The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America  joined 144 Faith organizations in sending the following letter to Chairman Pete Sessions and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Representative James McGovern asking them to support amendments in the Appropriations bill that protect the Johnson Amendment.

 

                                                                                                                                              July 16, 2018

Mr. Pete Sessions                                                                               Mr. James McGovern
Chairman                                                                                             Ranking Member
House Rules Committee                                                                   House Rules Committee
Washington, D.C. 20515                                                                   Washington, D.C. 20515

 

Dear Chairman Sessions and Ranking Member McGovern:

 

The 145 undersigned organizations write to urge you to rule in order Wasserman Schultz Amendment #8 and Lewis Amendment #48 to strike the language in Section 112 of the House 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. This provision would make it effectively impossible for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enforce a long-standing federal law, sometimes referred to as the Johnson Amendment, insofar as it applies to houses of worship.

The Johnson Amendment protects the integrity of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including houses of worship, by ensuring they do not endorse or oppose candidates. Weakening current law would allow politicians and others seeking political power to pressure churches for endorsements, dividing congregations, and opening them up to the flow of secret money. Americans do not want our charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations to be torn apart by partisan campaign politics. We must keep this valuable safeguard that protects our houses of worship, our charitable and philanthropic organizations, and our political process.

Under the current law, which has been in place for the last six decades, houses of worship have maintained robust free speech rights and can speak out on any political and social issues that they see as important. They currently can engage in public debate on any issue, host candidate forums, hold voter registration drives, encourage people to vote, help transport people to the polls and even, with a few boundaries, lobby on specific legislation and invite candidates to speak. They simply cannot endorse or oppose candidates for public office and maintain their special tax-exempt status.

Section 112 would make it very difficult for the IRS to investigate claims that churches have violated the law by requiring consent from the IRS Commissioner for each investigation and notification to two committees in Congress before such investigations commence. The first requirement would slow down, if not functionally halt, the pursuit of 501(c)(3) violations, while the second would only further politicize these law-enforcement investigations.

Additionally, although the current law applies to all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, Section 112 in the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill would apply only to houses of worship. By giving houses of worship special treatment in the enforcement of IRS restrictions on intervention in political campaigns, the amendment raises serious concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and undermines religious freedom.

Opposition to the repeal or weakening of the Johnson Amendment is overwhelming: 106 religious and denominational organizations, more than 5,800 charitable nonprofit organizations, more than 4,500 faith leaders,and state charities officials have all written to Congress to urge it to protect the Johnson Amendment.We firmly urge you to rule in order the Wasserman Schultz Amendment #8 and Lewis Amendment #48 to remove Section 112 because it would weaken the law that protects houses of worship and other charitable nonprofits.

 

Sincerely,

Action on Smoking and Health
The Afiya Center
African American Ministers In Action
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
Alliance of Baptists
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Atheists
American Baptist Churches USA
American Baptist Home Mission Societies
American Conference of Academic Deans
American Conference of Cantors
American Council on Education
American Family Voices
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Humanist Association
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
American Society of Association Executives
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Anti-Defamation League
The Arc of the United States
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB)
The Atlantic Foundation
Autism Society of America
Baptist Center for Ethics
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Baptist Women in Ministry
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
B’nai B’rith International
BoardSource
The Bright Lines Project
Burlesque Hall of Fame
Catholics for Choice
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Effective Philanthropy
Center for Faith and Giving
Center for Inquiry
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Center on Conscience & War
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Christian Board of Publication/Chalice Press
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Council for Global Equality
Council on Foundations
Democracy 21
Disciples Center for Public Witness
Disciples Justice Action Network
The Episcopal Church
End Citizens United
Equal Partners in Faith
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Every Voice
Forum for Youth Investment
Freedom From Religion Foundation
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth
Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
Girls Inc.
Greenpeace USA
Habitat for Humanity International
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
The Henry Ford
Hindu American Foundation
Hindu Mandirs Executives’ Conference
Hip Hop Caucus
Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings
Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation
Human Rights Campaign
Impact Fund
Independent Sector
Interfaith Alliance
Institute for Science and Human Values
Islamic Networks Group
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
The Jewish Federations of North America
JWI
Keshet
Land Trust Alliance
Lymphoma Foundation of America
Management Assistance Group
Medical Students for Choice
Men of Reform Judaism
MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership
Methodist Federation for Social Action
Morino Institute
Music Medicine Institute
Muslim Public Affairs Council
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National African American Clergy Network
National Association of Charitable Gift Planners
National Benevolent Association
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
National Council of Churches
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Nonprofits
National Employment Law Project
National Human Services Assembly
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New Baptist Covenant
New Ways Ministry
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
North American Bramble Growers Research Foundation
North Side Action & Resistance (Indivisible)
Nursing Students for Sexual & Reproductive Health
Partnership for America’s Children
Pension Fund of the Christian Church
People For the American Way
Phillips Theological Seminary
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Public Citizen
Rachel Carson Council
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Religious Institute
Rootstrikers Project at Demand Progress
Secular Coalition for America
Senior Executives Association (SEA)
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministry
United Philanthropy Forum
U.S. PIRG
Vibrant America, Inc.
Voices for Progress
Volunteers of America
WasteWater Education
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)
Youth Advocate Programs
YWCA USA

Today’s post is by Annemarie Hartner Cook, Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Maple Shade, New Jersey. Annemarie served as a staff member for the ELCA Worship Interactive Center at this summer’s Youth Gathering in Houston, TX.

“It’s a worship playground, a lab, a place to explore and have fun!”  

This is how I would describe the “Drawn In! Moving Out!” interactive worship space designed for youth and their leaders at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering. For the first time in thirty-one years, the ELCA Worship staff had a presence in the interactive learning center during the gathering. In collaboration with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and Lutheran Summer Music,the ELCA Worship staff designed a 3,600 square foot space where experimentation, musical collaboration, creativity, and even a little competition could flourish.

An “Acolyte Olympiad” tested the accuracy and speed of acolytes old and new in a relay course complete with candle lighting, processing, and setting the table for communion. The “Vestment Photo Booth” allowed youth to try on albs, stoles, chausibles, dalmatics, and even birettas (hats) so they could envision themselves as worship leaders and take photos together. Anne Edison-Albright of Luther College remarked that, “a group of three young women showed me the photo they took, arms lifted in orans posture. They told me it made them feel like pastors, and we all got a little tear-y. This was a Godly play area for high school youth, and they needed it, and we need them to be able to imagine themselves as leaders in the church! It helped them try on a possible future, and they loved it.”

