducing overall emissions and demonstrating our country’s leadership in combating climate change.

Climate change is already affecting all of us. Most importantly, it will cause countless problems for our children, our grandchildren, and our most vulnerable neighbors if we fail to take bold action now to curb its worst impacts. We have a moral obligation to leave our children a healthy and safe world, and to care for our neighbors. The rule released today is an important step on the path to meeting that obligation.” 

youthADVOCACY AT THE ELCA YOUTH GATHERING: ELCA Advocacy joined with ELCA Young Adult Ministry for engagement and action at the ELCA Youth Gathering this July in Detroit. Youth took action in support of Child Nutrition reauthorization, called on the United States to lead in addressing climate change, and learned about how to continue connecting with the ELCA as young adults. We are excited to build our partnership with ELCA Young Adult Ministry by supporting efforts to foster connections and engage on important issues in our communities. Watch for important social media conversations by following @elcayoungadults and #elcayoungjustice!.

RESTORING RELATIONS WITH CUBA: On July 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved three amendments on Cuba. The first amendment lifts the travel ban to Cuba for one year. The second amendment repeals the costly and outdated requirement that any ship entering Cuban ports shall not load/unload cargo anywhere in the United States within 180 days without a license from the secretary of the treasury. Lastly, the committee voted to allow the private sector to provide financial services to Americans for sales of permitted agricultural goods to Cuba. While these amendments have yet to pass the full Senate, it is indicative of the growing bipartisan consensus in Congress and around the country for our government to normalize relations with Cuba. Through advocacy and high-level dialogue, the ELCA continues to support all efforts to fully restore relations with Cuba.

childCHILD NUTRITION REAUTHORIZATION: The Senate Finance committee will consider child nutrition program legislation starting Thursday, Sept. 17. This legislation will determine the continuation of cost-effective federal programs that are critical to the wellbeing of children in schools across the nation. Take action today to support these programs at the Advocacy Action center. NOTE: For advocates who collected and shared ELCA child nutrition postcards on this issue, please send in all signed postcards to the ELCA Advocacy office as soon as possible! (Mail to: 122 C Street NW, Suite 125, Washington, D.C. 20001).

U.S. MIGRATION:  In late July, Judge Dolly Gee ruled that the U.S. government must stop detaining families because it violates a 1997 agreement that upholds the best interest of children. The U.S. government has until the week of Aug. 10 to appeal the decision. However, in a move signaling their willingness to appeal, the Department of Justice has already asked the judge to reconsider her decision. The faith community has stood together asking the administration to release families as soon as possible and not appeal the decision.

CENTRAL AMERICA/MEXICO: The Senate released their version last month of the funding bill that would address migration from Central America. Their version focuses on addressing poverty, violence and corruption. This stands in contrast to the House version, which incentivizes stopping children and families at all costs by releasing funding only if Central American and Mexican governments increase border security and stop migrants. Although neither bill is expected to be approved, the ELCA is advocating for the continuous resolution, which keeps funding levels the same as the previous fiscal year, to contain the provisions in the Senate version of the bill.

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New York, NY

Dennis Frado​, Lutheran Office for World Community

lwfTRAINING WORKSHOP ON ADVOCACY FOR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS: The Lutheran World Federation Women in Church and Society program organized a training workshop from July 6 to July 11 in Geneva on women’s human rights advocacy.  It was held jointly with the World Council of Churches, Finn Church Aid, the ACT (Action by Churches Together) Alliance, and the World YWCA. The  workshop’s aim was to help participants from member churches or other faith-based organizations to better understand and use U.N. mechanisms and treaties, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Universal Periodic Review, and the U.N.  Commission on the Status of Women to advance gender quality. Submitting “shadow” reports is one of the avenues faith-based organizations can report on human rights situations in the countries being reviewed. The Lutheran Office for World Community’s Christine Mangale presented and moderated a workshop that explored the linkages between Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Universal Periodic Review and the proposed U.N. Post-2015 Development Agenda, including the proposed Sustainable Development Goals.

LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS LOWC: In early July, the general secretary of The Lutheran World Federation, the Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, visited the Lutheran Office for World Community.  The primary purpose of his visit was to attend a donor-faith-based organizations-U.N.  consultation and reflect together in depth on three areas: governance and democratization, peace and security, and gender equality and women’s empowerment. They will be included in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. While in New York, he also visited the offices of U.N. Women, UNICEF, the U.N. Development Program, and the U.N. Population Fund to discuss possible future areas of collaboration. LOWC staff accompanied him to all of the meetings.

