Updated May 27, 2026

STATUS ON CAPITOL HILL | ACTION ALERTS | RESOURCES AND WEBINARS | OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE

The Farm Bill, which guides much of U.S. agriculture, rural and food policy, is currently being debated in Congress. The ELCA urges Congress to pass a 2026 Farm Bill that promotes priorities consistent with our advocacy during 2023-24 Farm Bill reauthorization discussions:

• food for hungry neighbors at home and abroad,
• healthy rural and farming communities,
• inclusion of people of all backgrounds,
• care of creation to feed future generations

In a world of abundance, we strive for an end to hunger and poverty, and towards a just world where all are fed. Additionally, we are to work with each other and the environment to meet needs without causing undue burdens elsewhere. The Farm Bill is one of the most influential pieces of legislation affecting farmers, hunger and conservation in the United States and around the world.

ELCA social statements call for policies that provide adequate nutrition for all and create livelihood opportunities that are genuinely sustainable. We urge lawmakers to pass a 2026 Farm Bill that reflects these faith-based values.

Status on Capitol Hill

– May 27, 2026

The House of Representatives passed a Farm Bill at the end of April on a near-party-line vote (224-200). ELCA advocacy priorities for nutrition programs, conservation and international food aid were not included in the House-passed bill (see Mar. 5, 2026, Status on Capitol Hill update).

Now, the Senate will meet in the first week of June to consider their version of a Farm Bill.  

This comes at a time when houses of worship, food pantries, state governors, farmers and global partners are reporting alarming new rates of food requests in our communities. “In recent months, rising inflation, job losses and reduced government benefits have made it harder for families nationwide to afford the food they need. Feeding ministries across ELCA World Hunger’s network are reporting lines two or even three times longer than before, with fewer donations coming in,” reports LifeLines (Spring 2026) from ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. Furthermore, ELCA World Hunger received over 15 times the number of Daily Bread grant applications in 2025 than in 2024.  

Compounding concerns are the upcoming H.R. 1 changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) that would shift costs to states. Alarms are being raised that state budgets and local organizations are not prepared to meet the rapidly rising demand being placed on them.  

Our advocacy in the ELCA is steadfastly urging Senate passage of a Farm Bill that promotes vitality for rural communities and relief for hungry families. ELCA social statements call for policies that provide adequate nutrition for all and create livelihood opportunities that are genuinely sustainable. 

Senate leadership has indicated an openness to hear arguments against the SNAP cost-shift to states, among other negotiations, to ensure a Farm Bill reaches 60 votes to pass in the chamber. A current Action Alert is one of the ELCA’s advocacy opportunities in this moment to urge the Senate to reject the codification of cuts to SNAP, prioritize provisions that strengthen innovative practices for soil health and agroforestry, reauthorize key international food aid programs and make permanent the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). 

Action Alerts

Future Farm Bill Action Alerts will be added to this page – but you can be notified directly by signing up for the ELCA Advocacy Network. New Action Alerts and monthly updates are sent to the network, which you sign up for📝here.

Take Action as Senate Considers Farm Bill Next

The Farm Bill is now being considered in the Senate, and sharing your experiences and values can help shape a result that meets rural and nutritional needs. [Posted: 5/27/2026]

Resources & Webinars

• VIDEO: “Farm Bill Conversation” with presenter Alex Parker, ELCA Advocacy Coordinator (Recorded 6/19/24). ELCA Region 1 Conversation about the 2024 Farm Bill.
• RESOURCE PAGE: “H.R. 1 and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): What Counties Should Know” (Oct. 31, 2025). From the National Association of Counties.

Our Collective Voice

By raising our collective voice, we can help enact a more just Farm Bill that leaves no one hungry. In your location and federally, let’s act boldly to end hunger and poverty in our time and ensuring healthy creation to feed future generations.

Here are some other ideas for making your voice heard.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper on the importance of anti-hunger and pro-farmer policies in the Farm Bill.
• Attend town halls or public events with your members of Congress to ask questions about their Farm Bill priorities.
• Pray for those experiencing hunger and for our elected officials to have wisdom and compassion.

This post gives the background and practical implications for an addition to the church year calendar. “Creation in Christ” (or “Feast of Creation”), to be observed on September 1 or the Sunday following, is supported with lectionary readings and forthcoming worship resources.

