By Lia Hansen, Program Associate at the Lutheran Office for World Community

To say that the United States plays a pivotal role in the work of the United Nations is an understatement. Since the formation of the United Nations, the United States has been instrumental in its conception, creation, and funding. The United States’ financial commitment has fluctuated. Many bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress to decrease U.S. funding commitments since 1945. As an example, a 2005 UN Reform Act[1] passed in Congress called for a switch from UN Charter-based assessed dues plus voluntary contributions to a fully voluntary funding model, withholding dues until certain reforms were met. Although this act was never implemented, a strong desire exists in many sectors of U.S. society for decreased involvement in the United Nations continues to exist.

President Trump’s administration has capitalized upon and furthered an anti-UN stance. The new administration submitted two draft executive orders to the National Security Council that were withheld from approval pending further review by the State Department. The draft orders called for at least 40% overall decrease[2] in U.S. voluntary contributions. This would be difficult to implement immediately, but new administration’s goal to seriously diminish U.S. involvement in UN programs is clear.

As people of faith who do advocacy on behalf of and within the Lutheran church, we believe that justice is what God’s love and our love for our neighbors looks like in public. As such, it is alarming to think that many of the UN programs aimed at helping the world’s most vulnerable could be diminished or eliminated.

While the U.S. pays the maximum rate in dues to the UN by Member States (22% for regular operations and 28% for peacekeeping), this only encompasses about 0.1% of the total federal budget. Moreover, the U.S. derives economic benefits from continual engagement with the U.N.; for every $1 invested in the UN secretariat, the U.S. receives over $1.60 in return in economic activity in New York[3].

The Better World Campaign estimates that United States’ contributions to the U.N. directly provide vaccinations for 40% of children worldwide, assists 65 million refugees, funds 120,000 peacekeepers, fights poverty for 420 million rural poor, and has saved the lives of 30 million women through the promotion of maternal health.  Among all these initiatives, I will outline the contributions made and programs delivered by three critical agencies: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the World Food Program (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East was established in 1949, following the Arab-Israeli conflict, to provide relief and works programs to Palestinian refugees. UNRWA’s services range from education, health care, relief and social services, and emergency assistance; it has assisted generations of Palestinian people since its foundation. Lutheran World Federation has worked in partnership with UNRWA since 1949 to provide healthcare for many Palestinians in Jerusalem[4]. In the year of its founding, UNRWA responded to the needs of 750,000 refugees. Its operations have grown exponentially, now serving 5 million eligible refugees.

The United States plays a pivotal role in the provision of these services. In 2015, the U.S. donated $380,593,116, around 30% of the total budget[5]. As the biggest voluntary contributor, a potential reduction of 40% would be disastrous.

Not only would a U.S. funding cut impact the lives of millions of Palestinian refugees, but would also result in threats to livelihoods and create social disruption and insecurity in the societies of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria which host them, fueling major political and economic instability in the region.

World Food Program (WFP)

The World Food Program was founded in 1961 as part of the UN system. It currently assists 80 million people in more than 80 countries each year. It is the leading international organization fighting hunger. In a world where one in nine people worldwide don’t have enough to eat, the WFP food assistance services are essential. The WFP will be instrumental in reaching the Sustainable Development Goal #2 of zero hunger.

The WFP is funded entirely by voluntary donations. Out of its $5.9 billion budget in 2016, the U.S. funded around a third ($2 billion) of its total budget. In addition, the U.S. has funded special programs in emergencies, such as providing an additional $125 million in 2014 for the Syrian crisis[6].

The WFP recently declared famine in several regions of South Sudan, with 100,000 lives threatened in addition to the 5 million South Sudanese facing severe food insecurity. Food insecurity has increased in the region due to many factors that contribute to inadequate access and delivery. Climate change phenomena affecting the Horn of Africa has led to major droughts in Somalia. This combined with other factors has led to a major food crisis in East Africa, potentially affecting around 3 million people, with increased risk for famine. The WFP is instrumental in mitigating these and countless others protracted food insecure situations worldwide. Action must be taken, and a major U.S. withdrawal is likely to result in countless lives lost.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Since its formation in 1950 the UNHCR has served and protected approximately 50 million refugees. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the leading international organization aiding and protecting refugees worldwide, providing food, shelter, and medical services in over 126 countries[7]. The Lutheran World Federation is a historic and active partner, the fifth largest, aiding 1.4 million refugees in 2012. In addition to operations in Jordan, Mauritania, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nepal, the LWF closely collaborates with UNHCR in South Sudan[8]. Around 1.5 million people have fled to camps in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, in addition to the 1.5 million internally displaced people within South Sudan[9]. The UNHCR’s work is critical in aiding and protecting these refugees.

The United States plays a critical role in this work, providing 21% (1.5 billion) of the UNHCR’s $7 billion budget. The shift in the U.S. President’s administration towards one that disparages the lives of refugees, in addition to the proposed UN budget cuts, seriously threatens the lives of the millions dependent on UNHCR’s protection and services.

This is not only a fiscal issue; it is a moral issue. Through the strong in our commitment to the values and programs represented by and carried out through the United Nations, and advocate for renewed U.S. financial commitment as vital to ensuring human rights and dignity for all.

Conclusion
At 22% of the general UN budget, and 28% of peacekeeping operation costs, the U.S. provides invaluable support to U.N. programs worldwide. Decreasing funding by the proposed 40% will inevitably forfeit United States’ leadership at the UN, and threaten critical programs worldwide. The ELCA recently signed on to a letter addressed to congressional leadership strongly urging congress to renew its commitment to and leadership in the United Nations.

This is not only a fiscal issue; it is a moral issue. Through the strong in our commitment to the values and programs represented by and carried out through the United Nations, and advocate for renewed U.S. financial commitment as vital to ensuring human rights and dignity for all.

