By Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, Assistant Director for Migration Policy

UPDATE: The Department of Homeland Security has continued to target Central American children and families for deportation since January. On May 12, 2016, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that they plan to strengthen the efforts to detain and deport vulnerable children and families in May and June. Although further information has not been released, as a church, we continue to stand with the churches and organizations we accompany in the protection of children, families and all vulnerable communities in Central America.

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Para ver esta respuesta en español, vaya aqui.

This month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began operations to track and deport Central American families that arrived in the U.S. after January 1, 2014. We know that at least 121 individuals have been taken into custody and reports have surfaced of children being pulled out of homes in the middle of the night.

As a church grounded in Biblical mandate to respect the human dignity of all of God’s creatures, we stand strongly against prioritizing vulnerable children and their mothers for deportation. These tactics neither honor our faithful calling to love one another nor respect the dignity of our neighbors.

Additionally, we join Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) in our concern for ensuring access to justice in the U.S. for these families who must navigate a complex legal system, often without necessary support. This December, our own presiding bishop, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, witnessed first-hand the uncertainty and stress faced by children and families in Chicago’s immigration court.

The ELCA lives out God’s calling to send us into the world by accompanying displaced children and families in the U.S. and in Central America through our companion relationships with churches and faith partners. Through these relationships, we receive critical insight into the realities faced by children and families who are forced to leave their communities due to targeted violence (as outlined in our report, Our Communities in Crisis).

Today, violence in countries where these children and families targeted by DHS will be deported to remains unbearably high. El Salvador is currently facing murder rates not seen since its civil war in the 1980s. The Salvadoran Lutheran Church recently reported seeing up to 30 families displaced in one neighborhood over the course of only a few days. Honduras continues to have some of the highest murder rates in the world, and in Guatemala, the United Nations reports that two women are killed each day.

As a church with faith partners working with deported children and families in El Salvador and Honduras, we know that deportation does not serve to deter children and families from leaving their communities.

In a statement from the Mennonite Social Action Committee (CASM), an ELCA partner working in a repatriation center for children and families in Honduras, they explain that “during this process of receiving deported [children and families], we have witnessed the harsh reality that [deportation] brings for these people and their families. [Families] have to come back to the same realities of extreme poverty, lack of opportunities, violence and lack of citizen security that led them to leave the country in the first place.”

Through our relationships in Central America and because of our church’s history that is deeply rooted in migration, we will continue to support our partners in the region and in the U.S. through witness, accompaniment, prayer and advocacy.

“We must advocate with our governments and authorities for the humane treatment [of migrants], and to launch fair processes for people who should be welcomed as asylum seekers, not for political reasons, but for their safety and security.” said Bishop Medardo Gomez from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church in a call to acknowledge the rights and vulnerabilities of those fleeing Central America today.

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Our partner, Church World Service, suggests the following resources to respond to this issue:

Know Your Rights

If you are tied to immigrant led congregations, it is imperative to educate all immigrant communities on know your rights resources. The most important information is DON’T OPEN THE DOOR to Immigration Customs Enforcement or anyone else if they do not have a warrant signed by a judge.

AFSC- Know Your Rights- Conozca Sus Derechos

United We DREAM Know Your Rights

Guide to sharing your story of rights abuses, raids and deportation

Video-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC2NgdEgD94

Report When A Raid Is Happening:

HOTLINE: 1-844-363-1423

TEXT ALERTS WATCH ICE: 877877

Call the White House

White House Comment Line directly at 1-888-907-2053.

“I’m from City, State, Congregation/Community and as a person of faith, I urge President Obama to immediately STOP plans to deport Central American children and families. These individuals are fleeing violence and should have access to legal counsel so that they can apply for asylum and protection in the United States.”

Jen Krausz, Bethlehem, PA

 

Warm-up Question

Why do you think people are so interested in the supernatural—including ghosts, demons, zombies, and superheroes?

Of Spirits and the Spirit

Some of today’s most popular television shows and movies are built around belief in the supernatural, which reflects what Americans say they believe about otherworldly occurrences. Shows like Supernatural, The Walking Dead, and The Flash, along with movies like the hugely popular Avengers and Star Wars franchises all feature characters with powers normal humans don’t possess.

A LiveScience infographic states that 56% of Americans surveyed believe that ghosts are spirits of the dead, and 55% believe in psychic or spiritual healing. 42% believe that people on Earth are sometimes possessed by the devil, and a whopping 71% believe that they have had a paranormal experience in their lives.

Richard Wiseman, author of the book Paranormality, has studied people’s beliefs about paranormal activity as well as the science behind some of these occurrences. “These beliefs are very comforting,” Wiseman told LifeScience. “If you’re ill, then the idea of the psychic healer is a nice idea.”

Beliefs in ghosts and hauntings may not be nearly as comforting, but arise from fear and hyper-vigilance that sometimes makes us see things that may not be there. Surprisingly, those who are more educated often have more beliefs in the paranormal than others. And being religious doesn’t always mean you don’t believe in ghosts and other paranormal phenomena. A 2009 Pew Research study showed that half of Catholics and black Protestants believed in or felt they had experienced at least two supernatural phenomena listed.

People want to believe in supernatural phenomena because it shows that there are bigger forces at work than just what the eye can see or science can quantify. Although beliefs in ghosts or zombies may be misplaced according to science, the world is a vast place that contains much more than one person could ever experience in a lifetime.

Discussion Questions

• How have your beliefs about supernatural occurrences changed over time?
• Has anything ever happened to you that you can’t quite explain logically? If so, what happened?
• Do scientific explanations of paranormal happenings satisfy you, or disappoint you? Why?

Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21

Romans 8:14-17

John 14:8-17 [25-27]

(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

The entire Trinity appears in these verses, as Jesus explains to the disciples that the Father and he are one. Jesus then tells them about the Spirit of truth that will come to them when he has gone to the Father. Just as the Father lived in Jesus and did his work through Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in us and does God’s work through us.

Jesus promises in these verses that the Holy Spirit

–advocates for us (helps us),

–teaches us,

–lives in us,

–helps us remember the things Jesus said.

Jesus tells the disciples that they will do even greater things than the things Jesus did, and it is the Holy Spirit that enables them (and us) to do these things. What great things are you doing through the power of the Holy Spirit? I know, me neither. I think we often forget about the Holy Spirit and instead rely on our own strength to try to accomplish the things of God, but God gives us the Holy Spirit because he knows we aren’t strong enough to accomplish these things on our own strength.