A New Ecumenical Observance

Following several years of study, prayer, and collaboration, a new ecumenical observance is encouraged in the church throughout the world. Grounded in the ancient liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church, “Creation in Christ” (or “Feast of Creation”) celebrates God as Creator and ponders the great mystery that everything was created through Christ. And, as a result, it also inspires us to care for the gift of the created world. Although the rich theme of Christ’s activity in creation abounds throughout the liturgical year, setting aside this day brings an important focus to this mystery.

As summarized on the feast of creation website, “since the 1989 invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to pray together on September 1, many churches and ecumenical networks have adopted the Creation Day observance and collaborated to encourage its celebration. In 2023, various global Christian bodies began to dialogue about the ancient roots of Creation Day in the Byzantine liturgical calendar and its potential to enrich non-Byzantine calendars even more meaningfully. Since then, a series of theological dialogues have taken place in what came to be known as “The Assisi Process,” with the participation of 13 Christian world communions and various ecumenical bodies.”

ELCA Worship shared a blog post written by Dr. Benjamin Stewart  in September 2024 that introduced this process to ELCA congregations, specifically noting the churches that convened in Assisi in March of 2024. You can learn much more about the process at www.feastofcreation.com and more about its theological grounding here.

The ELCA is a member of both the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), two of the more than thirteen Christian communions that have encouraged the adoption of this festival. LWF shared helpful information in March 2026 and the WCC offered a helpful webinar on March 19 and it is still available for viewing.

For the past two years, the Consultation on Common Texts—of which the ELCA is a member– has worked with the ecumenical conveners of this proposed celebration, namely in the task of selecting lectionary texts. See a listing of the proposed texts and the methodology report approved by the Consultation on Common Texts. The CCT also suggests the name of the day be “Creation in Christ (or Feast of Creation)” for Christological clarity, ecumenical breadth, and alignment with the Revised Common Lectionary naming conventions. For example, “Creation in Christ” is similar to “Christ the King (or Reign of Christ)” or “Baptism of Our Lord.” See pg. 5 of the methodology report for further background.

Observing “Creation in Christ”

What does this mean for the ELCA? Supported by the Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches, ELCA worshiping communities are encouraged to celebrate the day, using the lectionary texts provided by the Consultation on Common Texts. The date to observe “Creation in Christ” will need to be determined locally. Although celebration is encouraged on September 1 or the Sunday following, with the observance of Labor Day in the United States, some communities may opt to celebrate in late August or later in September, perhaps aligning with the autumnal equinox. Yet others may keep a Season of Creation, beginning on or near September 1 and ending with the commemoration of Francis of Assisi on or near October 4.

We anticipate that adopting this new date on the liturgical calendar will be an evolving process, just as the process to get to this point involved much thought, prayer, and deliberation. You are encouraged to discern what works best in your context, knowing that resourcing and support for this day will be available over time and will be renewed and refined along the way.

Worship Resources for “Creation in Christ”

Some resources are already available to assist you in preparation and planning and more will follow in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

Subscribers to Sundays and Seasons can find an essay by Dr. Benjamin Stewart, “Joining the Cosmic Choir: An Introduction to a Liturgical Festival of Creation” as well as “Planning a Festival of Creation” as part of the Seasonal Rites for Autumn in the 2027 print edition (and available online).

The ELCA and Augsburg Fortress anticipate they will have resources available online later this summer. Stay tuned to communications from ELCA Worship, Augsburg Fortress, and Sundays and Seasons as worship resources become available for use on “Creation in Christ” in the ELCA.

In addition, an ecumenical call was put out to submit resources to be considered for wider sharing. These are being reviewed and compiled and will be accessible later this summer on the feast of creation website.

This is an exciting time, as the last time there was an addition to the liturgical calendar was Christ the King (Reign of Christ) in the 1920s (though it was only adopted by Western churches). It is the first time a new feast/festival has been adopted since the release of the common lectionary in 1983. To be in communion with the Eastern church in celebration of Creation in Christ (Feast of Creation), holds great promise, even in this time of global crisis and uncertainty.