[1] https://betterworldcampaign.org/us-un-partnership/importance-of-funding-the-un/why-congress-must-oppose-efforts-to-cut-funding-to-the-united-nations/

[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/28/world/americas/trump-un-funding-order.html?_r=0

[3] https://betterworldcampaign.org/us-un-partnership/importance-of-funding-the-un/un-budget-process/

[4] https://jerusalem.lutheranworld.org/content/history-91

[5] https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/2015_donors_ranking_overall.pdf

[6] https://www.wfp.org/funding/year/2016

[7] http://www.unrefugees.org/about-us/

[8] https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/un-agencies

[9] https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/emergency-south-sudan-conflict

 

Today’s post is from The Rev. Brian Hooper, M.Div., Psy.D., a licensed pastoral psychotherapist serving in private practice and in parish ministry in Nashville, TN. His website is www.drbrianhooper.com

 

Myths are truth and wisdom

Most people think of myths as stories that are simply not true. Nothing could be further from the case. Myths are truth and wisdom packed inside stories so that they can get inside of us. We take in the stories and they in turn draw out into the world our deep resonance with the truth. We swallow the truth wrapped in the story and become that truth in the world.

Myths are not stories that are false, but stories that are so true that the truth cannot be confined to the details of the story. The truth is larger than the story itself.

A mythic perspective stirs the imagination to image in our own lives the power and often multivalent significance of the story or ritual.

For instance, the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ for us sinners to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins. (Luther’s Small Catechism). But if we confine it to simply “forgiveness for me,” then we miss the whole point.

Forgiveness affects relationships – with God, self, parish community, nation, world and all of nature. We become what we receive – bread for a world that hungers for the companionship (com = with; panis = bread) of God and cup for a world that thirsts for spiritual inebriation. Luther says as much as he writes in the Small Catechism, “For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.” We are being renewed, salvaged, and called into the fullness of life today!

 

We participate in Jesus’ life because he has participated in our lives

We take into ourselves the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus who has first taken into himself all of creation. Our lives are given back to us in Christ through his body and blood conveyed under gifts of bread and wine. And we are strengthened by this transformed and transforming meal to let the false-self die so that we may be our authentic selves, created to live with integrity, reflecting the image of God. And we in turn take into ourselves whatever is hostile to the wholeness of our world, wrestling with it and crucifying it according to our station in life, so that the world can be raised more whole. What is said of Christ is also true of us, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” We participate in his life because he has participated in our lives. God is both wrapped up in and made visible in creation, and that includes us.

When the church practices this expansive and mythic way of thinking we live the TRUTH of the Gospel/Kingdom of God most fully. Where we simply literalize or confine our understanding of truth to the mere details alone, we empty the scripture stories, sacraments, and rituals of their truth.

 

Often on days like this, I am moved in remembrance of stories. Perhaps this day invokes memories of women whom you have loved and who have loved us. Perhaps you remember the fierce women from the sacred texts — my personal favorite: the Daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27). Maybe you reflect on women who have led their communities and world and need no introduction, from girls like Malala Yousafzai to women like Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and ELCA International Leaders scholar Leymah Gbowee to those who names have been hidden like Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan, most recently illuminated in the major film “Hidden Figures.”

The global agenda for women is driven by a seminal meeting of the United Nations “Fourth World Conference on Women” in 1995 in Beijing. It was at this meeting that Former Secretary of State – and then-First Lady – Hillary Clinton brought to prominence the phrase “Women’s rights are human rights; and human rights are women’s rights.”

 

Each year, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convenes the “Commission on the Status of Women” (CSW), the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. This year marks the 61^st year since the United Nations First World Conference on Women (Mexico City), and the theme for CSW this year is “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work,” a critical theme for those of us dedicated to a just world where all are fed.

 

Take this quick quiz to see how much you know about women in the global economy!

 

ELCA World Hunger is a founding member of the ELCA Young Adult Cohort, a group of young adults engaging at the intersection between faith + justice. One of the signature leadership experiences of this Cohort is at the UN CSW, and beginning next week, this group will again join hands, stories and voices together to learn, convene and strive toward a just world where are all are fed and all might flourish. You can follow along with the larger movement through Ecumenical Women online and on social media by following @ELCAWorld Hunger (Twitter and Instagram) and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, with the #ELCAYACohort hashtag.

 

ELCA Global Church Sponsorship and ELCA Global Mission leaders often also join the Lutheran delegation at UN CSW and have produced some great materials for ELCA congregations and friends to use on this day. This International Women’s Day booklet is a great place to start, full to the brim of excellent ideas to learn, share and support this ministry.

 

But perhaps my favorite parts are the smiling faces that greet us on the front cover and throughout the materials. These are the women whose stories we know and can journey alongside as they build stronger communities and a more just world.

 

I could write about many of them by name and you can learn more about the ELCA International Leaders program and meet some of them in this video. But today, I leave you with an example of how our work together as a church is interconnected, or as Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton says, “We are church together!”

On the top left corner of this booklet cover is a woman named Julinda. Julinda is the executive director of the Women’s Crisis Center, a ministry of the GKPS church in North Sumatra, Indonesia. I have written more about her ELCA World Hunger supported work and ministry here. Julinda has advocated at the UN CSW (pictured below), is also an international women leader and has participated in one of the signature leadership events, a series of seminars hosted in Wittenberg Germany, birthplace of the Reformation, for women from the Global South to come together for conversation and ongoing reformation.

In this 500th anniversary year of the Reformation, let us:

• Remember those who have walked before – and especially today, the women who continue the journey.
• Give to support this ministry into the future – “Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA” is making this possible for ministries like ELCA World Hunger and ELCA International Women Leaders.

From stories of Leymah and Julinda to those who will advocate and educate at next week’s UN CSW, we are church together. Join us. (Have a “her-story” to share? Check out Lutheran World Federation’s “Women on the Move” her-stories project.)

Mikka McCracken is the Director of Planning and Engagement for ELCA World Hunger.

 

Kris Litman-Koon, Columbia, SC

 

Warm-up Question

Have you ever been a part of or witnessed a conversation where people “talked past” each other? Describe the experience and your emotions during the conversation.