God is supernatural, and the Holy Spirit is how that supernatural power is expressed to humanity. So many people are more than ready to believe in ghosts, zombies, vampires, and psychics, but as Jesus says in verse 17, the world cannot accept the Holy Spirit, who has real power and truth because he is from God.

As Christians, we need to think carefully about where we choose to place our faith. Yes, supernatural things are attractive, but let’s not settle for a counterfeit that is devoid of any real power. It is not a coincidence that these verses end with a promise of peace such as the world cannot give.

Discussion Questions

• Why do ghosts, zombies, etc., often seem more attractive than the true supernatural beings (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit)?
• Have you ever felt the power of the Holy Spirit? What was that like?
• Why does Jesus say that the world can’t accept the Holy Spirit? (hint: it’s in verse 17) What do you think keeps people from accepting him?

Activity Suggestions

The Holy Spirit is commonly depicted as wind, fire, or a dove. Draw a picture or write a description of the Holy Spirit as you have experienced him or heard about him. Ask for permission to display your art somewhere in your church.

Closing Prayer

Father God, we thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us. We ask you to fill us with the Spirit’s power to do your work here on earth. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

CONGRESS TAKES STEPS THAT COULD SET BACK CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS: The ELCA is committed to fighting childhood hunger. That commitment, rooted in the baptismal call to care for our neighbors in need, is why we as a church have advocated for a strong renewal of the child nutrition programs that are critical to the health and well-being of children and families throughout our nation. The House last month introduced a new version of the child nutrition re-authorization bill (Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016). ELCA Advocacy strongly opposes this legislation because it would roll back years of progress made by our nation’s child nutrition programs. The bill is in the House Education and Workforce Committee. Click here to read our action alert urging Congress to improve these programs.

ELCA ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYS: Christian advocates from across the country gathered in Washington D.C. for Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), April 15-18. For the 14th annual gathering, the EAD theme was “Lift Every Voice – Racism, Class and Power.”  As part of the ELCAvotes initiative, ELCA Advocacy, Racial Justice Ministries, and Young Adult Ministries brought 16 participants from 12 states to EAD to serve as ELCAvotes ambassadors. These leaders are now taking the information they learned from EAD back to their communities. The ELCA also supported the participation of 17 young adults in EAD this year. The weekend concluded with a day of action, where attendees visited the offices of their senators and representatives, advocating on two key issues: “supporting the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 as a substantial legislative step to restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act of 1965” and “defeating the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that deepens inequality and prioritize corporate interest over both God’s creation and people, especially vulnerable communities in the U.S. and abroad.” ELCA staff from ELCA Global Mission and Domestic Mission units attended, including staff from Lutheran Office for World.

THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY ACT ADVANCES: Both chambers of Congress passed their versions of the Global Food Security Act, a top priority of ELCA Advocacy. Congress must now reconcile the two bills and send the final legislation to the president to sign. Our advocacy will continue to ensure that a final bill will be sent to the president’s desk by the end of this year. The bill provides congressional authorization to Feed the Future, a U.S. government initiative charged with combating chronic hunger and food insecurity around the world. It ensures that every dollar spent accrues value in global productivity, expands opportunities for education, reduces violence and helps those who suffer from food scarcity. Through Feed the Future, countries are able to increase agricultural and nutritional investments. As a result, farmers are able to feed their families, communities, and can contribute to their countries’ economic growth.

CONGRESS PASSES OLDER AMERICANS ACT: Last month, President Obama signed the Older Americans Act into law. The Older Americans Act is a critical piece of legislation that authorizes supportive services for older adults through Area Agencies on Aging, family caregiver supports, nutrition programs and the Senior Community Service Employment Programs. The re-authorization of the act was a priority for ELCA Advocacy and Lutheran Services in America since it was allowed to expire in 2015. ELCA Advocacy promoted this legislation by collecting nearly 500 postcards written to Congress from Lutherans.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The Colorado General Assembly will meet until May 11, which means that Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado priorities have several more days to move through the legislative process. Our remaining major priorities include SB 190, a bipartisan bill from the Joint Budget Committee that will improve public services, particularly food assistance programs, by incentivizing better administrative practices and hiring additional state-level staff to increase enrollment of eligible families. Colorado currently ranks 45th in the nation for timeliness and accuracy in delivering food assistance, and Colorado merchants lose out on an estimated $686 million annually in grocery sales from unenrolled households. Another priority bill is HB 1227, a bipartisan bill that creates accommodations for low-income parents receiving child care assistance. A final bill is SCR 006, which would strike the exception to slavery and involuntary servitude from the state constitution (Article II, section 26). This resolution passed the Senate on a 35-0 vote, and if it passes the House, will be referred to Colorado voters on the fall ballot.

CHURCHWIDE CONNECTIONS: The directors of all ELCA-connected state advocacy offices gathered in Chicago for the churchwide Domestic Mission unit meeting in April. It was a time of fellowship and networking with churchwide colleagues. It gave our advocacy office directors the chance to share updates and best practices and to celebrate one another’s accomplishments for the sake of our common calling to public policy justice.

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Ohio – Nick Bates, The Faith Coalition for the Common Good

nick@oneohionow.org

It’s been a relatively light legislative spring around the Statehouse. Gov. John Kasich delivered his State of the State address in Marietta on April 6, with fewer policy proposals compared to his previous addresses. A new report released addresses some of the realities in Ohio. It highlights outcomes related to the health, economy, education and inequality in Ohio.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES: The Ohio capital budget increases resources for infrastructure. While this is a positive step, many needs remained unmet. For example, the state has not invested adequately to help farmers in northwest Ohio protect the streams, rivers and Lake Erie. The state has invested in lead contamination notification but still has not invested in lead removal.

RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS: Ohio’s renewable energy standards previously had overwhelming bi-partisan support. However, in 2014, they were temporarily suspended over the protests of Lutheran leaders. A bill was announced in mid-April to expand the temporary freeze until 2019. Renewable energy is a growing job sector in Ohio that this freeze hurts.

PREGNANCY PROTECTION ACT: Faith leaders have won the support of every female state senator to pass a bill to end discrimination against pregnant women in Ohio. The bill had its first committee hearing the week of April 18.

MEDICAID CHANGES: A new plan, if approved, would undercut the positive steps Ohio has made toward health care access for the most vulnerable. The plan would require the poorest Ohioans to start paying for Medicaid. Experts estimate that 140,000 Ohioans would likely lose coverage under the new rules.