A collaborative music space was stocked with flutes, trumpets, percussion, piano, and even an organ. Professional church musicians provided leadership for the soundtrack to our conversations, exploration, and joy. Pastor Sami Johnson noted, “My student who has a hard time fitting in found his home in your booth. He gravitated to the trumpet and ended up teaching someone else how to hold the instrument and some basic fingerings, and then he kicked off a jam session. It blew my mind to see him take leadership like that. So, thank you!”

At its heart, this space was dedicated to inviting youth to understand that worship belongs to them as much as it belongs to the rest of the church. In many worshipping communities there are few roles for youth in the planning and work of worship. Often the committees or staff that handle those things invite and expect youth to participate in limited ways that don’t utilize their creativity and unique relationship with their faith. Youth have a passion for worship in its ability to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that are both familiar and brand new.

The response to these opportunities was immediate and at times overwhelming. It seemed that in the act of giving permission to explore, touch, and play with items and instruments that they had previously presumed were off limits, there was joy. This worship playground enabled youth to literally see themselves as the leaders of worship and music for the church. They wrote beautiful prayers and asked thoughtful questions about worship and how they can continue to be involved. Our “Dismissal Buttons” gave them a chance to write their own dismissal, giving them a tangible way to be sent from this gathering back to their congregations.

Over the course of the Gathering we continued to have conversations and received inspiring stories from youth and their leaders about the impact that this space had on their vision for worship at home and even their own vocations (See the “Part Two” blog post highlighting the words from the youth themselves). Some youth would come back over and over again, hoping to beat their time in the Acolyte Olympiad, play the organ, or dress in an alb and stole. In the end, what started as permission to play became an opportunity for real discernment into how these youth can have a greater role as worship leaders at home and into the future.

 

By Elena Robles,Hunger Advocacy Fellow

 

The House of Representatives and Senate have returned from the July 4^th Recess, and ELCA Advocacy and the Advocacy network look forward to their next movements to complete the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill funds the food system, ensuring farmers get access to the support and resources needed to produce food in sustainable ways, and guaranteeing hungry people domestically and internationally are supported through the various food programs that the bill funds.

 

 

House of Representatives

In April the House of Representatives released their version of the Farm Bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act (HR.2), which provided strong supports for farmers and international food assistance programs. HR.2 failed to pass the first time it was voted on and passed by only two votes the second time. Hunger Advocates have expressed concern for how HR.2 would impact the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps). The proposed reforms would create additional work requirements, shift funding from the programs into the creation of short-term job trainings and would ultimately negatively impact millions of low-income seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, unemployed adults and families with children who rely on the program. Learn more about the Agriculture and Nutrition Act here.

Senate

The Senate, through the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, were able to draft and pass the Agriculture and Improvement Act (S. 3042) with 85 senators voting in favor. This is the highest vote count of approval in Farm Bill history and an excellent example of bipartisanship. The Agriculture and Improvement Act was lauded for its continued support of farmers, generous funding for international food assistance and protection of structure and funding for SNAP. Learn more about the Senate Farm Bill through the Food Research and Action Center.

 

 

Next Steps?

Senators and Representatives from both parties will need to come together to pass a final  2018 Farm Bill that establishes a strong foundation for our food systems. House and Senate leaders will appoint Conferees to serve on a conference committee tasked with negotiating a Farm Bill that can be passed by both chambers.There is hard work ahead for the Conferees as they work towards navigating major differences in SNAP funding and structure, issues around conservation, and the upcoming midterm elections which could impose serious time limits on getting a bill through both chambers. The ELCA network will be mobilized to take action on contacting Conferees for a Farm Bill that reflects the needs of all of our communities. Lutherans have a powerful faith voice to share as we continue to urge legislators to support both the needs of farmers and families who rely on nutrition assistance. 

 

 

ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Amy Reumann, director               ELCA.org/advocacy

July 21, PRAY.FAST.ACT.: On Saturday, July 21, we join with The Episcopal Church in our monthly commitment to #PrayFastAct. This month, our focus is on protecting Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security for the future. Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are the core of our nation’s medical and income safety net for the elderly, unemployed, underemployed and disabled. In recent decades, investments in programs that spur the economic potential of individuals has declined, which has led to an increase in the number of people needing the support of these programs. Together, these programs and other safety net measures represent a significant amount of annual federal spending. Recently, proposals have been made to change the programs by manipulating eligibility or coverage to reduce spending. Difficult, but responsible, changes require Congress and the nation to invest in programs that reduce the long-term need for these programs and minimize the individual impact of the economic cycle so that these programs can cost less because they are needed less.

FARM BILL: The Senate passed a bipartisan 2018 farm bill last month that ELCA Advocacy supported. The bill will now go to a conference between the House and Senate. ELCA Advocacy plans to work to ensure that the Senate bill prevails over the House bill, which would make cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Learn more about the Senate and House versions of the farm bill by reading “The Senate Farm Bill: What a Difference Bipartisanship Makes” on the ELCA Advocacy blog.

MIGRATION and AMMPARO: In June, the House rejected a hardline immigration bill introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Securing America’s Future Act (H.R. 4760) would have drastically cut the nation’s legal immigration levels and provided funding for building a border wall, while also offering temporary status for “Dreamers.” ELCA Advocacy opposed the bill. The House has yet to vote on a proposed compromise immigration bill. You can take action on this issue by visiting the ELCA Advocacy Action Center. 

President Trump signed an executive order to address family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border. The executive order fails to end the zero-tolerance policy that criminalizes parents and expands family detention. ELCA Advocacy will continue to stand against family detention, advocating instead for community-based alternatives to detentions. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has piloted alternatives for families.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE: On June 20, the Senate passed the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act. The legislation calls on Congress to extend the authority of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 for a few more years. The act established a comprehensive U.S. global food-security strategy that has enabled the U.S. government to improve the way food and nutrition programs are implemented and accounted for. As a result, some developing countries have been able to increase agricultural productivity and education opportunities. These programs help farmers feed their families and communities and contribute to their countries’ economic growth. The House has yet to pass its version of the bill.

 

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. 

Dennis Frado, director

 

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spoke marking the start of this year’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on June 12 to a conference of signatories to the convention, which he described as one of the most widely ratified international human rights treaties. The convention reaffirms that people with disabilities are entitled to the same treatment as everyone else.