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California

Mark Carlson

Lutheran Office of Public Policy

www.loppca.org​

 

STATE LEGISLATURE: The California Legislature is on summer recess until Aug. 17, when it will reconvene for three weeks of final activity for the year. Before recess, LOPP-CA expressed support in the Assembly Human Services Committee for a bill, SB 23, to repeal the Maximum Family Grant rule that prohibits additional cash assistance for a new pregnancy and birth in a family already enrolled in CalWORKS/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, except for reported rape and incest, or specified, medically documented contraceptive failure. Ending this harsh, “thin the soup” policy based on demeaning stereotypes, which contributes to one-quarter of California’s children living in poverty, is a high priority for women’s advocates.  A coalition is planning a “Stronger Together” action day at the Capitol on Aug. 26.

CA1Director Mark Carlson’s activities included a half-day briefing by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (focus on health access for undocumented immigrants); attendance at the funeral of the Rev.  Richard Bowley, a leader in justice and anti-racism ministry; anti-racism training offered by Faith Lutheran, Meadow Vista, and Bethlehem Lutheran, Auburn; panelist at a forum on police-community relations at Our Redeemer, Sacramento; and hosting a Day at the Capitol for participants in the Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network, sponsored by Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry at UC Davis (see photo with legislative director for Senate majority leader).  A highlight was viewing a Senate hallway press conference by about eight senators who condemned the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Donald Trump.

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Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado 

www.lam-co.org

Co2ELCA YOUTH GATHERING: Director Peter Severson was present at the Youth Gathering in Detroit to raise the profile of advocacy, partnering with ELCA Young Adult Ministry and ELCA World Hunger to create action stations in the Interaction Center. The advocacy offices in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., were represented. Hundreds of youth and group leaders filled out child nutrition postcards for members of Congress and signed the Interfaith Climate Petition, and even Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton came to visit us!

You can see more pictures and updates from the Youth Gathering by searching for #RiseUpELCA and #ELCAYoungJustice on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us @LutheranAdvoCO and like us on facebook.com/LutheranAdvocacyCO to hear more about what we’re up to.

CHILD NUTRITION: LAM-CO has been deeply involved in raising the profile of child nutrition issues in Colorado this summer. As Congress looks ahead to working on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act this fall, LAM-CO has joined members of the anti-hunger coalition in planning events for the Colorado delegation during the August recess to highlight the importance of summer meal programs, especially for low-income households.

In addition, pastors and lay leaders in rural counties are preparing to attend town hall meetings this month hosted by the Colorado Department of Human Services in order to speak out on hunger issues.

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

KIDS COUNT: The new KIDS COUNT report ranks Minnesota No.1 for well-being of children, based on education, economic well-being, health, and family and community. However, significant concerns still exist for Minnesota children: 14 percent live in poverty; one-third live in households with overly high housing costs; more than 3,500 (half  under age 6) are homeless with their parents on any given night. The report confirms that “children in low-income families that have limited access to affordable housing are more likely to live in crowded housing or become homeless, and are more likely to be food insecure and have to postpone accessing health care.” [Emphasis added.]

MN KIDS Count report

National KIDS COUNT Data Center

National website and links to report(s)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS: The Homes for All Coalition has started the process to determine priorities for the 2016 legislative focus. Over several previous months, more studies on housing and homelessness have shown the importance housing stability plays for families, especially in hunger and health (reaffirmed in the new KIDS COUNT). Also, senior homelessness is increasing at dramatic rates. LA-MN will push to address these concerns.

CLEAN ENERGY: Analysis following the difficult 2015 session suggests a significant lack of knowledge around clean energy and the damage coal burning causes to people and the environment. LA-MN fall education will try to address this deficit.

Director Tammy Walhof also fulfilled her civic responsibility of jury duty this month, serving on one trial and jury pools for two others.

