by Emily Ahern, ELCA Advocacy [About the Author]

As a young person, I am more than familiar with the concept of living in unprecedented times. In fact, I yearn for times which are precedented. As the prior U.S. presidential administration has left, and the new administration takes hold, the future feels uncertain.

In my personal life, I am blessed to live in what I lovingly call a bubble – a pocket of peace and wholehearted acceptance.

In my public life, such peace and acceptance feel wavering, and can feel like a precipice of something foreboding. In the past few weeks alone, we’ve seen mounting fear among a number of marginalized groups – trans Americans, immigrants, women and so many more.

It has been so easy to doom scroll, to get stuck thinking and imagining the worst possible outcomes for our future. I feel fear for my friends and neighbors. I feel fear for the people I love who are trans or queer, the people I love who are immigrants, and all friends and neighbors who are constantly subjected to scrutiny and attacks. It is so easy to lean into this fear.

It is easy to become isolated, cut off from that very same bubble I hold so dear. However, in the face of adversity, I find comfort in the concept of community.

COMMUNITY AND MATTHEW 25

In reflecting upon the idea of community, I’ve felt called to the words of Matthew 25. This is a text which emphasizes exactly this – community. In a passage referenced as the Judgement of the Nations, we hear a warning:

“Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me’” (v. 41-43).

The passage then says,

“Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me’” (v. 45).

This passage emphasizes the sheer importance of community and mutual aid. We are called to love and care for one another, to uplift one another and ensure one another’s safety, security and happiness. In the face of discrimination, we are called to love each other – to form our own little bubbles of peace and wholehearted acceptance. This passage serves as a reminder to me that we are not powerless–there is strength in love and comradery.

IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY

Times may be unprecedented, but we have precedence to rely on. To support ourselves and those around us and fight against discrimination, we must work together in love and power.

Though large-scale community organizing, protesting, etc. may come to mind when thinking of combatting discrimination and injustice – it is important to remember advocacy happens on the small-scale, too. We can engage in mutual aid – ensuring neighbors have enough to eat or a safe place to return to. Look after and stand up for friends and neighbors who may be subject to discrimination or violence. These expressions of community are just as important as other actions of advocacy.

In the coming days, join me in reflecting upon Matthew 25 and discerning the importance and impact of community in our own lives, challenging ourselves to extend community to those in need for the common good.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Emily Ahern (she/her) is the Hunger Advocacy Fellow – Federal Policy with ELCA Advocacy. She is originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a lifelong member of congregations of the ELCA. She graduated from American University this past spring with a degree in Political Science, and is on track to graduate (once again) from American University this upcoming spring with a Master’s in Public Administration. Ahern is so excited to research and lobby for policy which will alleviate the effects of hunger and poverty for all Americans! In her free time, she can be found collecting vinyl, going to concerts, and watching Star Wars.

Catalyst Question

Where have you noticed God in your everyday life?

God is Still Near

In Luke 2:22-40, we find the story of Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Jerusalem temple. This act of dedication of their firstborn son was fairly common amongst Jews of the day. What was abnormal was the response. Two prophets, Simeon and Anna, each praise God for Jesus’ presence. Why celebrate this otherwise apparently normal boy? Because, by meeting Jesus in this very ordinary ritual, they encounter the extraordinary: God’s redemptive presence. God is near, and so they celebrate!

Finding the extraordinary amidst the ordinary isn’t limited only to ancient prophets or biblical stories. The Hippo Song, a classic camp tune, reminds us that “God’s fingerprints are everywhere.” Perhaps this became even more evident with the rise of Moo Deng’s popularity last year. In animals, plants, rocks, water, and everything else in the universe, creation points us to our creator.

Organizations like The Nature Conservancy work to ensure the protection of God’s creatures great and small. They bring together individuals and communities, religious and secular organizations, government and private initiatives, all to make sure the ordinary things of the Earth aren’t lost. The protection of these creations not only ensures wilderness for generations to come. It also ensures we can continue the sacred rituals God gives us through ordinary things. Baptism requires clean water. Bread and wine require healthy crops. God calls us to care for the normal things in our world; yet, through them, we also find that sacred presence that’s been there all long. 

This week, reflect on what it means that Jesus’ presentation at the temple–a very routine thing–is remembered as an exceptional moment in history. Then, think about the routine things in our world today–bugs and dirt, air and flowers, birds and fish, and of course, hippos like Moo Deng–and search for God’s fingerprints. Through them, and through us, God is still near. 

