ELCAvotes:<\/b>In the lead up to Election Day on November 6th, this coming \u201cGod\u2019s work. Our hands.\u201d Sunday on Sept. 9, will feature ELCAvotes advocacy resources to use during the day of service.<\/span>This year\u2019s resources will focus on voting rights, including a background resource guide and\u00a0a template letter to Congress supporting the Voting Rights Advancement Act<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 ELCAvotes\u00a0is a\u00a0non-partisan\u00a0initiative to expand the role of the church in encouraging voter participation. Updated congregational resources, Lutheran Bible studies, factsheets and civic participation guides are online at\u00a0ELCA.org\/votes<\/a>. More ELCAvotes resources,\u00a0such as\u00a0interfaith webinars, blogs\u00a0and\u00a0social media toolkits, will be released over the summer and fall. Be sure to\u00a0sign up to\u00a0ELCAvotes<\/a>\u00a0to be the first to receive new resources!<\/p>\n FARM BILL UPDATE:\u00a0<\/b>In late July, the House of Representatives voted to conference with the Senate on the 2018\u00a0farm\u00a0bill. Many of our nation\u2019s most critical food and farm policies\u00a0depend\u00a0on\u00a0the renewal of the farm bill, impacting people from rural America to developing countries. Among\u00a0the\u00a0differences between the House and Senate bills\u00a0that need to be addressed\u00a0are\u00a0conservation\u00a0programs\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0Supplemental\u00a0Nutrition\u00a0Assistance\u00a0Program\u00a0(SNAP).<\/p>\n As House lawmakers head to their home districts for August recess, now is a critical time to reach out to legislators in support of compassionate, comprehensive policies that religious leaders have long supported. Find out how you can coordinate action with your lawmakers while they are in town with the\u00a0ELCA In-District Guide<\/a>.\u00a0ELCA Advocacy will share an updated action alert in support of a comprehensive, bipartisan\u00a0farm\u00a0bill in August.\u00a0Stay\u00a0up to date\u00a0with the\u00a0farm\u00a0bill through\u00a0ELCAadvocacy\u00a0blogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n PREVENTION OF GENOCIDES AND ATROCITIES:\u00a0<\/b>On July 17, the House passed the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act. If\u00a0signed\u00a0into law, it would recognize\u00a0preventing\u00a0genocide and other atrocities\u00a0as a core national security interest and moral responsibility. ELCA Advocacy and ecumenical partners are major supporters of the bill and its\u00a0focus on\u00a0atrocities worldwide.<\/p>\n As currently written, the\u00a0act would help coordinate U.S. efforts to prevent global atrocities from occurring\u00a0and also\u00a0introduce prevention training for\u00a0foreign\u00a0service\u00a0officers. It would also require the\u00a0president to update Congress on efforts taken to minimize violence in countries at risk and provide global assessments of instability, conflict and atrocities. Lutherans are encouraged to share their opinion on the\u00a0bill, and ELCA Advocacy will share an action alert with more information on\u00a0it\u00a0in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n CLIMATE CHANGE AND JUST TRANSITION<\/b><\/span>: <\/span>Ruth Ivory Moore, ELCA Advocacy’s Director for <\/span>Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility, is leading a committee <\/span>in planning a <\/span>Talanoa Dialogue<\/a> on <\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u201c just transition\u201d and \u201closs and damage\u201d as an affiliate event of the <\/span>Global Climate Action Summit<\/a> in September.\u00a0 The planning <\/span>committee includes the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University, the Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance, Brot f\u00fcr die Welt, Lutherans Restoring Creation, and the Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The Talanoa Dialogue brings together faith-based organizations to produce a submission for the consideration of the UNFCCC Secretariat on how to reach zero carbon and resilient economies without leaving stranded employees and communities. The submission will also address the plight of m<\/span>illions of people facing unprecedented humanitarian crises due to environmental degradation resulting\u00a0 in devastating losses for which no means of adequate compensation exists.<\/span><\/p>\n Dennis Frado,\u00a0director\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n FORUM DISCUSSES \u201cSUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT SOCIETIES<\/b>\u201d<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>In 2012,\u00a0the U.N.