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Remembering the Bhopal disaster of 1984

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy
​The earth dries up and withers,

the world languishes and withers;
the heavens languish together with the earth.

​The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants;

for they have transgressed laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.

– Isaiah 24:4-5

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the worst industrial disaster in history, a disaster that many have forgotten in the years since.

On December 3, 1984 residents of Bhopal, India awoke to a cloud of toxic methyl isocynate gas that had been accidentally released from a nearby pesticide manufacturing plant operated by the Union Carbide Corporation.  

Poor maintenance practices at the barely operational plant led to the release, which ultimately killed more than 15,000 people in the largely low income communities surrounding the plant, and led to severe long-term health consequences for many of the more than half a million people exposed to toxic gas.  Although Union Carbide ultimately paid nearly $500 million in settlement to the Indian government, this has not been adequate to address the continuing health problems of those who lived through the disaster. ​ In addition, the chemical plant, though closed, has never been fully cleaned up and continues to pose a threat to nearby residents.

India is one of the most rapidly industrializing nations on earth, and although the Bhopal disaster led to some reforms of how chemical plants are permitted to operate in that country (and around the world), its policies tend to reflect a greater concern for economic growth than for environmental and public health protections.  More remains to be done, both in India and globally, to ensure that companies that manufacture toxic substances operate safely and to ensure that low income communities do not bear the majority of the risks associated with those manufacturing operations.​

Today, as we remember the dead and the survivors of the Bhopal disaster in our prayers, we also pray for the leaders and advocates around the world who are working hard to ensure that chemical companies operating in our midst are safe and accountable.

Living Earth Reflections: November 2014

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy

“Happy are those who consider the poor, the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.” – Psalm 41:1-4

mary1Last week I was invited to speak at a Congressional briefing on the International Climate Negotiations in Lima, Peru, which are set to take place in December 2014. During this briefing, participants discussed the September Climate Leaders’ Summit in New York and looked to future opportunities for governmental, private sector, and civil society cooperation on climate change. I was asked to give the faith community’s perspective on the upcoming meeting in Lima. For this month’s reflection, I would like to share with you my statement from this event:

The faith community is pretty diverse, but one of the things we have in common is an increasing concern about the impacts of climate change. Why? A common element in many faith traditions is a sense that the earth is God’s creation and that we are called to be good stewards—that sense of stewardship leads us to be concerned by the changes that all of us can observe in weather patterns around the world, changes that scientists tell us are the result of human-caused climate change.

Another common element shared by numerous faith traditions is concern for our neighbors, and particularly for the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, those who live in poverty. We see that climate impacts such as more severe storms, long term drought, flooding, sea level rise, are falling hardest on those who lack the means to adapt and recover—people in developing nations and in low income communities in developed nations. People of faith are among the first to respond when disaster strikes, and among the last to leave as lives are rebuilt.  Faith-based organizations are serving in communities in New Jersey where elderly residents on fixed incomes are struggling to rebuild their lives post-Sandy.  Faith-based organizations are working in the Philippines to help communities rebuild from the devastation of Supertyphoon Haiyan.

We know how climate change is impacting our neighbors, and who bears the greatest responsibility—not those who are suffering the most from its impacts, but rather those of us who live in developed countries.

Both our sense of failure as stewards of God’s earth, and our sense of responsibility for those who are suffering from the impacts of climate change and for climate change itself lead us to see this as perhaps the greatest moral challenge of our time.

The faith community has been engaged in the UNFCCC process since the very beginning—the World Council of Churches has sent a delegation to every COP; faith based development 20140921_131146NGOs have been engaged for many years as well. However, with the Climate March in New York this past September, faith engagement and support for a global climate change agreement may have reached a tipping point. Thousands of people marched in NY out of their faith—we crowded into an entire city block during the march staging.  Lutherans and Hindus, Muslims and Methodists, Catholics and Baptists joined together out of a shared concern for our future.

Following the summit, several faith based campaigns were launched to mobilize around the need for a global agreement on climate change: the OneVoice campaign will hold vigils around the world during Lima in a campaign called “Lights for Lima”; the Lutheran World Federation has an ongoing “Fast for the Climate” campaign aimed at the Paris agreement; and ACT Alliance, a faith-based global relief and development network has just launched its “ACT now for climate justice” campaign.

Our concerns for this process are not very different from what you’ve already heard, although we are committed to making sure that the concerns of the most vulnerable are front and center, and in particular that funding for and attention to adaptation is sufficient. The equal division of resources between adaptation and mitigation in the Green Climate Fund is a great start, but we are committed to making sure that financial pledges to the fund are robust and to making sure that adaptation is a prominent feature of the agreement in Paris next year.

As people of faith, we want to see world leaders assume moral leadership in confronting a problem that will impact all of us, but not all of us equally, in ways that reflects shared concerns but differing responsibilities and abilities. The US/China agreement is an example of the type of leadership we believe is necessary—the largest historic emitter joining with the largest emerging emitter to pledge actions that will begin to reduce their emissions in ways that reflect their differing abilities and levels of responsibility.  Another example is contributions to the Green Climate Fund—the US just announced a substantial pledge to the fund; Mexico, an emerging economy, made a smaller pledge to the fund in September during the Climate Summit. Both countries are showing moral leadership by pledging to help more vulnerable countries.

In closing, I offer a question asked by Yeb Sano, a climate negotiator for the Philippines who has become one of the strongest voices for moral leadership within the UNFCCC process, in speeches in both Doha in 2012 and Warsaw in 2013:

​”I ask all of all of us here, if not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?”