Ask Yourself

Where do you have trouble noticing God in your everyday life? Why might that be?

Ask a Friend

If God created everything, then how does our faith call us to interact with nature?

This is a guest post from Rev. Elazar Atticus Schoch Zavaletta of Good Trouble Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pastor Elazar and the Good Trouble Church Community

The mainstream expression of many ELCA Lutheran Churches is defined by being a white, middle-class witness to Christ.  With hearts open to and appreciative of the saving grace of God through Christ, and often with generosity in serving the Lord locally and globally, nevertheless, few Lutheran churches truly know or understand the struggle of other peoples as they navigate a society defined by white supremacy and systemic oppression. Many of those on the margins of our churches struggle daily with homelessness, poverty, racism, and frustrating battles with bureaucracies to achieve the medical, financial and housing assistance they need to live and thrive.

Good Trouble Church, an ELCA congregation in Baltimore, Md, lives deeply and personally in that world of struggle.  Led by its pastor, The Rev. Elazar Zavaletta, and by numerous empowered members and community folks, most who personally understand the struggle for survival in urban Baltimore, Good Trouble has become a “A Way Out of No Way.”  It has become a safe home where friendship, non-judgmental caring and acceptance, trusted resources and hope can be found.

Good Trouble’s leaders, while understanding firsthand the exploitation, trauma and uncaring reality of those experiencing poverty, address together the systemic issues that purport to block them from health, safety and hope for the future.  Their work includes (1) Resilience based organizing- directly impacted leaders engaging in their own style of gospel-centered resilience-based organizing – naturally calling into question the powers that be through the way they organize their community and change their neighborhood – living into the world as it should be; (2) A Farm to Stoop Free Market- where fresh farm foods, meals, and clothing are distributed in a joyful time of community connection and mutual aid, along with social service agencies can meet people in a trusted arena, such as health clinics, etc; (3) Family Life- community creating a rich liturgy, inspired through Afro-Indigenous wisdom and symbol and inspiring a unique “theology of the block”; (4) Leadership and Liberation Workshops utilizing problem-posing pedagogy; (5) Social Work Support and Drop-In assistance; (6) Safe space housing for a few persons via its harm reduction-based Red Shed Village; (7) Good Trouble Guardians – who develop local leadership to help to de-escalate conflicts, keep people safer while avoiding police intervention, provide overdose response and connect persons to resources, etc.

Good Trouble Church is supported financially by its own funds, grants from the ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran churches in the Delaware-Maryland Synod, among others.  There are numerous community and city partners that share the same vision as Good Trouble to work toward love and liberation those who have been made most vulnerable and face food and housing insecurity.

Good Trouble Church–love and freedom, leadership and liberation, community care and sacred ceremony–God showing A Way Out of No Way!

No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. (Micah 6:8)

Catalyst Question

What’s something old that you’ve noticed becoming popular again? How does that make you feel?

Something Old and Something New

There’s an old English rhyme that goes, “something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe.” It describes a tradition for brides to wear something of each category on their wedding day. To this day, many weddings include parts of the tradition, though finding a sixpence is much more difficult in the 21st century.

Only a month into the new year, there’s much in the news that appears both old and new all at the same time. The 45th president is now the 47th president. Multiple countries and companies are preparing for space travel, with hopes to return people to the moon within just a few years. Even flare leg jeans are back in style.

In Sunday’s Gospel reading from Luke 4:14-21, Jesus reads a few verses from Isaiah that declare “the year of the Lord’s favor.” This sounds new and exciting! Yet, it comes from a prophet from hundreds of years before. It’s an ancient promise that’s reaffirmed for present listeners. In that way, it is both old and new.

Many people become obsessed with new things. Perhaps this is because they believe new things will lead to different results. What’s odd about that is that, to use biblical language, there’s almost nothing new under the sun. What feels new to some is quite old to others.

But with Jesus, it is still very different from the old and new that we see in politics, in science, or in style. Why is that? Because, in Jesus, the promise fulfilled. What’s old is made new in Jesus in ways that no politician, scientist, or influencer can match. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, and it is only God’s newness that brings forgiveness of sin and abundant life. Jesus is so much more than an old trend returning. We owe ultimate allegiance not to political offices, scientific advancements, or cultural trends. We owe it the one in whom all things are always being made new, the only one who keeps all promises: Jesus.

Ask Yourself

What are the things–or who are the people–that ask for your ultimate allegiance in ways that draw your devotion away from Jesus?