\u00a0High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was mandated by the Conference on Sustainable Development. This year\u2019s HLPF met July\u00a09-18\u00a0with the theme\u00a0\u201cTransformation towards sustainable and resilient societies,\u201d\u00a0reviewing progress made toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n This year\u2019s conference included 25 meetings, more than 250 side events\u00a0and\u00a046 voluntary national reviews attended by more than 2,200 participants. Read the closing remarks of Marie\u00a0Chatardov\u00e1,\u00a0president of\u00a0the\u00a0U.N. Economic and Social Council,\u00a0here<\/a>; those delivered by U.N.\u00a0Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres may be read\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n On July\u00a016,\u00a0the U.N.\u00a0Population Fund, in collaboration with U.N.\u00a0faith-based partners, including\u00a0The Lutheran World Federation and ACT Alliance, offered\u00a0the\u00a0HLPF side event\u00a0\u201cStrengthening Resilience Through Faith-Based Partnership: Women and Girls\u2019 Health\u00a0in the Context of SDG 11.\u201d Faustina\u00a0Nillan\u00a0Manyangu,\u00a0national\u00a0director for\u00a0women and\u00a0children in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania,\u00a0was a\u00a0panelist. Her work focuses on vulnerable groups of women and children who are marginalized and susceptible within the church and the community at large.<\/p>\n CONSENSUS REACHED ON MIGRATION<\/b>\u00a0COMPACT:\u00a0<\/b>The final intergovernmental negotiations for the\u00a0draft\u00a0Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration<\/a>\u00a0were concluded on July\u00a013\u00a0by consensus, with formal adoption of the\u00a0compact slated for December in Marrakech, Morocco. A joint civil-society statement\u00a0at the conclusion of\u00a0the negotiations highlighted some of the significant achievements:<\/p>\n They also noted: \u201cUnfortunately, the\u00a0compact falls short in several important areas and in some aspects steps away from current international standards and regional practice. For example: we regret that no stronger language could be achieved on the non-criminalization of migrants and of those who provide support to them, on firewalls, access to basic services and on full labor rights and freedom of association for irregular migrant workers.\u201d<\/p>\n At a\u00a0news\u00a0conference hailing the agreement, Miroslav\u00a0Laj\u010d\u00e1k,\u00a0president of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, said,\u00a0\u201cThe reality is that migration is here. It has been here for centuries. And it w Miroslav\u00a0Laj\u010d\u00e1k\u00a0(center),\u00a0president of the\u00a072nd\u00a0session of the General Assembly, and\u00a0co-facilitators for the Global Compact on Migration process: Juan Jos\u00e9 G\u00f3mez Camacho (second from right),\u00a0permanent\u00a0representative of Mexico, and J\u00fcrg Lauber (right),\u00a0permanent\u00a0representative of Switzerland, hold up the gavel at the end of the meeting.<\/p>\n Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0http:\/\/loppca.org\u00a0<\/a> LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>Before the Legislature left for its summer \u201cwork session\u201d (recess), the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee passed SB 100, which has a goal of reaching 100\u00a0percent\u00a0carbon-emission free electrical energy by 2045. Celebrating with LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson\u00a0(right in photo)\u00a0were author Sen. Kevin De L\u00e9on (center) and representatives from the Friends Committee on Legislation of California, California Interfaith Power & Light and Yolo Interfaith Coalition for Climate Justice LOPP-CA is hosting the August Advocacy Day for California Interfaith Power & Light and will be joined by Jane\u00a0Affonso\u00a0for the Green California Lobby Day and Awards Reception on Aug.\u00a08. Jane is a Southwest California Synod Council member, co-chairs its Green Faith Team, and is\u00a0vice\u00a0chair of the LOPP-CA Policy Council.\u00a0 On Aug.\u00a07, Jane will join a group from The Belfry, Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry at\u00a0the\u00a0University of\u00a0California-Davis, for a Build the Dream Alliance Lobby Day with a focus on bail reform, reform of law enforcement\u2019s\u00a0use of deadly force (from \u201creasonable\u201d to \u201cnecessary\u201d), and a ban on required employee arbitration, a reform recommended by advocates for those affected by sexual harassment.<\/p>\n BALLOT MEASURES<\/b>:<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>The Policy Council met July 14 to consider the 10 measures in addition to Propositions\u00a01\u00a0and\u00a02 (housing funds, support). It supported returning rent control authority to local governments, currently pre-empted by the state.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry\u2013Colorado\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0lam-co.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n BALLOT MEASURES:<\/b>\u00a0Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado is participating in two coalitions to support measures for the fall statewide ballot. One is Amendment A, an effort to remove the exception to the ban on slavery in Article II of our state constitution. The language mirrors the 13th\u00a0Amendment to the U.S.