In July of 2018, I began the ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellowship. This fellowship comes from a partnership between ELCA World Hunger, ELCA Advocacy, and statewide public policy offices across the United States. It’s a 12-month program that combines leadership development with impactful advocacy – working together to end hunger and poverty by engaging directly with local, state and national governments, and equipping people of faith to seek justice and equity.
Read MoreOn May 26, 2019, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck northern Peru. Within days of the disaster, our local faith-based partner reached out to rural Lutheran churches and conducted community needs assessments to determine damage from the earthquake. Continue to pray for all those impacted by this earthquake.
Read MoreMost years, Congress recesses for the month of August. Legislators return to their home states and congressional districts and connect with constituents.
This is a great opportunity for local advocates to engage with elected officials, ask questions and share concerns. Our August Recess Guide contains tips for communicating with your elected officials and candidates this month.
Here are some timely questions and talking points based upon ELCA Advocacy priorities.
Read MorePastor Tom Dunham of writes: “On Monday, July 22, two semi loads of clothing arrived from Pennsylvania at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church in Tucson. The 44,000 pounds of clothing was unloaded by hand and stacked in the church’s storage shed in less than 3 hours. Members of Streams and many other area churches, totaling 50 volunteers, worked hard in the summer heat in this labor of love. Over the next three weeks trucks from McAllen, Texas to San Ysidro, California will be arriving to take loads of clothing back to the refugee and asylum centers along the Mexican border. We are truly the church together!”
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada holds a special drive every summer for one of our most popular food pantry items: peanut butter. Local churches, businesses, and groups are able to register to compete to see who could donate the most peanut butter, and the winner of the "war" will become our reigning champion and be recognized by LSSN. Will your church or business be able to take the crown from our reigning champions, New Song Lutheran Church?
Read MoreJuly Update: Advocacy Connections: Posted on July 12, 2019 by ELCA Advocacy, from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director.
BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL SIGNED | DREAM ACT | UN CLIMATE CHANGE SESSION | FY20 FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET | SUMMER MEALS
Read MoreOn Tuesday, July 15, four young adults form the Grand Canyon Synod will be heading to Senegal to further our companion synod relationship with the Lutheran Church of Senegal. Julie Gerrish (Esperanza/University), a former YAGM in Senegal, is leading the trip. Geraldine Carillo (Faith), Stephanie Petrilli (Our Saviour's-Phx), and Sam Perez (Faith) round out the delegation.
Read MoreIn this post, ELCA World Hunger summer intern Aml Mohamed reflects on her experiences of accompaniment in her home country of Egypt.
“Why are you interested in this position at the ELCA?” A classic, expected question during an interview. I paused and asked myself three questions. What is the difference between interning at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a regular nonprofit? Would I care as a practicing Muslim to work at a Lutheran faith-based institution? Would my identity as an Egyptian allow me to work and understand hunger in the US?
Read MoreIt happens every single day. Somewhere in our country, gun violence shatters a community, a neighborhood, a family. Almost 40,000 people died in 2018 from guns. That equates with a city the size of Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, struck down in a year – year after year.
Although written in 1995, the ELCA social message on “Community Violence” reads as if describing today. “For some women and children, home is less safe than the street. Hate crimes continue. Neighborhood, schoolyard, workplace, or family disputes spark into violence and become lethal. They become headline news, reinforcing the atmosphere of violence and inspiring profitable entertainment media.”
Read MoreELCA Advocacy keeps us updated with the many activities our church is doing in: United Nations | California | Colorado | Minnesota | Nevada | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Southeastern Synod | Washington | Wisconsin.
Read MoreSince the closing of the Balkan Route to Middle Eastern refugees in 2016, Serbia has been gaining more and more refugees. UNICEF predicts that 18,000 people will transit through Serbia by the end of 2019.
Please pray for all those affected by the refugee crisis. Remember those who have lost everything and all those who are working to respond. You can use these prayers and resources in your worship services.
Your gifts are needed now to help with immediate relief. Gifts designated for the Middle East and Europe Refugee Crisis will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those directly impacted and have fled for safety.
Read MoreOur very own Mateo Chavez, pastor of San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, will be at Oak Grove Lutheran Church, in Richfield MN, this Sunday. At worship and dinner, Pastor Chavez will be preaching and sharing stories about ministry and work with immigrants and asylum seekers at the Nogales border crossing.
Pastor Chavez is a board member of Cruzando Fronteras, a collaborative border ministry between Episcopal, Lutheran, and Anglican communities on of borders with Mexico, Latin America, and elsewhere.
Read MoreEvery year Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) prepares backpacks filled with school supplies to help children in need in our community. Will you help us this year by grabbing a few extra school supplies when you do your family’s back-to-school shopping? For questions or to coordinate a delivery, contact Tristan Hightower at tristan@lssnv.org.
Read MoreClick here to take action to secure funding for humane and just immigration system. Use your voice as funding decisions are made.
The ELCA AMMPARO strategy is a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA to accompany people who are forced to flee their communities seeking protection from suffering or violence. As church together we work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the United States.
Read MoreAs we prepare for the 2020 GCS grant process, we have assembled stories from our 2019 Grant recipients, which you can see on our Grant Dollars at Work page. We’ll be highlighting recipients in the coming weeks, and first up is Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Prescott Valley, AZ.
Their Feed the Hungry Program serves 125-145 hot meals on the second Friday of each month to anyone in the community who is hungry.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) is excited and grateful to announce that on June 18th Clark County Commissioners approved a grant of more than $6.1 million in marijuana business licensing fees to help provide nearly 600 beds for homeless families in our community through LSSN, HopeLink, and HELP of Southern Nevada. Of that $6.1 million, LSSN was approved for $1,970,781.00 to rapidly rehouse and provide supportive services to 60 literally homeless families with children.
Read more good news in the LSSN July newsletter »
Read MoreIn a tight timeline before July 9, consider making a public comment to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on a proposed rulemaking that would prohibit mixed-immigration status families from living in federal affordable housing programs.
Read MoreRecent news stories of appalling conditions at immigrant detention centers and of deep human sorrow on our country’s southern border have many of us desperate to be part of change.
Lutherans have a deep-rooted history in refugee and immigrant issues. One of every six Lutherans in the world was a refugee or displaced person after WWII. The God-given dignity in all people and value of family unity have been cornerstones of ELCA faith-based advocacy, and we understand that many immigrants, as well as their families, are both afraid and confused by recent developments. Here are some ways Lutherans have acted and can continue to respond.
Read MoreTwo important anniversary dates occurred last week. On June 19th there was the observance of Juneteenth, the date on which African descent slaves in Texas received the good news that they had been set free from their bondage. Two days earlier marked the fourth anniversary of the slaying of nine African descent Christians at a Bible Study in their church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a young man hoping to start a race war. On both of those dates last week, there was a nationwide showing of the documentary “Emanuel.”
Read MoreThe 2019 Session of the Nevada Legislature is history. They say politics is a blood sport, so as in any sport, it’s time for the post-game wrap-up. Lutheran Engagement & Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) stayed in the game ‘til the end. We scored some wins and some losses.
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