Ask a Friend

What are the ways that Jesus has brought renewal into your life? 

by Sagi Rudnick, Kansas Interfaith Action [About the Author]

I am a Jewish progressive young adult who immigrated to the United States from the Holy Land as a child. Since my teenage years, I have felt a particular draw to political activism as a path for goodness to prevail. I also knew from that point that I wanted to build my career around that path. Since then, I have been fortunate to be able to lend my talents to a variety of causes.

Last summer, about a year after graduating from undergrad, I found myself looking for an opportunity where I could grow professionally as well as spiritually. That’s when I learned of the ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellowship with Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) on social media, and I knew this was a unique opportunity that I wanted. What drew me was the emphasis on being rooted in the values that drive us to champion the common good, and equally, the encouragement of my personal spiritual development.

At the core of my ongoing personal passion, and my philosophy regarding the theory of change, is the juxtaposition of two realities: the whole community is greater than the sum total of its individuals, and every person is a whole world unto themselves. This interplay is explored and celebrated in numerous elements of Jewish tradition, as well as other faith traditions. In this reflection, I seek to lay out the importance of both realities in tandem as a path for collective liberation and dignity for all of God’s creation.

ONE OF VALUE

While celebrating the power of the common good, it is important as well to hold space and reconcile the fact that on some days, in the face of great adversity, community activism for the common good can feel truly futile. Looking to the Tanach, aka the Hebrew Bible, I find that the Book of Ecclesiastes provides apt inspiration in this regard. This text, traditionally read during the Jewish fall holiday of Sukkot, aka the Festival of Booths, takes a hard look at our temporary existence, authentically recognizing our mortality and at the same time empowering us to make the most of our lives, precisely because our time on this Earth is limited.

The labor of each and every child of God, in moving us all towards a more equitable world, renders each of us as valuable as the whole world. Piecemeal progress cannot be discounted. Indeed, “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6).

TWO STRONGER THAN ONE

With that being said, to achieve positive change on a macro level, it is imperative to work beyond the individual level, and to build a better world harnessing diverse stakeholders to achieve results for the common good.

I do my best to live this out in my own activism, which has included lobbying for hundreds of millions in public dollars for public universities and working with faith communities and organized labor to raise the minimum wage and enact paid sick leave. I also recognize that I have a lifetime of learning from fellow activists, who all bring unique experiences and contexts to the table. Indeed, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11).

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

As a child, I remember being struck by the reality of how easy it is to snap a single wood pencil or two into pieces, but how three or more pencils together were impossible to break, and remained unified. To truly achieve common good in and for the community, it is critical not only to work with a fellow activist, but to scale up and use our collective labor in broad, diverse coalitions.

There is great strength in numbers paired with authentic community organizing. Indeed, “And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken!” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

THE WHOLE EQUATION

At the end of the day, for me, it comes down to the following. In 50 years, when our grandchildren ask us how we made the most of life, what will we say to them? Did we harness our individual God given gifts? Did we work in solidarity to strengthen the fabric of our society? Did we do our best to achieve liberation for all of God’s creation?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sagi Rudnick (he/him) is a political organizer, strategist, and activist with over half a decade of experience fostering community in Kansas and Missouri with over a dozen campaigns and organizations. Rudnick graduated with Honors from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2023 with Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Professional Communications, and a Minor in International Studies.

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director

Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: January 2025

CONTINUING RESOLUTION IMPACTS | COP29 CONCLUDES | PREVENTING ARMS SALES TO SUDAN | H.R.9495 AND NONPROFIT TAX-EXEMPTION | FY25 BUDGET AND THE HOMELAND SECURITY BILL

CONTINUING RESOLUTION IMPACTS: In December 2024, Congress passed a three-month Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government temporarily funded through March 14, 2025, while additionally providing about $110 billion in emergency disaster relief and farm aid. The measure also extended the lapsed authorization of the Farm Bill through Sept. 30, 2025. Lawmakers will be working to address at the end of January an expiring debt ceiling limit, while needing to quickly pivot to resolve the federal budget under new Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

Why It Matters to the ELCA

Within the budget, housing and homeless advocates are concerned that continued flat-level funding for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs after many CR delays will start to put constraints on critical affordability and shelter programs, which are seeing increased housing costs and need extra funding to renew existing efforts. Federal agencies may soon need to stop renewing some vouchers and shelter contracts each week if a full budget isn’t reached – which could impact our wider ministries active in serving those of us who are displaced and in need of a home.