ELCA State Advocacy Update: November 2014

ELCA Advocacy
 Lutherans are taking action across the country! Below you will find our monthy State Advocacy Newsletter. Share with your friends, and download the document in the PDF version!
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Washington, D.C.
Advocacy Director, Stacy Martin
www.elca.org/advocacy

1Domestic Violence Awareness Month: In cooperation with ELCA Justice for ​Women, ELCA Poverty and Justice Ministries, LSA Advocacy, and Women of the ELCA, ELCA Advocacy released a jointDomestic Violence Awareness Month message and asked Lutherans to act in support of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). IVAWA, if passed, would make permanent the Office of Global Women’s Issues in the State Department and enable the U.S. government to develop better responses to violence against women in humanitarian emergencies and conflicts.

Clean Water Act: This month, ELCA Advocacy promoted followers to learn more and comment on the EPA’s proposed Clean Water Rule. This past spring, the EPA issued a draft rule that would protect streams and wetlands that connect to larger watersheds ensuring the quality of the water that we depend on for drinking, washing, swimming and fishing. One in three Americans—more than 117 million people—get their drinking water from sources fed by these small and seasonal streams.

2Combating human trafficking and child labor: ELCA Advocacy’s Network congratulated Kailash Satyarthi, founder of GoodWeave, for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. GoodWeave has previously received financial support from the ELCA for their efforts to end child labor in the carpet industry. ELCA Advocacy also encouraged Lutherans to urge Congress Members to act on the “Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act,” which would increase consumer consciousness and address the root causes of child slavery.

Election Day 2014: ELCA Advocacy continued to promote civic involvement and increasing turnout on November 4th for Election Day. As a public church rooted in civic activity and living out spiritual values, the ELCA proudly empowers and supports people to engage with government and policy. Across the country, Lutherans and local religious leaders took the pledge to vote, engaged with their communities through discussion and working to get-out-the-vote. Among the newly elected officials this year is Senator-Elect Joni Ernst (Iowa), a member of the ELCA. Thank you to all who participated in this Election and put their values to work!

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California
Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- CA ​

 

3November ballot measures: The focus of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy – California for October was on California’s “fourth branch of government”: direct democracy in the form of ballot propositions.  LOPP-CA director Mark Carlson led forums at four congregations, the Southwest California Synod WELCA convention, and the Sierra Pacific Synod. Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond placed on the ballot by the Legislature, was an LOPP-CA priority that passed by a 2 to 1 margin in the context of “exceptional” drought. Voters also approved of Proposition 47:  an initiative that reduces lower-level drug possession and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. State prison cost savings, estimated by the Legislative Analyst at potentially $200 million annually, will be used for mental health and substance abuse services (65%), truancy prevention (25%), and victims’ services (10%). LOPP-CA’s support of this initiative was directly informed by the ELCA’s “The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries” social statement.

The Calendar for November includes the annual California Interfaith Power & Light Cool Climate Awards at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in San Francisco on November 12 (3 ELCA congregations recognized), a joint meeting of Pacifica and Southwest California Synod bishops and justice leaders, the LOPP-CA Policy Council, the 50th anniversary of SF Night Ministry, and the 60th of Miracles of Faith Church in Oakland.​

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Colorado
Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado 

World Hunger: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado was the official representative for ELCA World Hunger at the Grace Race 5K, presented by Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, which took place at Sloan’s Lake in Denver on October 4. It was a banner year for participation in the Grace Race, now in its 8th year, and for funds raised to support ELCA World Hunger, which is a granting underwriter for LAM-CO. Thanks to RTLC staff & all who came out to participate for a great event!

Housing: Affordable housing is a critical issue in Colorado, especially in metro Denver and mountain communities. The 26th annual Housing Colorado NOW! Conference took place in Vail on Oct. 7-10 with a focus on construction of affordable housing, homelessness reduction, and permanent supportive housing services. At the conference, State Senator Jessie Ulibarri was named one of Housing Colorado’s Legislators of the Year. Sen. Ulibarri represents a district that includes the neighborhood in which the Rocky Mountain Synod office is located.

42014 Elections: Colorado voters weighed in on four highly contested ballot measures. Prior to the election, LAM-CO sponsored a voter forum on these ballot measures in partnership with the Colorado Social Legislation Committee and the League of Women Voters. Pro and con sides for each measure were presented by their respective official spokespersons, with time for rebuttals and question-and-answer. The forum was well-attended and well-received.

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Illinois
Jennifer DeLeon, Lutehran Adovcacy – Illinois

5Immigration was the theme for October. Lutheran Advocacy-IL held an informational workshop on temporary driver’s license for immigrants in Wauconda, IL with Messiah Lutheran Church and conducted presentations on immigration at the Metro Chicago Synod interpreters training and at the Metro Chicago Synodical Women’s convention.  Lutheran Advocacy-IL is also working with The Illinois Faith Leaders for Immigrant Justice in collecting stickers and Spanish language story bibles for the migrant children’s shelter in Chicago. The workshops covered a brief history of US immigration and policy and ways to get involved in advocating for immigration reforms, especially for the migrant refugee children. In Nov. Lutheran Advocacy-IL will cohost two free workshops on Nov 8 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington and on Nov. 15 at Gloria Die Lutheran Church in Downers Grove.

6Service: Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) & Lutheran Advocacy-IL invites you to participate in the upcoming Hands@Work event, were we will be “getting our hands dirty,” doing the work of the people of God and making lives better for our neighbors in need. We encourage the participation of everyone.