People with disabilities still often face overt discrimination, stereotyping and lack of respect for their basic human rights – with women and girls disproportionately affected. The secretary-general said that “every minute, more than 30 women are seriously injured or disabled during childbirth,” and that women and girls with disabilities face multiple barriers to accessing education, health services and jobs.

“Without women’s empowerment and gender equality, millions of women will continue to suffer from double discrimination based on both their gender and their disability,” he added. The secretary-general also spelled out the need for new approaches for and with people with disabilities, including mainstreaming disability in national legislation and development strategies.

Catalina Devandas Aguilar, U.N. special rapporteur on the rights of people with disabilities, noted that while progress has been made, it is not reaching everyone in the same way. “There is a great demand for public interventions of better and higher quality,” she said. “Only by working together will we fulfil our common goal of leaving no one behind.”

PILGRIMAGE TO PEACE PANEL FEATURES LUTHERAN EDUCATOR: On June 22 the Church Center at the United Nations was the site of Churches for Middle East Peace’s  Pilgrimage2Peace panel discussion hosted by the U.N. NGO Working Group on Israel-Palestine, of which Lutheran Office for World Community is a member. “Peacebuilding and Constructive Conflict in Israel, Palestine, and the broader Middle East” featured Georgette Hazboun Rabadi, principal of the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour, Palestine, and Mara Lee, global executive director of the OneVoice Movement. Kyle Cristofalo, director of advocacy and government relations with churches for Middle East Peace, was the moderator.

Rabadi works to empower students and families in the region from all religious, economic and social backgrounds. She educates children and young people about global issues, connecting them with their peers locally and internationally, and inspiring them to make a difference. Her school offers student exchange programs in Europe and a local school-to-career program with guest speakers offering Palestinian narratives along with the opportunity to work on projects. She reports that when Palestinians are asked what they want, the response is: “We want the right to live with dignity.”

Lee works with the OneVoice Movement, an initiative supporting grassroots activists in Israel, Palestine and globally who are working to build human infrastructure to create the necessary conditions for a just and negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In conversation about conflict resolution, the initiative’s goal is to be pro-solution, pro-peace, and pro-humanity.

 

California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy                            loppca.org

BUDGET UPDATE: With no line-item vetoes, Gov. Jerry Brown approved a General Fund budget of about $140 billion that includes items supported by LOPP-CA to increase the CalWORKS/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families assistance grants intended to relieve childhood poverty, increase spending for child care, expand census outreach and make the state Earned Income Tax Credit available for more low-income taxpayers. Proposals to provide Medi-Cal (Medicaid) coverage for low-income young adults and seniors, regardless of immigration status, did not make it into the final budget. LOPP-CA Director Mark Carlson mixed with some of the Poor People’s Campaign participants and tried to connect some of the “outside” protestors with actual budget and legislative decisions being made “inside.”

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: LOPP-CA was site host for a California Interfaith Power & Light Advocacy Day, supporting bills to set stronger goals for renewable electrical energy (SB 100), protect California’s coastline should the federal government seek to expand offshore oil drilling, and establish goals for carbon reduction from ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. LOPP-CA also offered brief testimony in the Senate Elections Committee supporting stronger sponsor and funding disclosure in social media ads for ballot measures.

NOVEMBER BALLOT: California voters will decide on 12 measures, three placed on the ballot by the Legislature and nine that reached via the initiative petition process. Our priority continues to be the housing bond, cahahousing.org (Programs and Initiative). Carlson hosted the June conference of ELCA rostered leaders gathering at a permanent supportive housing site where Lutheran Social Services of Northern California provides services (photo).

 

North Carolina 

Georene Jones, North Carolina Synod Social Justice & Advocacy Ministries

THE NORTH CAROLINA SYNOD ASSEMBLY PASSED A RESOLUTION ON IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES: The first included provisions to demand a halt to detention and deportation of people not found guilty of a felony until comprehensive immigration policy reform is passed by Congress, permanent legislation providing full citizenship to “Dreamers,” and pathways to citizenship for non-felon resident immigrants without documentation, and for maintaining family unity.

Additionally, the document demanded compassionate treatment of all who seek safety and hope in the U.S., as well as encourage increased individual and congregational support of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran Services Carolinas, and participation in the ELCA’s Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO).

A second resolution regarding refugees states that in the face of the largest displacement crisis since World War II, the U.S. must honor its commitment to accept no fewer than 45,000 refugees for resettlement through fiscal year 2018 and to increase the number admitted in 2019 to 75,000.

Full-text of the resolutions as adopted are available at:

18-03 Advocacy & Action for Immigration and 18-04 Acceptance & Resettlement of Refugees.

 

 

New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico  lutheranadvocacynm.org

LAM-NM WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS: We recently attended an advocacy training for the Dental Therapy Coalition, which is working to enact a statute creating the mid-level profession of dental therapist. Having dental therapists would increase the number of dental providers particularly in underserved areas of our large state. We also attended the 2108 Kids Count Conference sponsored by New Mexico Voices for Children. Over 200 people networked and heard presentations about ways to improve the lives of New Mexico’s children. Our state ranks at or near the bottom in child well-being.

 

Ohio

Nick Bates, Hunger Network Ohio                                                            Nick@HungerNetOhio.org

A great synod assembly season! Hunger Network Ohio attended the Northeastern Ohio Synod and the Southern Ohio Synod assemblies this year. Between the two, we collected over 65 postcards for our congressional representatives to protect nutrition assistance in the farm bill. Both assemblies had a feature of justice.

The Northeastern Ohio Synod heard Amanda Silcox share her experience as an ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission participant and a Hunger Advocacy Fellow serving this year in the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, but originally from the Northeastern Ohio Synod. The assembly was moved by her passion and commitment to justice in our community. Likewise, the Southern Ohio Synod featured workshops on advocacy, hunger, immigration and racial inequality, including a powerful liturgy prepared by the synod’s race relations task force. Our synod assemblies are a great opportunity not only to accomplish the business of our synods but also a chance to come together to learn and grow in relationship and our understanding of the gospel.

We would also like to mention First English Lutheran Church, which is now the second congregation in Columbus hosting a family in sanctuary. Bishop Dillahunt and many congregational leaders, fresh off the busses and planes from Houston, attended a news conference to support Miriam Vargas on July 2. We will continue to live into our synod resolutions, the ELCA AMMPARO initiative and our gospel calling to welcome and love the neighbor.