Skewing the Discourse

There is a website called Facebook. Ever heard of it? Of course, and you are likely aware of how discourse takes place on the site: a news story is shared (perhaps with

one’s personal commentary) and other users leave their comments. Whenever the story stirs up emotions and political viewpoints, there is often a trail of comments left under the story. This usually continues, not until all sides are in agreement, but until all sides are sick of arguing.

These trails of comments are fertile ground for analysis. Recently, a study was performed by Yale Climate Connections, which is a non-partisan resource offered through Yale University that seeks to provide daily commentary, analysis, and reporting on issues surrounding climate change. Writer and researcher Karin Kirk wanted to scientifically study whether comments made on Facebook are representative of the views held by the general public, using climate change as the topic of focus.

Karin Kirk analyzed 600 Facebook comments that were left under the stories published from six sources on Facebook; four of these were news media (Fox News, New York Times, CNN, and Washington Post) and two were government agencies (NASA, NOAA). Users’ comments were judged by their stance (agree with the science pointing toward climate change, disagree with that science, and neutral) as well as by the stated rationale for that stance (science, policy, humanity/ethics, emotion). The stances of the Facebook comments were then compared to polling that has been conducted on the general public.

Researcher Karin Kirk states, “The takeaway is that compared to the general population in the U.S., Facebook comments on climate change appear more polarized and more dismissive of climate science than the population as a whole. An observer relying on the Facebook comments would get an inaccurate representation of how the public generally feels about climate change.” In other words, the conversation on Facebook can easily skew how we see the real conversation. Kirk also comments that people seem to talk past each other on Facebook.

When determining the rationale for the stances taken in the Facebook comments, those who agree with the scientific community and those who disagree with it both overwhelmingly base their arguments on science. An example of a dismissive stance toward the science that points to climate change yet is based on a rationale of science is “the climate has changed before.” So, if the opposing viewpoints overwhelmingly both use science as the rationale for their polar opposite stances, why is the conversation not going anywhere? Kirk says it is because people are talking past each other, and the amplification on Facebook of the extreme viewpoints is not helping the conversation move forward.

If the goal is to actually have a fruitful conversation that addresses this critical issue, Karin Kirk says, “Straightforward [scientific] explanations can help address misunderstandings about natural vs. human-caused climate forces. But it’s much harder to convince some people that science is trustworthy.” She continues, “[Instead,] shift the conversation to what’s actually relevant and far from settled: climate policy and mitigation and adaptation strategies. There is need for vigorous debate around energy policy, subsidies, taxation, and the social cost of carbon. An open exchange of policy ideas will be no less vehement, but much more pertinent.”

Discussion Questions

• Do you feel that Facebook and other forms of social media are good ways to obtain information about what is taking place in the world? Do you feel that people should purposefully consume news from a variety of media sources?  Where do you primarily get your news?
• Some news sites have removed the comment sections under their articles because they were deemed too vitriolic. Some people make the argument that all of us should avoid reading comments on Facebook, YouTube, news sites, and anywhere else on the internet. Would this practice of avoiding internet comments be beneficial for you or anyone else you know?  Why?
• What insights do you have for keeping a conversation (on the internet or otherwise) to the pertinent discourse?

Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 12:1-4a

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

John 3:1-17

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

Our gospel lesson for this Sunday contains those most beloved verses: John 3:16-17. Should we only focus on those verses and the warm-fuzzies that they give us? No. I don’t want to discount the power of those verses, but we should take a step back from them. Perhaps seeing what else is going on in this conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus will shed more light on those beloved verses.

Start with verses 1 and 2. Nicodemus begins the conversation with a compliment to Jesus; “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” If Jesus wanted to keep the conversation moving in the direction that Nicodemus had left it, Jesus should have replied, “Thank you. I do come from God, and these signs that I do are for the purpose of showing others that God sent me.”

But Jesus doesn’t reply with anything like that. He jumps to a statement about the Kingdom of God and that people need to be born from above. Perhaps sensing that Jesus (rudely?) took the conversation in a completely different direction, Nicodemus somewhat taunts Jesus’ reply by joking about someone entering a mother a second time only to be born again (Nicodemus absolutely knows this isn’t possible).

Jesus offers a reply, ultimately making a reference to the wind (v.8). Perhaps Nicodemus thinks the conversation has completely derailed (remember: all this started by paying Jesus a compliment), so he responds incredulously, “How can these things be?”

Jesus’ response mentions that Nicodemus is a teacher, yet he doesn’t understand the point Jesus is trying to make (vv.10-11). If Nicodemus questions what Jesus has to say about the wind, then how can Nicodemus understand the spiritual point Jesus is trying to make (v.12)?

Anyone listening to this conversation must ask, “So what is that point you are trying to make, Jesus?” I sympathize with Nicodemus because – although Jesus’ words here are some of the most revered in all of scripture – the conversation has gone well off the tracks. To find the point Jesus is trying to make, let’s do a word count of the word “believe” in verses 12-17. Go ahead.

How many times did Jesus use the word “believe” in those verses? If you look ahead at verse 18, you will notice that Jesus uses “believe” three more times in that one verse. With all these mentions of “believe,” do you think Jesus is hammering home a message to Nicodemus?

Yes. Jesus purposefully does not follow the conventional means of having a conversation because he wants to get a point across to Nicodemus. What he is trying to do is move beyond the normal banter and instead focus on what is pertinent: belief. Jesus doesn’t want Nicodemus and other people (including us) to offer mere compliments for the signs and teachings of Jesus. Rather, Jesus wants them to deeply believe that the Son was sent to save them. Why? Because God loves the world that much (vv.16-17).

Discussion Questions

• It is commonly understood that the night-time setting of this story is symbolic of Nicodemus’ faith toward Jesus. At this point, he is inquiring about Jesus’ origin and mission. Nicodemus returns in John 7:50-51 and he appears again in John 19:39-42, which scholars understand to be a progression in his belief that Jesus is indeed sent from God. Do you think that belief in Jesus can happen quickly for some people and more slowly for others? Why? What is your own experience?
• The epistle reading (Romans 4:1-5, 13-17) talks about how faith – not our works nor our adherence to God’s Law – is the basis for the divine promise that has been made to Abraham and his descendants. What do you think about this? Can or should God make promises to us if we haven’t done something to earn those promises? How do you connect this reading’s discussion of faith with Jesus’ point about belief in the gospel reading?