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Pennsylvania – Tracey DePasquale, Interim-Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

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Southeastern Synod – Hilton Austin Jr., Georgia

haustin337@att.net

As we approach our one-year anniversary with our upcoming Synod Assembly, I can only say it has been an interesting and busy year, never a dull moment. Thanks go out to John Johnson and the folks in the Washington, D.C., office for their help and guidance and especially to all of those folks across our synod who participated in rallies, marches and events, along with those who helped coordinate and publicize those events.

Currently, we are making preparations for the Synod Assembly at the end of May. We will have an exhibit table outside the Plenary Hall to talk to folks about the importance of our work and our need for advocacy coordinators in each congregation. On Saturday, we will present an immigration advocacy workshop and host an advocacy luncheon.

In April, we published the first edition of an e-newsletter; it will be published three times a year, September, January and April. September will be the Discernment Edition to set priorities for the upcoming legislative season. January will be the Action Edition with current pending legislation and Lobby Days dates. April will be the Wrapup Edition.

We are very excited about the current ongoing conversation with Presbyterians for a Better Georgia and the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta concerning working together and also opening an ecumenical advocacy office in Atlanta. We plan to have the office in our synod office, from which we will also be able to help coordinate and support advocacy efforts in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

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Virginia – Kim Bobo, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Neill Caldwell, Communications Director

http://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/ 

In the last few weeks, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy staff members have been listening to fellow citizens and activists talk about health care access in Virginia and some Virginia legislators explain why they oppose expanding coverage in the Commonwealth by taking federal dollars allocated under the Affordable Care Act to pay for expansion. Sen. Amanda Chase, R-VA11, thinks that a concierge-medicine approach is preferable to coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare, the health care advocacy arm of VICPP, was invited to participate in an NAACP event in Richmond, #HealthcareMatters. The panel discussion was moderated by Community Outreach Coordinator Cassandra Shaw, with the Rev. Marlon Haskell of Chicago Avenue Baptist Church, NAACP Richmond Health Committee Chair Marilyn Campbell, motivational speaker and clinical social worker Germika Pegram, and community activist Christopher Green joining the panel. The panel, and the attendees, agreed that community action was the only way to shift thinking in the General Assembly on the importance of closing the coverage gap via access to quality, affordable health care for all Virginians.

For National Minority Health Month (April), Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare and the Virginia Interfaith Center are partnering with African American faith organizations/judicatories and churches to make a unified, faith-based push to compel their state leaders to close the coverage gap. They’re also working with two nationally known African American faith leaders, the Rev. William Barber and Dr. James Forbes, on the Richmond leg of their 19 city “Repairers of the Breach” revival tour.

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Washington – Paul Benz, Faith Action Network

www.fanwa.org

ANNUAL VISIT TO NATION’S CAPITOL FOR ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYS: Office visits were made to 11 of our 12 congressional offices (we met three members of congress; the rest were staff). The key issues we discussed included child nutrition, opposing block granting of SNAP, support for voting-rights bills, opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and support of funding for the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem. Faith Action Network also made visits to our friends at the National Council of Churches, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and the Interfaith Criminal Justice Coalition convened by the United Methodist Church. Our state delegation was made up of many young adults, and we participated in the marches and rallies on Capitol Hill that day.

Highlights from Ecumenical Advocacy Days include preaching and leadership from the Rev. William Barber of North Carolina, as well as being with people of faith from around the country advocating on social justice issues with the theme: “Lift Every Voice! Racism, Class and Power.”

Faith Action Network is now working on our four regional summits during May and June in Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver and Yakima. At those events, we will organize by our issue work groups, such as economic justice, environment, criminal justice and health care.

ELCAVOTES: We are also promoting ELCAvotes at our synod assemblies, encouraging congregations and members to get engaged in this year’s elections, as well as introducing resolutions to Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery, which is an act of solidarity with our Native American brothers and sisters, and acknowledges white privilege.

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Wisconsin – Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

www.loppw.org

CEREMONIAL SIGNING: A significant anti-sex trafficking bill that LOPPW supported has become law. Bishop Mary Froiland, LOPPW Advisory Council member the Rev. Barb Girod, and the director attended the ceremonial event in Madison. LOPPW volunteer Robbie Joern attended the actual signing in Hudson.

NEW STATE CLIMATE TABLE: LOPPW was part of an all-day organizing meeting for an emerging Wisconsin Climate Table to broaden the efforts of secular and faith-based organizations to support a Clean Power Plan and other healthy environmental efforts in Wisconsin.

TWO NEW 2016 RESOURCES: 

1. Human Trafficking – What does the church have to say? A new resource for congregations to use with youth and adults.
2. Money & Politics: The Gradual Distortion of American Politics and its Impact on Poverty – What does the church have to say? We also have a one-page summary of the longer Money & Politics. Go to loppw.org/resources/. Thank you to our former intern, Genevieve Baldwin, for her work on 2016 LOPPW anti-human trafficking resource and to intern Kyle Kretschmann for his work on the money and politics resource.

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Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​

Scott Mims, Virginia Beach, VA

 

Warm-up Question

Has anyone ever made fun of you for what you believe?  How did you feel about this?

“What Unites Us Is Stronger Than What Divides Us”

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg.  Next year – 2017 – will mark the 500^th anniversary of this event, and of the Reformation movement that Luther’s thought and actions helped to spark.  In anticipation of this important milestone, it was recently announced that the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church will hold a joint ecumenical commemoration later this year.  On October 31, 2016 in Lund, Sweden, our Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches will take another step forward in a long dialogue towards mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.  You can read more about this joint commemoration and what it means here:

https://www.lutheranworld.org/lund2016

https://www.lutheranworld.org/news/what-unites-us-stronger-what-divides-us

Discussion Questions

• Do you and your friends ever talk about religion or what faith means to you? If so, what have you discovered? If not, why not?
• What churches/faith communities have you belonged to?
• Lutherans and Roman Catholics have been in dialogue together for over 50 years now, working hard to achieve greater understanding and reconciliation. Do you think all of the time and effort is worth it? After 500 years of being divided, what, in your opinion, is the significance of this work?  Of holding a joint commemorative worship service?