Rom Chan Oun, (Note the ELCA sticker on the tuktuk)

Unlike many Cambodians who live near the border with Thailand, Rom Chan Oun decided not to migrate to Thailand to work. Instead, she joined the local Bour Samaki Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative.  The Bour AC, located in Battambang province in western Cambodia, is a initiative that supports farmers, creates employment opportunities, and improves access to essential goods and services within the community.  The cooperative is supported by Lutheran Hope Cambodia Organization, which in turn is supported by ELCA World Hunger.

Before joining the agricultural cooperative, “I was just a housewife and not many knew me,” says Chan Oun. “But now, I’m involved in market linkages and operate the coop tukuk.”

This has come through World Hunger’s particular support for Bour AC’s Women Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative project. This project aims to increase income from selling pure drinking water – one of Bour AC’s enterprises – and provide for gathering, distributing and connecting to local markets. The tuktuk Chan Oun drives is part of all this.

Meanwhile, Chan Oun’s family income has improved, and she is now able to send her children to school. “I seek to work as a team, sharing responsibilities with all those in the cooperative. More than anything, people say to me: ‘oh, you are such a strong woman.’ I feel proud.”

Shawna with members of ROAD in Muskogee, OK | Photo credit Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma

In the first week of May 2022, severe storms and flash flooding swept through Eastern Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple counties. In Muskogee alone, more than seven inches of rain fell in a single day, overwhelming homes, properties, and communities. Thousands of households were impacted, many of them uninsured and uncertain of how they would recover.

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) partnered with Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma through a grant supporting unmet needs from the storms. Together, this collaboration became a source of hope for families facing overwhelming loss.

Today, we celebrate a milestone: every household served through this project has now completed their recovery.

A Community Effort Rooted in Faith

The recovery effort was made possible through a powerful partnership. LDR funding provided critical resources for building materials. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma offered compassionate case management, walking alongside survivors every step of the way. Volunteers from Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster (ROAD) contributed countless hours of labor, helping rebuild roofs, restore interiors, and return homes to safe and livable conditions.

Over the course of this project, from March 2024 through May 2026, this collective effort transformed lives, one home at a time. Many of the families served had no insurance and limited means, making this assistance not just helpful, but essential.

Shawna’s Story: An Answered Prayer

Among those impacted was Shawna, a Muskogee-area resident whose home and property were significantly damaged by the flooding. The storm impacted nearly every aspect of her life: her barns, flight pens, storage buildings, vehicles, animals, and home were all affected.

With extensive damage and limited financial resources, Shawna faced the very real possibility of losing her home. At one point, the city had considered condemning it.

Through the support of LDR and the coordinated efforts of Catholic Charities and ROAD volunteers, Shawna’s roof was repaired and multiple interior spaces were restored. What once felt like an impossible situation became a story of renewal.

Reflecting on her experience, Shawna shared:

“Our two barns, flight pens, storage buildings, vehicles, animals, and other property were flooded and damaged. We appreciate from the bottom of our hearts having our roof repaired, because this is the foundation of our home. The city was going to condemn it. Your assistance was an answered prayer, and we are so grateful for this help.”

Gratitude for a Shared Calling

This project has now officially concluded. While the storms themselves are now years behind us, their impact, and the long road to recovery, required persistence, compassion, and unwavering partnership.

Thanks to Lutheran Disaster Response, Catholic Charities, and dedicated local partners, families who once faced uncertainty now stand in restored homes with renewed hope.

“You became the hope so many survivors prayed for, and we are humbled to have witnessed Christ’s love through each of you,” said Catholic Charities in gratitude for this partnership.

This work is a powerful reminder that recovery is not just about rebuilding structures. It’s about restoring dignity, stability, and hope.

Through faith and partnership, lives were changed, homes were restored, and prayers were answered.

Supporting Communities Through Lutheran Disaster Response

In the face of these compounding emergencies, Lutheran Disaster Response continues to walk alongside communities as they respond to immediate needs and rebuild with dignity and hope. Through trusted international partners, LDR supports emergency relief, recovery, and long-term resilience efforts, addressing food security, shelter, livelihoods, psychosocial support, and disaster preparedness.