The Hands@Work Event offers five topics intended to appeal to a variety of interests, including: Disaster Preparedness Training, Public Policy Advocacy, Volunteers, Education Resources, and Local Congregation Consultation. For more information or to RSVP, contact Joy Medrano at 847/635-4653 or atJoy.Medrano@LSSI.org

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Minnesota
Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota 

Open house & blessing ceremony: On October 9, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota hosted an open house for supporters, participants, and partners to celebrate a new name and office space. The accompanying blessing ceremony and prayers not only lifted up LA-MN and its work, but the work of colleagues and partners. It also helped connect people across what sometimes seem like big divides, as Tammy, LA-MN Director, facilitated introductions between affordable housing advocates and environmental groups doing weatherization, or faith folks with science geeks.

Clean energy & jobs: LA-MN is working on a campaign to increase renewable energy standards in Minnesota from 25% by 2025, to 40% by 2030. (This would mostly be through wind, as a later effort will involve increasing solar from 1.5% to 10%). The goal also aims to increase the energy efficiency standard from 1.5% annually, to 2% annually.

Homes for All Coalition: A proposed package for affordable housing will likely come in close to $40 million in Min., and will also include some proposed policy changes to help low-income renters. The details are still being honed.

Elections, candidates education, and voter action – Lutheran Advocacy-MN hosted a candidate briefing on clean energy polling, with the Northwestern Minnesota Synod.  LA-MN participants continue to contact their legislators about both Clean Energy and Affordable Housing.

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​Nevada
Rev. Mike Patterson, Lutheran Episcopal Adovcacy in Nevada

Prisoner re-entry support: In Nevada, the predecessor group (LAMN) worked hard to get the state to provide id to inmates on release from prison; a job well done with support coming from many quarters, including the Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court.

A minor change to legislation in the 2013 session that seemed to enhance the prisoner re-entry program turned out to have tragic unexpected consequences that brought an end to the free id program.  The DMV interpreted the new law to absolve them from the id program and began charging parolees for the cards and the Dept. of Corrections kept issuing inmates paperwork they believed was good for a free id. These issues resulted in finger pointing from various entities. LEAN became aware of the issue and tried to work a solution but in the end both departments refused to absorb the costs.

LEAN has now involved a state Senator who is willing to amend a bill he has sponsored to rectify the issue and LEAN has promised support during the 2015 session.  LEAN is also working with the Chief Justice on this issue and looks forward to a successful conclusion. A lesson learned here in Nevada is to always try to look at the unintended consequences of even minor state laws.

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​New Jersey
Sara Lilja, Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry, New Jersey

Bail reform: LOGM worked with a coalition of partners to help pass Public Question No. 1, fixing the broken bail system by changing the New Jersey Constitution to allow judges to deny bail to the most dangerous defendants and usher in comprehensive bail reform for all. This new law, in combination with legislation passed earlier this year, means that nonviolent, low-risk people awaiting trial will no longer have to sit in jail simply because they can’t afford to pay their bail. Courts will be able to release nonviolent, low-risk people and focus on dangerous individuals.

Earned sick days: Momentum is building for New Jersey to pass legislation that makes it possible for hourly workers to earn 3-5 sick days a year. Recently, 2 additional municipalities passed this type of law, now 7 cities in the state have similar legislation in place. LOGM will continue to advance this legislation as they work for sustainable livelihood for all.

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​New Mexico
Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico 

7Immigration: On October 22, LAM-NM director, Ruth Hoffman, visited the immigrant detention center in Artesia, NM as part of a group from the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice. The detention center located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center has been detaining refugee mothers and children since this summer. Nearly all of the mothers and their children are from El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras and are escaping violence in their home countries. The facility is comprised of multiple temporary buildings and there is little or no privacy for the mothers and children.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is working to provide pro bono attorneys to represent the mothers in the legal proceedings that determine whether or not they can be released on bond and join family members living in the United States or be deported by to the violence in their home countries. Since the Pro Bono Project began, many more mothers and their children are getting good legal representation to protect their human rights and being released on bond. Prior to the pro bono project, 200 families were pushed through the system and deported. The week prior to the visit, LIRS executive director, Linda Hartke and several others, including Pastor Kirsten Sauey-Hofmann of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hobbs, NM also visited the detention center. “As people of faith, we believe that vulnerable newcomers deserve better and will continue our call to end this inhumane and unacceptable practice.”—from an LIRS statement about current detention policy.

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Pennsylvania
Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania 
School funding: As the 2014 legislative session drew to a close, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania participated in the launch of a statewide school funding campaign, helped defeat a tax bill that would have disproportionately burdened the poor and made a final push on a housing trust fund bill that failed but garnered support to try again next term. With voters naming education a top priority, we joined more than 40 organizations inThe Campaign for Fair Education Funding. Pa., 1 of only 5 states without a public school funding formula, is increasingly burdening struggling communities and widening the achievement gap between wealthy and poor.

Hunger advocacy: Pa. Lutherans also stood with 40 organizations to successfully stop SB76, which would have taxed groceries and other necessities in a move to eliminate all property taxes. Passed out of committee in the last weeks, it died without being voted by the full Senate, thanks to strong opposition from hunger advocates and others. LAMPa joined opponents of the bill in a press conference.

8LAMPa is working to inform synods and congregations following the October passage of the last in a package of child protection bills, requiring background checks for anyone volunteering with children. Additionally, LAMPa joined other hunger groups in a letter urging the Secretary of Public Welfare to streamline applications for Medical Assistance and SNAP benefits.