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 16:16-34

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

John 17:20-26

(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

The Backstory

For the past several weeks, we have been in flashback mode.  Even though we stand on the resurrection side of things in the Easter season, our readings have taken us back before the crucifixion, back to Jesus’ final evening with his disciples.  This week is no exception.  John 17:20-26 captures the last part of Jesus’ final prayer just before he and the disciples leave the place where they are and walk to the garden and his arrest.

Jesus’ prayer itself comprises the whole of chapter 17.  What has come before this moment in chapters 13 – 16 has the form of a farewell discourse – a last will and testament to his friends. Now the time has come.  Jesus’ hour for glory is upon him, and so he prays for himself (verses 1-5), for his disciples (verses 6 – 19), and lastly for the Church (verses 20 – 26).

That They May All Be One

So, who is the Church, and what does Jesus ask on its behalf?  The answer to the first part of this question is that the Church is everyone who will come to believe in Jesus as a result of the disciples’ message.  This means that it is not just the disciples for whom Jesus prays, he is also praying for us.  John 17 is a prayer for you, for me, and for ALL who believe in Jesus the Messiah.  Together, we are the Church, and Jesus’ prayer for us is that we “may all be one.”

Unity is the key theme in this part of Jesus’ prayer.  We can see this because the idea of believers being “one” gets repeated (verses 20, 22, 23).  Yet it is important to notice that the foundation for this unity is first and foremost Jesus’ own relationship with God the Father, and not the result of our efforts.  That is to say, we don’t create this unity by our hard work towards love and cooperation.  Rather, our efforts towards a more complete and true unity with other believers are the necessary byproducts of the relationship we share with God the Father through his Son, Jesus.  Because God the Father loves us, and invites us into the mutual relationship he shares with Jesus, Jesus prays that we will know a similar unity of love with one another.

What’s more, this unity is to be a witness to the world that what we say about Jesus – about his love, about his death and resurrection, about his identity as Lord and Savior – is true (verse 21).  Jesus “new commandment” given in chapter 13 at the beginning of this farewell discourse is that we love one another as he has first loved us.  Love is the mark and sign that we are truly his.  Here, at the conclusion of his prayer, one effect of such love is made clear.  As the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding.”  As love breaks down the barriers that divide us, as love heals divisions, overcomes fears, and joins different peoples into communities of faith, joy, and praise, the wider world sees the truth and the power of the God we proclaim.

The Gospel of John in Miniature

The final verses for this week not only complete the prayer, but serve as a summary for the gospel itself. You can hear echoes of John 1 and John 3:16 here.  The world does not know God the Father, but Jesus, God’s Son does. There is a unique and eternal relationship between them (see verse 5). What’s more, Jesus has made the truth of God known to those who have believed in him.  Having communicated the Father’s “name” to them, he promises to continue to make God known to the Church through the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 16:12-15)  The goal of this is so that the love God has for Jesus may also be in all who belong to Jesus.  In this way, they – that is, we – also enjoy a living relationship with God, through Christ.

Though the language that John uses in chapter 17 can seem repetitive and hard to understand, it is important to hear the whole of this passage as a prayer in which we are also included. Perhaps part of the reason that our lectionary (the three-year schedule of readings we follow) draws us back this Easter season to Jesus’ final evening with his disciples is to remind us that, because Jesus is alive, his words remain for us, and for the world, a living and life-giving message.

Discussion Questions

• How do you define the word love? What do you think it means for Christians to love one another?
• Can you think of examples of different Christian churches or groups disrespecting or condemning each other? How does such behavior damage our witness to the world?
• Does unity mean uniformity? What sorts of things should be the same?  What sorts of things could be different?
• When it comes to Jesus and our faith, what do you think of the following statement: “What unites us is more important that what divides us?”

Activity Suggestions

• Through our full communion agreements with six other church bodies, along with various other inter-faith conversations, the ELCA is building bridges toward greater unity in the church. Find out more about our church’s ecumenical and inter-religious work at: http://www.elca.org/Faith/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations/Full-Communion. You will also find links to the website of our full communion partners.  Perhaps explore some of these sites together.  What are some of the connections we share?  What part has history played in shaping our current differences?

• “Where Do You Stand” You will need enough space for this activity for participants to line up according to their preferences/beliefs. You can download an activity guide from the following link:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/fjr23w0ky6enz9u/Where%20do%20you%20stand%20%28Ecumenical%29.docx?dl=0

Option 1: Have participants line up according to their personal beliefs.  For example, “How do you view the Bible – inerrant, inspired word of God, totally the work of human beings, or somewhere in between?”   You might then talk about where the “official” ELCA position is on the questions you choose.  How much agreement is necessary?  Where is there freedom?

Option 2:  Create a summary sheet for each of the denominations that you would like to include – ideally each participant gets one.  Use the categories at the top (View of God, Saved, Sacrament, etc.) to have participants stand on the continuum based on what their assigned denomination believes.  Use this to talk about the great diversity of beliefs.  Again, how much agreement is necessary, and on what things, for the unity of the Church?

Credit:  Special thanks to Pastor Leslie Scanlon for compiling and creating this chart, and for her permission to include it here.

Disclaimer: The information in this activity is a general summary only.  All attempts were made to be as accurate as possible.  However, there is often a diversity of positions within any given faith tradition or denomination.

• Arrange to worship together at a congregation from a different denomination. You might decide to visit one of our full communion partner churches, especially one from a tradition you know little about.  What was similar?  What was different?  What things are essential?

Closing Prayer

Holy God, gracious and merciful, we thank you for the joy of Easter.  Through the work of your Holy Spirit help us to love one another, and, in that love, to work against the walls and barriers which divide us.  May we be one in you, and may our unity bear witness to the power of your love for all the world.  We pray this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Por Elizabeth Eaton

Para proseguir con mi educación, una vez me inscribí en un curso de introducción a la filosofía en un colegio comunitario de dos años. Yo había estudiado música en la universidad y nunca seguí cursos de filosofía. Como la filosofía y la teología están íntimamente relacionadas, pensé que era hora de que conociera mejor la tradición filosófica de Occidente. Así que me puse a aprender cómo los grandes filósofos han abordado las preguntas de la existencia humana.

Fue una experiencia interesante. Mientras recorríamos los siglos de filosofía occidental, parecía que los filósofos cambiaban el enfoque para abordar las “grandes preguntas”: significado, trascendencia, sufrimiento, el papel de la voluntad. Todo este proceso estaba dirigido por un profesor que decía ser un mormón no practicante quien, me parece, nunca logró superar el ambiente de protesta de la década de los sesenta.