Activity Suggestions

Today’s lesson is on belief, so we need an activity that involves some belief. I call this “The Family Name Game.” To keep the game moving quickly (and perhaps doing multiple rounds of it), it’s best to play in groups of between six and twelve people. Everyone in the group receives a small scrap of paper to write on. Without telling anyone else, each person writes a real or fictitious “name” on the piece of paper that most others should know. Examples are Harry Potter, The New England Patriots, and Michelle Obama. These pieces of paper are collected by one person and read aloud only twice, so everyone needs to listen and try to remember all the names.

Then one person begins by saying to another, “_______, I believe you are Harry Potter.” If the person answers “no,” then he or she makes the next guess of whether someone else is any one of the names that was read aloud. If the person answers “yes,” then they must join the family of the person who guessed correctly (who is now the “head” of their family). The head (with consultation of other family members) then gets to guess again. A family can consist of two or more people, and those outside the family attempt to guess who the head of the family is. The game is played until everyone is a part of one family.

Closing Prayer

God of all who call upon you, there are times in our lives that seem to be the night-time of our belief, and there are times in our lives that seem to be the day-time of our belief. Stir your Spirit within us to trust that you indeed sent Jesus to us, and that through him we can witness and experience the fullness of your love. Help us to understand that whether we think our beliefs are in the night or in the day, it is you who comes to us with your light to reveal to us your grace, love, and forgiveness. Amen.

 

 

Today’s blog post is from Brian Wentzel, Director of Music at First Lutheran Church in Lorain, OH.

As we begin the forty days of Lent, we remember Jesus’ forty years in the wilderness as well as the Israelites’ forty years of wandering. The congregation I serve, First Lutheran in Lorain, Ohio, is also experiencing a time of wandering in the wilderness after a fire destroyed our ninety-year-old building in August of 2014. The last two and a half years have been difficult, but they have also been life-affirming.

It is amazing how a shock like this can force a congregation to re-focus on what really matters. For example, most of us have experienced the difficulty of changing service times or styles. My congregation combined two services into one and changed the time three times in the months after the fire with hardly a complaint! There is a strengthened sense of community and commitment to each other and to our work together. It is true that some families have left the congregation: some unhappy with decisions that have been made, and some unable to cope with worshiping in a middle-school cafeteria. But on the whole our members have taken ownership of being the church in a way we didn’t need to before.

There are certainly challenges to our wandering situation, and we are eagerly looking forward to the completion of a new building this fall, built to serve our 21^st-century mission. But in the same way as the Lenten disciplines of fasting, prayer, and giving alms, our time in the wilderness has served to strengthen and deepen our faith.

The day after the fire I wrote a simple song for the congregation to sing. It has become a favorite, and on our church website (www.firstlutheranlorain.org/about/fire) you can hear our congregation singing it. It draws on 1 Peter 2 to emphasize that it is God’s people who are the true temple, a lesson my congregation has internalized over the last few years:

 

We are the church,

God’s living stones.

We are a temple

of flesh and bones.

 

We live in hope,

sharing our trust

that God can bring life

out of ashes and dust.

 

 

Lutherans are taking action across the country! Below you will find our monthly State Advocacy Newsletter. Share with your friends!

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ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Amy Reumann, director

ELCA.org/advocacy

ADVOCACY LENT DEVOTIONALS: This Lent we offer two advocacy resources:

ELCA World Hunger’s “40 Days of Giving” Lent devotional. focuses on the connections between faith and economic justice as we follow Christ’s journey to the cross. A number of pages highlight some of the work of our State Public Policy Offices with suggestions for advocacyactions.

The ELCA AMMPARO initiative released the “I Was A Stranger” challenge to focus on meeting people who have been displaced with the heart and love of God throughout Lent.

MIGRATION EXECUTIVE ORDERS: President Trump signed executive orders late January that cripple the asylum process, increase the detention of migrants, and expands border enforcement. Unaccompanied children and families currently arriving or who have arrived from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will be among those most severely impacted by the executive orders. The policy changes encouraged by the Administration will strip children and families of critical protections, allowing them to be quickly pushed through detention facilities through an expedited removal process, and quickly deported without due process rights.

Some policy changes in the executive orders will need a Congressionally approved increase in funding to be implemented effectively. ELCA Advocacy has begun educating Members of Congress about the impact of policies included in the memorandum and asking that funding for programs to help the most vulnerable are not cut to implement inhumane and impractical immigration policies.

FEDERAL BUDGET UPDATE: The Trump Administration announced plans to boost military spending late February, and is expected to do so at the cost of deep cuts into the EPA and other annual domestic programs. Non-defense programs address several critical issues that ELCA Advocacy prioritizes, including foreign aid, addressing homelessness, providing education and veterans’ services, suicide prevention, and many others.

Faith and poverty advocates continue urging Congress to reauthorize a budget deal to prevent harsh cuts for people in the greatest need. As Congressional leaders move to respond to the release of the Administration’s proposal, ELCA Advocacy will conduct outreach to protect anti-poverty programs. An action alert urging Congress to maintain funding for affordable housing and homeless programs in the federal budget is live on the ELCA Action Center.

INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT: A bipartisan group of senators is working to re-introduce the International Violence Against Women Act this March. Passing this important legislation continues to be a priority for ELCA Advocacy. In 2012, the Obama administration released a government-wide strategy to address the issue of gender-based violence around the world, and to make it a priority of U.S. foreign policy. The International Violence Against Women Act seeks to congressionally authorize this strategy.

METHANE WASTE STANDARDS: The new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Methane Rule that was adopted last November has updated working standards and technologies for oil and gas companies on public land—helping better control methane pollution (a potent greenhouse gas). During the public comment period that led to the implementation of the Methane Rule, Lutherans across the country testified at public hearings in favor of the policy in 2015—citing health, community, moral and environmental concerns. But now, in the 115^th Congress, lawmakers have prepared a bill that would overturn the methane rule. The methane repeal measure passed the House of Representatives in early February, and now makes its way to the Senate. ELCA Advocacy shared an action alert in support of the BLM Methane Rule, which now makes its way for a final vote in the Senate.