Twitter: @LuthAdvocacyMN   Facebook

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​New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico 

www.lutheranadvocacynm.org

NM1Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico joined with many other groups and individuals to urge that new work requirements not be imposed for families receiving SNAP benefits. The Martinez administration through the New Mexico Human Services Department intends to institute work requirements for recipients from the age of 16 to 60 and for families with children over the age of 5. LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman was member of a panel that presented to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee on July 16 in Las Cruces.  Ruth emphasized that over 30 percent of New Mexico’s children live in poverty and that our economy is lagging far behind in the recovery from the great recession. She also stated that there is little or no evidence that the Human Services Department is prepared to or able to administer such a new program that will involve tens of thousands of recipients. Because LAM-NM now is in a covenant advocacy relationship with the NM Conference of Churches, LAM-NM spoke on behalf of that ecumenical organization as well.  Here is a link to an interview that Ruth did (along with our advocacy partner, the NM Conference of Catholic Bishops) with KUNM radio about the proposed requirements.

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​Ohio

Nick Bates, The Faith Coalition for the Common Good 

nick@oneohionow.org

 

Happy fiscal new year from the state of Ohio! On July 1, 2015, fiscal year 2016 began with Ohio’s new budget. It’s a month into the new fiscal year, and advocates and faith leaders continue to scratch their heads at missed opportunities to expand food access, help low-income families through a refundable earned-income tax credit, and help rural poverty-stricken school districts. Recent reports continue to show Ohio’s unacceptable infant mortality rate and child poverty rates. While Capitol Square has quieted down this month, faith advocates continue to ask what does it mean for us to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

If you would like to get involved with faith-based advocacy in Ohio, contact Diaconal Minister Nick Bates atBatesyep@gmail.com.

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Pennsylvania

Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania 

Tracey DePasquale, Associate Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

The state budget is now more than a month overdue. Rank-and-file lawmakers are in summer recess as their leadership and the Wolf administration negotiate in the wake of last month’s vetoed spending plan.  The budget impasse has begun tohurt nonprofits and ministries.

LAMPa continues to help Lutherans connect with Harrisburg lawmakers through email advocacy, editorial writing and congregational postcard campaigns on the key issues of housing trust fund expansion and fair education funding. LAMPa acted with PA175 other organizations to urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to address loopholes in its draft payday lending rules.

Tracey joined advocacy colleagues at the Youth Gathering, engaging Pennsylvania youth in advocacy on the Interfaith Climate Petition, federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill and the ELCA Day of Service and inviting them to connect with LAMPa upon their return. LAMPa is inviting youth to bring their #Proclaim Justice Day activities home with resources for youth to combat blight and act on clean water in Pennsylvania.

PA2LAMPa connected the State Education Association with the state’s food security coalition, resulting in training more than 100 teacher leaders on poverty and hunger and their connection to learning. That partnership, which will be ongoing, has also yielded the association’s August newsletter devoted to child hunger and nutrition.

Check out our resources for preachers during Six Weeks of Bread Texts: Preaching on John 6.

We bid a fond farewell to Pastor Paul Lubold as he leaves LAMPa staff – but not Lutheran advocacy! We are grateful for his friendship and his entire ministry.

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Virginia

Charles Swadley

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy     

www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) provided support for an ELCA Hunger Summit with Bishop Jim Mauney on July 25. It was well attended by interdenominational partners from across Virginia.  At the summit, presentations on feeding programs were provided by state government representatives. With lively discussion, strategizing, and a focus on the future, a follow-up meeting will be held in Charlottesville on Nov. 18 to include interfaith leaders.

VA1Seminary student and Public Policy Fellow Lana Heath de Martinez is leading VICPP’s organizing efforts to expand ethnic, age and faith diversity through the statewide chapters. VICPP is partnering with a new coalition of agencies called RISE for Youth with the intention of closing juvenile prisons in Virginia. A partnership with the Center for American Progress continues and will culminate with the co-hosting of a Poverty Summit in Hampton Roads in September.

VICPP and its health care program, Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare, met with Ben O’Dell, a representative of the White House Faith and Community Relations Office, to discuss working together on advocating for Medicaid expansion during the forthcoming General Assembly session. The health care program supported two events on July 29 and 30 in the Hampton Roads area to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. The regional director for the Department of Health and Human Services presented at both events, noting the impact of these programs on improving Americans’ lives. VICPP is assisting the Chesapeake Foundation in organizing an interfaith conference focused on the environment at the Living Waters retreat center in Hampton Roads this September.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network 

www.fanwa.org

POLICY UPDATE: Washington’s Legislature, after three special sessions and 176 days, finally adjourned on July 7, with its final decision being the suspension of a class-size reduction initiative approved by voters last November. All three budgets (operating, transportation and capital) were signed just before midnight on June 30 by the governor to avoid state layoffs. (The 2015-2017 biennium began July 1.) A summary of the issues we worked on this past legislative session can be viewed at http://fanwa.org/2015-end-of-session-report/.

