{"id":1936,"date":"2017-05-05T08:40:43","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T13:40:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=1936"},"modified":"2017-05-08T07:56:29","modified_gmt":"2017-05-08T12:56:29","slug":"may-advocacy-update-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/may-advocacy-update-2\/","title":{"rendered":"May Advocacy Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lutherans are taking action across the country! Below you will find our monthly State Advocacy Newsletter. Share with your friends!<\/h2>\n
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ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Rev. Amy Reumann, director\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>HEALTH CARE: <\/strong>The House of Representatives passed HR 1628, The American Health Care Act (AHCA) by a party line vote of 217-213 on May 4. The bill would dismantle needed support for people with disabilities, the elderly and those facing poverty. With its passage, our work now shifts to the Senate where opportunities to shape the effort have more promise for results. Please continue to stand with us as we make clear to our elected officials that Lutherans support affordable quality health care for all. Read ELCA Advocacy\u2019s full statement here<\/a>.
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ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYS<\/strong>: Ecumenical Advocacy Days<\/a>, a movement of the ecumenical Christian community, gathered faith leaders in Washington, D.C., last month calling on Congress to \u201cto make budget decisions that advance the common good.\u201d Congregating on Capitol Hill, hundreds of clergy and lay faith leaders from across the U.S. voiced their concern about cuts to programs that address human needs. Seven of the faith leaders were arrested while engaging in group public prayer at the one of the Senate office buildings.<\/p>\n

ELCA Advocacy connected with Lutheran participants throughout the event, hosting workshops on issues such as \u201cChristian leadership for climate action,\u201d and advocacy on the root causes of migration, and models for church engagement in advocacy. Collectively, advocacy staff also discussed our denomination\u2019s unique call to public church and witness and to the special importance of Lutheran voices in public dialogue.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>CLIMATE CHANGE: <\/strong>ELCA Advocacy co-hosted a joint Sending Prayer Service at the Lutheran Church of Reformation shortly before the 2017 Climate March in Washington, D.C., on April 29, together with the United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ and Creation Justice Ministries. The D.C. Climate March brought together crowds in the tens of thousands who protested much of the current administration\u2019s actions to roll back strategies against climate change and called for sustainable policies that support ecological justice.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the international Science March hosted earlier that week, ELCA Advocacy issued a blog titled “Stewarding God\u2019s Creation: Science Matters.”<\/a> A key message of the blog is that it \u201cis through our God-given wisdom that we utilize science to be God\u2019s stewards while we are here on earth.\u201d ELCA Advocacy also worked with Living Lutheran magazine to develop a four-part series of articles on the effect of climate change on creation in conjunction with the observance of Earth Day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>AUGUSTA VICTORIA HOSPITAL<\/strong>:<\/strong> The Peace Not Walls program sent an action alert on May 1 in support of East Jerusalem hospitals<\/a> and for health care needs in the region. Augusta Victoria Hospital, operated by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in the Holy Land, is the largest recipient of U.S. health assistance among the East Jerusalem hospitals. The hospitals face continued cash-flow problems in caring for the people in the region. The LWF, member churches, and ELCA Peace Not Walls have advocated for the hospitals\u2019 debt crisis for several years.<\/p>\n

The action alert for Augusta Victoria Hospital was launched shortly before President Trump was scheduled to meet Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on May 3. In addition to continued international support, the action alert also encouraged lawmakers to visit hospitals in the region.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>FEDERAL BUDGET AND MIGRATION:\u00a0<\/strong>Congressional leaders at the start of this month came to a compromise on the U.S. budget and sent the spending bill to the president\u2019s desk on May 4. Some controversial subjects, such as a bail-out for coal miner benefits, were included in the final version of the bill. Others, such as funding for a border wall requested by President Trump, were excluded.<\/p>\n

Shortly before Congress announced the specifics of their budget proposal, ELCA Advocacy shared a blog on the costs<\/a> (both fiscally and morally) of increased military spending, migrant detentions and border enforcement. While the deal that came from the negotiations does not include funding for a new border wall, it provides an additional $1.5 billion for immigration enforcement that will continue to separate families.<\/p>\n