                                        

 

 

Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy – Pennsylvania                             lutheranadvocacypa.org

LAMPa AT SYNOD ASSEMBLIES: LAMPa staff shared displays, information and workshops at the Lower Susquehanna, Allegheny and Upper Susquehanna synod assemblies.

SYNODS PASS SOCIAL JUSTICE RESOLUTION AT ASSEMBLIES: The Lower Susquehanna Synod adopted a resolution regarding homelessness. The Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod adopted a resolution on migrant minors and family separation at the U.S. borders. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod adopted a resolution of concern for migrant minors separated from family. The Upper Susquehanna Synod passed a resolution regarding migrant children calling for humane, compassionate treatment of those designated as undocumented minors.

 

LAMPa PARTICIPATES IN ELCA YOUTH GATHERING : LAMPa partnered with ELCA Advocacy and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries sharing an interactive exhibit, “Be the Change: Means of Grace, Scenes of Grace.” Visitors entered a space set apart to connect with God’s good creation. They discovered the fun and profound ways faith is nurtured in nature and left transformed, prepared to be the change.  

CONNECTING LUTHERANS WITH ISSUES: June was a busy month for LAMPa staff as they issued advocacy alerts to constituents for federal and state issues. Federal action on the House farm bill, two immigration bills and family separation at the border. State alerts were shared regarding the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and “Safe Harbor.”

BUDGET AND CLEAN-SLATE LAWS SIGNED: Gov. Tom Wolf signed the 2018-2019 budget and clean-slate bill into law making it easier for people who have committed crimes to move on with their lives. LAMPa has advocated for this bill for several years.

 

 

Virginia

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy                                              virginiainterfaithcenter.org/

WHAT’S NEXT?: After late May’s Medicaid expansion victory at the Virginia General Assembly, everyone has been asking “what’s next?” Although the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will be looking at overall policy priorities in upcoming weeks, it does plan to follow through on other priorities that need work, such as strengthening enforcement against wage theft and encouraging living wages, and making Virginia more welcoming to immigrants and others. We are also exploring what we should be doing in terms of making sure that people eligible for Medicaid expansion actually sign-up. There is no shortage of work to do.

Our staff has met with many chapters and affiliates in the last few weeks across the commonwealth. Although everyone is excited about Medicaid expansion, groups are ready and eager to continue their good work. Our chapters and affiliates are:

• making plans for how the faith community can assist with Medicaid enrollment;
• meeting with legislators about priority issues for the 2019 General Assembly;
• building Living Wage Certification programs (The Richmond program has launched and Alexandria    should launch soon; Charlottesville is in the planning phase and a new planning group has formed in Harrisonburg); and
• talking with sheriffs about how best to work with immigrant communities.

 

 

Washington 

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network                      fanwa.org

SUMMITS: FAN finished the last of four annual spring summits on June 10. Every year, we convene these regional gatherings across the state to hear our advocates’ policy priorities and share what FAN is doing. This is an important way to maintain and deepen relationships with our members. This year, we convened more than 175 advocates from many  denominations and faiths at our Puget Sound Summit.

POLICY ISSUES: This time of year, FAN is focused on Congress, advocating on the farm bill, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, immigration bills, and the related Public Charge rule. We are staying in touch with our Washington, D.C., faith-based lobbyists while educating and activating our network of almost 7,000 advocates organized in our 10 congressional districts.

CANDIDATES FORUMS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: FAN will be sponsoring, planning and conducting several candidate forums at faith communities in critical races in our state. Our state’s primary is in August, so most of these forums are in September and October. This is a great public witness for FAN and faith communities to play in the electoral process.

 

 

Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin                      loppw.org

SUMMER PLANNING FOR UPCOMING EVENTS: 

• July 17: “Hunger, the Farm Bill, Immigration and the ELCA”: LOPPW is working with two hunger volunteers, Cindy Dobberke and Molly Riehle, who attended the ELCA World Hunger gathering in January, to organize an advocacy event in Milwaukee. Register today online.
• Oct. 6: Care for God’s Creation Conference:  LOPPW and the South-Central Synod Care for God’s Creation team are planning to lift up the cutting-edge work on renewable energy in Dane County and a few other places in Wisconsin. We’ll make what’s working known and encourage grass-roots organizing to duplicate these efforts.
• Nov. 3-4 or 5: Overnight Lutheran Campus Ministry Retreat: LOPPW is working with campus pastors from Milwaukee and Madison to organize the event. We’ll encourage campus ministries from around the state and the UP and possibly beyond to attend. We’re grateful for a grant from First Lutheran Church Foundation in Gladstone, Mich.

CONSULTATION: LOPPW has been gathering information on Wisconsin ICE detention centers to offer to interested pastors and help them discern efforts they can take.

SYNOD ASSEMBLIES: LOPPW had a table and led a workshop at the La Crosse Area Synod Assembly. LOPPW was present at the Greater Milwaukee and the Northwest synod assemblies. Congratulations to the Rev. Laurie Skow-Anderson elected the Northwest Synod bishop!

HUNGER FELLOW: Candidates for the Hunger Fellow position were interviewed and LOPPW looks forward to introducing Kelsey Johnson next month!

 

With more than 30,000 youth and adults from across the ELCA, ELCA World Hunger staff were in Houston, Texas, last week for the 2018 National Youth Gathering. The event is a great opportunity for youth and leaders to learn about the many ministries of the ELCA and our partners. This year, as part of ELCA World Hunger’s Global Farm Challenge, youth had the chance to support ELCA World Hunger’s accompaniment of farmers around the world by offering their donations, glimpse a village in Malawi through a 360-degree virtual reality video, and learn about some of the challenges and opportunities smallholder farmers face through the “Field Experience” track. In this interactive track, participants followed the story of a smallholder farmer and tried their best to bring one of four crops – ginger, corn, citrus trees, or rice – from seed to market. ELCA World Hunger’s interns were a critical part of the event, helping to build and staff the track, guiding youth through the “Feld Experience,” and sharing their own passions and wisdom with participants. Below, Jasmine, Hannah, and Petra share some of their reflections on the Youth Gathering – including the ways that the event shapes staff who work it as much as it shapes the youth who attend.

–

“I finally was able to realize what being Lutheran and being Church meant, and it was something truly special.”

