Issue 78 Of Administration Matters

Youth Gathering July 2022 – Registration opens Sept. 22

Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the ELCA gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.
The 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering will take place July 24-28 in Minneapolis, with our pre-events, MYLE (Multicultural Youth Leadership Event) and the tAble July 21-24. Registration opens Sept. 22 via the Gathering website. There are limited funds available to offset registration fees. Visit the Financial Assistance section of our website to learn more or apply. While on the website, we encourage you to sign up for the gNews, our monthly newsletter filled with tips, resources and reminders as we prepare for next summer. Also, be sure to visit the Key Dates section of our website to see what deadlines are approaching!

 

SBA launches a new portal to simplify the forgiveness process for PPP loans of $150,000 or less

The Small Business Administration’s new streamlined application portal will simplify forgiveness for many small congregations that obtained loans from the Paycheck Protection Program to survive the pandemic. The majority of borrowers waiting for forgiveness have loans under $150,000 and have been challenged by an overly complicated forgiveness process. The new portal will simplify the process and deliver forgiveness more efficiently. >More

 

Portico Benefit Services — three important 2022 annual enrollment details

Annual enrollment will be here before you know it, and Portico wants to ensure that you have the information needed to make the process go smoothly. 1) This year your organization’s enrollment window is earlier and shorter, Oct. 4-15. 2) Employers who don’t make a health benefit selection by the deadline will be assigned Silver+ paired with the Level A health savings account (HSA) employer contribution. 3) Several resources have been created to support a successful enrollment season.

 

ELCA Federal Credit Union issued 360 PPP loans to congregations and ministries

Last year, the ELCA Federal Credit Union quickly pivoted its operations to become an SBA-certified lender and offered special assistance to ELCA congregations and ministries that struggled to make payroll during the pandemic. Read about how this program had an impact on our church, our members and the ministry we share. >More

 

Public service loan forgiveness expanded for clergy and religious workers

Rostered ministers and other church employees with federal student loans may now be eligible for loan forgiveness. When religious workers apply for forgiveness, the form must be completed by their direct employer. Synods cannot complete forms for congregational staff, and the churchwide organization cannot complete forms for synod or congregation staff. >More

Severe weather safety

Do you know the difference between a watch and a warning? Do you have a designated place to gather during a severe storm? Severe weather may consist of hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding and flash flooding. >More

By Adam Renner

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a month where the fight to end suicide is recognized on a national platform. Here at the Suicide Prevention Ministry, an Independent Lutheran Organization, suicide prevention is the driving force of our daily work and the focus of our call to love our neighbor, care for the sick, and carry each other’s burdens.

Research shows that individuals who belong to a faith community will often turn to that community and its leaders when facing a mental health crisis. Yet faith communities have a mixed track record when it comes to helping those in crisis. Thankfully, the ELCA has long embraced the view that no one is beyond God’s love. The ELCA Social message on suicide prevention, originally passed by the Church Council in 1999, offers a lot of helpful teachings.

However, the problem isn’t limited to resolving religious views on suicide. Real and tangible obstacles are perhaps more prevalent. Because engagement tends to happen more on the local level, congregations need access to resources that are readily available.

The Suicide Prevention Ministry offers a number of ways to get started. Our core program, Breaking the Silence, is a 4-part no-cost/low-cost ministry model for congregations to adopt:

1. Preach: Leaders preach and teach on suicide and mental health. Scripture considerations and sample sermons are available in our resource kit.
2. Learn: Members learn how to identify and help a suicidal person. SPM provides 1-hour suicide prevention training workshops.
3. Ask: Members ask their healthcare providers to screen for depression. This is a critical component to early intervention.
4. Nurture: Faith communities then build on their effort, gather local resources for additional trainings and referrals, and get involved in organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org)

The full resource kit is available on our website at suicidepreventionministry.org.

Many people of faith and faith-based organizations are doing similar work and our desire is for SPM to broaden networking possibilities and grow partnerships with others, with the help of the ELCA churchwide office and organizations like Religions for Peace, USA. This Thursday, September 16th, from 2 to 3 pm EST, we will participate in a public webinar presentation and discussion with other individuals representing dozens of religious organizations across the United States. Our long-term goal is to grow SPM and make it an interreligious nonprofit that provides support and resources on the local, regional, and national levels. For more information and to register, visit the RFPUSA event registration page.

Finally, I’d like to share with you those things that we wish everyone knew about suicide prevention:

1. Suicide can happen to anyone. Although some people groups are more vulnerable, simply put, suicide happens when hopelessness and despair overwhelm our coping skills. Moreover, research tells us that underneath all of the exterior factors, suicidality develops from the presence of two psychological constructs: Feeling all alone, and thinking you are a burden. When an individual feels they do not belong and that others would be better off without them, the desire for suicide emerges. This, combined with acquiring the capability to inflict painful self-injury, a serious suicide attempt is likely.
2. Suicidal thoughts are imbued with uncertainty. When someone is having thoughts of suicide, they are in a state of ambivalence. The desire to live or die fluctuates constantly. Numerous accounts of individuals who survive attempting suicide attest to this. For instance, individuals who survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge have reported feeling “instant regret” as soon as they jumped. The ambivalence is present even during an active attempt. Knowing how to address this uncertainty is key in preventing deaths by suicide.
3. Asking someone directly if they are having thoughts of suicide can help save their life. One of the biggest myths out there is that asking about suicide will put the idea in their head. This is false. Asking a person directly does not encourage suicidal behavior. Understandably, it can be nerve-wracking to ask someone the question. Sometimes we might have a feeling something is up, but we’re too afraid to ask. Yet the only way to know is to ask directly. It does not make things worse, in fact, research shows that asking directly may help save a person’s life and reduce thoughts of suicide.
4. Listening goes a long way. Being able to listen with someone who is having thoughts of suicide is a lifesaving act. It’s helpful to think about suicide in the context of understanding pain. When a person is experiencing excruciating pain, the natural course is to do everything you can to get that pain to stop. The same goes for emotional pain. Being able to listen to someone’s pain can go a long way in providing relief. Simply by listening to someone without invalidating their feelings, you are demonstrating to them that they are not a burden at all.
5. Don’t wait. Do not wait until you are personally affected by suicide before engaging in prevention efforts. Make that phone call right now to that person who is lonely. Invest in education and training. Gather resources and have them ready, like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Fight the stigma. Stigma is a combination of fear and ignorance. Being able to move past fear, shame, or discomfort and make conversation about suicide more common is the first step in building a safer world. The more we talk about it, the more we can fight the stigma.