\u00a0Constitution, where slavery and involuntary servitude are not prohibited for those convicted of a crime. If successful, Colorado would be the first state to remove such language from its constitution.<\/p>\n The second measure is Initiative 126, an effort to cap payday loan interest rates at 36\u00a0percent. Currently, Coloradans who take out payday loans end up with rates averaging 129\u00a0percent, and in some cases, loan rates exceed 200\u00a0percent. This predatory, exploitative practice is condemned in the Bible as usury, and we\u2019ve joined a broad coalition of faith-based and non-religious groups to put this measure on the ballot. To learn more, visit\u00a0stoppredatorypaydayloans.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n There will undoubtedly be many more measures on our ballot, some of which we may take a position on. For now, we are excited to be working on these two important issues.<\/p>\n BORDER ADVOCACY:<\/b>\u00a0The Rocky Mountain Synod put out the call for emergency support for several border agencies\u00a0that\u00a0were set to receive hundreds of migrant families during the week of July 23. Families are trying to reunite in the wake of the federal government\u2019s logistically and morally disastrous \u201czero tolerance\u201d policy. Thank you to all those who have\u00a0supported this emergency fund<\/a>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n GeoRene\u00a0Jones,\u00a0North\u00a0Carolina\u00a0Synod Social Justice & Advocacy Ministries\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n #<\/b>KeepFamiliesTogether<\/b>:\u00a0The ELCA in North\u00a0Carolina\u00a0offered strong support for\u00a0#KeepFamiliesTogether\u00a0events on June 30.<\/p>\n St Mark\u2019s\u00a0(Asheville),\u00a0Grace\u00a0(Hendersonville),\u00a0Cross & Crown (Matthews),\u00a0Holy Trinity\u00a0and\u00a0Christ Lutheran\u00a0(Charlotte),\u00a0Haven\u00a0and\u00a0St. John\u2019s\u00a0(Salisbury),\u00a0First\u00a0and\u00a0Augsburg\u00a0(Greensboro),\u00a0Grace\u00a0and\u00a0St Philip\u2019s\u00a0(Raleigh),\u00a0Christ the King\u00a0(Cary)\u00a0Abiding Savior\u00a0and\u00a0St Paul\u2019s\u00a0(Durham),\u00a0St. Matthew\u2019s\u00a0(Wilmington) and others across the state rallied, telephoned and emailed legislators in support of immigration and refugee policies\u00a0that\u00a0preserve\u00a0family unity.<\/p>\n Grace\u00a0(Hendersonville) continues the focus of welcoming the stranger when\u00a0it\u00a0jointly hosts\u00a0\u201cStranger to Neighbor\u201d presentation(s) of local agencies in their community.<\/p>\n RACISM:<\/b>\u00a0ELCA efforts against\u00a0racism continue as we strive for meaningful inter-congregational relationships. In Charlotte,\u00a0Holy Trinity\u00a0(ELCA) and\u00a0Little Rock\u00a0(AME-Zion) regularly work shoulder-to-shoulder in outreach.\u00a0Grace Lutheran\u00a0and\u00a0St Paul AME-Zion\u00a0(Hendersonville) are working together to offer race-relations education,\u00a0including a potential civil rights bus tour in early 2019.<\/p>\n WILD GOOSE FESTIVAL:\u00a0<\/b>Social Justice & Advocacy Ministries\u00a0joined forces with\u00a0Lenoir-Rhyne\/Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary\u00a0at the\u00a02018 Wild Goose Festival, July 13-16, in Hot Springs. Festival\u00a0attendee and\u00a0presenter,\u00a0the\u00a0Rev. Nadia\u00a0Bolz-Weber, explains, \u201cThe\u00a0Wild Goose\u00a0is a progressive, justice, music\u00a0and\u00a0arts festival; therefore, there is nothing remotely like it in the United States. I mean, this is it!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry\u2013New Mexico \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 lutheranadvocacynm.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n HEARING ON\u00a0<\/b>DETAINED\u00a0<\/b>IMMIGRANTS<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>The\u00a0Legislature\u2019s\u00a0interim\u00a0 Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee recently held a hearing on immigrants and refugees being held in private prisons or detention centers. The hearing room was packed with immigrants and their families, as well as many people concerned about the detention of migrants. Migrants and their families told many disturbing stories about their experiences while being held in private\u00a0detention centers. There are two such facilities in New Mexico. LAM-NM\u00a0Director\u00a0Ruth Hoffman testified against the privatization of prisons using the ELCA\u00a0criminal\u00a0justice social statement.