This summer I had the privilege of attending the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas. While I thought I was ready to welcome the Youth to our space Thursday morning, I soon realized that nothing could have prepared me for welcoming 30,000 youth! The experience was truly something indescribable, never have I ever worked so hard, stood on my feet so long and felt like I was apart of something so meaningful.

Nervous at first about how the field experience would go—especially the section my fellow interns and I put together—I easily became more comfortable in the space, allowing for me to focus on what was truly important about what was going on around me. What was so impactful and enlightening about this experience had nothing to do with how perfectly I worded each sentence, or how quickly we got the crops from the finish line back to the beginning of the track, it was the small talk, and the connections being made throughout and seeing/ recognizing that over 30,000+ Lutherans were coming together from all over the U.S to celebrate God and grow in faith.

Every morning I was greeted by Petra R. and Hannah N. we would walk down to breakfast debrief for the day then head to the event. Entering this trip with them I never expected our relationships to grow how they did but I guess when you spend nearly 24 hours a day with someone that naturally happens. We all became one another’s support and when I, being the grandma intern got too tired they helped push me out of my comfort zone by encouraging me to attend a mass gathering on Saturday, which I greatly thank them for. Not being a huge fan of speakers and talks I was initially turned off by the idea, but once I was there I realized it was so much more than that, it didn’t matter exactly what was being said on stage, it was the feeling of being in a room with 30,000+ people who all believe in the same thing as you. The theme for Saturday was Hope and I could feel and see hope all around me as I sat amongst the future generations of our country. I finally was able to realize what being Lutheran and being Church meant, and it was something truly special.

I am beyond grateful that I was able to attend the Youth Gathering both because it allowed me share with youth and others ELCA World Hunger’s mission and field experience, as well as it showed me hope for the future and presented a feeling of belonging I had never felt before. I can confidently say that this experience was like no other and will stick with me for a lifetime.

-Jasmine Bolden

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“I saw young people empowered to be the leaders that this church needs…”

When I was selected to be one of ELCA World Hunger’s interns, I had no idea what I was getting into. However, I did know that I would have the opportunity to attend the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering, so I was super excited for what the summer would hold. This trip held an important significance for me, as I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Welcoming 31,000 youth and their leaders to my hometown and educating them about the impact of ELCA World Hunger and the Global Farm Challenge was such a cool experience, even amidst the stifling heat of Houston (which you can never get used to).

The theme of the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering was “This Changes Everything,” and from the moment I first arrived in the Interactive Learning space in Houston, I found that to be true. I met people from all over the United States and the Caribbean, and I like to think I showed them a thing or two about the challenges farmers face around the world.  I even had the privilege of guiding Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton through a section of the “Field Experience”—she could carry a 41.5-pound jerry can of water better than some of the youth!

In the Mass Gatherings, thousands of youth around me were enlivened by the speakers and the messages of hope and grace they brought to my generation. The speakers reflected the theme verse of the event in Ephesians: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8 NRSV). As you know, the youth of this vibrant church are a gift from God, and they were lifted up to be an important part of their churches not only in the future but now. Throughout the Youth Gathering, I saw young people empowered to be the leaders that this church needs, and I am so excited that ELCA World Hunger could be a part of this important faith formation event.

In the last Mass Gathering, the normally dark NRG Stadium was filled with light. The assignment for all the youth was to let someone important to them know that they were loved by sending them a text message with the note “May God hold you in the grip of grace.” After they sent the message, they were to turn their phone flashlights on. Quickly, the entire stadium became as bright as the noonday as thousands of people throughout the United States and the world were told that they were loved by the next generation of Lutheran leaders. After attending this gathering, I am filled with hope for what the church will look like moving forward.

-Hannah Norem

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“…this is what it takes to create a just world where all are fed.”

Beautiful chaos. Everything God-blessed, fast-paced, brightly colored and abundantly emotional— a light sprinkling of buzzwords that only begins to scratch the surface of the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Every three years, an inconceivable amount of sweat, tears, and hope breathes life to this event. Though I believe few people are blessed with having a grip on this whirlwind of an experience due to its sheer magnitude, I thought I had a pretty good idea after attending two. I easily recall the countless post-church potluck lunches, car washes, and wreath sales that brought us ever-closer to our financial goal of affording the Gathering. What I hadn’t realized was the equal anticipation felt by the staff, volunteers, and partners planning the event. Excitement, nervousness, expectation, and anticipation hummed around the office long before our arrival, for everything ELCA World Hunger’s part in the event would be. Everything I got to hear, see, and have a hand in bringing to fruition, though, was just a tiny part of the entire event. The massive floorspace we would curate was but a planet in the entire solar system of NRG Center activities, and a tiny-but-mighty speck in the galaxy of events participants would encounter in the week.

Rather than humbling, this realization was enlivening. It brought urgency to pouring ourselves into ELCA World Hunger’s area, ensuring it precisely and accurately reflected all the learning points we prayed groups would grasp. Despite my hoarse throat and empty stomach, I was committed to making my piece of ELCA World Hunger’s “Field Experience” meaningful, fun, and enriching for each group. This is the first and only time these folks that stood before me got to see the space. This was the time they had to learn about what I staunchly believe is one of the best examples of God’s work in this church and the world.

What I pray they carry home is the sentiment of injustice behind the stories they heard, and allow it to fuel action. The participants in the track each followed stories of farmers facing hunger, and in the track, they took on the voices of the farmers – and added their own excitement or frustrations to the mix. “My son is sick!” one girl screamed. Another, “I get to ride a bike!” Or, most often heard, “Aw man, I have to carry my crops?!” These were only a few of the reactions after reading how the “drought” affected each group’s “crops.” The track was a great opportunity for the youth at the Gathering to hear about experiences of others around the world – experiences that may differ from their own – and to be inspired to act.

Just how different would the world look if we each took the time to learn about other’s experiences in the world, what this means for everyone as a global community, where our Church stands in it all, and how God is calling us to respond to injustice and need? Asking these questions and creating avenues for people to explore them—this is what it takes to create a “just world where all are fed.”

-Petra Rickertsen

By Barbara Kufiadan, ELCA Advocacy 2018 Summer Intern 

At a time of much political discourse, it is easy to lose faith in the process of civic engagement. As Christians, we are taught to have faith in each and every situation. Situations that are good, situations that could possibly go wrong, and even situations that will go wrong. It seems like such an easy principle to follow until you’re civically engaged. Faith-based advocacy requires you to keep the faith no matter the current policy issues and/or legislation are.