Being able to identify someone who may be at risk, asking them directly about suicide, and listening to their distress are ways to support a person’s life when they are experiencing crisis. Supporting life can happen before you intervene too. Access to mental health resources, hotlines, training, and awareness efforts are all critical. Access to housing, food, healthcare, community, and education are also important. It all starts with one conversation. Breaking the silence can mean the difference between life and death. Life will prevail when it is nurtured.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, reach out to a professional now at 1-800-273-TALK. If you need immediate help, call 911.

 

Adam Renner is Program Director for the Suicide Prevention Ministry, and Manager of the Interreligious Summit on Suicide Prevention. He is a CIT (Counselor in Training), a candidate for diaconal ministry in the ELCA, and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Atlanta.

Bill King, Blacksburg, VA

Warm-up Questions

What have you done in the past week which gave you the greatest joy and satisfaction?  Who or what benefited from your actions?

Right to Serve

Everyone hoped that the conflict over whether to mask or not mask amid the COVID pandemic would be over by now.  It isn’t.  The number of cases continues to climb and mask mandates–and opposition to them–are also rising.  Most of the time the debate plays out as some asserting their right to be free of governmental control.  But a recent article points out that the issue can be framed as whether the vulnerable have a right to feel safe at school.

Grayson Schwaigert has a rare genetic disorder which makes him at high risk to experience renal failure if he contracts COVID.  The governor of Tennessee has issued an executive order which allows parents to opt out of school mask mandates. As of Aug. 20, 16% of students in Greyson’s school district were opting out. His mother is the lead plaintiff in a suit which challenges the “opt out” policy.  She contends that allowing children to opt out endangers her child and makes it impossible for him to receive needed socialization and education at school.

Schwaigert’s suit is one of a wave of actions in a number of  states which contend that opt out policies force children and their parents to choose between their health and  their education. “We hear all the time, ‘Oh, only kids with preexisting conditions are the ones that get sick and die,’ ” Schwaigert says. “Well, that’s my kid. That is my child. He has a lot of preexisting conditions, and he matters.”

Discussion Questions

• What is the difference between a mask mandate and laws which limit how fast you can drive in a school zone?
• How do you balance the needs of the most vulnerable with the comfort and convenience of the majority?
• Virtually all school districts require certain immunizations to enroll in a public school.  Why has the mask mandate become such a contentious issue, if the point of both is to reduce the risk of infection for everyone?

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Jeremiah 11:18-20

James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a

Mark 9:30-37

(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

Busted.  The disciples have been having a discussion about who is the most important among them.  At some level they know that this grubbing for status will not please their master, because they  do it privately.   They have heard him teach about denying self and saving your life by losing it [8:34-37], but they are still focused on what’s in it for themselves.  They see following Jesus as the fast track to power and prestige. So Jesus calls them out.  “What were you discussing on the way?”

Their embarrassed silence says it all.  They know perfectly well that their focus on personal status is not what Jesus is about.  But just in case they have any doubts about what he values and expects of them, Jesus lays it out, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Then he places a child in front of them and tells them to care for those like him or her.  The point is that a child is pure vulnerability, pure need.  There is no percentage in serving a child, no reciprocal payoff which benefits the giver.  That, says Jesus, is what you need to be about–finding ways to be servants, not masters.

The disciples are very concerned about their status, their rights as the inner circle.  Jesus tells them that the only right which love has is to give itself.

In Morality:  Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times, Rabbi Jonathan Sachs argues that the great crisis of the modern world is that we are so individualistic that we have lost sight of the fact that we can only live in a community.  We are so focused on the “I” that there is diminished sense of “We.”  Society has become a collection of individuals who ferociously defend  their rights, yet have little sense that with rights come responsibilities.  This, says Sachs, is a recipe for social chaos and bitter politics.

Winston Churchill famously observed, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”  How would our society be different if we had a greater sense of “We?”  How would it be different if our first thought was not how to protect our preferences, but how to serve those most in need of our care?

Discussion Questions

• What gives someone status in your social circles?  Are those things which Jesus values?
• What is the difference between having a spirit of service and just allowing yourself to be abused to no purpose?
• Do you agree with Sachs that our society is in danger because we have too much focus on “I” and not enough on “We?”  Can you give examples?
• When you think about your long term goals, what do you most want; how will you define success?

Activity Suggestions

• Who in your school or neighborhood is like the child which Jesus put in the midst of the disciples–needing care, with little ability to reciprocate?  Find a way to serve that person without receiving any public recognition.
• Write a letter or send an email to your legislator.  Make it in behalf of a bill which will not benefit you personally, but will make for a more just and kind society.