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE: FAN’s goal every year is to meet with as many of our congressional delegation (12) as possible. Our latest meeting was with key staff of Sen. Maria Cantwell in her Seattle office, where we discussed the Green Climate Fund, I-VAWA, Child nutrition/summer hunger bills, and recognition for the Duwamish tribe (first peoples of Seattle).

PROGRAMMING AND ORGANIZING: FAN is now in its third programmatic season of the year, convening our 17 geographic clusters that make up our Network of Advocating Faith Communities, which now numbers 101 faith communities around the state. The purpose is to deepen relationships and discuss ways to better advocate individually and collectively on issues FAN is working on. FAN is planning two forums on taxation called “What Kind of State Do You Want to Live In? A conversation and mobilization about our state’s regressive tax structure.”  Washington state has the most regressive tax structure in the nation.

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Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin 

www.loppw.org

PAY DAY LENDING:  LOPPW has a history of trying to protect Wisconsinites, especially those living in poverty, from predatory lending.  Recently our constituents responded to the sudden state budget addition to allow payday lenders to provide more services, such as insurance, annuities and financial advice. The proposed addition created bipartisan resistance.  We are pleased that Gov. Scott Walker responded to the advocacy against the measure and vetoed it.

LIVING WAGE COALITION:  The coalition initiated by Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice is made up of faith-based and secular partners.  We recently met for a second time and explored broader issues  beyond raising the minimum wage, including predictable, stable hours (Hours that Work); paid sick leave; paid family leave; affordable, quality child care; access to public transportation; and pension protection.

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONSORTIUM: At the most recent statewide meeting we discussed the newly formed Safe Harbor Bill; consensus is that this bill will have more of a chance of passing than previous bills related to Safe Harbor.

DIALOGUE WITH BISHOPS:  The director contacted all the Wisconsin bishops to introduce the idea of creating a project that would focus on one of the root causes of hunger – money in politics impacting public policies.  She will and all six bishops will meet at a Region 5 gathering at the end of August to discuss the project further. LOPPW’s director also participated in two half-day trainings for our advocacy office’s new database.

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What advocacy efforts are going on in your synod or state? We want to hear about it!

Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​

American by Grace, Compassionate by Action

Sean Bonawitz, ELCA Advocacy

Rethinking Perspectives of Migration in The Northern Triangle

We do not choose where we live, who our families are, or the time that we are born into. We are thrown into the mystery of life. Some land gracefully while others crash and crash hard. For those of us who are born as citizens of the U.S.A., our environment is a stable one. Not without its own challenges, but with general safety. Life is difficult at times for all, but have you ever felt a strong enough presence of danger that forced you to flee from your home? Rarely do we ever look across the Gulf and wonder what our lives would be like had they begun in Honduras, Guatemala, or El Salvador; the Northern Triangle of Central America.

Children and families in the Northern Triangle continue to leave their homes due to complex and interrelated reasons, including chronic violence, poverty, environmental displacement and lack of opportunities. These problems are exacerbated by the failure of governments to address these issues, leaving many with no choice but to flee. Children are forcibly recruited and targeted by gangs as they cross gang territories to attend school. Many business owners are forced to pay a “protection” fee to criminal actors to avoid harm. Although numbers of migrant children and families at the U.S.-Mexican Border have dropped significantly this past year, deportations and detentions of Central Americans along the Southern Mexico Border have increased drastically due to Mexico’s 2014 Southern Border Plan, which is backed by the United States.

Why do we continue to prevent Central Americans access to the protection our nation’s stability has to offer? It is possible we have been labeling migrants from the Northern Triangle incorrectly. So far we have refused to identify them as needing international protection or refugees, but rather, have colloquially categorized these children and families as “illegal immigrants”. The 1951 Refugee Convention under Article 1(A)2 says, “the term refugee shall apply to any person who fear(s) being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion”. Although persecution via gang violence does qualify many of these people for international protection, most children and family members do not qualify as textbook refugees, and fail to receive adequate aid. Why are these persecuted children and family members not regarded as deserving of this legal status? In a region where homicide rates and gang violence run rampant, fleeing from a community culture such as this should qualify these people as refugees.