LAMPa welcomes Emma Wagner Nov. 1st as a Field Education student from the MA Program in Public Leadership at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

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Virginia
Marco Grimaldo, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy 

General Assembly: The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is working this fall to meet with many partners across the state to prepare for the next General Assembly in January. They have met with faith leaders in the context of chapters in various parts of Virginia. Virginia Interfaith Center has also begun meeting in coalition efforts to talk with legislators of both parties who may be important to advocacy work in January.

Hunger task force: Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is beginning to work with Bishop Jim Mauney’s Childhood Hunger Task Force to develop an advocacy message that can reach more Lutherans in Virginia and is well integrated into the broader interests of providing food and help to children in the Commonwealth. The first meeting is planned for mid-November.

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​Washington
Paul Benz, Faith Action Network 

9Planning policy priorities: FAN had its annual meeting with the governor last week and twelve religious leaders (one ELCA bishop was present, Rick Jaech – SW Washington Synod).  Participants discussed FAN’s 2015 legislative agenda and its five policy buckets: reducing wealth inequality, forging a sustainable biennial budget, dismantling the culture of violence, sustaining Washington’s environment, affordable housing, and preventing homelessness. See the entire legislative agenda by clicking here!

FAN finished six candidate forums with a total attendance of 250, and is still setting interim meetings with advocates and state legislators. FAN will meet its goal of 30 meetings from 22 legislative districts, recruiting just under a total of 120 advocates to participate. FAN’s involvement with Initiative 594 (mandating universal background checks for gun sales) concluded with a “Faith March to the Ballot Box.” Over 200 people gathered to march to a downtown Seattle ballot box. The issue won with a 60% yes vote andInitiative 591 (the opposing initiative which prohibited background checks beyond the federal statute) lost with a 55% no vote.

10Schedule: FAN has concluded its “third” programmatic season with the completion of 14 geographic cluster gatherings around the state, where advocacy stories were shared and relationships deepened. Total attendance was just under 150. FAN is looking forward to its “fourth” and final programmatic season with our Annual Dinner on November 16.  The theme is “Acting on the Dream: The Movement Continues”.

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Wisconsin
Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin 

Addressing human trafficking: LOPPW/Cherish All Children advocacy team met a second time in the Northwest Synod to discuss organizing a statewide campaign for churches. Dawn Wicklund of the synod’s WELCA council and LOPPW’s Diane House are part of the team. LOPPW’s director attended a statewide consortium on anti-sex trafficking and joined a sub-committee that addresses federal anti-trafficking efforts. The director prepared a tool kit on advocacy and anti-trafficking for a committee in the LaCrosse Area Synod.

A council member from Northern Great Lakes and the director are organizing a half-day poverty summit with a focus on youth issues (homelessness, trafficking, drugs) in Marinette, where there is an epidemic of heroin addiction.  Rep. John Nygren from Marinette will share his story about his daughter’s heroin addiction, legislation he helped to pass on heroin and the importance of advocacy.  An LSS case manager will connect youth homelessness, trafficking and drug addiction in a brief talk.

Hunger Issues: LOPPW endorsed a referendum about whether Wisconsin should take federal money for BadgerCare (Medicaid). LOPPW’s director led a forum on hunger issues and advocacy at a church in the South-Central Synod and at a synod-wide event in the Northern Great Lakes Synod. Additionally, the director was part of a forum, Faithful Citizenship, hosted by the Lutheran and Catholic campus ministries at UW-Eau Claire.  On a panel she joined the director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, the Director of the Twin Cities Jewish Government Affairs Program, and the co-founder of an Israeli/Palestinian reconciliation group. ​

Stand against Domestic Violence this Month!

Tia Upchurch-Freelove, ELCA Advocacy Director of Communications

​​” It is not my enemies who taunt me—I could bear that; it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me—I could hide from them. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend, with whom I kept pleasant company; we walked in the house of God with the throng.” 

– Psalm 55:12-14 

This October, as we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are called as a church “into a mission of love and compassion toward all peoples … to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (ELCA social policy resolution: “Violence Against Women,” 1995). Violence against women is a widespread problem both here in the U.S. and abroad. Around the world, one in three women experience physical, sexual or psychological abuse in their lifetime (UNIFEM report, 2003).

We come together as Lutherans to take action by denouncing and combating the beating, sexual abuse, raping and killingthat threaten the life and safety of women everywhere and by encouraging greater awareness among members of our church about all forms of violence that threaten the lives and safety of all women.

Here are some important ways you can join Lutherans this month as we learn, engage with one another, spread awareness, and speak out against domestic violence:

Learn and Engage 

Spread Awareness

Take Action

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we remember those impacted by domestic violence and speak out to end all violence against women! Please join us as we seek to do justice and walk humbly with God.