Closing Prayer 

Loving God, it is so hard to see beyond my own interests.  I spend most of my day trying to prove I am worthy of respect.  Lift my eyes to see the communities which need my talents and compassion.  Help me measure myself less by what I achieve than in how faithfully I follow Jesus’ example of service to those on the edges.  Most of all, remind me that I need not prove I am worthy of love, because you have claimed me in my baptism.  Amen.

Hi everyone, my name is Roselle Tenorio, and I am joining ELCA World Hunger as the Domestic Grants Manager. Previously, I was the Grants and Programs Manager at Texas Women’s Foundation. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies from Grinnell College.

I have a long and varied relationship with food justice and its intersections, starting at a young age volunteering with my family and community in Dallas, Texas, to researching food pantry systems while in college. I chose the nonprofit career field after a rewarding experience writing a grant for a new mobile food pantry program in rural Iowa. After graduating college, I joined AmeriCorps VISTA and served in Savannah, Georgia, at a nonprofit working on poverty alleviation.

Currently, I serve on the board of Abide Women’s Health Services, a grassroots, Black-led nonprofit organization that improves birth outcomes in communities with the lowest quality of care. I also volunteer on the Board of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, Junior Players Young Professionals Committee as a Junior League Dallas Member and as a Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) Texas Organizer.

Outside of working and volunteering, in my free time, I can be found wandering the arboretum or an art gallery, hiking and enjoying the outdoors, scoping out delicious local vegan cuisine, or curling up with a new book. I am a seventh generation Tejana, currently living in Dallas with my partner, Devin, who is from Chicago, and our cat, Xochitl. I am honored to be a part of this community and look forward to creating a just world where all are fed. 

Please join us in welcoming Roselle to the team!

Joshua Serrano, San Carlos, CA

Warm-up Questions

• How would you describe what makes a good friend? 
• How do you think you can be a good friend to others? 
• Is there anything that holds you back from being a good friend? 

Identity

I once heard a story about a rabbi walking along a road. He is deep in thought and instead of making a right at the fork in the road he walks on the path to the left. Suddenly he hears someone call out to him, “Who are you? What are you doing here?” Shaken from his thoughts he sees that he is now standing in front of a fort with a Roman soldier calling out from the wall. The rabbi answers with a question, “How much do they pay you to ask me those two questions?” The soldier replies, “One denarius.” The rabbi answers, “Come follow me, I will pay you double to ask me those same two questions every morning before I start my day.” 

So, who are you? What are you doing here? The rabbi recognized the significance of these questions and wanted to remember them every morning. Likewise, we are often confronted with questions of our own identities. Contemplating these questions helps us better understand ourselves. 

Discussion Questions

• How would you describe yourself? 
• Do you think you have a purpose in life? 
• In what ways do you recognize the importance of identity?

Isaiah 50:4-9a

James 3:1-12

Mark 8:27-38

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

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

Gospel Reflection

In this reading we learn that there was some confusion about the identity of Jesus. People were asking, “Is he John the Baptist or Elijah back from the dead? Is he a prophet?” Many people are still asking this very question—who is Jesus? There are hundreds of books about Jesus. Some claim he was an ascetic or mystic. Some claim Jesus was a prophet. Others claim that he was an apocalyptic teacher. It is no wonder then that Jesus wanted to know what others were saying about him. 

Peter is the only one to gets it right.  Peter declares, “You are the Messiah.”  We know that Peter is right because Jesus then orders Peter not to say anything to anyone.  He wants Peter to keep it a secret. Irony of ironies! Jesus asks people about his identity and then orders them to not talk about it anymore when someone gets it right! 

What’s more important is that Jesus goes on to teach them what Peter’s declaration means: The Messiah is not a conqueror, but a servant. Jesus will experience everything about being human, not just the good parts. Jesus will suffer, be rejected, and he will even be killed – but in the end he will rise again. Death does not have the final say.  

Even though Peter called out the correct answer earlier, he hadn’t actually understood what it meant. Peter takes Jesus aside and tries to get him to rein in those words, to stop saying those things. Perhaps this was not what Peter had in mind as the path of the Messiah. But Jesus turns away from the temptation, returning to his path as he returned to the crowd. 

Jesus says to the disciples, the crowd, and to us, miles apart and centuries away: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Jesus shows us that we return to our true identities not in trying to be victorious in all things in life; instead, we gain awareness of our true identities by being of service.  It is a wonder that as we allow ourselves to be drawn away from our self-focus, the way of Jesus beckons us to return to our own identity. This identity is not marked in trying to rule or control the world, but to serve it. In Jesus, we understand that the Messiah came to show us the path to God. The path we follow calls us to new ways of being.  Following is not easy, but it is worth it. 

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Peter was rebuking Jesus? 
• What does Jesus mean when he says to deny yourself? 
• Why is the identity of Jesus so important? 
• How might Jesus be calling you to serve in your community, in your studies and your work, or elsewhere? 

Activity Suggestions

Take some time to think about the unique characteristics of those around you. Tell your friends, family, or loved ones what you most appreciate about them. 

Closing Prayer

God of compassion, you called Jesus into this world not to be served, but to serve.  Help us to follow in his ways so that we may reflect your love for us.  Amen. 

 

 

The application period for 2021 ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants is now closed.

Hunger Education and Networking Grants are one of the ways ELCA World Hunger accompanies congregations, synods, organizations, partners and local teams throughout the US and the Caribbean. We know that learning about the root causes of hunger and effective responses is key to ending hunger locally and globally. That’s why we are excited to share that our application for ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants is now open!

ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants support work that

• educates and engages ELCA congregations, groups, and/or synods;
• provides leadership development for people passionate about ending hunger;
• builds relationships locally, regionally and nationally; and
• equips ELCA members and neighbors to work toward a just world where all are fed.

Previous grantees have included:

• synod-wide bike rides to promote hunger awareness;
• service learning events for youth and young adults;
• online and in-person workshops;
• community organizing training;
• creation of new resources to help participants learn about hunger; and
• local research projects to help others learn more about hunger, health and housing in their community.

The work of grantees in the past has focused on a wide variety of areas, including climate change and sustainability, housing security, racial justice, worker justice, reducing food waste and economic justice.

To be eligible for an ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grant, proposals must be:

• received through the ELCA’s online Grantmaker portal;
• submitted by a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization;
• focused on education, engagement and networking toward a just world where all are fed; and
• consistent with ELCA World Hunger’s values and priorities (https://elca.org/domestichungergrants).

If you are interested in applying, you can pre-register on ELCA GrantMaker to access the grant application. Approval of registration may take up to ten business days, so register now at ELCA.org/grants, and submit your application by December 1, 2021.

If you have any questions, please email Ryan Cumming, program director for hunger education, at Ryan.Cumming@elca.org.

By Rev. Kristen Glass Perez

 

Introduction:

This year will mark the 20^th anniversary of September 11, 2001.  That day holds great significance for people in different ways including the families of those who died in the attacks and in rescue efforts; those killed because of the resulting military conflicts; and those who are/were subsequently targeted because of their religious or cultural identity.

As we prepare for a fall that still seems uncertain, we recall September 2001 and perhaps find an eerie similarity to that time. The events of the last year and a half have upended life and our normal ways of functioning as a global community. The Covid 19 pandemic includes a profound loss of human life, economic hardship and social isolation. Embedded within the pandemic are the omnipresent pandemics of racism, white supremacy and loss of human life due to violence and social and economic inequities. In recent days, we are witnessing tragedy in Afghanistan and the crisis in Haiti in real time. These factors, along with a deep political divide, an increased attention to racial injustice, and a deepening environmental crisis, have rekindled a new sense of urgency.

And yet–this experience also contains moments of hope that are held in tandem with reality: the incredible work of scientists and researchers to create new vaccines and treatments for an emerging disease, the massive efforts of front-line healthcare workers and emergency responders to care for the sick and dying, of activists to give productive voice to profound frustration over justice delayed and denied, of all of us, in ways big and small, to re-invent our lives and our work in the face of deep challenges while also creating new ways of being community.

As we approach the 20^th anniversary of 9/11 many of our ELCA congregations, rostered leaders, and others may be thinking about ways to mark and observe this date or may be asked to participate in local 9/11 remembrance gatherings including civic or interfaith gatherings. In the context of uncertainty, this type of gathering may be another way that we hold hope in tandem with reality. As our communities and congregations prepare for this commemoration, there are some resources to help guide this planning with a particular lens towards inter-religious gatherings.

 

Background:

In 2019, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted “A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment: A policy statement of the ELCA” (English & Spanish).  We are now actively engaging in the important work of supporting its interpretation and implementation across the church.  A major area of implementation is in local ministry settings, where people experience the day-to-day realities of inter-religious encounter. In these settings, there are a number of “pastoral considerations.”

To aid in this implementation work, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations in the Office of the Presiding Bishop, convened an ad-hoc committee to develop Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-religious world. The committee includes ministry partners from various expressions and networks of the ELCA and ecumenical partners and is advised by the ELCA Consultative Panels on Lutheran-Jewish and Lutheran-Muslim Relations. I am one of the folks to serve on this committee.  While the guidelines are not yet published, I would like to share some excerpts in draft form that can be useful as we prepare for the 20^th anniversary observance of 9/11. These are by no means comprehensive of the draft guidelines but touch briefly on a few overarching themes that have emerged as the committee engages its task. I will share excerpts from the guidelines around multi-religious gatherings for Prayer Services and Community Tragedy.

 

Prayer Services: Building Relationships and Planning as an Act of Love

“Those who have experience in multi-religious gatherings tell us again and again: building relationships with people from other faith communities is a priority. This relationship-building is an ongoing task (and privilege), and it cannot be left to the last minute before trying to do something together. In our ELCA congregations, are we familiar with other religious communities in the places we find ourselves? Do pastors and deacons know the leaders of these communities? Have efforts been made to bring different religious communities together for fellowship, solidarity, and common projects? Have friendships developed across religious lines?

Events that work well are events planned by people who know and trust one another. In the work of planning together, these relationships are deepened”[i]

–Excerpt from DRAFT Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-Religious World

To begin, this work is grounded in relationship. That should not  be read as an admonition-but as an invitation. In your own community, what does it mean to know your neighbors? How might your congregation or community begin to partner on community initiatives? As I think about this, I recall some pieces of my own career and ministry.  In 2001 my personal and professional relationships looked very different than now. Among my own colleagues, I had few relationships outside of ELCA networks and few outside of Christian communities. In the ensuing years, my work on  college and university campuses has led me deeply into inter-religious engagement. The lens of interfaith and multi-religious engagement is so integral to this work, that it is a part of everything we do. It is characterized primarily by relationships and from relationships come programming. Today, I serve with a multi-religious team of chaplains and much of our shared work as religious leaders is with non-religious constituents. At each level of the work, we are invited into deeper thinking, deeper partnership, deeper advocacy and deeper collaboration with our communities.