SOUTH SUDAN UPDATE<\/strong>: At the end of April, the House of Representatives passed a resolution (H. Res. 187) to increase emergency funding to respond to the famine in South Sudan. In addition, the resolution calls upon the government of South Sudan to stop hostilities so that humanitarian aid can go where it\u2019s needed and allow immediate and unrestricted access to the southern part of Unity state, where there is a famine. ELCA Advocacy sent an action alert<\/a> in support of the South Sudanese in March. Faith advocates can continue to urge Congress to pass this resolution at the ELCA Action Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Dennis Frado, director<\/p>\n

PEACE NOT WALLS CONVENING: <\/strong>Peace Not Walls held its annual gathering in College Park, Md., April 25 and 26. Peace Not Walls<\/a>, an advocacy campaign of the ELCA, urges peace in the Holy Land through accompaniment, advocacy and awareness-raising. The gathering was attended by members of 15 ELCA synods. Attendees ranged from seminarians, young adults who have served in the Holy Land, companion synods to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), and many more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The gathering focused on deepening advocacy understanding and strengthening advocacy skills. The participants spent time planning for the coming year to raise awareness within their synods to increase accompaniment and advocacy efforts. The participants received updates from the region, including reflections from two Palestinian Lutheran members of the ELCJHL (Bassem Thabet and Majd Khoury); an update on the work of the ELCA in the Holy Land, the ELCJHL, and The Lutheran World Federation from Cindy Halmarson; and a situation update on the status of Jerusalem from human rights lawyer Daniel Seidemann (via Skype).<\/p>\n

If you are interested in having someone speak with your congregation about peace and justice in Israel and Palestine please, contact peacenotwalls@elca.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>UNITED NATIONS INDIGENOUS ISSUES:<\/strong> The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues took place in the UN Headquarters from April 24th to May 5th. This year, the special theme was on the \u201cTenth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Measures taken to implement the Declaration\u201d. On Monday, May 2nd, Prairie Rose Seminole, ELCA Program Director of American Indian Alaska Native Ministries spoke at a Forum\u2019s side event panel titled: \u201cClimate Induced Displacement: Realities, Rights, and Responses\u201d. Prairie Rose Seminole discussed the challenges faced by Native Alaskan communities whose land is being threatened by climate change. She outlined the lack of accessibility to public infrastructure that native communities face, and denounced the lack of resources for planned relocation from communities threatened by climate change. She discussed Native cultural identity tied to ancestral land, and the challenges to this identity posed by relocation due to climate change. She concluded by affirming Indigenous people\u2019s role in the fight against climate change, as they are in the front-lines of climate induced displacement.<\/p>\n

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California<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy<\/p>\n

loppca.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>CARE FOR CREATION<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0 The Lutheran Office of Public Policy \u2013 California is supporting legislation to address the need for safe, affordable water for drinking and hygiene. Affordability is a growing challenge. LOPP-CA was once again invited by the state Water Resources Control Board to have a display table at the CalEPA Earth Day Festival\/Bring Your Kids to Work Day. Kids were invited to write notes to the kids in Shishmaref, Alaska, (March 31, Living Lutheran), whose homes are threatened by the rising sea level. A number of Lutherans participated in the March for Science and the People\u2019s Climate March. LOPP-CA is hosting a breakfast at the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly in Fresno, Voices and Visions in the Valley, with an attorney from the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability<\/a>, which is a lead organization in bringing $70 million of g\"\"<\/a>reenhouse gas reduction funds to the Fresno area through the Transformative Climate Communities Program. The program<\/a> was created by legislation supported by LOPP-CA.\u00a0 Besides reducing carbon emissions, it seeks to reduce poverty and promote equity and public health.<\/p>\n

UPCOMING<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0 Immigration (May 15), LGBTQ (May 16), Early Childhood (May 24), and Hunger Action (May 24) advocacy days at the Capitol, with Lutheran participation to help prevent hunger, support economic well-being and inclusion, and challenge discrimination.<\/p>\n

