Issue 66 of Administration Matters

Workers’ compensation insurance
In almost every state, employers are required to buy workers’ compensation insurance, both to protect employers from lawsuits that result from workplace accidents and to provide medical care and compensation for lost income to employees hurt in workplace accidents. >More

Confidentiality and health-related information
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act deals with health care privacy concerns. Privacy rules restrict the use of medical records and health information maintained by hospitals and other health care providers but generally do not cover ELCA congregations. >More

The inherent risk of guest Wi-Fi access at your congregation
With the myriad of wireless devices in constant use, many churches provide Wi-Fi for the convenience of employees and guests. However, this complimentary benefit can come with a heavy price if security is taken for granted. You may want to forward this information to your IT support specialist before deciding to provide Wi-Fi access to your congregation. >More

Records retention schedule for congregations
It is important to know which records and information a congregation or synod should keep and which can be removed. Some records need to be maintained permanently, and others can be discarded periodically. >More

Valuable tips to protect your identity
Identity theft has become a common problem in the United States, with an estimated 9 million people affected annually, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Here are important tips to protect your identity. >More

 

The Rev. Ramon Collazo is a second-career pastor from Puerto Rico who ministers with immigrants in detention. It’s one way he channels his passion for immigration reform and raising awareness about human rights.

Quickly after finishing his time at United Lutheran Seminary (formerly, Luther Theological Seminary at Philadelphia), Collazo received a call to serve as mission developer for a new Synod Authorized Worshiping Community (SAWC) called Santa Isabel Ministry to Immigrants in Detention. This ministry focuses on providing spiritual care and hope for Puerto Rican and immigrant inmates at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey.

One mission starts another

The Iglesia Luterana Santa Isabel Latino Mission congregation in Elizabeth launched the SAWC in 2015. Itself a mission congregation — sponsored by the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — Santa Isabel started the new detention ministry SAWC as one way to care and advocate for immigrants and their rights. The congregation also hosts a citizenship drive twice a year and collaborates with the New Jersey Coalition for Justice.

The Elizabeth Detention Center is specifically designed for immigrants who either do not have proper identification of their citizenship or have committed a minor crime. It holds male and female citizens of multiple countries from Latin America, Europe and Asia. Collazo first became active in this  detention ministry when he was invited to provide prayer during a rally outside its walls.

Ministry in detention

Collazo brings a unique voice to this ministry, which centers on doing intentional work to help and share the gospel with its immigrant community and other detainees. He hosts two worship services each week. Each service typically has 50 to 100 participants in worship, Bible study and prayer. Collazo also spends time offering prayer over specific requests or distributing rosaries and Bibles.

On December 27, 2018, Collazo gathered together a few ministry members to bring the Puerto Rican Christmastime music tradition of Parranda to the  detention center’s residents. “We gathered not in a porch, but in a conference room, with guitar and cuatro puertorriqueño (a guitar-like instrument) to practice. We began the Parranda to the dorms, where we surprised the men and women with ‘Feliz Navidad’ and other songs.” Collazo could feel the joy this activity created in the residents as well as a strong sense of unity where it would normally be absent during Christmastime in the  detention facility.

Raising awareness of immigration reform

Collazo has learned much from hearing the stories of people who have tried to flee from oppression but then had to face the harsh reality of being forced to return to the situations from which they fled. He believes, “If we don’t watch the news and don’t put ourselves in their shoes, nothing will change.”

He points out that the reality is that change does not always happen from institutions, it happens through people who are willing to advocate and show empathy to those who are hurting. “It has to come from God, and it has to come from our hearts because we love God and are called to serve our neighbors.”

Touching the hearts of people is where we meet the authentic work of the gospel. Collazo is living this out wholeheartedly and invites fellow congregations to pray for those affected by immigration policies.

 

by Blake Thomas, Congregational Vitality Team

edited by Kris A. Mainellis, Program Director for Communication and Events, Congregational Vitality

 

“Peace and the end of conflicts are fundamental in the battle against hunger.” – Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

For those of us old enough to remember, it is hard to imagine that nearly twenty years have passed since the World Trade Center towers graced the New York City skyline. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 brought into striking relief for Americans and neighbors the world over the vulnerability under which we live – and the threat posed by those who would exploit that vulnerability. 9/11 made clear that terrorism was a threat that could not be ignored, no matter how strong the walls or wide the oceans that might seem to offer protection from it.

In the days after, it became clear that the US and its allies would soon be at war, though few knew just how long the conflicts following 9/11 would last. As military preparations began and continued for more than a decade after, it also became clear that renewed energy for peace-building was also needed, to establish a just peace that strengthened institutions against violence and corruption, protected communities from terrorism, and fostered resilience to conflict.

Against this background, the member nations of the UN laid out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a framework for encouraging development toward peace and prosperity for people and the planet. SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – directly addresses the need for equal access to justice and protection of rights for all people. The goal makes clear what many have already known – without justice, there is no peace.

SDG 16 doesn’t stand alone, however. The need for justice and peace is closely tied to SDG 2 – Zero Hunger. Without justice, there is no peace. And without a just peace, there will always be hunger.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) bear this out. After decades of decline, global hunger has been on the rise since 2014, driven by conflict within countries in the developing world. The FAO found that in 2017, 489 million of the 815 million undernourished people around the world lived in countries facing conflict, violence and/or fragility. The growth in global hunger also correlated with a growth in non-state violence, which increased 125% between 2010 and 2017.

To be fair, the FAO understands “conflict” broadly, but terrorism is not without ties to hunger and poverty, too. Studies about these ties often look in one direction, trying to see if poverty and hunger are drivers of terrorism. But more recently, the research has started to look the other way, too, identifying the ways that terrorism and other forms of violence can make people more vulnerable to hunger and poverty. In a study of northern Nigeria, for example, researchers found that Boko Haram, a terrorist organization known for its kidnapping of schoolgirls in 2014, significantly disrupted markets through a series of attacks. As one respondent put it,

“People are afraid of coming to the market, me too am afraid. This market have been attacked many times, while perishable goods left wasted each time of attack causing many traders into incurring debt (sic).”