Me resultaba incómoda esta convergencia de un profesor que aún lidiaba con su propio rechazo de su tradición y los sistemas filosóficos que le prestaban más atención al “cómo” frente al “por qué”. No me creí para nada el determinismo, especialmente cuando un estudiante lo usó para explicar una desafortunada decisión que implicaba beber y conducir (nadie salió lesionado). ¿Qué debía hacer una joven luterana?

Mi oportunidad llegó cuando el profesor nos mandó escribir un ensayo sobre lo que habíamos aprendido de cualquiera de las filosofías abarcadas en clase. Me metí de lleno. Era una tarea para conseguir créditos extra, diseñada para dar una segunda oportunidad a los que estaban en peligro de reprobar la materia. Como yo no estaba dentro de esa categoría, inmediatamente me vieron como “uno de esos estudiantes” (estoy segura que mis compañeros usaron un lenguaje menos refinado).

Titulé mi ensayo “Cómo o por qué: mecánica newtoniana vs. metafísica cuántica”. Muy pasado de la raya, pero yo me había puesto una misión. Quería hacer notar al profesor que en la vida hay más que el “cómo” de las cosas, que hay significado y trascendencia aunque no podamos percibirlo mediante la razón o el entendimiento humano. Quería dar testimonio de mi convicción de que en la vida hay muchas más cosas que sólo mecánica y técnica en el camino hacia una conclusión determinista. Y quería señalar la verdad que había experimentado: que existe un ser amoroso y relacional que se preocupa por nosotros y por la creación.

Obviamente el profesor quedó desconcertado por el esfuerzo que puse en el proyecto, además de quitarme cinco puntos por haber usado una contracción. Pero mi punto era entonces, igual que ahora, que como cultura y como iglesia nos hemos vuelto muy competentes para hablar del “cómo” de las cosas. Para la iglesia esto significa que “cómo” se ha convertido en la pregunta que determina dónde concentramos la atención, cómo vivimos y cómo distribuimos los recursos. Hemos desarrollado programas —hermosos programas— para saber cómo llevar a cabo la educación cristiana, la adoración, la mayordomía, la defensa de los derechos, la justicia, el evangelismo, el ministerio global y el ministerio juvenil. No descuiden ninguno de estos.

Pero, ¿podemos como iglesia responder la pregunta de “por qué”?

Al participar este año en la conversación sobre la futura dirección y las prioridades de esta iglesia, esa es la pregunta que debemos responder. Si no podemos responderla claramente y con convicción, no visualizo mucho cambio para nosotros.

En el Catecismo Menor, Martín Lutero nos da cierta dirección:

“Creo que Jesucristo, verdadero Dios, engendrado del Padre en la eternidad, y también verdadero hombre, nacido de la virgen María, es mi Señor. Que me ha redimido a mí, criatura perdida y condenada, me ha rescatado y librado de todos los pecados, de la muerte y del poder del diablo, mas no con oro ni con plata, sino con su santa y preciosa sangre y con su inocente pasión y muerte. Y todo esto lo hizo para que yo sea suyo y viva bajo él en su reino y lo sirva en justicia, inocencia y bienaventuranza eternas, así como él, resucitado de entre los muertos, vive y reina eternamente. Esto es ciertamente la verdad”.

Mensaje mensual de la obispa presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América. Esta columna se publicó por primera vez en la edición de abril de 2016 de la revista en inglés The Lutheran. Reimpreso con permiso.

At this time of year we see seasons changing with the last bit of winter frost fading to the warm air of spring. The seasons of the church change as well from the somber time of Lent into the celebration of Easter. During the season of Lent Messiah Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington, decided to spend their weeks not only in worship, but educating their congregation about water.

“Stay Thirsty” was the name of the Wednesday evening sermon series for the season of Lent and each Sunday there was a children’s message about water. In the midst of abundance, Messiah Lutheran Church decided to talk about scarcity of a resource that we all depend on: clean water.

The first “Stay Thirsty” evening, the congregation put on their own Walk for Water. They set up three tracks going throughout the church with stops along the way to learn about waterborne diseases and the reality of water all around the world.

Each track lets you walk in the shoes of a real story, and simulate the difficulties of not having accessible water.

At Messiah there were a large number of people who wanted to participate, so the congregation provided various sizes of water containers to accommodate the inter-generational walk with participants as young as three.     

This first event provided a way for the whole congregation to get acquainted with the theme of “Water for the World”, and learn more about what the ELCA is doing around the world.

As a retired teacher, Hope Quinn took on the responsibility for writing and delivering the children’s messages each Sunday. Each week provided a different lesson on water, and a box for collecting coins to contribute to ELCA World Hunger’s water programs. “Water for the World” was the theme that was adopted and a wishing well was placed in the narthex to collect prayers of the congregation on a clothesline with a thermometer to gauge how much money they raised.

The first Sunday the theme was introduced with a simple question to the children, “When you want a drink of water at home, what do you do?”. The answer would be the same for many of us, that we simply go to our sinks and turn on the faucet. There might be a water filter involved, but nothing strenuous. Answers from the children prompted a conversation on how many people in the world do not have this same luxury, with an illustration from the Walk for Water video. The children were given coin boxes to collect money during the week and told about how their coins can help give people safe water to drink.

Wells were the next topic, and understanding what kind of well water is actually safe to drink. Quinn pointed out that well water can contain debris and other materials to make the water unsafe to drink. Porterville, California, is an area that relies on wells to provide water but due to drought their wells are running dry. Quinn lifted up that ELCA World Hunger is helping provide materials to aid the people of Porterville, which is only a two-day drive from Vancouver. After this children’s message many adults came up to Quinn saying that they had no idea that ELCA World Hunger worked domestically!

Women are usually the ones faced with the burden of gathering water for their families, and that was illustrated in the third week of Lent. Quinn asked for two girls to volunteer from the group to carry an empty bucket and an empty jug. The volunteers illustrated how difficult it is to carry the bucket instead of the jug and learned that with only two dollars from their Water for the World boxes they could buy one of the jugs! Also with only one dollar from their boxes they could provide 140 water purification tablets! The last Sunday showed what happens when an area gets clean water. Quinn showed a PowerPoint that illustrated the different components to getting clean water and what it meant for a community in India to gain access to clean water with the support of ELCA World Hunger.