Supporting Lutheran Disaster Response enables timely, locally led responses that prioritize the most vulnerable and strengthen communities against future crises. As climate impacts intensify and conflicts persist, sustained solidarity and partnership are essential. Together, we can help ensure affected communities are not only supported in times of crisis, but also empowered to recover, rebuild, and thrive. Learn more about how to support the work of LDR here.

Faith Lens is pausing its weekly article rhythm for the summer. However, be on the lookout for three new resources we hope will be useful:

• A pre-summer trip reflection to help prepare groups for a trip, released in June
• A post-summer trip reflection to help process the experience, released in July
• A special article on The Gathering to help groups begin thinking about this life-changing opportunity, released in August

If you are looking for an accessible devotion for yourself, teens, and/or young adults this summer, check out d365.org! It is a year-round daily devotion available on the web and in a free-to-download, user-friendly app. The ELCA is now a partner in this ecumenical resource!

Lastly, thanks to all our writers who produced thoughtful, meaningful articles throughout the year. Most of all, thanks to you, the readers, users, and supporters of this blog. I pray it has been, and continues to be, a faithful tool in whatever way you engage with it.

With gratitude,

Rev. Cogan Blackmon
Editor

As immigration detention surges across the United States, the private companies building and running immense detention facilities are reporting record profits. Nearly 90% of people in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody are held in private, for-profit facilities – which have been accused of overcrowding, unsanitary and unsafe conditions, and limited access to family, legal counsel or religious expression.  

Many of us hold the command of Deuteronomy 10:19 in our hearts: to love the stranger. Showing this teaching in our daily individual and communal lives takes many forms.  

New Immigration Detention Resource

A new resource from ELCA Advocacy and ELCA AMMPARO is titled: “You Shall Also Love the Stranger: Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention.” It includes a brief history of immigration detention in the United States, a guided Bible study with questions for reflection, and concrete action steps for those interested in taking action to ensure safety and due process for all. 

• Check out “You Shall Also Love the Stranger: Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention.”  

• • Download from the ELCA Resource Center. 

• Consider attending the webinar “Engaging as People of Faith Amid Rise in For-Profit Immigration Detention” on Wed., June 24 from 1-1:30 p.m. Eastern (with an optional extended Q&A session afterwards). 

• • ELCA leaders will share reflections on this contemporary challenge, including Tracey DePasquale, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania; Kate Parsons, ELCA Program Director for Migration; the Rev. Kaari Reierson, ELCA Program Director for Corporate Social Responsibility; and the Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos, ELCA Director for Theological Diversity and Engagement. 

• • Register from https://bit.ly/ELCAwebinarForProfitDetention 

Here’s a preview of contents of the resource: 

1. The Issue and a Lutheran Lens – including 
   1. How did we get here? 
   2. Children in detention 
   3. ELCA social teaching on private prisons and detention 
2. Bible Study – including 
   1. Prayer
   2. Reflecting on Hebrews 13:2 and other verses 
   3. Biblical challenges and private migration detention 
3. What Can You Do? – including 
   1. Take your money out of private immigration detention centers.
   2. Ask institutions not to invest in detention. 
   3. Join neighbors calling for no private detention in your backyard. 
   4. Advocate for people in private detention nationwide.

Recognizing the Humanity of Our Neighbors

Over and over again, the Bible challenges us to see the face of God in the prisoner, in the stranger, in someone who is hungry or ill or needy. When we treat people in detention as if they have no humanity and do not bear the face of God  — we ignore that challenge. In recognizing the humanity of our neighbors, we connect with the grace that God shows us — we bear witness to the love of Christ with each other. 

“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
 

Prayer prompts:
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Mali, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For health, safety, information, and wisdom amid outbreaks of the hantavirus and ebola…
For all impacted by and grieving after the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and for religious understanding and appreciation…
For victims, first responders, and the community surrounding the lumber mill in Maine after an explosion…
For our nation as we observe Memorial Day, for all who serve in the armed forces, and for all who mourn the loss of a loved one to war…
For the Holy Spirit to descend on the church again this Pentecost…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies, that the Spirit would enliven and guide them…
For students and school personnel in the last days of the semester…

Events and observances:
May observances: Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Military Appreciation Month, National Foster Care Month