Many of our congregants and churches, and neighbors we serve, are dependent on the critical policies passed in the Farm Bill – including clarity on agriculture policy, farm disaster relief, rural development and support for emergency food assistance such as SNAP. Continued delays and lack of certainty could pose critical challenges to our communities, especially for those of us jeopardized by absence of clear policy and support.

What’s Next

The ELCA has an active Action Alert urging Congress to support critically underfunded housing and homeless programs, and is working with relevant lawmakers to ensure a disaster supplemental is passed for people displaced by recent hurricanes. As activity on the Farm Bill moves to the 119th Congress, look to the ELCA Farm Bill Updates page on the ELCA Advocacy Blog as our advocacy staff monitors developments.

COP29 CONCLUDES: After two weeks of negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the UN Climate Summit (COP29), world leaders reached agreement about an updated commitment to deliver urgently needed climate finance to developing countries for greenhouse gas mitigation and climate adaptation and resilience. ELCA leaders in-person and virtually participated in a faith delegation. COP29 output also included agreement on the final structural elements of the Paris Agreement provisions concerning carbon markets (Article 6). On finance, negotiators adopted language that requires developed countries to contribute $300 billion each year by 2035 for climate action in the developing world, and at the same time for all countries to work together to scale up financing from all sources to $1.3 trillion per year by that same date.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA staff members present at COP29 engaged across governments, the United Nations and alongside other faith communities to call for increased climate action. The faith community had a strong presence at COP29 in several ways: hosting a Faith Pavilion, official UN side events and some demonstrations to highlight the call to action. There was collaboration between the faith community and the negotiators that highlighted the importance of the faith voice and presence here considering reluctance from countries toward taking action.

What’s Next:

The outlook for continued U.S. federal participation in international climate action looks bleak, but states and local governments in attendance were clear and steadfast in their commitment to continue delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement using all means available to them. The private sector was also fully engaged and made similar statements about climate action not being solely, or even primarily, determined by how the next U.S. administration proceeds.

PREVENTING ARMS SALES TO SUDAN: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has introduced legislation and a joint resolution of disapproval in response to the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) material support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The joint resolution of disapproval (S.J. Res.118) is a companion to legislation (H.R.8501) already introduced by Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Africa. Jacobs’ bill would prohibit U.S. arms sales to the UAE until the Biden administration can certify that the UAE is no longer providing material support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The Joint Resolution of Disapproval would block a specific $1.2 billion arms sale to the UAE due to its role in arming the RSF.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Commitment to peacemaking “in all times and places” is a core Lutheran value expressed in For Peace in God’s World (p. 1). In April 2023, fighting between rival Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary RSF erupted, resulting in the displacement of more than 11 million people. Successive U.S.-led peace negotiations have failed to stop the ongoing war. There have been multiple reports indicating that the UAE is providing weapons to the paramilitary group RSF. The war has led to catastrophic humanitarian crisis, leaving half of the Sudanese population in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.

What’s Next:

Sen. Van Hollen and Rep. Jacobs are seeking additional co-sponsors of the bills to generate support for it in Congress. Advocacy staff will work to generate congressional support and push for change of U.S. policy that turns a blind eye to the flow of weapons from abroad into Sudan.

H.R.9495 AND NONPROFIT TAX-EXEMPTION: On Nov. 21, H.R.9495, the “Stop Terror Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” passed in the House of Representatives. H.R.9495 would give the secretary of the Treasury unilateral power to designate nonprofits as suspected “Terrorist Supporting Organizations,” taking away their tax-exempt status unless they are able to prove they are not terrorist supporting. Originally on Nov. 12 this bill had been brought to the floor of the House under a different set of rules requiring a two-thirds majority but failed. The vote on Nov. 21 required only a simple majority. ELCA advocacy staff along with numerous other non-profit organizations have forcefully advocated against the passage of this bill which is seen as extremely dangerous to any organization with non-profit status.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Due to the ELCA’s non-profit status and its work and relationships in the Middle East, and specifically with the Palestinian community, the passage of this bill in the House is extremely concerning. It is concerning to give unilateral authority to the IRS, which carries out the responsibilities of the secretary of the Treasury, to be able to strip a non-profit of its legal status without due process or providing clear evidence of material support to terrorism. Such legal authority could easily be misused for political and/or ideological reasons.

What’s Next:

This bill will likely be brought up in the Senate of the 119th Congress in January/February 2025. Our ELCA advocacy staff will continue to build and work with a faith-based coalition to push against this bill’s passage.