Attacks along roads to markets have also made it harder to exchange goods between markets. Threats of violence have significantly reduced access to food and left traders, particularly farmers selling their produce, vulnerable to debt and poverty. The recent debate over funding for health care expenses for rescue workers in the US following 9/11 highlights yet another way that terrorism and violence can leave individuals and families vulnerable to financial insecurity. Getting treatment for injuries and illnesses incurred as a result of the attacks left many workers and their families saddled with medical bills and lost income still felt today, 18 years later.

Terrorism isn’t the only type of violence that can increase food insecurity. Conflicts in places like Syria and Yemen, for example, have forced people from their homes and livelihoods, leaving them especially vulnerable to hunger. Interpersonal violence, too, particularly violence against women and children, is another significant cause of hunger. Often, violence or the threat of violence is used against women to prevent them from defending their rights or pursuing their vocations, as a 2004 study in the Journal of Poverty found. This is one of the many ties between SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and another of the SDGs, SDG 5 – Gender Equality.

The ELCA, through ELCA World Hunger, is working with fellow member churches of the Lutheran World Federation toward these Sustainable Development Goals as part of the “Waking the Giant” initiative. Together, we are lifting up the ways that churches and communities around the world are addressing the complex causes and effects of hunger, violence, and injustice and encouraging one another to deepen our efforts. We know that achieving any one of the SDGs will require a holistic response that addresses the other goals. If we want to end hunger, we must work for peace. If we desire a just peace, we must work for equality.

Certainly, as the refrain goes, we can “never forget” 9/11. But we should add to this the active commitment to “be ever mindful,” particularly of the ways that violence continues to threaten communities around the world, sometimes in the starkness of violent attacks but often in the pernicious effects of fear, instability, insecurity and hunger.

The pervasiveness of sin renders the world God has created a threatening place for us and our neighbors. The tragedy of violent attacks and the tribulation of undernourishment are painful, powerful reminders of how far we yet remain from the world which God has intended and promised for us. And yet, the hope enlivened by individual acts of courage and collective movements toward resilience reminds us that in the world as it is, too, God remains present – mourning as we mourn, and ever inviting us to share in the work of reconciliation and restoration.

We lift our voices in prayer, as lamentation for those who have been lost to violence and as invocation of hope in the transformative power of God to fill our needs – for food, for safety, for community. As a church, we pray for peace. We pray for justice. We pray for an end to hunger. And we pray knowing that each of these petitions is tied together in one single, holy plea to God for a just world where all may experience well-being and security amid the goodness of God’s creation.

Or, in other words, a world where all may be fed.

 

Tim Jacobsen, West Des Moines, IA

Warm-up Question

What is the longest time you have spent looking for something? Where did it end up being? How did you feel? (Be honest, it’s ok to say it was right in front of your face)    

Pain in Losing, Joy in Finding

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the devastation from Hurricane Dorian, here is a helpful link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/us/hurricane-dorian-updates.html.

Pro Tip: Be sensitive to those students who may be scared or storms or who have gone through severe weather events and know that it may bring up emotions for them. Talk about the storm, but don’t force response or shame those who this could bring up emotions for. 

Hurricane Dorian has left devastation and damage along its path. Think of the many who were in the path of Dorian. Many had to make the choice between staying, weathering the storm and trying to keep their belongings safe, and evacuating with what they can take and hoping for the best. Hurricane season comes at a time when people are taking the last of their summer vacations.  Tourists have to decide what they are going to do or, if they have not left home, whether they should even go on the trip.  

Big weather events bring up a range of emotions for people. Some are eager to see the weather, but not the devastation that can happen. Others are scared for loved ones or worried about what the damage means for them moving forward. In times of worry or crisis we tend to take inventory of what we have, and what those things mean to us. The things that hold a lot of meaning are things that we try to keep safe or take with us because we couldn’t bear to lose them. 

Discussion Questions

• What do you hold close or valuable to you?
• How do you keep those things safe?
• How would you feel if you lost it?

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Exodus 32:7-14

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Luke 15:1-10

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

I remember when I was little and was out running errands with my mom. We were in a store that had tall displays, so it was hard for those of us who were short to see over them. This led me to lose my mom in the store. I was scared and wondered how I would get home. Mind you, all this happened before cell phones, so I couldn’t call her and ask where she was. My mom was in the zone, looking for whatever she was looking for, so she did not realize right away that we were separated. I decided I would go to the front of the store; they paged her over the speakers to come up and meet me at the front. I was so glad to find her and did my best to stay close the rest of that shopping trip. 

In the Gospel reading for today there were some pharisees and scribes, basically some really churchy people, debating and judging Jesus’s actions. Jesus then turned the conversation around (as he often does) and posed this question to them, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?”

I would ask some questions about the sheep’s age or health, really trying to answer the question of the sheep’s value. But that does not figure into the story.  In Judea, the hilly terrain could make it hard to find a sheep and there were spots where sheep could get and humans couldn’t easily follow. The shepherd must have put out a lot of effort for one lost animal.  Jesus adds that once the sheep is found the shepherd throws a party because the lost sheep was found. 

Then Jesus tells the parable of a lady losing a coin and looking all over for it. This wasn’t just any coin like the ones we lose in a couch and forget about; this coin was a half or full day’s pay. We don’t know her financial status but a half day’s pay is not something to just lose and ignore. She, like the shepherd, looks all over and throws a party rejoicing that it was found.  

Could you imagine throwing a party for a lost sheep or a missing coin? I’m down for a good party, but these seem like lame reasons to throw a party. To top it off the sheep or coin couldn’t even say thank you or show repentance for being lost. If we just take this view, we miss the point. 

These parables illustrate that God cares about those who are on the margins or missing. God knows what is best for us and wants us to be in community with God, not because God needs us, but because God cares about us. This could have been shocking news to the religious elite of the day because they were thinking they had an in with God and that they mattered most to God. Jesus embodied God’s goal for community through his life and ministry. Jesus ate and spent time with those who were on the margins and challenged the religious elite to expand their vision.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever felt like you were missing?
• What makes you feel welcomed?
• How did these parables make you feel?
• How can you welcome people into your youth group or church?
• Who are some people you can reach out to our invite?

Activity Suggestions

All are welcome: Those are common words on church signs, but do you really mean it? The kingdom of God is for the people of God, which is everyone. It can be so easy to count people as lost or ignore them. Take a look at your youth group and think how a visitor would feel. Talk through what it could look like to invite people or what could change in your group to make all feel welcome. 