​ELCA Advocacy & Lutheran Office for World Community

ELCA Justice for Women

ELCA Poverty & Justice Ministries

Women of the ELCA

Lutheran Services in America/ LSA Advocacy

ELCA State Advocacy Update: October 2014

ELCA Advocacy
Lutherans are taking action across the country! Below you will find our monthy State Advocacy Newsletter. Share with your friends, and download the document in the PDF version!  
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Washington, D.C.
Advocacy Director, Stacy Martin
​​1People’s Climate March – On Sept. 21, more than 400,000 activists joine​​d together in New York City in what is being called the largest ​climate march in history. The People’s Climate March called on world leaders to support a global climate change agreement and to act on climate change with over 2,700 events in more than 150 countries. In partnership with The Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania, and the Metropolitan New York Synod, hundreds of Lutherans assembled for the march.
2The U.N. Climate Summit – The weekend of the People’s Climate March, ELCA Environmental Policy Director Mary Minette attended an interfaith conference on climate change at Union Theological Seminary. Following the summit, a delegation of more than 30 faith leaders created an interfaith statement on climate change at an event sponsored by the World Council of Churches. The interfaith statement was presented to the U.N. secretary general during the U.N. Climate Summit later that week. ELCA Advocacy also joined several other climate events in New York sponsored by the ACT Alliance, including strategies on addressing climate disasters, which included as a speaker a Lutheran pastor from New Jersey speaking about Superstorm Sandy recovery, and limiting climate change with low-carbon development strategies.
Campaign finance reform – On Oct. 1, Advocacy Director Rev. Stacy Martin joined a panel of faith leaders, activists and academic experts to discuss the moral and religious dimensions of the question of money in public life and governance. Sponsored by the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, the conference included speakers such as Kathy Saile, the associate director for government affairs at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and interfaith partners from across the religious spectrum.
3Preparing for midterm elections – Election Day is one month away, and ELCA Advocacy is sending out resources and guides on how to promote civic engagement in Lutheran congregations throughout the country. The electoral process is one way in which we live out our affirmation of baptism to “serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus,” and “to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” Share our Called to be a Public Church Guide (2014)to learn more about ways you can take action in your community. Tell your friends to “Take the Pledge” by signing our Voter Pledge Form online, and find more resources on our Action Alert Page.​
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California
Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- CA ​
4On Sept. 30, Gov. Jerry Brown completed his review of hundreds of bills passed by the Legislature after completing its two-year session. As attention shifts to direct democracy in the form of ballot propositions, the Lutheran Office of Public Policy–California is disappointed that the DISCLOSE Act, requiring more transparent information on large originalsource funders of ballot measures, did not pass. LOPP-CA is part of developing strategy for the DISCLOSE Act next session. Among other bills of interest signed were measures that dealt with stronger incentives for electric cars in lower and moderate-income communities, groundwater management, equalizing penalties for possession of crack and powder cocaine, a ban on most plastic grocery bags, and a waiver of birth certificate fees for homeless children and youth.
Firearms – As the ELCA Conference of Bishops participated in a prayer revival in Chicago, LOPP-CA was cheering enactment of a “gun violence restraining order” bill adopted in response to the Santa Barbara
tragedy. This bill allows law enforcement and family members to seek a temporary court order removing guns from a person who is a danger to themselves or others. As the election approaches, LOPP-CA is focusing energy on support for a $7.5 billion water bond and Prop. 47, a criminal sentencing reform initiative supported by the PICO community organizing network and many other community and civil rights groups, seeking remedies for mass incarceration and “The New Jim Crow” racial disparities.
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Colorado
Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado www.lam-co.org
5Hunger – The Hunger Free Colorado Summit took place on Sept. 8, featuring Sister Simone Campbell of Nuns on the Bus and NETWORK, the Roman Catholic social justice
organization. Her exhortation about developing a social
justice “for the 100 percent” was powerful and resonant.
LAM-CO has been connecting more intentionally with campus
ministry groups. Director Peter Severson visited both
University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University
this past month. Additionally, the Strengthening Colorado
Families & Communities Summit took place in Keystone on Sept. 15-16, sponsored by the Colorado Department of Human Services-Office of Early Childhood. LAM-CO was able to participate in several
discussions around the formation of a Colorado Child Maltreatment Prevention Plan for 2015-2020.
Transportation – LAM-CO has been partnering with Iliff School of Theology and the Office of the Auditor
for the City of Denver to oppose the Colorado Department of Transportation’s proposal to widen Interstate
70 in vulnerable community areas in north Denver. A meeting with Iliff faculty and students and community representatives has led to the creation of a faith community petition that will be delivered to CDOT in response to the Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The Rocky Mountain Synod Theological Conference (Sept. 22-25 in Colorado Springs) led to great networking with pastors, ministers and other leaders in the synod. Congregations have been faithfully supporting Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Colorado and New Mexico for 30 years!​
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Minnesota
Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota 
New name – Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota replaces Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota (LCPPM) as our name. The Policy Council voted unanimously for the change, and feedback on the new name has been very positive from partners, supporters, participants and others.
Legislative policy development – Tammy continues to be deeply involved in the policy shaping process with the Homes for All Coalition. She is also active with A Minnesota Without Poverty, which has just started thinking about policy options and directions for the 2015 session. The Clean Energy and Jobs Campaign narrowed their focus to two policy objectives for 2015. Tammy is thinking about the materials needed for Lutheran churches to be ready for the key objective, focused on improving the Minnesota Clean Energy standard to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.
Education and awareness raising – Tammy has been working closely with the Minneapolis Area Synod and the Alliance for Sustainability to find leaders to build a synod chapter of Lutherans Restoring Creation.and is beginning outreach for a similar St. Paul effort. On Sept. 30, Dr. David Rhoads came to the Twin Cities and met with potential leaders for LRC. Tammy has been in various churches talking about the key themes of hunger, poverty, care of creation and advocacy.
Communications/administration – We are deep into the process of rebranding, building our “new” website, and making lots of administrative processes work better. The new office is almost completely furnished now with cubicles and a welcoming area for partners to gather.
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​New Mexico
Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico 
Poverty and Hunger Coalition – Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico has been an active partner in the newly created Interfaith Hunger Coalition as a part of the advocacy committee by helping to organize several gatherings in the Albuquerque area with coalition members and candidates for election to the New Mexico House of Representatives. The gatherings were opportunities for coalition members to express their concern about the unacceptably high rates of hunger and poverty in New Mexico and to engage in conversation with the candidates about how to address the situation. Eight candidates attended the gatherings, which took place at Albuquerque congregations. Ruth Hoffman, LAM-NM director, also spoke about state public policies that would help address poverty and hunger at a recent education workshop sponsored by the Coalition at Holy Rosary Catholic Community.
Food stamps – In mid-September, Ruth traveled to southern New Mexico and testified before the interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee in opposition to increased work requirements for SNAP recipients proposed by the state Human Services Department. She also spoke in opposition to the proposed rule changes at a public hearing that was attended by at least 100 people. At the hearing, Ruth also spoke on behalf of the New Mexico Conference of Churches. Ruth’s testimony was highlighted in a recent KUNM radio segment: http://kunm.org/post/faith-leaders-speak-against-new-snap-requirements.
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Pennsylvania
Amy Reumann, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

