from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director
Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: November/December 2024
CHILD HUNGER | COP29 | ACT ALLIANCE | UNITED STATES – ISRAEL RELATIONS | CHALLENGES TO DACA
CHILD HUNGER: The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), of which the ELCA is a supporter, released a new report last month highlighting modest increases to participation in after-school meal programs, but the anti-hunger programs are still widely under-utilized by eligible children in need. According to the FRAC report, 1.23 million children received an afterschool supper on an average school day in October 2023, and 1.25 million children received an afterschool snack.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
Though after school meals are a critical tool to reduce childhood hunger, participation decreased after 2022 when many program expansions expired. The ELCA World Hunger Backpack Buddies Guide relates that may children in the United States depend on public programs like the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program and Summer Food Service Program. National nutrition programs ensure that kids get the food they need to fuel their brains for learning and their bodies for proper development and health..
What’s Next:
There are considerable uncertainties in this transition period prior to establishment of the new administration. ELCA staff will be working with the next administration to continue work to expand awareness of school meals, and with Congress to ensure eligibility and access are available to children in the greatest need.
COP29: The 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is being held Nov. 11-22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Two ELCA staff are attending in-person, and six others online, to advocate to global leaders for increased ambition and climate action. ELCA Young Adults with a D.C.-based ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow created an explanatory socials post, noting strong young adult representation in our delegation. Faith partners came together for a Prayer Vigil ahead of COP29 on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., which the ELCA co-sponsored. At the Prayer Vigil, a petition was delivered to officials from the U.S. Department of State that calls on the U.S. government to accelerate ambition on nationally determined contributions (NDCs), increase climate finance commitments, support loss and damage finance, and include climate and environmental justice in adaptation and mitigation.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The ELCA engages in climate advocacy year-round, but especially during the Conference of Parties for the UNFCCC every year. It is an opportunity for Lutherans to gather with faith partners across the globe to care for God’s Creation through climate action. Of the Prayer Vigil, our ELCA Program Director for Environment and Energy who is a COP29 in-person attendee said, “It was a meaningful time together as we shared music, as well as prayers of lament and hope.”
What’s Next:
ELCA staff, along with interfaith partners, will join with Lutheran World Federation colleagues during COP29. Lutheran World Federation COP29 engagement is centered on the theme “Creation Not For Sale.”
ACT ALLIANCE: ACT Alliance is a global faith-based coalition organized in national and regional forums operating in more than 120 countries, including the ELCA. Witness in Society staff travelled to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to attend the ACT 2024 General Assembly, which took place Oct. 28-Nov. 1. The theme was “Hope in Action.”
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
Advocacy is one of ACT Alliance’s three pillars of operation, in addition to humanitarian and sustainable development. As a member of the Alliance, ELCA contributes financial resources and staff time to advance priorities of the church. ELCA staff contributed content for statements and future agenda, and used this opportunity to build relations with other Lutheran and ecumenical members. In between assemblies, ELCA advocacy staff work in collaboration with other members of the ACT Alliance to advance mutual policy priorities.
What’s Next:
Witness in Society international policy staff will continue to work with other ACT Alliance members as we advocate for just global systems and structures.
UNITED STATES – ISRAEL RELATIONS: [Editor’s Note: This message was compiled days ago and does not reflect recent developments which ELCA staff is monitoring.] ELCA Middle On Oct. 16, a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III was delivered to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which demanded that Israel allow essential humanitarian aid into Gaza and gave a 30-day deadline to comply with U.S. law or face potential consequences, such as potential stoppage of U.S. weapons transfer. The letter, dated Oct. 13, means that potential action taken by the U.S. government – or at least a legal review of Israel’s adherence to U.S. law – would take place starting Nov. 13, 2024, after the National Election. ELCA advocacy staff have been working on numerous advocacy efforts to support clarion calls for unfettered humanitarian aid access to Gaza and will continue to do so.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
As the introduction to the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World relays, the church’s vocation is peacemaking. “God’s final peace, the peace of God’s eternal reign” serves as the basis of this calling, which has two main expressions: 1) proclaiming the gospel of God’s final peace; and 2) working for earthly peace—that is, “relationships among and with nations that are just, harmonious, and free from war.”
What’s Next:
The ELCA Work continues on spearheading a letter pushing the White House to allow for unfettered humanitarian aid access into Gaza and conduct major advocacy in coalition to push for the suspension of offensive weapons and weapons financing to Israel until humanitarian access to Gaza restored and a ceasefire is signed.
CHALLENGES TO DACA: On Oct. 10, a federal court heard arguments over the Biden administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) regulation, which has returned to the courts after several states challenged its legality. The case will almost certainly end up at the Supreme Court.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
Nearly 600,000 young people are covered by DACA, and many remain locked out because of the ongoing litigation. If DACA is found unlawful, thousands stand to lose protection from deportation, work permits and driver’s licenses. Around 750,000 U.S. citizen children have a parent who is a Dreamer, which is an undocumented immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child, who may benefit from immigration reform. Advocating for protection for Dreamers and DACA-recipients is part of a long-standing commitment by the ELCA.
What’s Next:
The federal court may rule any day that DACA is unlawful, and renewals may either be stopped or be continued.
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