The point of this exercise isn’t just to grow numbers.  We are called to make Christ know to all, so let’s do that.  

Thank you: Write a note thanking someone who helped you when you felt lost or not included. Thank them for making you feel welcome or for reaching out to you.  

Closing Prayer

Good and Gracious God, we thank you for your presence with us and love that you have for us. We ask that you open our eyes to those around us who need to feel your love. Work through us as we go out to be your hands and feet. We have been blessed with much and long for much, help us to be content and willing to share our blessings with others.  Amen

United Nations | California | Delaware | Florida | Minnesota | New Mexico | Pennsylvania | Southeastern Synod | Washington | Wisconsin

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

Dennis Frado, director

WELCOMING ECUMENICAL CAMPERS: On August 1, 2019, the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) delivered a presentation to a group of youth from Cross Roads ‘S.E.E.K in the City’ summer camp program, to inform the campers of LOWC and its work with the United Nations. Based in New Jersey, Cross Roads is a joint ecumenical retreat center and camp of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark and the New Jersey Synod of the ELCA. The youth were actively engaged throughout and asked a range of questions including the role of youth within the United Nations.

AFRICAN DESCENT LUTHERAN ASSOCIATION 2019: In early August, Jackie Maddox ( ELCA Advocacy Office, Washington D.C) and  Christine Mangale (LOWC), attended the African Descent Lutheran Association’s (ADLA) 2019 Biennial Assembly, held in Milwaukee. Assembly highlights included the celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of the ordination of black women in the Lutheran Church, a discussion on the gift of Human Sexuality because all Black Lives Matter, and the historic commemoration of the 400^th Anniversary of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In response to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s (ELCA) Declaration to People of African Descent (adopted June 27, 2019 by the Church Council), Reverend Lamont Wells,  President of ADLA, accepted the apology (viewed here), stating ‘we the people of African descent of the ELCA can receive this apology as a divine mark of repentance that serves as a catalyst for change …This apology is received because Jesus has shown us the way towards reconciliation.’

2019 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was commemorated on August 9 at the United Nations. The event focused on this year’s theme of Indigenous Languages and its preservation and revitalization at both the national and international level, in order to protect the unique cultures, heritage and identities of the indigenous peoples they sustain.

According to the United Nations, although indigenous peoples only make up 5% of the world’s population, ‘they speak 60% of the worlds’ languages’, with estimates suggesting that ‘more than half of the world’s languages will become extinct by 2100.’ The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch held a high-level segment, a panel discussion with four indigenous speakers, followed by an interactive segment focused on creative initiatives that promote the use of indigenous languages.

Recommendations for charting a constructive pathway forward included committing to a Decade of Indigenous Languages, creating further legislation that includes incorporating indigenous languages into school curriculum, and stronger dialogue and partnerships.

FAREWELL TO REV. REBEKKA PÖHLMANN: This month, the Lutheran Office for World Community was sad to say farewell to Reverend Rebekka Pöhlmann, at the conclusion of her one-year internship with the office. While working for LOWC, Rebekka has been actively engaged with issues related to Israel/ Palestine, interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, gender equality and the intersection of gender and security questions. Rebekka has taken on the role of Senior Pastor for a congregation in Ludwigstadt, Germany. We wish her all the best!

MIGRATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE: Dennis Frado, Director of LOWC, traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to deliver a presentation on how the UN is addressing the issue of human trafficking. The International Conference on Migration and the Human Trafficking Crisis in Asia, held August 21-23, was convened by ELCA Global Mission and local Cambodian partner Life With Dignity. Four of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals related to the prevention of human trafficking were shared: SDG 5 (Gender Equality, Target 5.2), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth, Target 8.7), SDG 10 (Reduce Inequality, Target 10.7) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Target 16.2), alongside an extensive list of resources, protocols and initiatives. Dennis also highlighted the Global Compact on Migration, adopted by the UN in December 2018.  LOWC had monitored the negotiations leading to the Compact’s adoption.

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California

Regina Q. Banks, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- California (LOPP-CA) lutheranpublicpolicyca.org

LEGISLATURE BACK IN SESSION: Fiscal committees had until August 30 to hear and pass the remaining fiscal bills to the floors of the respective houses. The remaining two weeks of session, until September 13, are reserved for floor sessions. This first year of a two-year session adjourns at midnight on Friday, September 13, 2019. Please look out for time-sensitive alerts about ways to support our advocacy as measures move from the floor of the legislature to the governor’s desk for signature.

LOBBY DAY PARTICIPATION: LOPP-CA has had an exciting month supporting our ministry partners and advocacy allies in their lobby days and advocacy actions. Just a couple of highlights:

On Wednesday, August 21^st we participated in Building The California Dream Alliance (BCDA) lobby day. BCDA unites more than 60 organizations in a broad progressive coalition in an ambitious agenda to uplift families and expand opportunities for all Californians. We worked on stronger protections for striking and locked out workers, more robust safeguards for student borrowers, greater securities for our undocumented siblings and much more. Go to http://cadreambuilder.org to find out more about BCDA and our participation.

California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL) envisions a stable climate where humans live in right and just relationship, interconnected with a healthy, thriving, natural world. They work toward this goal through education, advocacy, direct action and conservation. Their lobby day was Wednesday, August 28^th and together we advocated for “Complete Streets” (safe use of our community streets for walkers, bikers, public transportation, and private vehicles), Smog Checks for Big Rigs, the protection of our state lands from would-be fossil fuel extractors, and plastics use abatement. LOPP-CA would be glad to help you register to become an IPL congregation.

PARTNERSHIP WITH FARMING HOPE: LOPP-CA is excited to announce collaboration with Farming Hope, a non-profit community organization providing transitional employment and training in the culinary industry to unhoused and low-income people in our community. They are a recipient of an ELCA World Hunger grant and Executive Director Jamie Stark was well received at the hunger leaders gathering this summer in Minneapolis, Minn. Initial discussions were had over brunch on August 24^th with representatives of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, ELCA World Hunger and the office of Bishop Mark Holmerud, ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. To find out more about Farming Hope visit them at https://farminghope.org and have a bite at their commercial kitchen site Manny’s at 3092 16th Street in San Francisco.