Helena, mother of Constantine, died c.330 (May 21)
Declaration of the Bab, Bahá’í (May 22-23)
Vigil of Pentecost (May 23)
Day of Pentecost (May 24)
Nicolaus Copernicus, died 1543; Leonhard Euler, died 1783; scientists (May 24)
Memorial Day, USA (May 25)
John Calvin, renewer of the church, died 1564 (May 27)
Jiri Tranovsky, hymnwriter, died 1637 (May 29)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for health care providers (ELW p.85)
Merciful God, your healing power is everywhere about us. Strengthen those who work among the sick; give them courage and confidence in all they do. Encourage them when their efforts seem futile or when death prevails. Increase their trust in your power even to overcome death and pain and crying. May they be thankful for every sign of health you give, and humble before the mystery of your healing grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for peace (ACS p.48)
You calm and quiet us, eternal God, as a mother holds her children close; all people have refuge in the shadow of your wings. Spread over us the shelter of your peace. Hold before us the wisdom of your cross, where we are drawn to you not by might or power, but by your boundless love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship Resources for the US Semiquincentennial July 2026
Worship resources in a time of war
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement

Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.

Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession

Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.

Following are updates shared from submissions from ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices (SPPOs) this quarter (formerly shared monthly). Full list and map of SPPOs available.

ARIZONA| KANSAS | PENNSYLVANIA | WISCONSIN

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona

Solveig Muus, Director

This spring, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), a ministry of the Grand Canyon Synod, has been helping Lutherans “voice our common needs in the public square” by connecting congregations, synod leaders, ELCA Advocacy and community partners around hunger, immigration, civic engagement, health care and housing. LAMA’s 2026 priorities center on food insecurity, voting, health care and housing/homelessness, rooted in ELCA social teaching and carried out through partnerships with the Grand Canyon Synod Hunger Leaders Network (which sponsors the ELCA Region 2 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge), Arizona Faith Network, Bread for the World, Arizona Food Bank Network, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and others.  

In February, nearly 200 Lutherans and friends gathered at the Arizona Capitol for Lutheran Day at the Legislature – a time of learning, witnessing, meeting lawmakers and “activating our faith in love.” LAMA also supported congregational and interfaith engagement through liaison roundtables, Arizona Faith Network justice and voting-rights committees, monthly anti-hunger advocacy calls and presentations in local congregations.  

Throughout March and April, LAMA amplified ELCA action alerts on Dreamers, asylum-seeker work authorization, voting access, hunger funding and the Farm Bill, while tracking the more than 2,100 bills and propositions that were introduced in the Arizona legislature. LAMA lifted up Bishop Deborah Hutterer’s public witness on Arizona’s steep decline in SNAP participation and shared urgent partner updates on SNAP, Medicaid (AHCCCS in Arizona), state budget pressures and food insecurity.  

In May, LAMA joined faith leaders in meeting with U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and immigration policies, urging just treatment of immigrants, asylum seekers and vulnerable families. 

Kansas Interfaith Action

Rabbi Moti Rieber, Executive Director

These past few months we have continued to act and witness throughout and beyond a grueling 2026 legislative session that proved to be every bit as challenging as anticipated. Leadership in both chambers focused heavily on divisive, highly politicized issues, using procedural tactics to skip or stifle public debate and move bills directly to passage. Despite this hostile political climate, Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) made a tangible difference under the dome this session, setting a moral tone and consistently witnessing for inclusiveness, human dignity and justice.

With the legislative session now behind us, KIFA is pivoting directly into robust community organizing, civic engagement and movement-building throughout the summer and fall. Driven by the foundational faith command of compassion for our immigrant neighbors, we recently hosted an immigration vigil and rally with over 100 people in attendance. Our public witness caught the attention of major regional outlets, with the Kansas City Star, the Kansas Reflector and the Johnson County Post all featuring coverage of the event and amplifying our message of solidarity across the state. 

 Looking ahead to the warmer months, we are thrilled to launch the Survival Revival tour in partnership with the Kairos Center and other like-minded allies. This initiative serves as both a form of creative protest and a blueprint for community care amid a challenging political climate. Through the revival, we will train community members on how to meet local unmet needs while building long-term power, study and pray together using lessons from our faith traditions, express our values through art and storytelling, and strengthen relationships across our networks.  

