News

May Update: Advocacy Connections from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director. This May wrap-up includes updates on Disaster Aid Bill, Central American Minors Program, Affordable Housing in the Federal Budget, Foreign Assistance to Northern Triangle, Global Conflict Prevention.

The 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening was held April 29–May 1 in Washington, D.C., gathering bishops (including Bishop Hutterer) and community leaders around the theme “Prepared to Care: Our Advocacy in Light of Disasters Intensified by Climate Change.” In her welcome letter to participants, Amy Reumann, ELCA Advocacy director, said this topic requires urgent action. Read the article in Living Lutheran »

From Lutheran Disaster Response, we have a situation report on the 29 tornadoes that impacted Missouri, including one through Jefferson City. Read the full report here, including ways you can be part of the response through prayer, gifts, and connections.

The intricacies and diversity of creation are mind-boggling, a reflection and reminder of the power and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit expressed through the created order. The United Nations honors creation on May 22 through the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.” Marking the dayincreases our understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues in God’s good creation.

Read updates from ELCA Advocacy and learn about their work at the United Nations, California, Colorado, New Mexico,North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Southeastern Synod, Washington, Wisconsin.

In mid-2018, the ELCA Advocacy team decided to focus the 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening, an advocacy gathering for bishops and key community and ELCA leaders, on disasters intensified by climate change. The earth is groaning as our warming climate intensifies drought, floods, wildfires and sea level rise, each in turn accelerating hunger, conflict, migration and the well-being of every inhabitant of our planet. Read in English, en Español.

On March 28, 2019 the ELCA joined other US churches and Christian organizations in a statement rejecting President Trump’s recognition of Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights. Read the full statement here.

Leave no one behind.

This was the ambitious commitment in the creation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of universal goals “unique in that they cover issues that affect us all. They reaffirm our international commitment to end poverty, permanently, everywhere. They are ambitious in making sure no one is left behind” (undp.org background). These 17 goals, such as zero hunger, are for striving toward by developed and developing countries.

“There is a safety and refuge in that is in this place that is so, so very holy,” proclaims Rev. Kirsten Fryer in this video. Fryer is an ELCA missionary serving as the pastor of an English-speaking congregation, St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo. St. Andrew’s houses several ministries including St. Andrew’s Refugee Services, which serves 25,000 refugees annually. You can support Kirsten and the over 240 ELCA missionaries serving around the world by visiting ELCA.org/missionaries.