MISSION SUPPORT LETTER: Be on the lookout for a letter going to congregations asking for additional mission support. The work we do here at LOPP-CA is dependent upon you and your congregation’s generosity. Please consider blessing our ministry with an additional gift today. Instructions can be found in the mail, or at our website: lutheranpublicpolicyca.org.

CONGREGATION VISIT THANK YOU:  A sincere thank you goes out to congregations that have welcomed LOPP-CA into their Sunday worship experiences recently. They were truly blessed times in the Lord, and we look forward to coming back soon. Specifically, Faith Lutheran Church in Marysville, Calif.

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Delaware

Gordon Simmons, Public Policy Officer, Delaware Lutheran Office for Public Policy

The Delaware Lutheran Office for Public Policy was begun in the mid 1980’s but discontinued in 2012. In 2019, we went back into business!  I’ve been serving as the (volunteer) Public Policy Officer.  We have a Policy Council composed of members of seven of the 13 congregations in the state. I spent a good deal of my time this year building relationships in the Legislature, holding one-on-ones with 60 of the 62 senators and representatives. I also preached and led forums in 12 of the 13 congregations. We had a “Lutheran Day at the Capitol.”  For 2020, we have identified two issues for concentrated work: the environment (especially trying to raise the current 25% by 2025 renewable energy goal) and education (especially supporting the state’s efforts to reorganize and improve the public schools in Wilmington).

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Florida

Russell Meyer , Florida Faith Advocacy Office/Florida Council of Churches  floridachurches.org

Now that Dorian passed by the state, Floridians are turning out to support the Bahamas. Category 5 hurricanes blow cities to smithereens. There have been 4 in 5 years. More frequent and more intense weather comes from climate change. Now’s the time to talk about climate in your congregation. The Florida Legislature begins committee weeks this month in preparation for the January-March session. Expect more vouchers for private schools and disaster resiliency conversation. The hope for real criminal justice reform is high, and the fear of more adversity for immigrants is real. Healthcare and food assistance are still under attack.

Affordable housing is still being sunk by big development. Public schools are under open attack with the state education commissioner pushing to reduce them by two-thirds. The synod has combined its advocacy and ecumenical/interreligious teams, recognizing that our commitment to religious engagement is critical to our public advocacy for the common good, and vice versa. Sanctuary church is attracting great attention; contact us if you’re looking for a speaker.

The State Clergy Convening is Sept. 12-13 in Orlando to delve into advocacy issues.

A retreat with Alexia Salvatierra on faith-rooted organizing is Oct. 13-14 in Leesburg.

Check floridachurches.org for details. Or advocacy@floridachurches.org. @floridachurches FB | TW

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Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy- Minnesota (LA-MN)               lutheranadvocacymn.org

FACEBOOK FOCI:

• Friday Green Tips – Several months ago, we began posting green tips every Friday. Check them out and let us know if you have ideas you would like us to share.
• Migrant Mondays – We recently started a series on Mondays related to immigration. The first post featured a beautiful reflection on sanctuary, protection, & shelter from Bishop Jon Anderson. The series will include reflections, action alerts, & immigration updates from partners.
• Clean Energy & Climate – Throughout the weeks that the world focuses on climate action we’ll have several posts that relate to the debate, including local events and action options.

HOMES FOR ALL: Last fall, the coalition’s Policy Team (where we serve) reviewed 44 proposals, compared them with Governor’s Housing Task Force recommendations, and carefully selected proposals bundled into legislation carried by legislative housing champions. It was a bold but necessary agenda! Although housing got more attention than any other issue in final negotiations last session (thanks to advocates like you helping raise the profile) most of that agenda was left undone! Now we’re in the processes of discerning what to emphasize of the remaining agenda, and whether there are other prescient issues that should be added. Bonding to increase the affordable supply will definitely be a priority, so you should raise that issue this fall with your legislators!

CLEAN ENERGY: We are in deep discussions with our partners regarding how much to address in legislation in the next session, versus stressing significant education with the public and legislators to aim for wins in 2021.

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New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry—New Mexico (LA-MN)   lutheranadvocacynm.org

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE: LAM-NM has been an active part of a large state-wide coalition which has been advocating to increase the availability of quality early childhood education programs throughout New Mexico. Quality early childhood education includes home visiting, pre-kindergarten programs, as well as affordable childcare assistance. Such programs have been proven to make a very positive impact on the success of children and families.

The Invest in Kids Now coalition supports the adoption of an amendment to the state constitution to create a stable funding stream for early childhood education from our state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund. Members of the coalition, including LAM-NM director, Ruth Hoffman, attended and monitored an interim joint meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee and the Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee on August 29.

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Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Pennsylvania (LAMPa) lutheranadvocacypa.org

The Penn State Creamery, where the fruits of PA’s agricultural research are served up to millions of fans, proved an excellent setting for several LAMPa midstate summer meetings before some 98,000 students returned for the fall semester.

With the General Assembly in recess, August provided time for LAMPa staff to connect with partners, traveling the state to meet with new and longtime policy council members, coalition leaders, campus ministries and Pennsylvania’s new Bishop-Elect Michael Lozano. Those conversations, as well as surveys of rostered leaders and LAMPa’s network, will inform the work of our policy council at our retreat Sept. 22-23.

POVERTY: LAMPa staff and other members of the Interfaith Justice Coalition met with Rep. Francis Ryan about drafting legislation and developing a bi-partisan coalition to address intergenerational poverty.

HUNGER: Director DePasquale met with leaders of the PA Hunger Action Coalition to map strategy for the upcoming budget as well as responding to White House attacks on SNAP and related programs that will increase demand for state-level charitable support.

TRAFFICKING: DePasquale led a workshop at the Lower Susquehanna Synod convention of Women of the ELCA. Members celebrated passage of the Safe Harbor bill, on which they had worked for years, and learned how they can engage in other areas, including new anti-trafficking legislation.

RACIAL JUSTICE: DePasquale met with the Lower Susquehanna Synod Racial Justice Task Force, offering to amplify its work and sharing that we approach policy issues with a racial justice lens.

SANCTUARY: LAMPa staff responded to requests for information, including opportunities to act, stemming from the CWA sanctuary denomination declaration.

CIVIL CONVERSATIONS: LAMPa linked leaders who attended our Civil Conversations facilitator training in May and who are planning to introduce the process in their conferences and communities.