 

Community Tragedy: Guarding Against Cultural Appropriation and Christian Supremacy

“One appropriate response to a community tragedy is to gather to share the sorrow, to lament in a public setting, and to benefit from each other’s support.  When there are diverse religious communities within a city or a neighborhood, this can take the form of an inter-religious service.”[ii]

–Excerpt from DRAFT Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-Religious World

To be certain, we may not have perfect relationships in place before we need to gather. There is great value in public gathering for acknowledgement, lament, support and advocacy. As a College & University Chaplain, I have always had different levels of commemoration for 9/11. In many ways, these gatherings served as a road map for other gatherings during times of tragedy which seem to occur more and more frequently.

As we think about a commemorative event from a tragedy or a multi-religious prayer service, the draft guidelines offer some other considerations. Special care should be given to the ways in which what is unfolding in Afghanistan impacts the Afghan people, especially women and children, but also Americans and others who are in Afghanistan. We also need to give special care to American Muslim communities, with regard to any possible spike in anti-Muslim bigotry and violence.

”In multi-religious events, we come alongside neighbors from different faith communities with confidence and humility: confident that we have something to share with others, but with humility and respect with regard to what others have to share. We will be on guard against cultural and religious appropriation, avoiding speaking for others and insisting that the participating religious communities represent themselves and their traditions and practices. And we will be on guard against prioritizing one tradition over another, speaking with wisdom, sensitivity, and gentleness (and rejecting the polemics that are too common in our day).

As for individual contributions to the event, it is important that one represent one’s own self (or self-in-community), so that a Christian speaks as a Christian, a Jew as a Jew, and so on. One should not attempt to “fill in” for absent faith traditions (by “Googling a few prayers,” for example). In readings and recitations, chants and hymns and songs, spiritual exercises or prayers, one hopes to experience authentic words and actions that are shared from the heart of the participating traditions…Good relationships enable good planning; and the work of planning and execution leads to the deepening of relationship.”

 

Entry points to Relationship

Finally, a question I’m often asked is’ “Where do we begin this relational work?” Again, this is a space where the draft pastoral guidelines are helpful. 62% of ELCA rostered leader respondents answered “yes” to a survey question that asked “In your role as a rostered minister, have you been involved in any social ministry work with inter-religious partners?” [iii] Social ministry work is a starting point for many shared inter-religious experiences. At Northwestern University, we recently partnered with the Khalil Center to launch the Muslim Mental Health Initiative to better serve students. As a member of the ad hoc committee  working on the guidelines and pastor of the ELCA,  I would be remiss if I did not include in this blog that In March of 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council received a report that stated “widespread negative representations of Islam, fear of Muslims generally and security and counterterrorism poli­cies have served to perpetuate, validate and normalize discrimination, hostility and violence towards Muslim individuals and communities.”[iv] We can contribute to healthier communities by actively engaging in relational work that dissolves fear and diminishes bigotry and violence perpetrated against our Muslim neighbors. The second report of the 2020 Mosque Survey published last week indicates that 78% of mosques are involved in at least one interfaith activity. This should be an encouragement to us to build even more bridges as we look toward the next 20 years.

As we prepare in our communities and congregations for fall, may we take a moment to observe the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and in doing so actively work to build a future where love and caring holds space for grief and commit to paths of healing for ourselves and others and our world. In doing so, we will continue to hold hope in tandem with reality as we live and serve together with people of all identities.

 

The ELCA Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-Religious World referenced in this blog in draft form likely will be publicly available in final form in spring 2022.

 

Additional Resources:

9/11 Memorial & Museum

ELCA Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations

ELCA Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Muslim Relations

Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign

——————————————————————–

[i] Pastoral Guidelines in Multi-Religious World DRAFT

[ii] ibid

[iii] Pastoral Guidelines in Multi-Religious World ELCA survey—Sept 12-Oct. 13, 2020

[iv] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26841&LangID=E

 

The Rev. Kristen Glass Perez is University Chaplain and Executive Director of Religious & Spiritual Life at Northwestern University.  Kristen is a pastor of the ELCA and previously served as College Chaplain at Muhlenberg College and as Chaplain and Director of Vocational Exploration at Augustana College.  She was also the inaugural Director for Young Adult Ministry for the ELCA Churchwide Organization. She is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee appointed by the Office of the Presiding Bishop to develop pastoral guidelines for ministry in a multi-religious world.

 

 

Survey data consistently paint a strange picture when it comes to the US budget. Americans in general believe that the US gives about 25% of its budget to international aid and that the portion should be closer to 10% of the federal budget. In reality, the US sends about 1% of its budget overseas. If Americans are confused about the amount of international aid, we may be even more unclear on the how and, importantly, the why of international aid. Where does the money go? What role do businesses and other organizations play? And why is international aid even more important in the age of COVID-19?

In this episode of ELCA World Hunger’s Hunger Policy Podcast, Patricia Kisare, international policy advisor for the ELCA, and Kaari Reierson, the ELCA’s associate for corporate social responsibility, join Ryan Cumming, the program director for hunger education, to break down some of the myths and realities about US aid and the church’s witness when it comes to this part of the federal budget. Patricia and Kaari also share a new resource they have put together to help congregations learn more about international aid.

So, watch the video below, listen to the audio or read the transcript to learn more about this important part of public policy.

Download the new resource on International Aid here. Find other helpful resources on public policy and advocacy at the ELCA Advocacy resource page and on the ELCA World Hunger resource page.