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

Dennis Frado, director

BREASTFEEDING ADVOCACY: The NYC Breastfeeding Leadership Council, Inc. held its Annual Breastfeeding Forum on February 17 at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center. The forum brought together more than 150 representatives of local organizations involved in breastfeeding promotion. Delegates learned how to advocate, how New York won the nation’s strongest paid family leave law, Birth Equity in NYC and what is at risk for policies concerning breastfeeding in the 115^th Congress. Presenters were Theresa Landau, MS, RDN,CDN Chairperson; Susan Vierczhalek, MD,IBCLC,FAAP Vice Chairperson; Kathleen Carpenter, MS,RDN,CDN,IBCLC Treasurer; Eric Williams, Paid Family Leave Coalition; Molly Weston Williamson, Attorney, A Better Balance; Sharon Marshall Taylor, NYCDOHMH and Susannah Pasquantonio, Legislative Aide to State Senator Liz Krueger. LOWC’s Christine Mangale gave the keynote speech (See photos).

FIFTEENTH COORDINATION MEETING ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION: On February 16 and 17, LOWC took part in the 15^th annual coordination meeting on international migration at the UN headquarters, organized by the Population Division of the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The meeting focused on the progress made in the implementation of migration-related SDG targets, while discussing the preparation for the 2018 global compact for safe, orderly, and regular migration. The event was divided into six panels, including “The Roadmap for Implementing the New York Declaration”, “Implementing the migration-related commitments of the 2030 Agenda”, and “The global compact on migration: Regional and human rights dimensions”. (See photo right)

RESPONDING TO MIGRATION CHALLENGES FROM THE ECONOMIC ASPEC: On the margins of the Fifteenth Coordination Meeting on International Migration, a side-event “Responding to migration challenges from the economic aspect” was held at UN headquarters on February 17. Many individuals and families migrate from rural areas for economic reasons as they see migration as the most viable option for moving out of poverty within their own communities. Conflict, extreme weather events and political instability are also among the root causes of migration. Migration is part of the process of development. Migration should be a choice not a necessity. International cooperation should address the structural drivers of large movements of people and create conditions that allow communities to live in peace and prosperity in their homelands. Investing in sustainable rural development, climate change adaptation and resilient rural livelihoods are important parts of the global response to current migration challenges.

FIFTEEN CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: The ELCA joined 14 other Christian organizations in sending a briefing paper to all members of Congress and to the Trump Administration on February 15 calling for U.S. policies that promote peace, justice, and equality between Israelis and Palestinians.

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California

Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy

loppca.org

BILL INTRODUCTIONS: February 19 was the deadline for bill introductions, and the next step in the legislative process is committee hearings over the next number of weeks. There are many bills addressing LOPP-CA subject priorities, including immigration, health, climate change/environmental justice, and housing. We are supporting a new version of The Disclose Act, which failed to reach the required 2/3 majority by one vote last session. It would improve the health of democracy by requiring more timely and visible reporting of contributions to support or oppose ballot measures.

EVENTS: LOPP-CA co-sponsored the Green California Summit, and participants were motivated in call-and-response style by our luncheon speaker, civil rights and environmental justice leader Dolores Huerta. LOPP-CA also co-sponsored the annual Day of Remembrance and Unity Candlelighting Ceremony to mark the 75^th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066. Director Mark Carlson was blessed to spend a few moments with a 100-year-old honoree who was able to return to his farm and community, thanks to the care of neighbors during his family’s incarceration while he served in the Army (see photo left).

UPCOMING: March brings a small group of PLTS seminarians to the Capitol, who are focusing on LOPP-CA as an ELCA World Hunger grantee as part of Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda’s Public Ministry Class. The annual conference of the California Budget and Policy Center is also taking place. The UC Sacramento Center continues its series of informative events with a lecture on the long reach of child nutrition programs.

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Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Colorado

Lam-co.org

FAITH ADVOCACY DAY: Nearly 100 advocates joined together for Colorado Faith Advocacy Day on February 11. Keynote speaker Rev. Amy Reumann, Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia, and others put enlivening words to the theme “Luther at 500: Reclaiming Protest for Today’s Public Church.” Participants concluded the day by writing their commitments to action and advocacy on pieces of paper and nailing them to a door, painted to resemble the Wittenberg Castle door on which Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses. (Top-right: Colorado Faith Advocacy Day participants)

LEGISLATIVE SESSION: The Colorado General Assembly is approximately one-third of the way through its 2017 session. LAM-CO is currently advocating for bills that would extend the child care expenses income tax credit (HB 1002) and continue low-income household energy assistance (HB 1116). We are opposing a bill that would repeal the state’s health care insurance exchange (SB 003).

Bills we have supported that have already been defeated: HJR 1013 to oppose the executive order on refugee resettlement, SB 22 to support rural economic development, and SB 95 to repeal Colorado’s death penalty.

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New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–New Mexico

Lutheranadvocacynm.org

LUTHERANS AND ADVOCACY PARTNERS GATHER: About 175 advocates, including members of ELCA congregations and their ecumenical and interfaith advocacy partners, attended the 2017 LAM-NM Bishop’s Legislative Luncheon as well as the annual issues briefing in the morning prior to the luncheon. Bishop Gonia spoke to the gathering about “Prophetic Love.” Archbishop John Wester from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe brought greetings at the beginning of the luncheon that was also attended by a dozen legislators. In the afternoon, Bishop Gonia accompanied the group of advocates who visited the capitol.

Pastor Anne Morwaski received the Haaland Advocacy Award presented by LAM-NM Policy Committee Chair, Judy Messal (See picture on left). Senator Howie Morales from Silver City received the LAM-NM Legislator of the Year Award (See picture right).