2020 CENSUS:  Program Director Lynn Fry attended the Keystone Counts quarterly 2020 Census planning meeting. LAMPa is working with the PA Council of Churches to help congregations connect with communities likely to be undercounted. An undercount could mean a substantial reduction in the $26 billion in federal census-directed funds.

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Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin, Southeastern Synod advocacy team

GUN VIOLENCE: We gathered at Liberty Plaza for a prayer vigil to end Gun Violence. Bishop-elect Kevin Strickland helped lead the prayers; we named the 609 people who where lost to gun violence in Georgia in 2018, along with prayers for peace.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: We held a follow-up meeting on Ending Mass Incarceration to detail plans for the 2020 legislative session. Record Restriction is on the top of the list , along with expungements. We have target counties. We will also continue to battle against Cash Bail. We will also be joining others in encouraging Bryan Kemp to bring back the GA. Council on Criminal Justice Reform started by Gov. Deal.

IMMIGRATION: We continue our work on a teaching document on the Immigration Social Message. We still hope to finish and do a trial run at St. John’s in September. On August 3^rd, we attended Rise for Refugees in Clarkston, GA., where we talked about the Presidential Determination on the Refugee Resettlement Cap. Plans were made for a campaign contacting the Judiciary Committee and the President.

GEORGIA INTERFAITH PUBLIC POLICY CENTER: G.I.P.P.C. is no longer a dream. We had our first Board of Directors meeting and began making big plans for the 2020 Legislative session. This is really exciting; we have brought together a most amazing inter-religious group, including Episcopal, Jewish, Presbyterian, Methodist, Muslim, Baptist, and Lutheran to mention a few.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network (FAN) fanwa.org

ANNUAL FALL CLUSTER GATHERINGS: Every July and August FAN begins planning for our annual Fall Cluster Gatherings. Our statewide network of 151 advocating faith communities is divided into 21 geographic clusters. The purpose of our gatherings is to deepen the relationships we have as we continue to build new ones, discuss critical issues affecting our communities, and often meet with an elected official as well.  Our first one will be in Southwest Washington on September 15.

ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETINGS: FAN is busy year-round building relationships with elected officials and their staff, including members of Congress, state legislators, and local elected officials. Our FAN advocates and policy partners are key attendees at these meetings, advocating on the issues that matter most to them. During the August recess, our partners in the Muslim community set up a meeting of faith leaders on the issue of immigration with Sen. Patty Murray. Our partners at the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition set up a meeting with a new DC staff person of a Congressmember whose portfolio includes hunger, food, and nutrition. FAN also met with our newest member of Congress, Rep. Kim Schrier, who serves on the Agriculture and the Education & Labor Committees. FAN members living in her district engaged with her on several issues before Congress and her committees (pictured left).

RACIAL EQUITY FOCUS: Last month the FAN Governing Board and staff held a day-long facilitated retreat on the issue of racial equity, examining how we use this lens in every aspect of what we do – staffing, policy agendas, programming, etc. We look forward to next steps and being more intentional in defining the “why” of what we do.

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Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW)           loppw.org

ADVOCACY IN CONGREGATIONS: Bishop Laurie Skow-Anderson invited the director to consult with a new social justice group she is convening.  The leaders from around the synod were filled with energy discussing their passions for justice, ELCA priorities, and how to organize around them as a public church.

STATE BUDGET: LOPPW has a one-page summary of highlights in the signed 2019-2021 WI State Budget in relationship to our priorities, with other updates included for the advisory council members at our annual retreat and for the bishops:   file:///Users/cynthiacrane/Downloads/201920-WI-State-Budget-Plus.pdf

LOPPW 2019/20 PRIORITIES: The LOPPW Advisory Council met for our annual retreat and decided upon keeping our same priorities because of legislative needs and our growing familiarity with the issues we’ve been addressing:

1. Calling for an End to Childhood Hunger
2. Addressing the Crisis of Human Trafficking
3. Caring for God’s Creation
4. Supporting Immigration Reform

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: The director testified at one hearing on anti-sex trafficking. LOPPW is working with WELCA from the East-Central synod, the Northwest Synod, and South-Central Synod to organize a rally on September 24. Flyer:  file:///Users/cynthiacrane/Downloads/Safe-Harbor-Rally-Poster-1%20(5).pdf

• Registration: https://www.loppw.org/evrplus_registration/?action=evrplusegister&event_id=1

IMMIGRATION: LOPPW has a new resource on immigration on immigration https://www.loppw.org/resources/immigration-and-refugees/

ADMINISTRATION: LOPPW has a new event set up on its website with a PayPal button.

 

Brian Hiortdahl, West Hills, CA

Warm-up Question

When has your heart wanted something your head decided you could not afford?  

Count the Cost

In her 2018 article “Fewer Ministers, Heavier Burden,” Jean Hopfensberger chronicles the changing landscape of church leadership:

www.startribune.com/fewer-men-and-women-are-entering-the-seminary/490381681/

Among the multiple reasons identified for the growing shortage of seminarians and clergy is the challenge of financial viability. One experienced Lutheran camp director has identified this as the primary reason that the young adults with whom he works are deciding not to enter the ministry. He observes that there has been no decrease in the number of those who consider or feel a call to ministry, but more and more conclude that there is no viable future in it.

Discussion Questions

•  Have you or your community felt any impact of the trends identified in the article? If so, how?
• What changes do you anticipate in the church in your lifetime if this trend continues?  Do you think these changes are positive or negative or both?
• Would you consider ministry as a career?  Why or why not?

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Philemon 1-21

Luke 14:25-33

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

Jesus has harsh, jarring words for the crowds traveling with him (notice that Luke does not write “following” him!):  Whoever does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself cannot become my disciple.  Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple…  None of you can become my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions. 

In the midst of these shocking statements, Jesus makes analogies to a builder and a king who must first sit down and estimate the cost of the projects they are considering. What if they can’t start what they finish?  If they conclude that there is no viable future in their plans, wouldn’t they be foolish to go through with them?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote in his classic book The Cost of Discipleship:  “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”  (This is dated language; it applies to the ladies too.)  The Greek phrase for all your possessions can also be translated all that you have, which underlines Bonhoeffer’s point.  Following Jesus puts everything else at risk.  Jesus illustrates this by claiming priority over the most important things in our lives:  family, survival, all that we have.