Want to subscribe to the ELCA World Hunger blog? Use the widget on our homepage to sign up!

https://youtu.be/ZCLHcuzaMsE

Prefer to read the interview? Follow this link to access a transcript of the conversation. Closed captioning is also available in the video above and when the video is watched on YouTube.

Want to share the video? Here’s a link you can pass along: https://youtu.be/ZCLHcuzaMsE.

 

 

 

All Creation Sings includes several short songs that can be taught “paperlessly,” that is, singing together without printed or projected words or music for worship. This kind of singing can be led by one person or a small group with or without instrumental accompaniment and it is often ideal for small retreats or outdoor settings in addition to weekly worship. This post will help bring ACS “off the page” by guiding you to several audio-video resources.

Videos from Music that Makes Community

Music that Makes Community is a non-profit organization that develops and supports the practice of paperless singing. The ELCA has partnered with MMC over the past several years and you can find a wealth of information on their website. Below are links to several teaching videos provided by Music that Makes Community and other sources for songs included in All Creation Sings.

ACS 914 Jesus, the Light of the World

ACS 940 Come, Holy Spirit

ACS 978 God Welcomes All

ACS 989 Let Your Peace Rain Upon Us / Yarabba ssalami

ACS 1007 Khudaya, rahem kar

ACS 1057 What Does the Lord Require of You?

ACS 1079 Open My Heart

Additional teaching videos

ACS 903 Freedom Is Coming

ACS 928 Pave the Way with Branches

ACS 929 Blessed Is the One (audio only)

ACS 1003 For Such a Time as This

ACS 1009 Come, Bring Your Burdens to God / Woza nomthwalo wakho

Additional Augsburg Fortress Resources

The Accompaniment Edition of All Creation Sings includes helpful tips on leading these shorter songs on pp. 10-11, as well as a listing of topical suggestions suitable for Service of Word and Prayer (p. 8) and for services of lament (p. 10).

Several short songs in All Creation Sings were previously published in the collection, “Singing Our Prayer: A Companion to Holden Prayer Around the Cross.” An audio CD included with purchase of the Full Score Edition includes recordings of ACS #s 998, 1012, 1018, 1033, 1035, 1037, 1074, 1075, and 1083.

Church musician and composer Tom Witt gives examples of teaching short songs as part of the All Creation Sings Liturgy Webinar. That webinar and additional webinars, teaching videos, and blog posts related to All Creation Sings are available at www.augsburgfortress.org/AllCreationSings.

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices. 

Find a map and full list of ELCA affiliated SPPOs using our state office map. 

U.N. | Delaware | Minnesota | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Texas | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin

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U.N.

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. https://www.elca.org/lowc –Dennis Frado, Director

The Generation Equality Forum concluded with concrete commitments to advance parity by 2026: The Generation Equality Forum took place in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2021. The Forum was co-hosted by France and Mexico and convened by UN Women, in partnership with civil society and youth representatives. Nearly 50,000 people participated in a mainly virtual format to take stock and rapidly accelerate progress towards gender equality, as outlined in the landmark 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Close to $40 billion was pledged in new investments from governments, the private sector, civil society and others to help fund a new global five-year action plan to accelerate gender parity by 2026. The Forum launched a Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality designed by six Action Coalitions, as well as a Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action. New gender equality initiatives focused on health, sports, culture, and education was also announced. UN Women will oversee the implementation of the 5-year action plan and the commitments made. 

As Lutherans, we had delegates actively participate virtually, and joined over 30 global and regional faith actors in a joint communique that we turned into a video message. In addition, the Lutheran World Federation made commitments to the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence and pledged to accelerate efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in church and society. LOWC’s Christine Mangale and LWF’s Sikhonzile Ndlovu led the Lutheran engagement and delegation to the Forum.

Upper left: moderator Janet Mbugua – Kenyan media personality, author and founder of Inua Dada Foundation; upper right: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; lower: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations. 

 

Israel-Palestine concerns conveyed to Biden Administration officials: In June LOWC Director Dennis Frado was able to attend two conference calls organized by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) with Biden Administration officials at the White House and with the US Agency for International Development. As these were among the first meetings with the Administration on Israeli-Palestine issues, the CMEP representatives took the occasions to raise a number of matters that had been communicated by their heads of churches and organization in March. Particular attention was drawn to the need for US bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza to be re-started and increased, especially given the additional humanitarian needs in Gaza because of the intensified conflict between Israel and Hamas in May. Appreciation was expressed for the Administration’s efforts to support the recent truce but called on the White House to be more active and vocal in urging Israel to halt home demolitions, seizure of Palestinian homes and land and settler violence against Palestinians. 

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Delaware

Delaware Lutheran Office for Public Policy https://demdsynod.org/delaware-public-policy-office – Gordon Simmons, Director 

The Delaware Lutheran Office for Public Policy supported four bills this year, and three have now passed: 

1. The Legislature voted to make “Opportunity Grants” permanent, funneling up to $60 a year (statewide) to public schools with high percentages of low-income students and students learning English.

2. The Renewable Energy Goal for the state was increased from 25percentby 2025 to 40 percent by 2035. 

3. The minimum wage was increased to $15 per hour (in increments) by 2025. 

The fourth bill, which will likely be take up next year in the second year of the state’s legislative session, will require registration (and training) before the purchase of firearms. The bill has passed the State Senate but has yet to be taken up by the House. 

We held our annual “Day at the Capitol” virtually this year. 

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Minnesota

Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota (LAMN) http://www.lutheranadvocacymn.org/– Tammy Walhof, Director 

Special Session: Negotiations on the 13 spending bills continued through all three weeks of special session. Hideously long “debates” dominated in the House as a handful of House minority members filibustered several bills. Although all budget bills were passed, the legislature came within hours of not finishing before the new fiscal year.  