I’m Barbara Kufiadan, an ELCA Summer Advocacy Intern. As a Utah native, my journey to the ELCA Advocacy office in D.C. was a step out of my comfort zone. Faith-based advocacy organizations aren’t something that I was used to. Coming from a state where there’s only one major Christian denomination, there wasn’t much advocacy from other denominations. With little to no experience in faith-based advocacy, I have learned a lot in the two weeks that I have been here. Most importantly, I have learned how God’s word not only serves as a reminder of our faith in our personal lives but how it serves as a reminder of why we should advocate.

 

In my time here, I have attended the Poor People’s Campaign rally, made a visit to the House to regarding the Farm Bill, stood outside of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) three times waiting for Trump v. Hawaii, celebrated World Refugee Day by engaging in Refugee Road with Oxfam, taught High School Lutherans how to advocate and send letters to their representatives, as well as having a front row seat in the day- to- day decisions regarding child separation and immigration. Are most of the things I listed positive? Yes! But a lot of these issues also require a lot of faith.

It takes faith when standing in front of the SCOTUS hoping that there will be a decision made on the Travel ban. It takes faith hoping that my brothers and sisters have the opportunity to seek asylum from their war-ridden countries. It takes faith hoping that high school students get a great response from their representatives. It takes faith in hoping that there is a just, reasonable solution to ending family separation and finding a pathway to citizenship.

Each thing that we advocate for allows us to step out on faith. God reminds us that we should “bare one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), and in doing so that means advocating for racial and gender justice, accessibility to food, adequate housing accommodations, immigration policy, environmental sustainability, and much more. At the end of a lot of these days, I had to make a choice. The choice to leave the end of the work day feeling discouraged or the choice to tap into faith and hope that justice would be served. I made a huge leap of faith coming across the country to intern for ELCA Advocacy and it has already been such a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

 

At a state of political discourse, I leave you with a word of faith: “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.”(Psalms 119:30). Christians have a place in advocacy. During the times of distress, it is our faith-based advocacy that allows us to preserve and step out on what we know – faith.

 

By Rev. Dustin G. Wright, Messiah Lutheran Church in Schenectady, New York

 

About a month back during the Week One action of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, I sat with a diverse group of justice-minded folks from across New York State blocking the doors to the Capitol Building in Albany. Wearing my collar and favorite stole, I was trying to accompany children, women and people living disabilities in saying how unnecessarily hard it is for so many in a state that puts itself out there as one of the most progressive places in the country. I was simply doing what I thought people on the Way of Jesus should be focusing on, and in the midst of all the singing and chanting, I got into a conversation with a young woman from Brooklyn sitting next to me.

Seeing my collar, she said something like, “Wow, there’s a lot of religious leaders here.” A little surprised, I responded with something like, “Of course there is, this Poor People’s Campaign is just picking up where MLK left off after all fifty years ago!” And then, she said something that struck me to the core after four years of ordained ministry… “Wow, I didn’t know religious people cared about important things.”

It was in that moment that I really began to realize how truly important the Poor People’s Campaign is. A lifelong Lutheran, I was born in 1986, and despite my childhood pastor preaching against the 2003 Iraq War and teaching about issues like hunger and poverty, I also spent my entire life in a context where many Americans, for a bunch of different reasons, seem to think following Jesus is more about making LGBTQIA folks feel unwelcome; telling women what to do with their bodies; and saving souls from eternal torment in the next life rather than saying much of anything good at all about how we ought to live both individually and collectively in this life.

Jesus was a refugee, a day laborer, after all, lynched in the manner of a political revolutionary by one of the most powerful empires the world has ever known specifically because he sought to challenge and change that system. While he talked about getting into heaven, for sure, this world, not the next, was the focus of his ministry. As it says on the stoles of two leaders of the Poor People’s Campaign, Rev. Liz Theoharis and Rev. William Barber, Jesus was a poor man. How then could followers of the Way of this poor revolutionary become identified with policing folks’ bedrooms but not saying much of anything about the systemic sins of poverty, racism, militarism and ecological devastation?

The “moral narrative” of this country, influenced in part by a false, ahistoric and heretical brand of Christian Nationalism that has almost nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus, has quite simply become distorted.

“A New and Unsettling Force: Confronting the Distorted Moral Narrative” is the theme for this week of the Poor People’s Campaign, and I pray you will join me, people of faith and others of good will across this country in doing just that.

In Christ,

Rev. Dustin G. Wright

Pastor, Messiah Lutheran Church in Schenectady, New York

President, New York State Council of Churches

By  the Rev. Amy Reumann, Director of ELCA Advocacy

 

   When the Attorney General and the White House Press Secretary invoked St. Paul’s instruction “be subject to the governing authorities” to quell criticism of the Administration policy of separating families seeking asylum at the border, faith leaders reacted swiftly to the misuse of Scripture. The ensuing uproar focused on a narrow interpretation of Romans 13 that ignored the larger meaning of the passage, which holds all persons and structures to God’s higher standard of love. It can in no way be used justify the horrific practice of tearing children away from their parents or any unjust law. Many have weighed in on the misapplication of the text to falling in line behind this new interpretation of immigration policy.  But it also raises a larger question. Just what is our relationship to government, as Lutherans? When do we submit, and when is resistance called for? 

Luther had a lot to say about this. He bequeathed us with a unique take on the role of the church in society. As branches of the emerging Protestant movement wrestled with how to relate to the ruling powers – full separation from the irredeemably sinful affairs of state and society, or fully combining royal and church leadership – the Lutheran movement forged its own path. Luther’s reading of the Gospel and understanding of God’s ordering of the world led him to believe that Christians can make use of the governing structures, because they are gifts from God for order, for peace and for providence for those who have little.  

In the Large Catechism, Luther stresses the place of government three times, with an emphasis on the ways it is a means by which God cares for the most vulnerable:

• Fourth Commandment:civil government is an extension of the parental role, responsibility and authority, and is to serve so that children can live full and productive lives.
• 1st Article of the Apostles’Creed:“good governments” is lifted up as a gift of God,  alongside necessities like body, soul, life, food, drink, spouse, child, air, water, peace and security.
• 4th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer:daily bread includes all the necessities we need for our daily life and the role of the rulers was to ensure daily bread for all.