Being a disciple is not the same as being a pastor, which is only one of many ways that disciples might be called to serve.  But the sacrifices many pastors make can offer a window into how costly following Jesus can sometimes be.  True discipleship demands total commitment.  For most of us, and I strongly suspect at some point for all of us, the price is too high.  

So what is the good news?  As usual, it is not found in our accomplishments, but in God’s.  In order to make peace with us, God pays the outrageous price of sending Jesus, who speaks these hard words on his journey to Jerusalem.  Even his closest, most faithful disciples, who left their homes to follow him (Luke 18:28), fall away.  Yet he still follows through—all the way to the cross.  There, abandoned by his family, Jesus gives away all that he has, just like the foolish looking father in the parable he will tell next (Luke 15:11-32).  There he loses everything, like the son in the same story, whose father welcomes him home in an impossible celebration that still continues, forever in heaven and around church altars every Sunday.

There is no “viable future” in following Jesus.  There is resurrection.

Discussion Questions

• What is most important to you? If Jesus asked you to give it up, would you be able to do so?
• Have you ever sacrificed something important for something more important?
• Are pastors expected to make bigger sacrifices than others?  Should they be?
• What is the difference between carrying a cross and bearing an unfair burden?
• Name a disciple you admire.  What has their faithfulness cost them?  Was it worth it?

Activity Suggestions

• Interview a seminarian or a pastor.  Why are they making a career in ministry?  How did God call them?  What unique joys and challenges do they experience?  Finish by praying for her or him.
• Imagine an enormous project that would reshape your community.  What would it actually cost in dollars, in time, and in energy to make it happen?
• Do a scavenger hunt for crosses in a sanctuary, in a history museum, or in the world.  Where do you find them?  What meaning is implied by where and how they appear?  What does the cross mean to you?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, your words are hard for us to swallow.  Give us courage to keep following you when the path becomes difficult, the cross becomes heavy, and the cost feels too high.  Give us good leaders to help us on the way, and make us good leaders for others.  Forgive us when we falter, protect us from despair, and keep shepherding us to, and through, and beyond the cross to Easter joy. Amen

Dave Dodson, Houston, TX

Warm-up Question

What ability do you have which you are most proud of?

It Goeth Before a Fall

It was a warm night in Springfield, Illinois on August 16^th when the rapper Twista took the stage to perform in front of hundreds of his fans.  The lights were up, the bass was cranked high, and the notoriously fast rapper was spitting bars in his traditionally rapid-fire style.  There was one thing visible that might have drawn attention away from the rapper, though: On the side of the stage stood a sign language interpreter.  Her hair was buzzed short on the sides, a fiery red on top.  Her clothes were all black (interpreters often dress this way to make their signs easier to read).  She was bobbing up and down with the beat and, to everyone’s amazement, keeping up with Twista’s rapid rhymes.

I think it would have been perfectly natural for Twista to have gone on with his concert without much notice of the interpreter.  After all, the fans had paid money to see him, not an interpreter whom no one knew.  But that isn’t what he did.

Purposefully, Twista strode across the stage, still performing, and stood beside and behind the interpreter.  He made sure everyone’s eyes were on her as he laid down the next few lines of fast rap.  Her deft fingers flew through the words, and she didn’t miss a beat as she signed his lyrics.  Still rapping, Twista gestured to the interpreter and led the crowd in a huge cheer for her amazing skills!

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Twista chose to direct attention away from himself while performing?
• Think about your family and friends – have you ever been so proud of them that you wanted to show their skills off?

Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

Proverbs 25:6-7

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Luke 14:1, 7-14

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

In cultures around Israel and Palestine, one of the most important virtues anyone can have is hospitality.  The willingness of a person to welcome all of those who would come into his or her home is one of the strongest indicators of that person’s character.  As Jesus gives this metaphor to his listeners, they would have understood that the host in the story would have been obligated to welcome his guests and allow them to sit wherever they pleased.

However, in the metaphor, the first guest makes a critical error: he sits at a prominent seat.  Of course, his host would not argue.  His host would never be so impolite as to deny his guest a seat.  But then, later, someone else arrives whose status is higher than the first guest.  What a disaster!  Now the host is forced to ask the first guest to scoot over, and the first guest is embarrassed in front of everyone else.  (Not to mention a host that is probably REALLY uncomfortable now.)

Even more than hospitality, this story is about pride and humility.  Certainly, we ought to take pride in many things: our family and friends, our faith, and those talents that we have been gifted with.  However, this story illustrates the disaster that can befall us when we seek pride of status.  Let’s take a closer look at the mindset of the guest entering the feast:

Let us consider the first guest, the one who entered and sat at the head of the table.  What was his thought process?  He must have thought, either explicitly or subconsciously, “I am important.  Surely I am the most important person that this host knows.  Naturally, I should sit at the head of the table.”  In this instance, the pride the guest feels is in direct contrast to how he feels about the host.

But what about the second guest?  This guest, the one who sat at the foot of the table, must have thought very differently.  “This host is wonderful,” he must have mused. “Certainly he has many amazing friends and guests.  I will make room for them.”

Often, our pride can make us put ourselves in front of others.  That is the tendency that Jesus is warning us about.  When we think of ourselves as better or more important that others, we cannot serve them.  And remember, Jesus told us that whenever we serve “the least of these,” we serve him.  We must put away our personal pride and take comfort in humility.  We can value others and lift them up.  Then God, our host, will lift us up as well!

Discussion Questions

• How does being humble make us better servants?
• Can you think of any other stories from the Old or New Testaments which show great leaders serving others (after all, the humility of great religious figures is an important theme in our faith)?
• What is the difference between being proud of ourselves in a healthy way and being proud of ourselves in a way that puts others down?

Activity Suggestions

Let’s practice the art of making ourselves humble and, perhaps, a little vulnerable.  Everyone in the group should sit in a circle with an index card.  Write your name on the top, then pass the card to your right.  On the card you receive, look at the name, then write one amazing or wonderful thing about the person whose name is at the top.  Then pass the cards right again, repeating the process until you receive your own card back.  You see, when we prize others, we find ourselves lifted up, too!