On Sept. 7, LAMPa helped Lutherans add “Our voices” to the theme of “God’s work. Our hands.” with letter-writing and speaking to media in locations around the state on behalf of our neighbors on housing, hunger and immigration.
6At the capitol – LAMPa delivered a letter from Bishop Kusserow, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, urging lawmakers to act to end discrimination based on sexual orientation. LAMPa staff brought others engaged in ministry with the homeless to meet with legislative leaders to push for passage of bills to expand the state Housing Trust Fund. The visits were made powerful by the presence of one mother, accompanied by the Rev. Matthew Lenahan, who shared how a Lutheran congregation in Lancaster County is walking with her as she struggles with homelessness. Collaborating with the Lower Susquehanna Synod on a food drive/hunger advocacy project, LAMPa accompanied youth motivated by a synod retreat themed “Hungry” to participate in the “Can Hunger” event at the capitol, where they spoke with the leader of the legislative hunger caucus.
7On the road – LAMPa staff participated in Bishops convocations in the Allegheny and Lower Susquehanna synods, the launch of a hunger team in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, a Lutherans Restoring Creation and training in the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod and the People’s Climate March in New York City. We conducted our biennial survey to establish LAMPa’s agenda for the next legislative term. The results showed education and health care to be top priorities after hunger and were analyzed at our policy council retreat.
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Virginia
Marco Grimaldo, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Civic engagement – The fall continues to be a busy time for educational forums and advocacy training in Virginia. We are also encouraging in-district meetings with legislators in advance of the January legislative session. Most recently we have been offered programs in Charlottesville and Roanoke that allow the immigrant community to better understand their rights and engage decision-makers including local law enforcement in productive discussions about their community. We have also been part of a growing minimum-wage campaign for raising the wage both in Virginia and at the federal level.
Health – Our health care work continues even though there has been no agreement on Medicaid. Small numbers of local leaders join us each Monday for our Moral Monday call for Medicaid, and it continues to be a great way to muster solidarity. As we prepare for the next assembly, we will prepare to also work on legislation related to health equity and network adequacy that can help make sure that low-income and underserved communities, which may already be covered, get the health care that they need with reasonable access.
Our policy priorities have been revised for the year ahead, and we also have a new website so Virginians can better follow our efforts and download the resources they need. We have background papers and talking points on each of our top priorities as a way to jump start those campaigns. Visit us at www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org.
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​Washington
Paul Benz, Faith Action Network 

8Promoting advocacy – Faith Action Network’s 15 geographic clusters convened to discuss effective types of advocacy efforts in faith communities in Washington, share FAN updates, and talk about future collaborations. Meanwhile, ongoing meetings with state legislators and members of congress continued. This month FAN met with multiple legislators, including the state House Republican leader, state Senate Democratic leader and her district House member, and a federal House member meeting with members of an African American Baptist church. FAN is also currently getting ready for our Annual Dinner on Nov. 16 where local philanthropist and travel guide speaker Rick Steves will speak on the importance of faith-based advocacy. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray has also been invited.
Upcoming election and the ballot – FAN has coordinated and sponsored three candidate forums with three more to go. The forums are focusing on state legislative races with each one having three questions coming from FAN – of which one is always on hunger and poverty. Average attendance has been 50. FAN continues be the statewide faith organization coordinating support for Initiative 594 (mandating universal background checks for gun sales). A Faith March to the Ballot Box will occur on Sunday, Oct. 19, in Seattle – local marches/vigils will be encouraged. Two forums on preventing gun violence were sponsored jointly by ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod Bishop Rick Jaech and FAN.
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Wisconsin
Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin www.loppw.org
Poverty – With secular and faith partners, LOPPW will endorse a referendum on whether Wisconsin should take federal dollars for Badger Care on the November ballot in 20 Wisconsin counties. Although the vote cannot determine a change, it provides an opportunity for citizens to voice concern about 87,000 residents unnecessarily going without health care. LOPPW will work on an op-ed and additional ways to promote a Vote Yes on BadgerCare Nov. 4th campaign initiated by Citizen Action Wisconsin. On Nov. 8, LOPPW will lead a summit on poverty for the Northern Great Lakes Synod in Marinette. Click here to see the flyer​!
Sex trafficking – LOPPW is starting a campaign to pass a Safe Harbor Bill. Recently Women of the ELCA leaders led a workshop with a PPT created by Cherish All Children’s (CAC’s) director and LOPPW’s director in the Northwest Synod. Our new CAC/LOPPW advocacy group will meet for a second time in October with additional members and discussion about how to further include Women of ELCA and involve congregations.
Upcoming events –
  • Advocacy and Hunger workshop at synod-wide event in Marquette, Mich. – Oct. 11.
  • ​The director will be the Lutheran representative on a panel at an event hosted by Catholic and Lutheran campus ministries: “Faithful Citizenship: A Christian Perspective on Voting and Political Involvement” on Oct. 21 at UW-Eau Claire

Federal – This month, LOPPW will set a plan to build awareness and advocacy on the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, the EPA rule on carbon dioxide emissions, and other federal issues related to environment. Additionally, LOPPW’s director was at a third 2015 Advocacy Day planning committee meeting organized by the Wisconsin Council of Churches.