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Ohio

Nick Bates, The Hunger Network

hungernetohio.com

FAITH LEADERS CONTINUE TO GATHER IN COLUMBUS to discuss our vision for a more just community. Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other traditions gather once a month for breakfast to discuss the prevalence of anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic rhetoric, racial injustice, policing issues, and how the faith community can respond in a meaningful way. In order to foster more diversity and community, the breakfasts rotate location in order to allow all of us the grace of receiving hospitality from one another. Breakfasts have been hosted by historically white and historically black congregations and the above photo was taken at Congregation Tifereth Israel – a Jewish Synagogue on the East side of Columbus. (See picture right)

BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS. The budget proposed by Governor Kasich doesn’t expand dollars for food banks or for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. It also does very little to address to the opiate overdose rate in Ohio. The budget will be in the Ohio House until April. And we need your voice this Lenten Season!

On March 9^th, people of faith will gather at the Ohio Statehouse to advocate on issues of hunger, housing and healthcare. Come and join us! You can register at www.hungernetohio.org/advocacy-day. Not able to make the advocacy day of action? Contact Hunger Network at Nick@HungerNetOhio.org and we can help set up an in-district meeting between you and your Representative.

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Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy–Pennsylvania

Lutheranadvocacypa.org

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania applauded the inclusion of an additional $2 million for school breakfast in an otherwise austere budget proposal put forth by Gov. Tom Wolf at the start of the month. LAMPa has been championing school breakfast expansion for several years. The governor’s plan, which includes level funding for other nutrition programs, confronts an estimated $3 billion deficit. LAMPa also supports proposed increases in funding for early childhood education, public school funding, and efforts to address both clean water and climate change.

LAMPa director Tracey DePasquale has been working with increasing numbers of individuals and congregations looking to become engaged in advocacy in response to turmoil in public life. Many are wrestling with how to strive for justice when even our faith communities are so politically divided. On Feb. 27, Tracey attended an interfaith event hosted by Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod titled “Coming Together: Supporting, Organizing and Pastoring to Our Members (and one another) in This new Political Landscape.” The event offered much that could be shared throughout the church. At the conclusion of the event, nearly 200 faith leaders held a news conference at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, condemning the weekend’s desecration of hundreds of graves at a Jewish cemetery in the city and committing to continue working toward peace and unity. (See picture right)

LAMPa is coordinating Ashes to Go at the capitol, the second year for the offering with the Lower Susquehanna Synod, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

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Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin

ANNUAL ADVOCACY GATHERING – “OPEN OUR EYES, LORD”:

On February 11, we gathered at St John’s Lutheran in Atlanta Georgia. Our Devotion was done by Patti Austin, National President of Women of the ELCA; it was based on Isaiah 58:6-12. The morning session was loaded with powerful speakers. Hilton Austin welcomed everyone and spoke briefly about the inter-connectedness of social issues and how each of them contribute to hunger and poverty and our new roll-out of congregational advocacy. Bishop Julian Gordy spoke briefly about the importance and significance of the church’s voice in the public arena. Roxann Thompson, interim chair of the SES Policy Council, told her story as an immigrant and encouraged congregations to become AMMPARO Welcoming Congregations (See picture). Angela Saxton, lead organizer for A.B.L.E. (Atlantans Buliding Leadership for Empowerment), spoke to the group about her experience as a black woman and the need for bringing people together for ‘sacred conversations.’ Our Keynote speaker was Sherry Boston, Dekalb County District Attorney; Sherry spoke on Criminal Justice reform and the inter-connectedness between education and the criminal justice system.

After lunch, attendees had the opportunity to choose 2 of 4 workshops; workshop presenters were: Melanie Johnson, Program Director Lutheran Services of Georgia – Immigration and Refugee Resettlement (See picture below left)

Mary Campbell, SES Green TEAM – Caring for Creation, Graham Younger, Faith in Public Life – How to write an Op-ed and current hot topics, Rev Ronald Bonner, Asst. to the Bishop, Criminal Justice Reform.

All of our ready benches continue to monitor what is happening in the state legislatures, as well as attending various Lobby Days. Several congregations have shown interest in building congregational advocacy teams; these folks are looking for guidance in this new ministry. With the help of our Policy Council, synod staff, and the Washington office, we look forward to furnishing them with an advocacy manual and developing a network of communication between congregational teams.

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Texas

Samuel Brannon, Texas Impact

Texasimpact.org

Lutherans from around the state gathered at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas from February 12-14 for the third annual Lutheran Legislative Event. The gathering was cosponsored by Texas Impact, the Southwestern Texas Poverty and Justice Taskforce, and the by all measures, it was a smashing success. Attendance was up from previous years and enthusiasm for legislative engagement was demonstrably ardent.

The event’s two-day training portion included key note speaker Reverend Alexia Salvatierra, justice advocate and author Pastor Salvatierra guided attendees into a grace filled model of legislative advocacy. In drawing a distinct differentiation between faith-based advocacy and other models, she led participants into gentle but assertive Biblical best-practices that have borne fruit by tested advocacy experience.

Participants were also treated to a fact laden panel discussion on pay day lending led by Rev Amy Reumann, Director of the ELCA Public Advocacy Office in Washington D.C. and Rick Ertel of the SWT Poverty and Justice Task Force. Other speakers focused on the environment, immigration, refugees, children’s health coverage, and religious freedom.

After two days of instruction and prayerful discernment, Bishops Eric Gronberg and Ray Tiemann led a spirited caucusing exercise. The resulting legislative agenda ranged from stewardship of communities and creation, to child welfare and justice for the incarcerated. Everyone spent the third full day in the state Capitol building lobbying legislators and staff (See picture right). Many participants developed new connections and/or strengthened current relationships with their legislators.