Clean Energy: The Commerce/Energy bill included the longest “debate” at roughly 25 hours. It passed 70-60 in the House and 60-5 in the Senate. 

• Included: agriculture weather study (changes impacting farmers); solar for schools/community colleges; pilot project covering old landfills (brownfields) with solar farms (brightfields); North Minneapolis training center (renewable energy jobs); Energy Transition Office. (Separate ECO bill for energy efficiency passed during regular session). 
• Defeated: Coal power protection, natural gas usage decrease prevention; reduction of current renewable energy requirements, although we’ve already surpassed those levels). 
• Not Included: bold comprehensive solutions to address the scope of the climate crisis; resilience/adaptation tools. 

• We rejoice in what passed, breathe easier knowing we helped defeat rollbacks, and recognize that we have an important role addressing fears about clean energy and climate change denial.   

Housing and Homeless: The most contentious part of the Housing bill was an off-ramp for the eviction moratorium, but Housing passed 72-59 in the House and 66-0 in the Senate. Shelter and homeless services are part of Health & Human Services (HHS), which passed 69-56 in the House and 62-4 in the Senate. 

• Off-Ramp timetable:  
  • July 1 – Evictions allowed for reasons other than non-payment  
  • August – Leases end for COVID non-payment if not eligible for assistance  
  • October – 15-day eviction notices for non-payment unless assistance application submitted. Despite reasonable off-ramp, we expect dramatic increases in homelessness. 

• Other Housing: $10 million one-time funding for Challenge Fund, Manufactured Home Park Infrastructure program, workforce homeownership, Homeownership Assistance Fund, Local Housing Trust Fund in matching grants, Shelter Provider Task Force examining failings in shelter system, and $100 million in Housing Infrastructure Bonds. 
• Shelter (HHS): Underfunded Emergency Services Program dramatically increased for staffing, transportation, childcare, mental/behavioral health care; Housing Support Program providing $50 per month increase and program changes; and a new fund for the Shelter Capitol program 
• These are big wins and reasons to celebrate. We know getting so many action alerts on the Eviction Moratorium Off-Ramp was tiring, but your action mattered! 

• COVID-19 pandemic intensified need in an area already in crisis. We will continue to need churches to make housing a focus.

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Ohio

Hunger Network in Ohio www.hungernetohio.com – Nick Bates, Director 

The Budget crosses the finish line: Many THANK YOUs to our network for their budget advocacy here in Ohio. In January, we set out to stop tax cuts, improve a school funding formula, and address housing and hunger here in Ohio. Here is a quick rundown: 

• School Funding Formula: The legislature, in the final hours agreed to the school funding formula known as ‘the Fair School Funding Plan’ or also known as “Cupp-Patterson” or “HB 1”. This will improve the equity of the distribution of state dollars for years to come. However, the formula, when its run says Ohio should be investing about $2 billion more into our students than we are. The advocacy continues! 
• SB 17: In the 11th hour, the Senate inserted these harmful provisions into the budget, but through the advocacy of many individuals and organizations, we were able to have them removed in the final hour before passage. A special thanks goes out to Finance Committee Chair, Rep. Scott Oelslager for his understanding that these provisions would take food off the table of hungry Ohioans.  
• Housing: Some additional dollars were added to support some housing options for Ohioans and dangerous amendments were removed that would have made it more difficult to offer affordable housing in Ohio.  
• Massive tax cut for the wealthy: The reason we did not see more money put into our schools and affordable housing efforts is simple – tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% who will receive a 16.8% income tax cut. The poorest Ohioans will receive nothing, and others will about $40 a year from a 3% income tax cut. These billions of dollars could have improved Ohio dramatically.  

Join us on July 19th at 3:30 pm as we discuss the budget with the Ohio Council of Churches. Register. 

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Pennsylvania

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry- Pennsylvania (LAMPa) https://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/ – Tracey DePasquale, Director 

As the General Assembly recessed in late June, LAMPa celebrated a $3 million increase in the state’s major anti-hunger programs and an extra $300 million in basic education funding, $100 million of which is targeted to the poorest schools.  

“Our hunger advocates did a tremendous job in sharing stories of the need they continue to see and convincing the legislature that we could not go back to pre-pandemic funding levels,” said LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale.

LAMPa also advocated for accelerating the process of closing one of the largest school funding equity gaps in the country through LevelUp PA, which garnered bipartisan support to win passage as part of an historic $416 million increase in public education funding.  

Although supportive of bipartisan elections reforms sought by county officials, LAMPa applauded the governor’s veto of legislation that included those reforms but imposed other measures that would have created barriers to voting and undone reforms passed in 2019. LAMPa co-hosted a webinar on the legislation in early June. 

Also in June, Hunger Advocacy Fellow Larry Herrold participated in a virtual advocacy day with partners seeking a path to 100% renewable energy and attended the Upper Susquehanna Synod Assembly after having assembled kits for the 200 voting members. The kits included letters to legislators asking for increases to the Pa. Agricultural Surplus System and the State Food Purchase Program, as well as information about advocating with LAMPa. He delivered completed letters to lawmakers in time for the passage of the state budget.  

Herrold traveled to Gettysburg to conduct research on Lincoln Cemetery, an African American cemetery in use since the Civil War. This research is part of LAMPa’s ongoing focus on the land that connects us.  