In addition to this tour, KIFA staff and volunteers will be on the ground at Pride events across Kansas this June, sharing a clear, faith-rooted message that everyone is loved by God exactly as they are. 

We are also expanding our civic engagement footprint to ensure every Kansan can make their voice heard in the upcoming elections. KIFA is currently hiring part-time election mobilizers in six cities across the state to boost voter turnout through deep, nonpartisan community conversations. A major focus of our education work will include informing voters about an upcoming constitutional amendment that would change how Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected.  

 Finally, we invite our community to join us next month for our 2026 Annual Fundraising Dinner, themed “Creating the Movement!” This gathering will celebrate how song, spoken word, dance and visual imagery help fortify our resolve, build our movement and embody the sacred truth that human needs are human rights. We remain incredibly grateful to our supporters for empowering us to do this vital work.

Contributing writer: Sagi Rudnick, KIFA Program & Administrative Associate 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Director

Citizens with the Saints: A Day in the Capitol as Church Together drew more than 240 people to the Harrisburg, Penn. in April – another record for Lutheran Advocacy in Pennsylvania’s (LAMPa) annual day of learning and advocacy. 

“I was reminded of the joy of being church together as we advocate for our neighbors across Pennsylvania,” said Policy Council member Deacon Amy Kelly. “While the focus of the day is on advocacy and our call to justice, there is an electricity that connects our seven synods through word and service, offering inspiration and restoration. We learn not just about important advocacy issues from experts, but we also have a chance to hear each other’s stories – what fantastic ministries are taking place across our state and what challenges our regions are facing.” 

Advocates met with lawmakers about rapid data center development, the need for a stronger Sunshine Act, and food insecurity in their communities.

In March, LAMPa Advocacy Fellow Daniella Garber joined ELCA colleagues in the Lutheran Office for World Community and delegates to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.  

“Here in the U.S., it can be easy to think of the UN as something that deals with problems in other countries—places more impoverished or unstable than ours, but that’s not the full picture. Many of the issues deliberated at the UN are live issues here at home, and the U.S. is not always a leader when it comes to women’s rights.” Read more of her reflection here.   

Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin

Kacy Kostiuk, Director

The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) continues to advocate for policies that reflect our faith values, strengthen communities and promote the common good. 

Legislation & Policy Updates 

The Wisconsin State Legislature concluded its regular floor session in March. Since then, the governor has signed and vetoed various bills and called a special session focused on partisan gerrymandering. The legislature has kept the special session open through at least early May; there is also a veto review session this month. 

Two important legislative successes this session include: 

• Allocation of $72 million in funding for SNAP/FoodShare, helping to offset federal reductions and support food security for Wisconsin households. 

• Access to professional licensure for DACA recipients, allowing individuals to work in fields such as education, health care, and skilled trades. 

Other Advocacy & Activities 

In April, LOPPW joined the EcoFaith Summit as a cosponsor. The summit brought together people of faith to build community and inspire each other to engage in environmental and climate action. LOPPW collaborated with Lutheran Advocacy-Minnesota to cohost an action station where attendees wrote letters to Members of Congress about U.S. Forest Service research facility closures. More information and materials to write letters can be found here. 

Additionally, LOPPW recently joined more than 40 organizations to send a letter to our Wisconsin Congressional Delegation to express deep concern about the detainment of Salah Sarsour in Milwaukee by ICE. The letter calls for the protection of civil rights for all Wisconsinites. The letter is available here. 

Civic Engagement & Election Year Planning 

As we enter election season, LOPPW is preparing to support congregations and individuals in thoughtful, nonpartisan civic participation. Some planned activities include: 

• An online learning event on ELCA social teachings and civic participation 

• Practical, nonpartisan resources for congregations and individuals 

• Training for ministry leaders on supporting the development of media literacy and recognizing misinformation for youth 

• A post-election gathering to reflect, process, and prepare for continued advocacy. 

Please visit our 2026 Elections webpage, which will be updated on a rolling basis throughout the year, for resources and information.