Closing Prayer

Heavenly God, your Son humbled himself as he washed the feet of his disciples..He submitted to the judgment of human beings  and let himself be killed by those who should have worshipped him as Lord.  Teach us how to be mirrors of that perfect humility.  Walk with us every day and show us how to serve and lift each other up, as Christ did for us.  In his name we pray. Amen.

In 2017, hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria swept through the United States and the Caribbean, causing widespread damage and interrupting the lives of millions. Two years later, Lutheran Disaster Response is still present, working in partnership with congregations, synods, social service organizations and other partners to bringing God’s hope, healing and renewal to affected communities.

 

Last year, Dennis, a 72-year-old retired Marine living in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, met an employee of Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands — the local Lutheran Disaster Response affiliate. He told them about the damage to his home, and soon after they came for a visit. “I was hoping to get help from FEMA. I wasn’t expecting the Lutherans,” Dennis said. Last year at the anniversary of the Hurricane, through the LDR supported volunteer rebuild/repair program, Dennis began to rebuild his home and his life. “The house isn’t done, but how it looks now is beyond my wildest expectations,” Dennis said then. Now, two years after the storm, his house is complete. “It [the house] is bringing me joy… “I’m thankful to Lutheran Services for helping me out,” Dennis said.

 

Lutheran Disaster response, in our commitment to the long-term recovery of Puerto Rico and other hurricane-impacted states/territories, has committed significant funding and other forms of support to help survivors and continue building the capacity of our partners and affiliates on the ground. Thanks to you, survivors like Dennis,  have been connected with needed support — from emergency relief supplies to emotional and spiritual care, as well as the repairing and rebuilding of their homes.

 

 

Another blog post from ELCA World Hunger Education Intern Aml Mohamed. In this blog, she continues to seek answers to the three questions posed in her first blog. This blog is a response to her second question: “Why would I care as a practicing Muslim to work at a Lutheran faith-based institution?” 

 

In July, I participated in the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During one of the skill-building sessions, participants and staff members had the chance to practice one-to-one conversations. I had a beautiful chance to discuss faith and how it plays a part in our personal and professional life with a colleague.

I wear my faith on my head. By choosing to wear the Hijab, a hair covering, it is noted by some that I am likely a Muslim. In various settings this is the first thing they notice about me, especially in a large gathering like the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering. Sometimes, I do not think about it much, as it is part of me. However, I welcome those reflective questions about being of a different faith and my work. When the questions are asked properly, they do not reflect bad intentions– they reflect curiosity. They make me reflect on my own experience. I was about to respond to a participant’s question about my experience at the ELCA as a Muslim person, but they soon interrupted me. They said: “I am sure there are common things in our religions that support and encourage community work and care for hunger.” I nodded with a smile. I was happy to see that this was the assumption for why I do the work I do. But, is that enough?

To answer this question, I will return to the conversation about faith I had with my colleague and reflect on this question: do we do the work we do because of our community-driven personalities or because of our faiths?

It is not one answer or the other. I never thought of my religion as the source of my passion to work on community development. I mean, I am just a regular college student who is passionate about making a change in a small way. At the ELCA, the Lutheran faith that shapes the work is clear in many ways, such as praying before a meal or the start of the event. Is that what makes a faith-based organization different? The prayers? During the conference, it was often mentioned that God is a God of abundance. God created so much that there is more than enough to feed everyone on earth, yet there is hunger. I was confused. How can God be a God of abundance and allow hunger in the world? I soon realized in my conversation with my colleague that their work is driven by their faith grounded in hope. I realized that there is energy in people that have hope while their feet are on the ground. They know that there is too much to do, however, there is something that can be done.

I am not an Islamic scholar or a researcher, but when I heard the phrase God created abundantly, I reflected on this verse in Surat Hud 11:6 in the Quran: “And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision.” Allah is the Arabic word for God, and it is used by Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews. This is the English translation of the verse, but the Arabic word for Provision is Rizq. Rizq means so many things, which is the beauty of Arabic. Rizq means livelihood, sustenance, nourishment, daily bread, blessings and more. So, God says that every creature, not just humans, is provided for. God did not even limit the provision meaning to food or wealth, but it takes many shapes.

My personal belief that there are enough resources, ideas and energy is what pushes me to think that is possible to develop and sustain communities. It is not simple or easy to access those resources for many reasons in our world today. But, faith is my source of hope and energy. I know that there is unlimited human energy that should be invested wisely to make positive change. Working with ELCA World Hunger made me realize that faith grounded in hope points us towards change that can be done. This where I found my common ground. I saw that a faith-based organization like ELCA World Hunger achieves so much by reaching out to the community of active and caring individuals and ministries to work together. The source of hope to push and continue working on problems comes from faith in a God who provides abundantly – or for me, faith that one’s rizq is provided by God.

At the beginning of the summer I asked myself as a practicing Muslim, would I care about working at a Lutheran Church? Now, at the end of the summer, I look back, and I see how much I learned about my faith, even while immersed in Lutheran faith. I learned that caring for social change is not an impossible mission if people find common ground in their faith and worldviews to work together.

 

Last week, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly took action be a “sanctuary denomination” – publicly declaring our intent to walk alongside immigrants and refugees as a matter of faith. In response to this action, a well-used question of Martin Luther again began to surface – “what does this mean?”

And yet, just as voting members were returning home and news of this action was traveling far and wide, another announcement also hit the news cycle — a final rule that changes the public charge policies used to determine eligibility for people seeking to immigrate to the United States or to change a current immigration status.

In short, the proposed public charge rule change favors wealthier immigrants and will negatively weigh the use of a wide variety of forms of public assistance, including non-emergency Medicaid for adults, low-income housing assistance and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; formerly called “food stamps”).

While the rule itself has many nuances and implications laid out in the 800-page document, the question again becomes – “what does this mean?”

First, it’s important to remember that this rule change is not aimed at undocumented immigration, though it may have indirect effects on undocumented immigrants. The people most affected by this rule will be potential immigrants applying for visas, current visa-holders seeking to extend their stay and immigrants applying for a change in legal status (for example, applying for permanent residency.)