Messiah wanted to show through education and giving that we really can make a difference by coming together as sisters and brothers in Christ. This congregation took a season to learn about the ELCA in the world, and at the end of their time they raised nearly $2,500!

Let us take a season, a Sunday, or just a moment to bear witness to what we as a church can do in the world, and how something as simple as clean water can make all the difference.

Dennis Sepper, South Hill, WA

 

Warm-up Questions

What do you think of when you hear the word “home”?  What do you see in your mind’s eye?  What feelings do you associate with the word home?

Being Home

April 16, 2016—Greece.  Pope Francis made a five-hour visit to the Greek island of Lesbos.  He was joined by the head of the Church of Greece and Orthodox Christian leader Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.  On this humanitarian visit the religious leaders visited Camp Moria, a camp where refugees are awaiting deportation to Turkey.  Camp Moria was home to migrants free to come and go at will, notes NBC’s Bill Neely. Now it’s a detention center where some 3,000 people are held.

It is hard for most of us reading this week’s Faith Lens to imagine what it would be like to leave our homes and possessions behind to go somewhere else in the country or world. Yet as noted above thousands are now refugees in our world due to war, famine or oppression in their countries.  Even here in the United States people are without a place to call home due to poverty or illness.

“Home” is very powerful image.  While we often think of home as a building, it is really much more than a structure.  Home is where we feel safe and nurtured by those around us no matter where we are.  Home is where we find love and are empowered to go out from home to follow Jesus and to serve our neighbor and the world.

Now we know in a sinful world home is not a comfortable place for some.  Broadening our definition of home allows us to see that there are places and people who create “home’ for those who do not find it in their place of residence.

When Pope Francis left Camp Moria he took three families with him so that they could create a new home in Italy.  Francis also told the thousands of refugees that they were not alone.  Even though they were hundreds of miles away from their homeland people would be praying for them and God and Jesus would be with them.

Discussion Questions

• What is the best thing you like about home wherever that might be?  Why?
• What are some of the characteristics of home that make it such a powerful image?
• Where are some of the places one could find “home” outside of the house where you grew up?

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 16:9-15

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

John 14:23-29

John 5:1-9

(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 text takes us back before the resurrection of Jesus.  In this section of John’s Gospel Jesus is preparing the disciples and other followers for his upcoming departure, arrest, and death.  Here Jesus promises that God will send the Holy Spirit who will remind them of everything Jesus told them.  Jesus also says that those who love him and keep his words will be loved by God and that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will make their “home” with them (verse 23).  In light of that the followers of Jesus should not let their hearts be troubled or be afraid because the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be with them to nurture them and assist them in their life of discipleship.

The Church places this text on the Sixth Sunday of Easter because on Thursday we celebrate the festival day of the Ascension of our Lord remembering how Jesus again left the disciples and ascended to heaven after his resurrection.  In that way the words of Jesus then are spoken to us now.  Within us and within our faith communities, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit reside.  They make their “home” with us.

With Jesus and the Spirit’s presence we are nurtured and empowered to love and follow Jesus is lives of service and faithfulness.  When God is in our lives we need not be afraid of what the future holds and we can experience the “peace” Jesus bestows on us through the Holy Spirit.  Now that’s a home no matter where we are in the world.

We should also note how this home image plays out in our other readings this week.  In the first reading Paul heads to Macedonia where he seeks out a group of women praying by a river.  The women seem to gather here regularly for prayer (could it be home for this group of faithful women?)  One of the women, a wealthy person named Lydia, listened eagerly to Paul’s teaching and is moved to be baptized along with her whole household.  Out of appreciation Lydia invites Paul to come and stay at her home which Paul did.

In the second reading John of Patmos sees a vision of a new home, the holy city Jerusalem at the end of time.  A home where there is no need of moon or sun because God and Jesus (the lamb) are its light.  A home that has the river of life flowing through it and a tree of life growing nearby bearing fruit for the people and whose leaves are for healing.  This is a beautiful image of our heavenly home where there will be peace and safety.

Finally in our alternate Gospel reading, John 5:1-9, Jesus heals a person who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  For all that time this person’s home was a place on the ground by the pool of Beth-zatha.  After the healing the man begins to walk away toward a new home.  It should also be noted that Jesus did this healing on the Sabbath which was against the religious rules of the day.  Jesus breaks the rule because the healing of the ill man was more important.  Jesus is showing how service to neighbor is important to the followers of Jesus.

Discussion Questions

• Jesus gives another title to the Holy Spirit.  What does “the Advocate” mean to you?  What does an advocate do?
• What do you think Jesus means when he says “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you”?  How is the peace Jesus gives different than the peace the world gives?
• Do you think these words of Jesus were a comfort to the disciples?  Are Jesus’ words comforting or encouraging to you and your discipleship?

Activity Suggestions

As a group or as an individual think of a home or a homecoming story in the Bible (or Google it).  Read that story thinking about it says about God and Jesus and our relationship to them.  Also, think about which character in the story do you identify and why.  Share you insights with the group.

Just to get you started, here are a few example:  the Prodigal Child (Luke 15:-32); the reunion of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 33); the story of Ruth and Naomi (Ruth chapter 1); the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42 or Luke 11:1-42)

Closing Prayer

Almighty and loving God, we thank you for the gift of your presence in our lives.  We thank you for the gift of Jesus and for sending your Holy Spirit upon us.  In the waters of baptism you came into our lives and created a home within us.  Strengthen us through the Spirit to be committed and dedicated disciples of Jesus.  Calm our troubled hearts and our fears as we boldly proclaim the Good News and serve you and our neighbors throughout the world.  In your holy and precious name we pray.  Amen.

Brian Hiortdahl, Overland Park, KS

 

Warm-up Question

If you knew you had only a short time to live and were granted one last wish, what would it be?

Last Wishes

Five year old Chen Xiaotian was diagnosed with brain cancer within months of his mother learning that she had uremia.  After two years, both conditions worsened.  Chen, 7, knowing he would die, was aware that his kidney might save his mother.  He pleaded with her to let him save her life.  Two hours after Chen’s death, his mother received his kidney.  Two other persons benefited from Chen’s gift of life.  His other kidney was transplanted to a 21-year old woman and a 26-year old man received Chen’s liver.

For further information:  video    news story

Discussion Questions

• How does this story make you feel?
• Would you want to be an organ donor?  Why or why not?
• Can you think of other examples where something good came out of tragedy?