Those of us who were born in America were handed this privilege by chance, not choice. As one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, once proclaimed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”. We are endowed with, we were gifted these rights as humans and people of God. Our privilege as Americans is that we, as a nation, persistently fight for these values. So why should we deny these rights to others who actively seek acknowledgement of their unalienable rights? Should we not embrace our neighbor with open arms?

We as Americans should provide a safe haven for these refugees and welcome our neighbors, who have shown extreme bravery, courage, and faith. We should listen to the words in Philippians 2:4 which states, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others”.  We should welcome refugees, as we previously have, and continue the idea of America as “The Great Salad Bowl” of diverse communities. America was founded and forged by immigrant communities. We should not turn away those who seek life, liberty and pursue happiness.

ELCA Advocacy Update – July 2015

ELCA Advocacy

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

​​​Washington, D.C.

Advocacy Director, Stacy Martin

www.elca.org/advocacy

 

LOGUMVatican Encyclical “Laudato Si”:  On June 18 Vatican officials released “Laudato Si,” an encyclical letter on caring for creation. In the encyclical, Pope Francis I places a special emphasis on our moral obligation to address the growing threats to our world caused by climate change. Arriving shortly before the upcoming global climate summit in Paris, the pope’s encyclical affirms that climate change is largely a man-made dilemma, and is a principal challenge facing humanity today. Immediately after its release, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, praised the encyclical noting parallels to our own social statement “Caring for Creation.” Bishop Eaton also called for action to help less-privileged nations that must now face the most brutal effects of climate change.

Smarter Sentencing Act: ELCA Advocacy took action earlier this month to support The Smarter Sentencing Act, now in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, as part of our ongoing effort to address mass incarceration and racial justice in our communities. The bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act makes modest reforms to our justice system by alleviating overcrowding in our prisons, restoring the ability of federal judges to determine fairer and more realistic sentences, and creating more transparency about how federal laws and regulations are applied. You can take action now at the ELCA Action Center.

1Mexico and Central America: This month, members of ELCA Advocacy and the churchwide organization staff traveled to Mexico to learn about the detainment and treatment of migrant children and families from Central America. Staff met with civil society leaders and government officials to learn more about the ongoing crisis.This visit came in the wake of the Obama administration’s ongoing foreign policy discussion that continues to focus on encouraging increased border security measures by the Mexican and Central American governments without acknowledging the immediate need to protect migrants who are forced to flee. ELCA Advocacy continues to urge lawmakers to support the protection and human rights of all God’s children and will be releasing a full report on the findings in Mexico within the coming weeks.

Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, S.C.:  Presiding Bishop Eaton and leaders of the ELCA offered their prayers to the victims of the Mother Emanuel AME tragedy earlier this month. Two of the victims, including the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, were graduates of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, an ELCA seminary in Columbia, S.C. Bishop Eaton, who later attended Pinckey’s funeral, reaffirmed in a statement the immediate urgency to address racism as a society and as a church. ELCA Advocacy recognizes that we cannot truly seek justice and peace through advocacy without being committed to ending racism. We commit ourselves to working toward this goal and ask that you join us in this effort. Follow our Advocacy efforts and ELCA Racial Justice Ministries to learn how you can join in the conversation.

2The Endangered Species Act: On June 25, ELCA Environmental Policy Director Mary Minette was on a panel of experts about our moral obligation to care for creation by protecting endangered species. The event was attended by Senate and coalition-partner staff. In her message, Mary reaffirmed our religious calling to be stewards of nature by caring for creatures and the environments around them. To protect God’s creation, we must make environment-friendly choices as well as advocate for continuing the Endangered Species Act, which is, as Mary put it, “a modern-day Noah’s ark.”

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New York, NY

Dennis Frado​, Lutheran Office for World Community

Ministerium meeting at LOWC: On May 12, LOWC welcomed the Lutheran pastors from Manhattan to the Church Center for the United Nations. The meeting of the ELCA Manhattan Ministerium Conference started with worship on social justice under the heading “Sing a new song to the Lord.” Afterward the ministers had an opportunity to learn about the work of the Lutheran office and discussed possible areas of cooperation. The LOWC staff also expressed their offer to visit congregations that are interested in our work to the United Nations.