One of the most immediate consequences may be a sharp drop in the number of people applying for and receiving benefits like Section 8 housing assistance and SNAP. SNAP is one of the most reliable federal safety net programs for helping people facing food insecurity get through tough economic situations. About 11.7 percent of people in the US rely on SNAP, according to the US Census Bureau. Contrary to rhetoric that suggests people receiving public assistance don’t work, about 79 percent of households receiving SNAP in 2017 had at least one person working in the year they received benefits. By contrast, of the households which did not receive SNAP in 2017, about 86.1 percent had at least one worker. The difference is far from huge. Often, households rely on SNAP to supplemental insufficient income or to pay for food when there is no work, such as during seasonal down-times.

In terms of citizenship status, in 2017, 11.2 percent of native-born US citizens relied on SNAP, while 17.1 percent of foreign-born non-citizens received SNAP. It’s important to remember that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SNAP benefits, and most documented non-citizens working in the US pay taxes that fund SNAP. According to the USDA, in general, non-citizens must meet one or more of the following criteria to be eligible for SNAP (in addition to meeting limits for income): have lived in the country for at least 5 years, be receiving disability-related assistance, or be under the age of 18.

The decrease of SNAP participation is likely to leave food insecure families relying more heavily on community resources, like food pantries, to help meet their needs. But as most folks working in hunger-related ministries know, community responses to hunger cannot match the capacity of governmental responses. So, another likely result is an increase in hunger in communities across the US.

Community

In defense of the rule change, Ken Cuccinelli, acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, took the opportunity to revise Emma Lazarus’ famous poem etched on the Statue of Liberty. In his rendition, “The New Colossus” reads: “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge…” Self-sufficiency, he claimed, should be a litmus test for welcome.

On its surface, self-sufficiency may seem like a worthy ideal. After all, a lot of anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations doing great work celebrate the steps they help people make toward self-sufficiency.

For the church, though, it is a matter of faith that we are not self-sufficient. One of the most basic tenets of Christian faith is that humans are created as dependent creatures. We depend on God for our creation and sustenance, on one another to meet our basic needs, and on grace for our salvation. We are created to be in community with each other and with God in part because we are not self-sufficient. Our well-being depends on the health of these relationships.

To be a sanctuary church means recognizing the reality of our interdependence. But it also goes a step further. To be a sanctuary church is to offer a different model of community, one in which welcome is extended to all and one in which our vulnerabilities and dependencies are laid bare. The social ethic the church offers is not merely its public voice but its very self – a community where blessings and burdens are shared.

Courage

As Lutherans, we affirm that one of the institutions on which we are dependent is government. Just laws are gifts from God for our safety, peace and well-being. But we also affirm that laws are not good in themselves. They are good insofar as they reflect justice and equity and insofar as they enable well-being within a community.

Providing public benefits is one way well-being is safeguarded in the US. SNAP benefits, for example, ensure that families have the means to obtain the food they need during hard times. Housing assistance equips people facing financial challenges to live in a safe, stable home. Health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid ensure that the most vulnerable neighbors among us will have access to the services they need to survive. And yet, these same programs are the targets of the new DHS rule. Accessing any of these may mean that a non-citizen in the US will be deemed a liability and barred from full participation in the community.

For many people, the prospect of this new rule is frightening. How can one choose between the help they need now and the legal status they may hope for in the future?

Government is no stranger to fear. Indeed, fear is, to some extent, part of the role of government. Paul’s letter to the Romans, so often tossed about as justification for obedience to government, admonishes that “rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad” (Romans 13:3a). But what happens when rulers become a “terror” to all? Several ELCA pastors and leaders have noted the fear that plagues the people in their communities – fear that a visa may be denied or that an application to stay in the US will be rejected.

We need to bear in mind here that this new rule does not impact undocumented immigrants, who are ineligible for the benefits listed in it. This rule will directly affect the millions of non-citizen individuals and families who are trying to do things “right” but need help along the way.

To be a sanctuary church in this context is to refuse to be comfortable when neighbors among us are afflicted. To be a sanctuary church is to recognize that when government becomes a “terror” to “good conduct,” that government is fundamentally broken. To be a sanctuary church is to, in the words of Martin Luther, to rebuke that government “openly and boldly before God and men” (Luther’s Works 13:49). As Luther writes, this is not seditious but “a praiseworthy, noble, and rare virtue, and a particularly great service to God” (Luther’s Works 13:50).

When the well-being of neighbors is threatened, the church is called to hold government to account, not as a matter of politics, but as a matter of faith in the God who institutes government for the well-being of all.

What Can Be Done

State attorneys general have already begun the process of challenging the rule change in court, and there may be opportunities for advocacy in the weeks to come. Until then, here are some steps to take now.

Reach out to local ministries.

Local food pantries and feeding programs are a critical response to hunger in the US, though their capacity cannot match the need addressed through programs like SNAP. As the new rule is implemented, it is likely that many immigrant neighbors will forego SNAP benefits and need to rely more heavily on community interventions like pantries and soup kitchens. Reach out to local ministries to learn more about their needs and ways you can support them.

Listen to neighbors.

Effective responses to hunger start with meaningful, mutual relationships. The rule change, recent enforcement decisions by the federal government and public rhetoric have fostered fear and uncertainty. Take time to listen to neighbors and let them know our church supports them. Try to identify needs that can be addressed in the short-term as we work together for long-term change.

Share information.

If you are the leader of a community ministry, you may have clients who will be impacted by the new rule. It will be important to provide them with accurate, up-to-date information as the date for implementing the rule (October 15) gets closer. Consider developing handouts or posters that communicate information they may need to know. If your ministry involves caseworkers, be sure that they are equipped to handle questions about the rule. The National WIC Association has some helpful resources for clients and staff of community programs. (WIC is not one of the benefits included in the new rule.) The Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign also has some helpful resources, including newly updated pdfs on the public charge rule.

Be the church.

Much of the work to respond to this upcoming change has already been done – through the building of meaningful relationships with neighbors in our communities. But much more work awaits. In this time, we are called to bear witness to a new type of community – a banquet at which all are welcome. As a sanctuary church, the ELCA is committed to continue accompaniment of neighbors facing adversity, uncertainty and fear. This is lived out through local congregations and the ministry they do every day. Yet still, we must continually remind ourselves that hospitality is not an issue of partisan politics but of faith in the God who transcends all “principalities and powers.” To be a sanctuary church is to enter in to the vulnerabilities of our neighbors as if they were our own and to bear witness to the interdependence with which God has created the world and the diversity with which God has blessed it.