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Virginia

Kim Bobo, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Virginia’s General Assembly 2017 session ended on Saturday, Feb. 25, and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy was able to celebrate several successes:

• stopped the cutting of TANF benefits for low-income families.Proposals would have reduced from 24 to 12 months the length of time a family could receive public assistance. This was a mean-spirited bill and we stopped it on the floor.
• supported expanding mental health and substance abuse services in Virginia. We joined partner organizations in expanding resources in the state for mental health and substance abuse services.
• helped restore driver’s licenses to those who owe court fines and feesby leading the advocacy for ended the state’s practice of suspending driver’s licenses to those persons.
• opposed and helped stop some of the worst of the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee bills. We were a vocal presence against these bills and in favor of making Virginia a more welcoming place. At a press event,VICPP volunteers called on Governor Terry McAuliffe to veto all the anti-immigrant bills that emerged from the session. … VICPP is partnering with the Sacred Heart Center on two Worker Clinics for the Richmond area. These sessions — March 1 and March 15 – will provide a safe space for workers to learn more about their rights and ask questions. Lawyers will be present for consultation, and both English and Spanish speaking volunteers will be available to help.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Acton Network

fanwa.org

INTERFAITH ADVOCACY DAY: On February 9, over 400 advocates of all faiths came to the State Capitol to learn about FAN’s issues in workshops, gather in caucus meetings by legislative district (people from 37 of our 49 districts came), hear from interfaith speakers and elected officials, and attend a total of 121 meetings with legislators or their staff. (See picture below left)

KEY LEGISLATIVE BILLS: FAN’s main bills are about the use of deadly force by law enforcement, and legislation called “Breakfast After the Bell.” Washington’s statute on deadly force i the most egregious in our country because a prosecutor has to prove the officer acted with malice. Those bills are stalled right now because of law enforcement opposition to changes in language, as well as a lack of political will. Requiring all school districts to allow student access to ‘breakfast after the bell’ will probably once again not reach the Governor’s desk because Senate Republicans emphasize parent responsibility over school mandates.

 

RESPONSES TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS: FAN has been busy responding to recent Trump executive orders, especially the travel ban and immigration orders. FAN has engaged by having a press conference in the capitol on Interfaith Advocacy Day, supporting numerous grassroots events, supporting immigrant protection legislation, and issuing statements to affirm our immigrant neighbors. See our two statements on our website here and here. (See picture below of Interfaith leaders at a press conference at the State Capitol to support legislation that protects Muslims from a possible religious registry) 

CONGRESSIONAL RECESS EFFORTS: FAN is participating in a statewide coalition regarding concerns about repealing the Affordable Care Act by meeting with some Members of Congress and their staff. We are also encouraging and coordinating our advocates to set meetings with their MOC during one of the upcoming recesses.

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Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

2017-19 STATE BUDGET: This budget draft is not as austere as the last on. We are pleased that funding for anti-sex trafficking is proposed to remain in the budget and would increase the second year. Part of the funding would expand the LSS-operated facility for trafficked girls in rural Wisconsin. LOPPW is thankful for the bishops signing a letter about anti-sex trafficking to the governor in November 2016.

We have serious concerns about the budget and expected bills in relationship to some public benefits:

• New pilot program requiring FoodShare (Wisconsin’s SNAP) recipients who have children to work 80 hours per month for benefits.
• Eliminating FoodShare eligibility for parents not in compliance with child support.
• Denying FoodShare benefits for anyone not elderly, blind, or disabled whose household has over $25,000 in liquid assets. The paperwork required to prove eligibility is daunting. Pennsylvania stopped their asset test after 111,000 households were denied benefits because they had trouble producing all of the required documentation.
• Drug testing and limiting the types of food someone can purchase via FoodShare will likely emerge again.

ADVOCACY DAY: People of Faith United for Justice organizes advocacy day every two years, during budget years. Brochure for the April 4^th event:

CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION: LOPPW’s director and two volunteers will join groups from the Wisconsin Climate Table to meet with the Dane County supervisor about the county using more renewable energy. Our table is planning ways to make local impacts with partners in strategic parts of the state.

 

 

 

Today’s blog post is from Robyn Sand Anderson, an artist in Redwood Falls, MN.

One evening, when my husband Jon was a young seminarian back in 1981, he encouraged me to be an artist, to pursue that path. (That was before he knew what that would mean.) Nonetheless, it turned out to be my path. I remember thinking at the time, “What good is painting a pretty picture?” I thought his calling was so meaningful; I wanted that, too. I feel like God has been showing me the answer to that question ever since.

 

Art Speaks Faith

Art, music, and dance are part of a universal language that speaks across culture, geography and time, without words. It is another voice, a visual language that can speak the faith in unique, new and creative ways. The arts are expressive, spiritual and have the power to evoke our emotions, tapping into something deep within us. Where language and culture can divide us, the arts have the power to connect us to each other and to the Creator who made all things.

As we approach the Lenten season once again, our minds turn inward. I find it a time of self-examination. I’ve never been one to give up a certain thing for Lent, mostly because I am terribly undisciplined and struggle to do anything on a regular basis. Instead, I tend to focus in on a word, a phrase or a piece of art. On Ash Wednesday, it is a visual experience for me. I watch the people go forward for the imposition of ashes. I hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  I see the ashes, the cross of dust. We know that this life is a gift; we know that sometimes it is hard. Sometimes we suffer. We walk forward in trust. It is humbling.

 

 

 

 

Sonja Gerstenberger, Grimes, IA

 

Warm-up Question

When you think of the word “temptation” what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Temptation

A recent Belfast Telegraph article explored the differing responses by men and women when asked if they thought various scenarios were acceptable, like increasing the amount of an insurance claim beyond what was needed for repairs, not reporting a bank error made in their favor, or allowing someone to take the blame for something that was their fault. The survey of 2,000 people conducted by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment found:

• 29% of men and. 19% of women felt it was okay not to point out a bank error.
• 17% of men and 11% of women felt it was okay to increase the amount of an insurance claim beyond what repairs would cost.
• 10% of men and 5% of women felt it was okay to let a colleague take the blame for their error.
• 47% of men and 33% of women felt it was okay to use information discovered about a competitor for their own employer’s gain.
• 17% of people felt it was okay to buy an item of clothing, wear it once with the tags on and return it to an online retailer while only 11% felt this would be okay to do with an item purchased from a local retailer.