Peace Not Walls gathering:  About 30 members of the Peace Not Walls network gathered in mid-June at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio to discuss recent activities and future work plans. They shared ideas for synod engagement, heard reports on advocacy activities, proposed teleconferences with speakers from the Holy Land, heard updates about future young adult trips to the region, discussed the intersections of work between Peace Not Walls and racial justice and received an update about staff efforts to explore “positive investment” in connection with the 2013 Churchwide Assembly request.

Lutheran World Federation Council meeting: As has become the custom, Dennis Frado served as co-opted staff for several of the committees of the annual meeting of the Lutheran World Federation Council when it met last month in Chavannes-de-Bogis, near Geneva, Switzerland. The council adopted four public statements and four resolutions. The public statements were on climate justice, protracted conflicts and over-stretched humanitarian response, the situation in Tanah Papua (West Papua, Indonesia) and the sin of racism (in response to the shooting in South Carolina).  The four resolutionscovered the Middle East, Migrants, the post-2015 Development Agenda and the recent Nigeria elections.

Unaccompanied and migrant children consultation: Following a number of conversations with synodical bishops, the ELCA Church Council and others, the churchwide organization called together a consultation last month to provide input for a proposed churchwide unaccompanied and migrant children initiative. Dennis is serving on the writing team to prepare the document related to the initiative with Alaide Vilchis Ibarra of the ELCA Advocacy office and Megan Brandsrud, program interpreter for Lutheran Disaster Response.  It is expected to be reviewed by the Conference of Bishops later this year and be considered by the Church Council at one of its future meetings.

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California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy

www.loppca.org​

Sadness about Emanuel AME is mixed with good feelings about a state budget that includes a new state Earned Income Tax Credit, over $300 million in new funding for preschool and child care, health insurance coverage for undocumented children, resources to assist immigrant integration into society, and money for access to scarce water in disadvantaged communities as the drought worsens.  There is good news about housing, as the first grants of carbon cap-and-trade funds were announced under the Affordable Homes and Sustainable Communities program, with more to come.  LOPP-CA was part of the collective effort needed to achieve this progress.

3On Friday following the Charleston massacre, LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson attended a prayer service at Murph-Emmanuel AME (site of a former ELCA congregation) and left Bishop Eaton’s statement and spoke with the pastor of St. Andrew’s AME, the oldest AME church west of the Mississippi.

On his own time, Mark went with family to see “Inside Out,” a “a major emotion picture,”the Pixar-animated tale of Riley Anderson, age 11, who moves from Minnesota, where her “core memories” were made, with her parents to more diverse “San Franstinktown.” Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust live in her head.  She is engaged with Islands of Friendship, Family, and Honesty, among others, which crumble as she and her family try to adapt to a new life. Joy and Sadness work in grace for renewal, including a new Island of Friendly Argumentation, what we might call “moral deliberation.”

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Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado 

www.lam-co.org

Self-Sufficiency Standard: The Colorado Center on Law & Policy recently released the 2015 Colorado Self-Sufficiency Standard, a measure of how expensive it is to live in Colorado. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado was present at the launch event alongside many other interest groups. The standard calculates the income required for a family to meet basic needs without assistance. On average, costs increased by 32 percent across Colorado between 2001 and 2015. While the amount needed to be self-sufficient varies considerably by geography, 7 out of 10 of the most common occupations in Colorado pay median wages below the standard. Closing that gap will require both reducing costs and raising incomes, both of which will be part of LAM-CO’s economic policy agenda for the 2016 legislative session.

Other events: LAM-CO Director Peter Severson was invited to give the benediction at the graduation of the Family Leadership Training Institute, a civic engagement program run by the Department of Public Health. Severson shared the stage with more than 100 graduates as well as Secretary of State Wayne Williams. Severson also recently attended the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative annual summit, took part in the commissioning of summer staff at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, and participated in Together Colorado’s summit of Denver faith leaders at Shorter Community AME Church.

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​Minnesota
Tammy Walhoff, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota
tammy@lcppm.org  

The legislative special session: Gov. Mark Dayton had been cut out of negotiation processes through much of the session and vetoed three funding bills, necessitating a special session. A month of negotiations finally reached adequate agreement to call the special session, though even then it was not a smooth process. LA-MN’s priority issues saw little change, although both housing and clean energy were in a vetoed bill.