Both Herrold and DePasquale attended a meeting of the Upper Susquehanna Synod Advocacy Team in July. DePasquale spoke at a Capitol press conference on health care as a factor in hunger and poverty as legislation was reintroduced regarding surprise medical bills and prescription drug prices. 

As Herrold’s fellowship concludes, he is working to finish long-term projects, including the organization of digitally photographed archival material and the refinement of databases of new and existing advocates and service ministries.  

In August, Herrold will help lead an in-person “MinistryLab” along with Lutheran Disaster Response and creation-justice advocates in Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. The lab aims to engage young adults in the ministry of the ELCA. Both Herrold and DePasquale are working with Lutherans Restoring Creation to build or strengthen green teams in every synod as they prepare for the Season of Creation and the launch of ELCA advocacy priorities on climate, just transition, and sustainable agriculture. 

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Texas

Texas Impact https://www.texasimpact.org/ – Scott Atnip, Outreach Director 

The Texas Legislature is being called back in for a 30-day called special session beginning July 8 to address several “extraordinary items,” most notably bills that would suppress the votes of Texas voters. 

Texas Impact is sponsoring a “Let My People Vote” campaign featuring a liturgical guide for local congregations and a rally at the Capitol July 19 in partnership with the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, and La Voz de la Comunidad (LULAC). Bishop Sue Briner, ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod, will be a featured speaker. 

Texas Impact is mobilizing Texans of faith through the Rapid Response members, Legislative Engagement Groups and the Weekly Witness program.  

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Virginia 

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy https://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/ – Kim Bobo, Executive Director 

On July 1, the new bills on which VICPP led the advocacy became law. The death penalty was abolished, thus saving the lives of two men on death row. Virginia became the first state in the south to abolish the death penalty. A new healthcare benefit was added providing prenatal care to 9000 undocumented women. VICPP is now working to get the word out in immigrant communities about this new benefit. Approximately 30,000 home healthcare workers now have access to paid sick days. In next year’s General Assembly (beginning in January), VICPP hopes Virginia will adopt a broader paid sick day standard so that all Virginia workers will have access to five paid sick days a year. 

On August 2, the General Assembly will reconvene for a special session to consider how best to use the federal dollars coming to Virginia from the American Rescue Plan Act. VICPP will be partnering with other low-income family advocates to push for uses that focus on helping the most vulnerable in the commonwealth. To join this effort, make sure you are on VICPP’s email action list. Sign-up at www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org. Also, if your congregation does not have a congregational liaison who works with VICPP, recruit someone for this important role and connect with Dora@virginiainterfaithcenter.org. 

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Washington

Faith Action Network fan@fanwa.org – Paul Benz and Elise DeGooyer, Co-Directors 

Faithful Vaccines: Eleven faith leaders from across Washington State participated in a joint effort to encourage people of faith to get vaccinated against COVID-19. We are excited to share their work both in this video – Faith Leaders Speak: Don’t Hesitate – Vaccinate! – as well as individual videos on our Vaccine Toolkit, in English and Spanish. We wish our partners across the country success in getting their communities vaccinated as well since our health outcomes are tied to one another.

FAN is Hiring! As Faith Action Network celebrates our tenth birthday this year, we continue to move faithfully forward as Co-Director, Rev. Paul Benz, retires at the end of 2021 and current Co-Director, Elise DeGooyer, becomes FAN’s Executive Director. FAN’s public policy work, led by Paul these past 10 years, will continue under the leadership of a Policy Engagement Director. If you know good candidates in Washington State, please send them our job description!

Statewide Policy: We are in the interim period after the legislative session ended this spring, but there is still work to be done in implementing bills that have passed. FAN is partnering with Earth Ministry to encourage Governor Inslee to sign an executive order for Clean Cars by 2030, a bill that had passed the legislature with broad community support which Governor Inslee partially vetoed. We are hoping to move this legislation forward to stay on-track with the Governor’s and the President’s climate goals as well as the Paris Climate Accord.

Congressional Policy: We are encouraging advocates to urge their House members to ask leadership to bring the HR 40 Reparations bill up for a vote. FAN cosponsored the Roadmap to Freedom legislation to pave a just and compassionate way forward for immigration reform, and we have requested a meeting with Senators Murray and Cantwell to discuss this. We continue to monitor the Justice in Policing Act to make sure it includes the elimination of qualified immunity. 

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Wisconsin

Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW)  https://www.loppw.org/ – Cindy Crane, Director 

Juvenile Justice: Hunger Advocacy Fellow Kyle Minden led a full Raise the Age coalition meeting and a small group to discuss creating a steering committee to speak for the coalition. We are now in the phase of strategizing long-term educational goals because returning 17-year-old youth to the juvenile justice system did not make it into the Wisconsin State Budget. 

Advocacy Trainings: The director gave a Zoom consultation on building an advocacy ministry to leaders of a congregation in the East Central Synod. 

Youth: In the Greater Milwaukee Synod, we led a training on the basics about advocacy to youth as part of their congregation’s at-home mission trip, connecting their visits to places such as food pantries, with advocacy.  

Advocacy Training with youth at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa: We also held our second meeting with a handful of leaders from around the state to discuss possible future advocacy events for youth. We have had contact with representatives from all six synods that LOPPW works with. 

Care for God’s Creation: LOPPW’s director is part of the Wisconsin Climate Table leadership team again. 

Immigration: Staff gave a blessing to a group marching for Dreamers and a return to fairness in obtaining Wisconsin drivers licenses and met the marchers at the end of the march. 

LOPPW Council: We welcome new Council Member Kristi Jones, healthcare professional and member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Madison as a new council representative of the South-Central Synod.