Living Earth Reflections: This month we march out of love for our neighbors and God’s earth

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy

​”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1

On September 21, 2014, hundreds of thousands – perhaps even millions – of people are expected to gather in New York City for what may be the largest march to date on climate change.  During the upcoming People’s Climate March​, marchers will be asking global leaders, who will meet at the United Nations later that week, to take this issue seriously and to pledge themselves to action on this critical issue that threatens our children’s future and the future of God’s creation.

I’m planning to be there, along with thousands of other people of faith, because I see climate change as a threat to the future of God’s creation and the lives of all those to come. God created the earth and called on us to take care of it and Jesus called on us to care for our neighbors, whoever and wherever they may be.  Stewardship and love of neighbor demand that we act on climate change: ours is the first generation to feel the impacts of a changing climate in the form of more extreme weather and rising sea levels, and ours is the last generation with a chance to do something to stop it.

When I first heard about the march, I was skeptical–I struggled with the idea of thousands of people traveling to New York, emitting carbon into the atmosphere, for a single day’s event.  But we are at a critical moment on a critical issue, and maybe this march will mark a beginning. My hope is that this will be the day that turns the tide and changes the hearts and minds of the cloud of witnesses that surround us, and marks the new beginning we need if we are to protect God’s creation for our children and their children.

This past week the New York Times reported that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the group of scientists that periodically comes together to report on the latest science on climate change, will release the final part of its Fifth Assessment report next month. For the first time, this report will include the word “irreversible.”  The draft report outlines a sobering reality – unless all countries act very soon and very deliberately to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, some of the worst predictions of prior reports will occur; melting ice sheets in the Arctic will raise sea levels by as much as 23 feet, global production of staple grains will see significant drops, and extreme weather events such as heat waves and flooding rains will happen with increased frequency.

In the face of these sobering predictions, some may lose hope.  Some may continue to deny, saying it will never happen, believing that it can never happen.  But we are people of faith and hope, and we know that we can change our ways, and we can prepare for this challenging future.  And so we march, before the great cloud of witnesses, to demonstrate God’s love and hope for each of us and for the world.  We march, marked by the cross, saved by grace, out of love for our neighbors and God’s earth.

If you would like to join us in the People’s Climate March, you can sign up on our ELCA Google Form! 
 
Want to learn more about ELCA’s commitment to advocating for public policy that supports the care for creation?  
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ELCA participating in NY Climate Events in September

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy & Christine Mangale, Assistant to the Director Lutheran Office for World Community in New York

​UN Climate Summit

Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) will host a delegation of Lutheran World Federation Youth that will come to attend the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Climate Summit in September 23, 2014, New York. The delegation will also attend an Interfaith Summit that is being organized by the World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace September 21-22, 2014. The main goal is to mobilize action and ambition on climate change and garner support for climate change agreement by 2015. Lutheran World Federation Youth will host a one-hour fasting vigil parallel to the Ban Ki-moon Summit September 23, 2014 at 1-2pm EST. Please join in reflection and prayer wherever you are. Join thewww.fastfortheclimate.org.

In addition to this, the UN will also hold the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples on 22-23 September 2014.

The ELCA Washington Office is also working with the ACT Alliance to help plan a day of side events on climate change issues on September 24th, and LOWC and ELCA Washington staff will attend the Religions for the Earth conference at Union Theological Seminary the weekend before the summit along with other global interfaith leaders.

People’s Climate March in New York

Plans are underway for what is expected to be the largest march in history on climate change in New York City on the weekend preceding the UN Climate Summit.  The ELCA Washington Office is working with the Metro New York Synod to support Lutherans attending the march. If you have plans to go, please let our office know and we will keep you informed of meeting places on the day of the march and other events.  Fill out our google form​ for Lutheran march participants!

ELCA participating in NY Climate Events in September

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy & Christine Mangale, Assistant to the Director Lutheran Office for World Community in New York

​UN Climate Summit

Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) will host a delegation of Lutheran World Federation Youth that will come to attend the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Climate Summit in September 23, 2014, New York. The delegation will also attend an Interfaith Summit that is being organized by the World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace September 21-22, 2014. The main goal is to mobilize action and ambition on climate change and garner support for climate change agreement by 2015. Lutheran World Federation Youth will host a one-hour fasting vigil parallel to the Ban Ki-moon Summit September 23, 2014 at 1-2pm EST. Please join in reflection and prayer wherever you are. Join thewww.fastfortheclimate.org.

In addition to this, the UN will also hold the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples on 22-23 September 2014.

The ELCA Washington Office is also working with the ACT Alliance to help plan a day of side events on climate change issues on September 24th, and LOWC and ELCA Washington staff will attend the Religions for the Earth conference at Union Theological Seminary the weekend before the summit along with other global interfaith leaders.

People’s Climate March in New York

Plans are underway for what is expected to be the largest march in history on climate change in New York City on the weekend preceding the UN Climate Summit.  The ELCA Washington Office is working with the Metro New York Synod to support Lutherans attending the march. If you have plans to go, please let our office know and we will keep you informed of meeting places on the day of the march and other events.  Fill out our google form​ for Lutheran march participants!