Homes for all priorities (final): The coalition, supported by grassroots action, secured a $25.5 million boost for housing and homeless services (including $10 million in bonds for housing). Homeless Youth programing increased $1 million per year. New funds will help thousands of Minnesotans access safe, stable and affordable housing. (For funding table, click here, and find the full bill here.)

Clean energy (final): There were no improvements to the Renewable Energy Standard or energy efficiency (original goal). Success became stopping roll-backs taking Minnesota significantly backward. The faith leader letter (see May update) played a significant role in that regard.

Papal encyclical: LA-MN used news of the new encyclical to draw attention to the ELCA social statement on the care of creation. Plans are to use the encyclical for study, to emphasize our stewardship role, and to tie poverty to climate and environmental degradation.

Synod-related activities: LA-MN Director Tammy Walhof led a workshop on housing, homeless youth and advocacy at the Southwestern Minnesota Synod.

Continuing education:  A theological retreat with colleagues, focused on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Ethics,” made for interesting reflection in the advocacy context.

Twitter: @LuthAdvocacyMN   Facebook

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​New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico 

www.lutheranadvocacynm.org

4Learning about advocacy ministry:  Youth from Peace and Trinity Lutheran churches in Las Cruces stopped at the Roundhouse, as the New Mexico state Capitol is nicknamed, on their “mystery trip.”  LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman spoke to the group about advocacy ministry in a legislative committee room where they were able to sit in the legislators’ chairs and learn about how to be involved in advocacy. Ruth also took them on a tour of the Capitol.  Thanks to Laura Carson, AIM and the Christian education and youth ministry director at Peace Lutheran for inviting LAM-NM to be a part of the adventure.

5Ecumenical connections:  Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia and LAM-NM Director Ruth Hoffman were part of the ecumenical and interfaith attendees at the installation of the new archbishop of Santa Fe. The Most Rev. John C. Wester comes to the archdiocese from Salt Lake City where he served as bishop and worked in partnership with local ELCA pastors on issues of immigration and poverty.  Utah is within the territory of the Rocky Mountain Synod so we look forward to continuing our partnership with Archbishop Wester.

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​Ohio

Nick Bates, The Faith Coalition for the Common Good 

nick@oneohionow.org

Gov. John Kasich signed the Ohio budget on Tuesday, June 30. Faith advocates are pleased that the conference committee restored Medicaid services for pregnant women up to 200 percent of the poverty level, removed a last minute amendment that would have cut homeless and affordable housing programs in half, and increased funding for emergency food banks. Faith advocates in Ohio will continue to advocate for increased access to emergency cash assistance, more equitable school funding, and a more progressive state tax system – including a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit to help lift Ohio families out of poverty. For more information, please contact Nick Bates at batesyep@gmail.com.

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Pennsylvania

Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania 

Tracey DePasquale, Associate Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

6As the July 1 budget deadline looms without promise of being met, Lutheran advocates are making their voices heard in the Capitol.

LAMPa led a prayer service on the Capitol steps June 23 in conjunction with a rally by the Campaign for Fair Education Funding and a faith-based organizing fast. Lutherans from around the state joined in the day of advocacy.  The Rev. Carlton Rodgers, Philadelphia, preached on the Capitol steps.  7Read his stirring sermon. The Rev. David Byerly, Shamokin, a LAMPa policy council member, spoke at the press conference. Both called for an end to the injustice of the state’s record of being the worst in the nation for school funding equity.

The LAMPa network responded quickly to help stall a bill that would have created a lifetime ban for those with felony drug offenses from receiving nutrition benefits. Lutheran advocates have also been active in alerting lawmakers against supporting another bill that would legalize payday lending.

LAMPa submitted testimony in support of the death penalty moratorium and assisted in publishing a letter from the state’s seven bishops in support of legislation to prohibit discrimination in areas of employment, housing and public accommodation on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Staff attended seven assemblies, which included advocacy-related resolutions on hunger, non-discrimination and the environment.

 LAMPa also equipped confirmation campers for their calling to strive for justice and a trip to Washington, D.C., where they advocated for clean water and child nutrition.