FY25 BUDGET AND THE HOMELAND SECURITY BILL: In mid-November, Senate Democrats released the FY25 Homeland Security bill. This bill is one of the most polarizing in Congress, touching on border security, immigration, disaster funding and more. The released bill includes funding to Custom and Border Protection’s (CBP) Shelter and Service Program and immigration backlog reduction, and an increase in overall funding for CBP detection and border security.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Decisions around the budget have a profound impact on policy. The ELCA supports a generous policy of welcome for refugees and immigrants. Providing these important resources through the budget make our system fairer and more efficient, for those currently navigating it such as DACA, TPS, permanent residents, temporary workers and others as well as people are arriving to seek safety in the United States such as refugees and asylum-seekers.

What’s Next:

Action is still needed to pass robust funding in migration related federal accounts. This includes the Homeland Security bill, but also Health and Human Services and State and Foreign Operations. An Action Alert has been recently updated, encouraging constituents to voice their support for robust funding in 2025.

Receive monthly Advocacy Connections directly by becoming part of the ELCA Advocacy network – http://elca.org/advocacy/signup , and learn more from elca.org/advocacy .

Catalyst Question

Share about a time when someone stepped in to help you face a sudden, unexpected problem.

An Urgent Answer

As wildfires continue to threaten countless people in Los Angeles, community organizations are stepping up to help. Some provide food and shelter to the newly houseless. Others assist pets separated from families in the rush to find safety. All God’s creatures, great and small, need support in times of tragedy like these. And God shows up in all sorts of ways, through local organizations like those above and through international efforts like our own Lutheran Disaster Response.

In Sunday’s reading from John 2:1-12, a very different sort of urgent need appears. It is certainly not life or death to run out of wine at a wedding reception. The only thing at risk, it seems, is the social standing of the party thrower, whose lack of resources just might disappoint the party goers.

And still Jesus steps in. Without fanfare, Jesus preserves the relationships of the attendees with the bridegroom by ensuring there’s wine to spare. Not only does Jesus turn water into wine, but into excellent wine. When Jesus offers help, even in relatively minor situations, it’s not simply adequate. It’s extravagant, extending from great to small.

These are certainly different situations, natural disasters and party supplies. Still, in the times of urgent need, God steps in because God cares about us. As followers of Christ, so too we are called to step in. Perhaps this is through a gift to Lutheran Disaster Response’s efforts to immediately address the crisis. Perhaps it’s by providing housing to someone displaced by the fires until they’re able to return home. Certainly it’s through prayer. The example of Jesus is clear: when a crisis arises, Christians are called to provide relief.

Ask Yourself

What are some different ways you could intervene to provide relief to wildfire victims or others experiencing an urgent need? Pray and ask God for the wisdom to respond faithfully.

Ask a Friend

Who is someone that provided relief to you in a time of crisis, whether minor or major? How did they show Christ to you through their support?

by Joey Chin, Hunger Advocacy Fellow – ELCA Advocacy Communications [About the Author]

A remarkably powerful windstorm known as a bomb cyclone devastated parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California about a week before Thanksgiving this past year. As I saw videos on the news of trees falling and power lines collapsing in the area I call home, I contacted family and friends to see if they were safe. Many people I knew were without power for almost a week but thankfully did not experience anything worse. Nevertheless, many homes, families and communities had to contend with the irreversible damage of the powerful storm.

Hearing about this weather-related event drew my thoughts to a passage in Isaiah [43:1-3].

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet mentions such storms when writing about the rivers, waters and flames of life. For individuals in our communities and across the globe, these storms are not metaphorical troubles but literal disasters. For the region I grew up in, the bomb cyclone was just one of many unexpected weather-related incidents that have occurred over the last few years.

PROMISES IN STORMS

Isaiah offers us a guide for how to approach these issues as people informed and guided by faith. To begin, Isaiah names that there are waters, rivers and flames to pass through. We cannot confront the most pressing problems of our time if we fail to acknowledge they exist.

Secondly, Isaiah says that as we enter into a season of taking on such challenges, God will be with us. This is a promise that should ground our work and keep us rooted in an abiding ethic of love and justice. It is a promise that provides comfort and hope while propelling us into meaningful action and change-making.