Issue 104 of Administration Matters

Property insurance FAQ 2026

The ELCA Church Property Resource Hub, provided by the Office of the Secretary, offers insights to help you better understand the current property-insurance marketplace. >More

Investing in what lasts: How one congregation connects savings and service

How can your congregation’s savings serve today’s ministry and tomorrow’s needs?
When Bethany Lutheran Church, Lemont, Ill., asked this question, it guided investment discussions. Seeking a financial partner with the same values, Bethany opened investment accounts with the Mission Investment Fund (MIF), a ministry of the ELCA. Interest accruing to the account supports the growing needs of the church’s food pantry and its church endowment, which funds community needs. For Bethany, this decision reflects faithful stewardship and shared mission. Investing through MIF, it supports ministries across the ELCA and strengthens its own. >More

Support financial well-being through faithful stewardship

Financial questions can surface at any stage of life, especially during times of change or uncertainty. In this article from Living Lutheran, Portico Benefit Services explores how financial literacy connects to stewardship. Read and share for a faith-centered look at what it means to care for what we’ve been given.

Financial control recommendations for small nonprofits

Most financial losses could be easily avoided or quickly identified if organizations implemented basic financial controls, such as regular, independent review of bank statements or following a proper expenditure-review process. Financial controls are often referred to as “internal controls.” Following is a list of minimal internal controls that should be in place in any nonprofit organization, regardless of its size. Additional internal controls should be considered and adapted to the nonprofit’s circumstances and operations. >More

Charitable donation refund scam

There are important precautions that can be put in place to minimize a nonprofit organization’s risk of online fraud, including adopting system safeguards and careful monitoring practices. >More

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invited Pastor Jill Rode to reflect on this topic. For more information on AAPI Heritage Month, visit Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month brings me pride but also a complex mix of emotions. As a Korean American adoptee raised by a white Midwestern family, I have always felt my sense of culture, identity and belonging to be layered and, at times, uncertain. Though I celebrate this month, I also wrestle with where I fit within the broader Asian American narrative.

I was raised in a distinctly Midwestern way—rooted in traditions such as hot dish, a strong work ethic and the Lutheran Church. My parents were open about my adoption but didn’t actively explore or celebrate my Korean heritage. Not until I was in my 40s did I visit South Korea for the first time. That experience awakened something profound within me: grief, longing, connection and a growing sense of wholeness. Traveling alongside other Korean adoptees, I felt truly seen for the first time. Returning home brought a sense of reverse culture shock and marked the beginning of a deeper journey into my identity.

As an adopted Korean American, I often feel caught between worlds. In my family, church and community in Minnesota, I am perceived as Asian but feel culturally American. In Korean or Asian spaces, I share an ethnic identity but lack the language, cultural fluency and lived experience. This “in-between” identity can feel isolating.

That sense of being an outsider resurfaced during recent immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where I live. Despite having been a U.S. citizen for nearly my entire life, I found myself double-checking my adoption paperwork and carrying my passport—reminders of how fragile belonging can feel.

In such moments, I turn to my faith. The Bible and church history are filled with stories of people shaped by adoption, migration and the search for home—people who lived in-between identities. These stories remind me that there is space for everyone, including me.

My path as a Korean adoptee may not be traditional, but it is meaningful. My in-betweenness is not a deficit—it is a bridge between cultures, a testament to resilience and an invitation to keep learning and growing.

During this Heritage Month, I choose to engage more intentionally with my roots. I plan to attend cultural events, connect with other Korean adoptees and seek out stories that reflect my journey. I celebrate the richness and diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander communities, recognizing that my story is one unique thread in a larger tapestry.

Ultimately this month reminds me that identity is not fixed—it evolves. I can honor both my Korean origins and my American upbringing while embracing the path adoption has shaped for me. I am grateful for the chance to reflect, connect and grow, and for the hope that all adoptees can find belonging and pride in their stories. In faith, I believe there is a place for all of us at God’s table.

Jill Rode (she/her) is a lifelong Lutheran with more questions than answers. She currently serves as co-pastor of St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minn. As a Korean adoptee who has only recently started to untangle her adoption story, and as a queer female, she is interested in the intersections of the various identities we each hold and what those intersections can teach us about God’s character.

For more information on ELCA API Ministries, visit:  Asian & Pacific Islander Ministries in the ELCA and About | Association of Asian and Pacific Islanders of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, AAPI-ELCA

From Rev. Teresita “Tita” C. Valeriano, Program Director, Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries

API Ministries Second Quarter 2026