<\/p>\n Sara\u00a0Lilja, Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n SPRING EVENTS<\/b>\u00a0AND LEGISLATION<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>This summer, the Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ) is working primarily on legislative action after a spring filled with educational events. Our spring events included two regional gatherings to learn how to advocate for criminal justice reform and economic justice reform in community; a bus trip with 150 individuals to the March\u00a0For\u00a0Our Lives in Washington, D.C.,\u00a0to support the youth-led movement to end gun violence; and the launch of a movement to allow undocumented New\u00a0Jerseyans\u00a0to get driver\u2019s licenses. Building off that momentum, we are working hard on two legislative actions: 1) Paid\u00a0family\u00a0leave for all New Jersey workers, and 2) Guaranteed $15\/hour\u00a0minimum\u00a0wage.<\/p>\n 1) In March, LEAMNJ co-hosted a lobby day in Trenton, connecting people of faith to legislators on the issue of paid family and sick leave for all New\u00a0Jerseyans. At the\u00a0end\u00a0of that day, the legislation was passed out of the Assembly and was approved by both the Assembly\u00a0and\u00a0the Senate. It was a great day of putting faith into action. We anticipate this legislation being signed into law\u00a0in the\u00a0fall.<\/p>\n 2)\u202fThere is much support in the\u00a0Legislature and from the governor for raising the New Jersey minimum wage to $15\/hour by 2023. LEAMNJ is mobilizing people of faith to contact elected officials to ensure that all workers (including those working in businesses with tips) are guaranteed that wage when the bill is voted on.<\/p>\n HUNGER ADVOCAC<\/b>Y<\/b>\u00a0FELLOW:\u00a0<\/b>Looking ahead to the fall, LEAMNJ is excited to welcome Erica Earnest as our Hunger Advocacy Fellow for the coming year! Erica recently earned her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and will complete her Master of Social Work from Rutgers in Spring 2019. A big welcome to Erica!<\/p>\n VIDEO:<\/b>\u00a0Finally, thanks to a generous grant, LEAMNJ was able to produce a short video to help share our story. That video can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tracey\u00a0DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy\u2013Pennsylvania\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0lutheranadvocacypa.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n ENERGY-STAR STEWARDSHIP TOUR<\/b>:\u00a0LAMPa\u00a0is joining faith-based partners, in conjunction with the EPA, planning a PA Energy-Star Stewardship Tour Sept.\u00a023-24 at multiple locations across the state. Energy\u00a0Star\u00a0is the nation\u2019s voluntary program helping congregations, businesses, schools, homeowners and tenants\u00a0save energy and water\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and,\u00a0therefore,\u00a0money.<\/a><\/p>\n AIR POLLUTION REPORT<\/b>:<\/b>\u00a0LAMPa\u00a0Director Tracey\u00a0DePasquale\u00a0spoke at a\u00a0Capitol news conference unveiling the report by the Frontier Group,\u00a0PennEnvironment\u00a0Research & Policy Center and\u00a0the\u00a0Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group Education Fund,\u202f\u201cThe air, which is to be life-giving, is for some, death-dealing.\u202fAnd climate change is only going to make this worse.\u201d Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n STATE SUPREME COURT RULING<\/b>:<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>By\u202fa decision of 7 to 0<\/a>,\u00a0the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on July 18 found that Act 80 of 2012 was enacted in a manner that violated the Pennsylvania Constitution.\u00a0<\/b>Advocates, including\u00a0LAMPa, opposed the measure that\u00a0hurt\u00a0Pennsylvanians living in\u00a0severe\u00a0poverty, and Community Legal Services challenged the constitutionality of\u202fAct 80 with a lawsuit.\u00a0Learn more.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGOD\u2019S WORK. OUR HANDS.\u201d SUNDAY<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>LAMPa\u00a0continues to provide\u00a0resources<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0\u201cGod\u2019s work. Our hands.\u201d Sunday.\u00a0Take your service to neighbors\u00a0a step further toward justice through advocacy.\u202fContact us at\u00a0LAMPa@lutheranadvocacypa.org<\/a>\u00a0and put \u201cSept. 9\u201d in the subject line.\u202fWe can also put you in touch with congregations\u00a0that\u00a0have successfully incorporated advocacy into their day of service.<\/p>\n Hilton Austin,\u00a0director<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n IMMIGRATION\/DETENTION<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>On June 30, Southeastern Synod Advocacy was involved in marches all across our four states to protest immigration detention centers and the separation of families. In Atlanta, members of our team joined approximately 10,000 people gathered at the Atlanta Detention Center and marched to the Paul D. Coverdale Legislative Office Building.<\/p>\n ELECTIONS<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>Currently, it seems everything in both Georgia and Tennessee is focused on the upcoming mid-term elections. Some of our team was involved in a get-out-the-vote campaign for July 24 primary runoff elections.