EXPERIENCES AND VALUES SHARED WITH ELECTED LEADERS

Two weeks after the bomb cyclone subsided, a group of young adults taking part in an ELCA organized climate summit visited a series of federal congressional offices to discuss the importance of addressing climate change. I had the privilege of getting to sit in at one of the meetings with a staffer from Washington state. During our time together, a few of us discussed the recent effects of the cyclone. The staffer asked how our families were doing and listened to us describe the ways in which climate change has affected our local and global communities. Everyone shared their invaluable insights, and we ended the meeting in prayer.

The experience was incredibly refreshing as I watched the foundation for further work being built and established by young adult activists of faith.

SEEKING THE COMMON GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES

Last month as I flew home to Seattle to be with family for the holidays, I looked out the window of my plane amazed at the vast ocean of greenery covering the sacred ground we call home. As we enter into a new year with new changes, may we consider how our advocacy can contribute to the common good of our communities while remaining firmly rooted in the promise of a God who is with us always.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joey Chin (he/him) is the Hunger Advocacy Fellow – Advocacy Communications with the ELCA advocacy staff in Washington, D.C. He grew up in the greater Seattle area and earned a degree from The University of Washington in communication and political science. Most recently Chin began pursuing Master of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Updated September 5, 2024

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 2024 Farm Bill that promotes:

• 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 hunger and conservation in the U.S. and around the world.

Our 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 2024 Farm Bill that reflects these faith-based values.

Status on Capitol Hill

Action Alerts

UPDATE 1/15/25 – As the 119th Congress begins their work, Action Alert opportunities will be assessed to help you express your priorities to lawmakers as this vital bill advances. It is critical that lawmakers hear from us.

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.

Resources & Webinars

From the ELCA Witness in Society advocacy team

ELCA advocacy has produced resources stemming from ELCA Farm Bill Listening Sessions held last year.

Farm Bill Leave Behind – This summation of themes heard in listening sessions groups important priorities. Our ELCA advocacy staff has been sharing this with lawmakers, and you can too.

• It reads in part: “We heard from hundreds of Lutherans across the country who asked that their voices reach policy makers in the farm bill reauthorization process. Members brought their vocational, ministerial and civic experiences from varied parts of this country to ELCA listening sessions. They emphasized their deep concern for neighbors at home and abroad — especially the most vulnerable — and for faithful stewardship of God’s good creation.“

Farm Bill Reauthorization – Invitation to Action – At the request of state partners, this overview of the Farm Bill and template letter was prepared and can be used in various settings.

From other sources

• WEBINAR | Why is the Farm Bill Important to Us?
  • Thu. June 13, 6-7:30 p.m. PT
  • Presented by Faith Action Network, an ELCA-affiliated state public policy office in Washington state, with the ELCA.
  • This presentation was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, where it can be viewed in its entirety at this link.

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 this August Recess 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.

Issue 97 of Administration Matters

New opportunities for congregations to invest in clean energy

With the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, congregations and ministries have an opportunity to receive reimbursements for clean-energy projects through the Direct Pay Program. The Mission Investment Fund and ELCA Federal Credit Union offer financing options to help get these projects started. Rebates and grants are available to offset the cost of solar panels and other sustainability initiatives. To learn more about how your ministry can take advantage of this opportunity, visit www.mif.elca.org/solar.

Welcoming Chris Johnson as Portico’s president and CEO

Chris Johnson began his tenure as Portico’s president and CEO in October. You can find Chris’ video greeting on Portico’s social media channels — including its new Instagram page — or watch it directly here.

Are you ready for Roth?

If any of your employees selected Roth after-tax contributions to their ELCA retirement plan during Portico’s annual enrollment, you need to make sure that your payroll vendor or internal payroll personnel are ready to handle withholding and remittance, starting with the first pay period in January. The Payroll Withholding Summary on EmployerLink can help you determine how much to withhold from your employees’ paychecks for Roth contributions, supplemental life insurance and other voluntary benefit elections.

IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2025

In December, the Internal Revenue Service issued 2025 optional standard mileage rates, used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning Jan. 1, standard mileage rates for use of a car (also for vans, pickups or panel trucks) are:

• 70 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from 2024.
• 21 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the armed forces, unchanged from 2024.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2024.

These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles as well as gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. >More

Ten tips to help your church go green

Creation care: God declares all creation good, and we are called to be its caretakers. There are so many actions that any individual or church can take to defend God’s creation that it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. These resources are not intended to be a comprehensive checklist but rather a tool to begin the process of thinking about what actions you and your church can take in keeping our planet green, clean and sustainable for all. >More