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Colorado<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry\u2013Colorado<\/p>\n

Lam-co.org<\/a><\/p>\n

LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONTINUES<\/strong>:<\/strong> The Colorado General Assembly continues to work on creating a budget that is acceptable to both chambers. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado has been advocating against budget cuts to programs that aid the most vulnerable Coloradans. The current proposal still contains major cuts to the Hospital Provider Fee, which would significantly affect hospital services in rural areas.<\/p>\n

We are supporting several bills that have been introduced late: House Bill 1310 would prevent residential landlords from charging application fees beyond their baseline costs for background checks; House Bill 1307 would create a family and medical leave insurance program to provide partial wage replacement for workers who need to take time off to care for themselves or a sick family member; Senate\u00a0Bill 207 is a bipartisan bill to strengthen Colorado\u2019s behavioral health-crisis system.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>BISHOP AT RED ROCKS<\/strong>:<\/strong> We were delighted to watch Bishop Jim Gonia preach to nearly 11,000 worshipers at Red Rocks on Easter morning. Way to go!<\/p>\n

INTERIM COMMITTEE PROPOSALS<\/strong>:<\/strong> The Colorado General Assembly will adjourn on May 10. Before the 2018 legislative session, interim committees will meet to study important issues. LAM-CO supports proposals to create interim committees to study housing and homelessness as well as access to disability support programs.<\/p>\n

SYNOD ASSEMBLY<\/strong>:<\/strong> The Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly will be in Colorado Springs May 4-7. LAM-CO will be present to talk with voting members about our important advocacy work.<\/p>\n

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New Jersey<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Rev. Sara Lilja, Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ)<\/p>\n

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM:\u00a0<\/strong>Our parole system is broken in NJ. A2182\/S895<\/a> will improve the parole system by rewarding good behavior and encouraging rehabilitation. It would allow low-risk individuals to be released from prison when they become parole eligible, as long as they have no serious disciplinary infractions and have participated in rehabilitation programs while incarcerated.\u00a0 LEAMNJ is urging congregation to call the Governor to ask him to sign this bill.<\/p>\n

ECONOMIC JUSTICE:\u00a0<\/strong>Heath Care Vigils-\u00a0 Last Friday NJ\u2019s Congressmen Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) reported that he and his colleagues are ready to move forward with a vote on repeal next week with amendments to the plan. We fear that the \u201cMacArthur\u201d amendments<\/a> will do little to fix the problems and still leave millions of persons without health care.\u00a0 24,000,000 people in the US \u00a0\u2013 including over a 500,000 here in New Jersey \u2013 \u00a0would lose their health coverage if this repeal plan takes effect.\u00a0 LEAMNJ is co-sponsoring vigils around the state to let our law makers know that we understand health care is essential for everyone.<\/p>\n

IMMIGRATION JUSTICE:\u00a0<\/strong>LEAMNJ has been helping to educate congregations and clergy as to the rights of Immigrant\"\"<\/a> persons and how they can stand in support of foreign born residents.\u00a0 We have developed a power point presentation and held several educational events in Clusters and Districts around the state addressing myths about refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants.<\/p>\n

The picture on the right is of the Synod Council packing \u201cStamp Out Despair\u201d packets to give to undocumented persons being held in detention centers in NJ.\u00a0 Packets included:\u00a0 global stamps, phone cards, and stationary.<\/p>\n

SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION:\u00a0<\/strong>LEAMNJ distributes a Weekly Witness publication each Tuesday focusing on the upcoming lectionary text and public policy.\u00a0 If you would like to be on our mailing list sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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New Mexico<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry \u2013 New Mexico<\/p>\n

lutheranadvocacynm.org\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The last couple of months have been very busy for Lutheran Advocacy-MN!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS UP: <\/strong>The 2017 regular session of the Legislature has ended. LAM-NM worked on several bills that passed both chambers and made their way to the governor\u2019s desk for consideration during the 20-day signing period. Those bills included:<\/p>\n