Luther drew on the poetry of the Psalms to speak further regarding governmental care for the poor. In his commentary on Psalm 82 he addresses the duties of a prince and their virtues that include furthering the Word of God by ensuring “justice for those who fear God,” and just laws to prevent the oppression of the poor, wretched, widows and orphans. The government itself is a “divine hospital” to care for those in need, to ensure no one will become a beggar.  

Luther is very clear on what makes a good government. Cooperation, participation and submission to the just laws of a benevolent government are in line with these emphases. But submission to the governing authorities is never blind nor automatic. We are to evaluate laws, discuss policies as a faith community and discern a faithful response. As the ELCA, we do so within the framework and guidance of our social teaching documents.

The ELCA Social Statement “Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective” sums up this up when it states that:

This church must participate in social structures critically, for sin also is at work in the world. Social structures and processes combine life-giving and life-destroying dynamics in complex mixtures and in varying degrees. This church, therefore, must unite realism and vision, wisdom and courage, in its social responsibility. It needs constantly to discern when to support and when to confront society’s cultural patterns, values and powers. (Church in Society, p. 3)

Lutherans are called to careful discernment on social issues and, rooted in our understanding of the Gospel, to affirm laws that align with it, oppose those that are contrary to it and to speak up in all cases. Laws and policies that do harm to the most vulnerable are to be strenuously opposed. The social statement continues:

As a prophetic presence, this church has the obligation to name and denounce the idols before which people bow, to identify the power of sin present in social structures, and to advocate in hope with poor and powerless people. When religious or secular structures, ideologies or authorities claim to be absolute, this church says, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29). With Martin Luther, this church understands that “to rebuke” those in authority “through God’s Word spoken publicly, boldly and honestly” is “not seditious” but “a praiseworthy, noble and … particularly great service to God.” (Church in Society, p. 4)

Lutherans have some wonderful theology here that we need to dust off and put it back in use. Now. When rhetoric dehumanizes or demonizes people of different races, nationalities or religious traditions the church is called to name and denounce idols of white supremacy, ethnic nationalism or religious intolerance, inside itself and in public life. When public policies perpetuate the poverty or oppression of our neighbor, we are to work tirelessly to change them. Family separation spectacularly fails the test of our faith values and has earned our rebuke and resistance. Should all the children be reunited with their parents, there are still families torn apart by our nation’s policies, caught in our broken immigration system, separated by this Administration’s travel ban, or locked up in our system of mass incarceration. If children at the border horrifies us, so should these other cases.

Faith community leaders, including Presiding Bishop Eaton, have spoken resoundingly in opposition to family separation. When the Presiding Bishop speaks, it is a call to action for the church to join in confronting not only the policies but the values and powers behind them. We must speak God’s powerful Word publicly, boldly and honestly in these days. ELCA Advocacy is here to help you with that.

 

Be sure to join the ELCA e-Advocacy Network.

 

Therefore not single persons, as formerly, but entire families are now in exile because of their confession of the Word. It is a crime not to help these. – Martin Luther, Lectures on Genesis (Chapter 18)

Martin Luther’s Lectures on Genesis contain some of his most compelling teachings about who the church is called to be in the world.  Reflecting on the story of Abraham, Luther stakes out his claim that the church is called to be an agent of hospitality in an often inhospitable world. It’s an account worth reflecting on today, as we commemorate with others around the globe World Refugee Day.

An “Unparalleled” Example

Luther’s teachings on hospitality come in his lecture on the 18^th chapter of Genesis, which tells the story of Abraham playing host to three visitors. As he is cooling off in the heat of the day, Abraham sees three men approaching. Immediately,

“he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate” (Genesis 18:2b-8).

Abraham’s hospitality to the strangers is an “unparalleled” example of hospitality for Luther, according to Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. Yet, unique as it is, for Luther, Abraham’s example is one the church is called to follow.

Luther begins by noting especially Abraham’s earnest service of the strangers and his “generous and bounteous” attention to their needs. For Luther, this arises, in part, from Abraham’s own experience as an exile, a wanderer without a stable land. Equally important, though, for Luther, this virtue of hospitality is a basic teaching Abraham takes from the “patriarchs and from the practice of the church” (which Luther extends to include the religious heritage of Abraham.) This is so basic a practice to the church as church that Luther writes,

“At all times the church has been like some refuge of the exiles and the poor.”

There is a link between Abraham’s hospitality and the reference to hospitality in the book of Hebrews, according to Luther. There, readers are reminded, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).

This is certainly nothing new. Hospitality is one of the most basic ethical practices of the people of God throughout scripture. In fact, Ezekiel points to inhospitality as the sin that brought down Sodom: “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49), a verse Luther cites in his lecture here.

Hospitable Treatment of “All Guests”

Luther’s interpretation of Abraham makes clear that hospitality is primarily extended properly to other people of faith, people in the “in-group” of one’s neighbors or what Luther calls “exiles..because of their confession of the word.” Here, he means Christians forced to leave their homelands because of religious persecution. Had the visitors to Abraham not been among these, Abraham would have cared for them “but he would not have fallen down to the earth in accordance with brotherly love. For he knows that God dwells in the brethren and fellow believers, who are true temples of God, and not in the enemies of the faith or in those who have no knowledge of the true religion.”

That said, there is no reason to limit hospitality only to fellow believers, or to draw firm lines between who is worthy of “refuge” and who isn’t. “Even if they had been enemies,” Luther writes, Abraham “would not have let them go but would have refreshed them first in accordance with love.” He goes on to say:

“I am not displeased with the opinion of those who say that Abraham learned from instances that had happened both to him and to his ancestors, and that he experienced rather often that angels, coming in the form of human beings, enjoyed the hospitality of human beings, as we shall hear later about Lot in Sodom (Gen. 19:1 ff.). Because of this experience they treated all guests rather respectfully and hoped for occasions on which they themselves would associate with angels.”

For a theologian who was well-known for his displeasure, even this modest allowance is worth noting.

More pointedly, Luther goes on to say:

“Indeed, we should be generous not only toward the brethren and such as are exiled because of their confession but also toward those who are strangers in the state, provided that they are not manifestly evil…Even though he is not suffering because of the Word but is in distress in other respects, he should not be disregarded by us.”

Interestingly, Luther seems also to enjoin public officials and other citizens beyond the church to extend this same sort of protection and assistance, praising Elector John Frederick’s approach to exiles:

“By God’s grace the wretched exiles now have a place under our most illustrious Prince. Here they can flee for refuge, and here they are safe. But I am afraid that someone else will come—someone who does not know Joseph (Ex. 1:8); and I fear that this will happen because of the excessive cruelty, inhospitality, and greed of human beings. The nobles, the burghers, and the peasants do not help the churches with a single obol to be able to be generous toward exiles.”