Climate Justice for all God’s Creation: How you can speak out now!

Mary Minette, Director of Environmental Advocacy

Last week, Lutheran leaders across the US testified before the EPA to publicly proclaim that Climate Change is a moral dilemma, and to announce their support for the proposed Clean Power Plan.  “For us as Lutheran Christians, addressing environmental concerns is part of what it means to live as responsible caretakers of the earth,” said Rev. Robert Moss in Denver, Colorado. “… I believe that support for the Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule to regulate and reduce carbon emissions is part of our responsibility.” Excerpts of some of their testimonies can be found on our Advocacy Blog!

We write today to ask you to join these fellow Lutherans in taking action! Here are three steps you can take to help address climate change caused in part by pollution from our nation’s power plants:

  1. Submit a comment to the EPA through our Action Center, telling them why you support addressing Climate Change and protecting God’s Creation by reducing carbon emissions at our nation’s power plants.
  2. Sign the Faith Climate Petition urging US Leaders to become more engaged in negotiations for a new global climate change agreement.
  3. Join the People’s Climate March on Sept. 21, 2014 in New York City as world leaders meet to discuss a framework for international action on climate change. Be sure to check out group transportation options​, and RSVP on our Google Form​ as well. If you can’t make it to New York, find or help plan an event that weekend in your own community!

As people of faith, we are equipped to name and to confront this moral crisis. As the impacts of Climate Change are becoming more severe on our most vulnerable neighbors, the time for action is now! Share how you are addressing climate change in your congregation or community, and be sure to pass along any stories you may have to our office (Washington.Office@elca.org)!

Lutheran participation in the 20th International AIDS Conference

Ulysses III

Ulysses III from ELCA Young Adult Cohort AIDS 2014 reflects on their recent group trip to the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia! You can check out the full blog article on their website.

“As with most things in life, the 20th International AIDS Conference (IAC) and its associated events, were full of “highs,” but neither void of the “lows,” nor the “really lows” for that matter. Here I’ll recap the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2014 Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) Interfaith Preconference and International AIDS Conference based solely on my opinion as a three time participant of both events.

The Good

The Interfaith Preconference brought together the world’s foremost faith leaders in HIV and AIDS to address what most faith groups are reluctant to discuss: faith, stigma, sex, and HIV…To conclude the Interfaith Preconference, the EAA highlighted the voices of young adults for the first time in my history of attending, which is a move in the right direction for faith communities and the HIV and AIDS discussion in general.

Clinton!

Bill Clinton speaking at the 20th International AIDS Conference

With headliners in the field of HIV medical research abound, the latest advances in the fight to end AIDS were brought to the stage; information presented publicly for the first time in some cases. Government dignitaries were present, most notably Bill Clinton who has been a regular at IAC and a faithful partner in the AIDS epidemic vis-à-vis The Clinton Foundation… By my assessment, there was far less science and far more social justice focus during AIDS 2014, which I see as a benefit to the majority of stakeholders in the AIDS epidemic: people living with HIV, and advocates – mostly people who are not medical science professionals… As a faith representative I was equally pleased to see 8 faith related workshops during the main conference, the most since my participation in 2010 and 2012, and if I had to guess, probably the most ever.

The Bad

Although the world’s foremost faith leaders in HIV response were present at the Interfaith Preconference, they were the same leaders who’ve been out front since my introduction to the faith and HIV arena. If this was your first experience at such a forum you left encouraged and excited about what you were hearing from the faith community, but if you’ve been doing the work for a while, you realize there have been few new voices added to the conversation over the years….This is no fault of the EAA or those who continue to be present, but a testament to how far we’ve come by faith, and how much farther we still have journey to fully integrate our churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques in the conversation on HIV, faith, sex, and stigma…The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has consistently been well represented during the preconference by its young adult delegation, often supplying the full complement of registrants under the age of 30… this is not an issue for the EAA to solve, rather a deeper issue of the faith community’s need to engage youth and young adults more intentionally.

The Ugly

…By far, the lowest moment of the IAC happened before the conference even began in the skies over the Ukraine/Russia conflict zone when flight MH17 was downed by a missile fired as a result of what’s believed to be mistaken identity. We quickly learned that many of the passengers on the plane were delegates headed to Melbourne for the IAC, including world renowned HIV expert and former IAS president, Joep Lange. Needless to say this sad and unfortunate event completely changed the tone of a conference that otherwise gathers every two years to celebrate life. The impact was felt right away during the opening ceremony that usually has the feel of an international party, but felt more like a memorial service as moments of silence, tributes, and solemn song were abundant. Many of the persons lost were not only colleagues of those present, but close friends of a lot of the keynote speakers… IAS did its best to honor the lives of those lost in a way they would be proud of; by carrying on with AIDS 2014 in spite of the tragedy, because the best way to honor them, is to continue the work they began.
Conference

Participants​ join in an interfaith worship service

El Fin

The 20th International AIDS Conference and its associated events were not short of ups and downs, but life was present all around us, even in the wake of death; people LIVING with HIV, not dying. HIV and AIDS is no longer a death sentence, and even as many died trying to advance the work being done in the field, millions more will live as result of their sacrifice. AIDS 2014 was much more than a medical science conference; it was a gathering to celebrate humanity; a time to not just focus on HIV treatment, but people treatment; an opportunity to not just share the statistics, but to share the stories. AIDS 2014 was about “Stepping up in Faith” and “Stepping up the Pace,” leaving no one behind in the fight against AIDS. I look forward to continuing the good fight at AIDS 2016 in Durban, South Africa.”