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Virginia

Charles Swadley

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy     

www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

On June 30, VICPP’s Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare program held a highly successful event, “Healthcare Access as a Moral Imperative,” which was co-organized by VICPP’s Richmond Chapter. Donations were generated for the Health Wagon, which provides remote-area medical services in Virginia and has been featured on “60 Minutes.” A capacity crowd of more than 150 was called into action for affordable health care access and expansion in Virginia! We are now planning to replicate this event with the two nurses of “60 Minutes” fame in Hampton Roads, Northern VA and Roanoke in the months ahead!

On June 18, Virginia Interfaith Center members joined people of all faiths at a prayer vigil at Second Baptist Church to trump fears and setbacks associated with the Charleston murders the previous day. Those assembled are organizing for unity and faith in action about the chronic issue and the solutions for hate crimes.

VICCP joined the Virginia Council of Churches in developing Virginia’s interfaith condemnation of the murders in Charleston.

Members of VICPP’s New River Valley Chapter joined members of the NAACP, Common Cause, and League of Women Voters in a Voting Rights Act rally in Roanoke on June 25. VICPP is joining with the Center for American Progress to produce an Anti-Poverty Summit to be held in the fall in Hampton Roads. VICPP is helping to lead a statewide anti-hunger effort with faith communities and partners, including the ELCA, the Office of the First Lady and the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network 

www.fanwa.org

Policy: The state Legislature, after three special sessions, finally got the 2015-2017 biennial operating budget approved and signed by the governor just before midnight on June 30 – the last of day of the current biennium. The $38.2 billion operating budget (capital and transportation budgets were approved separately on the same night) raised only $185 million in new revenue by eliminating two tax exemptions (Washington state has 600). Funding for the K-12 public school system is under a state Supreme Court order – we await the court’s response as to whether this portion of the budget is adequate to fund education. The state education secretary is adamant that it’s not enough and does little to change the unfair levy funding system.

One key policy/revenue-related bill that passed allows counties (by a vote of the people) to raise one-tenth of 1 percent in local sales tax dedicated to housing and mental health services.

On the congressional front, our four primary issues are: trade (Trans-Pacific Partnership), Child Nutrition Reauthorization (summer hunger bills), Green Climate Fund, and the International Violence Against Women Act. FAN’s goal is to meet with all 12 members of our congressional delegation. A FAN delegation had our first meeting on July 1 with Rep. Derek Kilmer, and later this month we’ll meet with Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Organizing and programs:  FAN’s Network of Advocating Faith Communities reached a milestone with our 100th faith community joining: Three Rivers Unitarian Universalists in eastern Washington. Our outreach continues with the Muslim community by attending the beginning of Ramadan in an eastern Washington mosque and an interfaith Iftar dinner in a Seattle-area mosque. FAN also released its statement on the Charleston murders and signed on to the Statewide Ecumenical Executives statement. FAN is in its third program season of the year, which is the convening of our Network of Advocating Faith Communities by 17 geographic clusters around the state. The purpose is to deepen relationships among local faith communities and strengthen our joint advocacy efforts. We’re beginning to plan two fall forums on taxation and its role in building a more equitable and sustainable state. Planning is also underway for our annual dinner in November.

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Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin 

www.loppw.org

State budget: The Legislature will likely make final decisions about the state budget soon. We are pleased with the $2 million included in the budget to assist youth victims of sex trafficking but are disappointed in some of the deep cuts and the decision to add the requirement for drug testing for recipients of public assistance to the budget. 

Other bills: The bill that would return 17-year-old non-violent offenders to the juvenile justice system will now be addressed apart from the budget. Safe Harbor, ensuring youth under 18 caught in the sex trade will be treated as victims, has officially become a bill and will likely go to committee later in the summer or fall.

Synod assemblies: LOPPW had a display table and held the following workshops at four synod assemblies:

9La Crosse Area Synod: “How to be an Advocate from a Faith Perspective,” co-led by the director and Council Member Bridget Crave.

10Greater Milwaukee Synod: “Human Trafficking in our Backyard,” led by the director. The Assembly was held at Carthage College.

Northwest Synod: “Advocacy and the Proposed State Budget,” co-led by the director and Council Member the Rev. Diane House.  11

12South-Central Synod: “Poverty and our State Budget,” co-led by the director and Council Member Lisa Hassenstab.

Sermon after Charleston deaths: LOPPW’s directorpreached at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Madison on June 21.

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What advocacy efforts are going on in your synod or state? We want to hear about it!

Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​