The findings of the survey indicate there is some difference between men and women in terms of how they respond to temptation. The survey also revealed we feel differently about transactions made in person (like with the local retailer) and our online purchases. Without a face-to-face transaction, it can seem okay to give in to the temptation to cheat and return an item because it seems to affect only  a faceless corporation.

Full Article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/temptation-likelier-for-men-than-women-in-moral-dilemmas-over-cash-or-job-35406225.html

Discussion Questions

• Do you find the results of this survey surprising? Why or why not?
• Have you ever received too much change from a cashier or not been charged enough for a restaurant bill? What did you do? Did you have to think about it, or was your response immediate?
• Do you think it is unethical to respond as did the people cited in the article? Why or why not?

First Sunday in Lent

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

In the story for today’s Gospel reading, Jesus has just been baptized in the river Jordan by John. The story moves directly from Jesus’ baptism to his temptation in the wilderness. This is an important to know because we need to think of what it means that just two verses earlier, Jesus came up out of the water, the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, “This is my son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” That very same Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil.

In the temptation, the devil first offers Jesus the material things of the world, tempting Jesus (likely hungry and thirsty) to command the stones to turn to bread. The devil is tempting Jesus to use the power of the Spirit given to him to get worldly things. Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,’” (see Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus responds to the Devil’s temptation by reminding the devil he is called to speak God’s word.

Next the devil tempts Jesus to prove God is faithful, telling Jesus to throw himself down so God will send angels to save Jesus. To this Jesus responds again with words from the Old Testament, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test,’” (see Deuteronomy 6:16). Jesus does not offer proof, but faith that God will provide without needing proof.

Finally the devil tempts Jesus to conquer the kingdoms of the world by worshipping the devil. Jesus responds again by quoting scripture, “For it is written, ‘worship the Lord your God, and serve only him,’” (see Deuteronomy 5:6-7). Jesus does not choose glory, but the way of suffering love by rejecting the devil’s offer of the glory of being a conquering king. Instead he serves God, which will eventually lead Jesus to his death on the cross.

One way to read the story is that it is not just about temptation but about what kind of messiah Jesus will be. The Jews would be waiting and looking for a conquering king, able to provide material things, protected by angels, a ruler and conqueror of kingdoms. The messiah revealed in the temptation is one who will not be controlled by the devil and will not put God to the test. This Jesus chooses the way of suffering and compassion.  He will eventually bring about the promised kingdom through these means and not through glory and might.

When we think about being tempted to take what is not ours or not owning up to our mistakes, we give in to a desire to have things that aren’t ours. Jesus, our messiah, calls us to follow a different path. The path Jesus calls us to may mean giving up some material things for the good of our neighbor. It may mean risking our own safety for the sake of community. And it certainly means denying entities that promise to bring wealth, safety, and a secure kingdom in exchange for worshipping and serving a ruler instead of our one, true God, revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Reference: “Basic Bible Commentary.” Ministry Matters. Accessed February 15, 2017. MinistryMatters.com.

Discussion Questions

• If the temptations of Jesus are about what kind of Messiah he will be, what does it mean to say our temptations are about what kind of person we will be?
• Does giving into temptation mean God will not forgive or love us? Does it mean we are not a good person?
• If we are forgiven by God’s grace through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, why do we resist temptation? What does resisting temptation mean for God’s good and gracious will for our lives and for living together in beloved community? What happens when we give in?

Activity Suggestions

• Create a modern retelling of the temptation of Christ, either a narrative or pictures that depict the three temptations. What would represent material things to a believer today? What would represent being tempted to offer proof that God would deliver? What would represent a temptation to worship something other than God?
• Consider creating your own “What would you do?” experiments (patterned after the ABC televised specials, http://abc.go.com/shows/what-would-you-do) to use with adults in the congregation. Consider using simple exercises (like leaving a dollar out in the open on the floor as if someone dropped it) and just observing (not recording) the behavior of people as they respond. Have the observation team report back to the class and talk about what they observed and how they may have made a similar or different choice.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, we are tempted in every way to give in to a world that tells us the way to fulfillment is power, and riches, and might. In response, you sent Jesus, a humble, suffering servant who would eventually die on the cross, mistaken and misunderstood. May we feel the power of your presence when we are tempted. Help us make choices that bring life for us and for the world which you so love. Amen.

 

Mikka McCracken

On February 20, 2017, the United Nations formally declared a famine in South Sudan. According to the UN, 4.9 million people, more than 40 percent of the country’s population, are in need of urgent food, agriculture and nutrition assistance. By July, at the height of the lean season, this number could grow to 5.5 million people or about 47 percent of the national population. One million children are already acutely malnourished.

The declaration of famine means people have already started to die from hunger.

In addition to South Sudan, the UN is warning of looming famine in three other countries, as well: Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia.

 

This famine brings up memories of famine seasons past and is interconnected with other challenges in the region. Just last week, the UN warned of the greatest refugee crisis in Africa, the 1.5 million people fleeing the increasing conflict in South Sudan bound for Uganda, which will triple Uganda’s refugee population in just six months.

This weekend, I’m headed to the Sierra Pacific Synod’s high school youth event under the theme verse Psalm 27:14 –  “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

As people of faith, we can take comfort and refuge in this familiar psalm, and yet, we see the ever-present reality of bodily and spiritual hunger. So what are people of faith to do in the “in-between times?”

One of Martin Luther’s many Reformation contributions was to redefine “vocation” as more than just a 9-to-5 occupation. For Luther, according to Swedish theologian Gustaf Wingren, “vocation belongs to our situation between baptism and the final resurrection.” American theologian Frederick Buechner further defines vocation as “where your greatest gifts meet the world’s deepest needs.”

Friends of ELCA World Hunger, what is our vocational call in the face of despair and famine? How might our greatest gifts come to bear to meet the world’s deepest needs? Let us gather, pray, break bread and go out to serve in the many ways God has gifted us — for such a task as this and time as ending hunger.

Mikka McCracken is Director of Planning and Engagement for ELCA World Hunger. This post originally appeared in ELCA World Hunger’s “Go and Do News,” a monthly publication for ELCA World Hunger Leaders.