<\/p>\n SYNOD ASSEMBLY<\/b>:\u00a0<\/b>Under the theme\u00a0\u201cReformation 500\u00a0\u2026\u00a0Now\u00a0What?,\u201d\u202fthe\u00a0assembly considered\u00a0who God is calling us to be and what God is calling us to do into the future. Bishop Julian Gordy put it this way:<\/p>\n So be of good cheer,\u00a0friends. In spite of what you may have heard, these are good days to be the church. Opportunities to be Christ for our neighbors abound in this world in which our neighbors are lonely and disconnected from community, a world in which refugees are turned away from\u00a0the borders of wealthy\u00a0nations and hearts are hardened against those looking for asylum, a world in which the poor are losing access to health care and nutrition in the world\u2019s richest nation, a world in which race determines too much how people are treated by the law and by institutions and by you and me, a time in which hateful language in high places is a daily occurrence and sword rattling is ascendant, a time in which those claiming evangelical Christianity lead the chorus of condemnation\u00a0\u2013\u00a0\u00a0in this world, in this Southeast,\u00a0we can be, we are called to be,\u00a0\u201cthe alternative face of Christianity\u201d\u00a0\u2026 to show the way of God\u2019s love and mercy that are meant for all people.<\/p>\n We had great turnout\u00a0 for our advocacy workshops,\u00a0\u201cA Voice in the\u00a0<\/i>Wilderness,\u201d\u00a0as we continue to mobilize more Lutherans to take action on social justice issues.<\/p>\n HUNGER ADVOCACY FELLOW:\u00a0<\/b>We are excited about the addition of our new Hunger Advocacy Fellow, Kimberly Jordan Slappey<\/strong>. She\u00a0will begin her year with us on Sept.\u00a04.<\/p>\n Paul Benz, Faith Action Network\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0fanwa.org<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n WASHINGTON STATE AND NATIONAL POLICY<\/b>:<\/b>\u00a0At the federal level, we continue to focus on the\u00a0farm\u00a0bill, encouraging our network to advocate for the bipartisan Senate version,\u00a0which will preserve vital\u00a0Supplemental\u00a0Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)\u00a0funding. We have August recess meeting requests in for two moderate Republican House members to meet with faith leaders on this issue as well as on immigration issues.<\/p>\n At the state level, we are beginning to form our 2019\u00a0legislative\u00a0agenda via policy meetings with our many partners.<\/p>\n STAFF TRANSITIONS<\/b>:\u00a0As we said goodbye to two staff members last month, we welcomed two more! We are excited\u00a0to have\u00a0Sarah\u00a0Vatne\u00a0(at left on the right)\u00a0to join us as an ELCA Hunger Fellow and Tara\u00a0MillerBerry\u00a0(on the left)\u00a0as our\u00a0administrative and\u00a0development\u00a0coordinator. CLUSTER GATHERINGS:\u00a0<\/b>Our annual fall Cluster Gatherings are in the process of being scheduled. These are 21 small group meetings held across the state every fall to gather our members and friends together to hear what is going on in their faith communities and to strategize about how to work together more effectively.<\/p>\n CANDIDATE FORUMS<\/b>:\u00a0FAN held three pre-primary (Aug.\u00a07) candidate forums covering four legislative districts. One was hosted by one of our Jewish faith partners in which we were the prime sponsors\u00a0and\u00a0brought in 90 attendees to hear from five candidates. We look forward to providing more of these opportunities in the\u00a0fall.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/ELCA-Votes-1-300x300.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/trial-lowc02-300x197.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/LOWC-2-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/LOWC-3-300x148.jpg\")
<\/a>ill be here for centuries more. And this agreement addresses this reality. And it offers a way to deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\nCalifornia<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/California-1-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>. California is already ahead of the goals set in its Renewable Portfolio Standard.<\/p>\nColorado<\/b><\/h2>\n
North Carolina\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/NC-2-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/NC-1-300x224.jpg\")
<\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/NC-3-224x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNew Mexico<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/New-Mexico--300x258.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
New Jersey<\/b><\/h2>\n
Pennsylvania<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/PA-1-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSoutheastern Synod<\/b><\/h2>\n
Washington\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/Washington-1.jpg\")
<\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/08\/Washington-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWisconsin<\/b><\/h2>\n