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 11:1-18

Revelation 21:1-6

John 13:31-35

(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

Jesus, knowing he will die, shares one final evening with his disciples.  He begins by washing their feet (despite initial resistance from Peter) and sharing bread with his betrayer.  After doing this, he states his dying wish as a new commandment:  Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.

Later that same evening, after repeating this commandment (15:12), Jesus elaborates:  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends (15:13).  Like Chen, Jesus sees life for others coming from his death.  On this night in the other gospels, Jesus institutes his supper of Holy Communion—his life continuing to live inside his disciples’ bodies, giving them new strength.

This is how Jesus is “glorified.”  For him, glory does not come from fame or riches or popularity or success or adulation.  It comes through death.  He does not receive glory in, but radiates it out through the love his disciples show and share, following his lead.  His final wish is not anything for himself, but for the ongoing blessing of others.

Discussion Questions

• What parallels do you see between Chen and Jesus?
• How do you define glory?  How does that compare with how the world and Jesus define it?
• In what tangible ways do members of your group/family/church “love one another”?  Would others recognize that you are Jesus’ disciples by the way that you treat one another?
• Who would you be willing to die for?

Activity Suggestions

• As a group, wash one another’s feet.  Follow with discussion about how it feels.  After that, make plans for washing the feet of others you know, perhaps in a homeless shelter, nursing home, or another setting with people who are often overlooked or undervalued.  Who would benefit from this form of loving service in your community?
• Research the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  What stories from their work inspire you?

Closing Prayer

God of glory, graciously continue to fill our hearts, our bloodstreams, and our lives with the love of Jesus.  Strengthen us to love one another and teach us how to give life to others.  Comfort the dying and give them, like Chen, an opportunity to help others live.  Transform all our troubles into glory through Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord.  Amen

Chris Heavner, Clemson, SC

 

Warm-up Question

What do you value about your best friend which makes you consider them as your best friend?

Believing and Belonging

Once a year, usually near the end of the year, we play a game at our mid-week gathering of college students.  They call it the “BFF Bowl.”  It is sort of a mix between the old Newlywed Game and a college bowl game.  Best Friends Forever (BFF’s) answer questions which show how well they know the other.  Last year, Alexa refused to answer the final question.  Looking back, it was a rather insensitive question, asking whether the other’s BFF had ever had a crush on another student in the group.  Alexa immediately shook her head; “There is no way I am going to tell you that about my best friend!”  Without a doubt, Jenna and Alexa were crowned “BFF’s.”  The integrity of their relationship was more important than winning some silly game.

 Perhaps you have a BFF.  Maybe you are a BFF for someone else in your small group.  Being a best friend means understanding what is of value to them and knowing what it is that they consider to be important.   It means knowing the other person and being known by them.

I have a BFF.  We don’t get to see each other all that often any more.  There are many things happening in his life that we never get around to talking about.  There are a lot of things that happen in my life which I don’t bother telling him.  When we talk, there are more important things for us to say.  Important things like affirming how grateful we are to have each other; and we thank each other for this precious relationship in which we are able to look past all the things happening and see each other as we truly are.

Discussion Questions

• Having a “best friend forever” isn’t simple. What are some of the reasons many of us don’t have a BFF?
• How would to describe the difference between knowing something about another person and knowing that person?
• How do we learn to trust another person enough to let them see us for who we truly are?

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 9:36-43

Revelation 7:9-17

John 10:22-30

(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

Jesus has been in Jerusalem for some two and a half months.  He has taught in the Temple, intervened to prevent an angry crowd from murdering a woman, and healed a man who was blind from birth.  All of this has happened openly and among the very persons who come to Jesus and demand “tell us plainly” whether you are Messiah.

In the eighth chapter, verses 21ff, Jesus tells them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he.”  (Note: Some versions omit that final pronoun.  Thus, Jesus says “you will realize that I am.”  For the significance of that, look back to the call of Moses, when Moses asks “Who shall I say has sent me?”  God says “I am.” – Exodus 3:14)

Jesus’ actions were a very clear statement of who he is and what he came to teach.  What more could he say?

In considering this passage, make sure not to overlook the possibility that those asking him to speak plainly may not have been looking for an answer.  They may have been looking for an opportunity to entrap him.  If Jesus were to commit blasphemy by claiming to be God, that would be to their advantage.  They may have come to Jesus looking for a way to condemn him, rather than looking for clearly stated information.

Of those who are unable to “hear” what Jesus has said so plainly, the gospel writer says they “do not believe.”  Jesus says, “You do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” They do not believe; they also don’t seem to belong.  Believing and belonging are yoked.  One seems not to be possible without the other.  There are some things about Jesus we can only hear when we listen with believing ears.  There are some beliefs we can only hold when we understand ourselves as belonging.

This is a good time for us to pull out our copy of  Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and refresh our memory of the explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed.  It is not our own understanding or strength which leads to our belonging.  We are called, gathered, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit.  Flip forward a few pages to the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  Here, we are once again reminded that it is “God who strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his word and in faith until the end of our lives.”

This encounter between Jesus and those who want him to tell them plainly occurs at the time of the Festival of the Dedication.  This festival (known more readily among us as Hanukkah) commemorated the re-dedication of the Temple in 164 BC.  The Temple stood as a reminder of the relationship God has with God’s people.  Unlike too many of our modern-day gathering houses which look more like huge lecture halls where those with deep secrets share their wisdom, the Temple served to remind us that at Mount Sinai a covenant was established between God and God’s people.  That covenant meant the people belonged to God.  They can hear and learn and understand and even believe because they belong.  They belong in God’s heart and their image is in God’s family photo album.

Amid the questions which ask whether Jesus is Messiah, John 10 encourages us to interject in the discussion our belonging to Jesus.  There are things about Jesus we may never be able to believe, until after we have realized that we belong to him.

Discussion Questions

• One belongs in the symphony if you can play an instrument. One belongs in the chess club if you know the difference between a knight and a pawn.  One belongs to Jesus because Jesus says you belong.  Have you heard this affirmation from Jesus?  Clearly? And powerfully enough that you have come to accept it?
• Why are there things which can only be known about Jesus by those who believe in him?
• Are there persons who continue to try trap Jesus? Or trap those who speak the words of Jesus?In some faith communities, there is a strong encouragement to “make a decision” for Jesus. What comfort do you receive in the Catechism’s insistence that Jesus is the one who has decided on us?