Without reading too much into this, it appears that Luther believes that hospitality is not private Christian charity but a public virtue for the community and state, inasmuch as the latter creates the opportunity for the church to be of service.

A Realistic Assessment

Luther isn’t idealistic, though. He knows that there are those “exiles” who may take advantage of hospitality for their own greedy or malicious purposes. But here, we have to remember that Luther is not a consequentialist; the morality of an action is in its practice, not in the good or bad consequence that it brings about. Hospitality is a virtue, a good in itself. Drawing on Jesus’ willingness to heal the ten lepers, despite knowing that most would not show him gratitude, Luther commends the practice of hospitality in spite of the risks:

“If we are deceived now and then, well and good. In spite of this our good will is demonstrated to God, and the kind act which is lost on an evil and ungrateful person is not lost on Christ, in whose name we are generous. Hence just as we should not intentionally and knowingly support the idleness of slothful people, so, when we have been deceived, we should not give up this eagerness to do good to others.”

Why should the church practice hospitality? Not because every stranger is an “angel” in disguise, but because that is what the church does in the name of Christ.

At a time when more than 68 million people around the world are either refugees or internally displaced because of violence or persecution, Luther’s call to practice earnest hospitality is as important as ever. While we can’t risk drawing too simple of a line between his time and ours, we also can’t risk losing sight of a virtue so central to what makes us church.

This is one of the reasons ELCA World Hunger continues to support projects that accompany refugees, migrants, and others on the move. The practice of hospitality is not merely a command that Lutherans are called to follow but rather, as Luther himself highlights, part of heritage as people of faith and as exiles ourselves. And who knows, maybe by so doing, we will entertain angels. But even if we don’t, we can still take comfort in the fact that the church will be what it is called to be: “like some refuge of the exiles and the poor.”

 

For more on Lutherans and refugees, see this earlier post.

To support refugees and other neighbors seeking refuge in the United States, join the efforts of ELCA Advocacy through this important advocacy action in honor of World Refugee Day.

Ryan P. Cumming, Ph.D., is the program director of hunger education for ELCA World Hunger.

 

 

St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church’s Lunchtime Ministry offers a warm meal, hospitality and community to neighbors in Hoboken, New Jersey. This important work is supported in part by a Domestic Hunger Grant from ELCA World Hunger. Stanley Enzweiler is the Program Manager of St. Matthew Trinity’s Lunchtime Ministry and has worked with the ministry since 2016. Below, he shares more about what this ministry means to the people of Hoboken. To apply for a Domestic Hunger Grant to support your ministry, visit ELCA.org/DomesticHungerGrants.

Everyone’s life, at some point, takes an unexpected body blow. An accident, an addiction, the loss of a job or family member. These forces come out of nowhere, and for a while, it seems like the world is against you. However, eventually someone throws you a lifeline—a good lawyer shows up, a friend makes a job offer, or time spent in the stability of everyday life heals that wound.

 

Lots of people who have come back from having their feet kicked out from under them believe that those in the worst shape—people who are homeless or living in poverty—are either lazy or helpless. “I helped myself, so why can’t you?” moralizes one person, while another shakes their head, saying, “I’ve been so fortunate, and all these poor people are just down on their luck. No one actually wants to be homeless.”

As anyone who has worked in a social service will tell you, both perspectives take it too far.  Many people in poverty have gotten the wind knocked out of them, but, unlike those in more fortunate situations, they haven’t had lifelines thrown their way. They often don’t have a stable job to begin with, or their family and friends are unable to give them a loan or a place to stay.  On the other hand, many people have simply rejected or misused the lifelines thrown to them.  And yes, some people do want to be homeless.

What I love about St. Matthew Trinity Lunchtime Ministry, a soup kitchen and drop-in center operating out of St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoboken, New Jersey, is that we don’t care about that stuff. Of the 65 or so people we serve every day, some are looking for work, some are waiting on their benefits to come in, some are about to lose their housing, and some enjoy living on the streets. But we do not screen our guests based on why they are in need. We don’t ask for your fingerprints or your ID or your immigration status. Our only requirement is respect for the people and space around you. We’ll give you a warm meal, a fresh pair of socks, and a listening ear no matter what you did last year or last night. Whatever your story is, we will welcome you.

And here’s the really amazing thing. Even if you break the rules at Lunchtime Ministry and have to leave our community for a few days, we will always welcome you back. Everyone messes up a time or two, but no one is beyond forgiveness. We are one lifeline that never goes away.

Len (pictured at left), one of our longtime guests, was generous enough to share his story with us. Born in Jersey City in 1959, he attended technical school in Texas before getting deployed to California to work as a forklift driver for the U.S. Air Force. After his honorable discharge, he stayed in California until his father died, and he returned to New Jersey to take care of his mother. She died in 2011, leaving him with nowhere to go. Although he stayed at other county shelters, a few bad decisions got him kicked out of these for life.

Len came to Lunchtime Ministry as a last resort. Although we are not an overnight shelter, he is able to get a few hours of sleep on our benches or floor during our open hours. Like many of our guests, he helps out when needed by cleaning tables, taking out the garbage and posting event flyers. He also attends church services, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and Bible study. Most of all, he is known for encouraging our volunteers with one-liners such as “This is the best food in town…and I’m not just talking about the prices!”

Like many social services, we are a community effort.  We welcome volunteers from all walks of life and enjoy partnerships with numerous other social services. Our financial support comes from various sources, including ELCA World Hunger’s Domestic Hunger Grant, whose recent gift toward our food and supply costs will assist us in continuing to dish out delicious and filling meals every day.

It’s easy to list the things that make Lunchtime Ministry unique—the food donations from restaurants as diverse as Qdoba Mexican Grill and Schnackenberg’s Luncheonette, the free haircuts on Mondays, the cardboard barn in which we collect spare change for ELCA World Hunger, the “billritos” that our chef Bill makes from scratch on Wednesdays, the guitar music half an hour before we close. But when we’re asked why our program is necessary to Hoboken, there’s only one answer: respect. For many people in town, we are the one place where they can spend a peaceful morning, the one place where they have a forgiving community, the one place where they can go when they have burned all their other bridges.  In Len’s words:

“A little respect goes a long way.  A lot of respect could be eternal.”