Activity Suggestions

• Plan your own version of a BFF Bowl. Whether or not you actually have a “Bowl,” arrive at the questions you would ask of the players.
• Make a list of all the places where you “belong.” With differing colors of highlighters, note those which have requirements (like being on the math team) and those where you belong because someone says you are welcome (like the youth group at church).
• Are there ever informal, unspoken conditions for being part of a religious community?
• Have a look at a Jewish calendar. Most Christians remember that Hanukkah is in latter December, but do we know when the other festivals occur?

Closing Prayer

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for making it crystal clear that we belong to you.  Our inclusion as your children makes it possible for us to trust in your promises and to believe.  Send us forth into the world to share with others the good news of your love.  Amen.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The Colorado legislative session passed the halfway mark in March, and Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado (LAM-CO ) has been busy  advancing our priorities. The Joint Budget Committee has been meeting to work on the Long Bill for the upcoming fiscal year, and LAM-CO has partnered with Hunger Free Colorado to ask members to add funding for additional agency staff to increase food assistance program enrollment.

Other priorities for the coming month include: a bill to initiate a study of the child care needs of low-income parents while they pursue higher education (HB 1050), a bill to exempt low-income people from requirements to pursue legal action around child support before receiving benefits from the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (HB 1227), a bill to ensure the continued funding for non-profits to assist people in acquiring necessary identification documents (HB 1386), and a bill to allow job applicants with a criminal record to be considered by employers rather than be immediately excluded from review (HB 1388). We await the late introduction of several additional bills that we have signed on to support as well.

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Ohio – Nick Bates, The Faith Coalition for the Common Good

nick@oneohionow.org

How does Ohio do compared to other states on metrics that matter – like hunger, infant mortality, college tuition, median wage and high school graduation? After 10 years of massive tax cuts for the wealthy, does Ohio have more jobs and better pay? A new report seeks to answer these questions in an accessible manner and highlight areas for new public investment. For example, if we roll back the most recent round of income tax cuts in Ohio – we could end hunger in our state.

As John Edgar, a Methodist pastor, said in a press conference on April 1 – highlighting the need for  investments to comprehensively address poverty and inequality – “Thousands of families across this state are refusing to give up, and my message this morning is that we shouldn’t give up on them. … 10 years of tax cuts have cut the center out of the safety net of social services. We are seeing families drawn further and further down in a vortex of poverty.”

You can read the report here. For more information on the report, contact the report’s author, ELCA Diaconal Minister Nick Bates, at Nick@OneOhioNow.org.

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Pennsylvania – Tracey DePasquale, Interim-Director

www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

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Virginia – Kim Bobo, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Neill Caldwell, Communications Director

http://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/ 

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) and the Virginia Council of Churches released a joint statement in wake of the most recent terror attacks in Brussels and elsewhere. Here is the text of the statement:

“The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and the Virginia Council of Churches are calling on Virginia’s elected leaders — and all citizens — to renew our commitment to religious freedom and pluralism and refrain from scapegoating our Muslim citizens and neighbors in the wake of another tragic action of violence.

“Virginians are proud of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and passed into law by the Assembly in 1786. Virginia’s leadership paved the way for the first amendment’s freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights in 1789.

“Today, we mourn with the people of Brussels and all those who have faced terrorist attacks. We know that politically motivated terrorists often use religious language to justify their actions. Many faith traditions have experienced their language usurped to justify political actions and decisions. Our society is best-served by respectful civil discourse and discussion, not suicide bombers. Mosques and Muslim leaders throughout Virginia condemn the violence.

“The heart of all religious traditions is love of God and love of neighbor. The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy united Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others in Virginia to advocate justice in our Commonwealth’s public policy. The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy was birthed out of the Virginia Council of Church’s policy efforts in 1982, and we continue to share a close relationship. Together, we seek to close the health care coverage gap, reform our criminal justice system and reduce hunger and poverty in the state.”

VICPP did not fare well in the latest session of the Virginia General Assembly, as only a plan to reduce or end childhood hunger could be counted among legislative victories. But the organization will continue to advocate for its priorities, which include closing the health insurance coverage gap, reducing gun violence, criminal and economic justice reforms, and fair immigration laws.

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Washington – Paul Benz, Faith Action Network

www.fanwa.org

The Washington Legislature adjourned on March 29, and Faith Action Network (FAN) celebrated four budget victories: 1) mental health funding for more staff to alleviate the boarding of people who are mentally ill, 2) funding for the Civil Legal Needs program to help at-risk households stay afloat, 3) funding for a homeless students voucher system to create housing stability and facilitate academic success, and 4) language repealing a state prohibition of allocating public funds for post-secondary education in prisons to reduce recidivism.

FAN had five policy bills signed by the governor: 1) criminal justice reform, focused on a certificate program to help those coming out of prison secure housing and employment, 2) a new statute to begin a voucher system to identify homeless students in our public schools and create housing stability and facilitate academic success, 3) a new statute to eliminate certain chemicals from kids’ flame-retardant products that are sold or manufactured in Washington, 4) a short-term task force created to bring recommendations to the 2017 Legislature regarding police-community standards and law enforcement use of deadly force, and 5) a new statute that expands our state’s definition of human trafficking to include labor trafficking.

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Wisconsin – Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

www.loppw.org

PLANNING AND RESOURCES: With the Wisconsin Legislature winding down, LOPPW has increased its focus on preparing for synod assemblies, completing a resource on human trafficking (for youth and adults) and a resource on money and politics and its impact on poverty, and strategizing and networking to organize candidate forums. We will have completed our two new resources by the time of the first assembly at the end of April.

PROTECTING CHILDREN: We have locations and dates for the three conferences for human trafficking with details about the Wisconsin Rapids conference organized by LOPPW and Cherish All Children. Change to three sentences People are now able to register for the first of our three conferences on human trafficking. All three events are being organized by LOPPW and Cherish All Children with support from the national Women of the ELCA. Register for our June 25th conference in Wisconsin Rapids by clicking here.

CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION HUNGER TEAM: LOPPW has assisted two synods in creating hunger teams in Wisconsin. The South-Central Synod team emerged as a partnership between the synod and LOPPW. LOPPW can accompany or partner with teams depending on what works best. The focus of this team is on climate change, water and poverty. At a synod-wide gathering in March, LOPPW’s director and two team members led a workshop.

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Contact us at washingtonoffice@elca.org ​​