Grand Canyon Synod

News

Posts in Advocacy

Bishop Eaton issues statement on new travel ban

Bishop Eaton issues statement on new travel ban

Dear Church: Last week, on the third anniversary of the original executive order, the administration extended the travel ban to the United States from seven majority Muslim countries to thirteen. The ban suspends the issuing of immigrant visas that can lead to permanent residency for those from Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Nigeria, as well as visas available through a diversity lottery for applicants from Sudan and Tanzania.

As Lutherans, these actions should concern us. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God has set us free from ourselves to serve our neighbor.

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Advocacy, LettersBrian FlatgardFebruary 6, 2020Comment

2020 ELCA Advocacy Federal Policy Priorities

2020 ELCA Advocacy Federal Policy Priorities

Looking ahead, 2020 is likely to be an eventful year. In the midst of societal shifts and opportunities, ELCA Advocacy has identified areas of priority for our work together on the federal level. “These priorities reflect ELCA Advocacy commitments for faithful and timely attention to pressing concerns that affect our neighbor’s well-being and the wholeness of creation,” says the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Director of ELCA Advocacy.

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardFebruary 1, 2020 Comment

ELCA Advocacy January Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy January Update: U.N. and State Edition

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices. This January 2020 edition particularly emphasizes priorities in the new year.

U.N. | California | Colorado | Delaware | Kansas | Minnesota | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Washington | Wisconsin

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardJanuary 21, 2020Comment

HUD’s Rule Change Ends Proactive Anti-Housing Segregation Measures

HUD’s Rule Change Ends Proactive Anti-Housing Segregation Measures

From ELCA World Hunger comes this deep dive into proposed rule changes, written by a former HUD grants administrator and current Program Assistant for Hunger Education with ELCA World Hunger.

ELCA World Hunger, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardJanuary 19, 2020Comment

Ready and Real: ELCA Young Leaders in Advocacy

Ready and Real: ELCA Young Leaders in Advocacy

ELCA Advocacy is very excited to offer “Ready and Real: ELCA Young Leaders in Advocacy” – a pre-event to plus participation in 2020 Ecumenical Advocacy Days.

Turn-around time is quick. We need applications by January 15, 2020 for the April 2020 event which is a great opportunity for skill building, experience and networking.

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardJanuary 9, 2020Comment

ELCA Advocacy December 2019 Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy December 2019 Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy brings their December Update: U.N. and State Edition, with news from: U.N. | Colorado | Minnesota | New Mexico | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington | Wisconsin.

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardDecember 5, 2019Comment

Las Vegas Area Churches Christ the Servant and Christ Lutheran help with orphanage in Liberia

Las Vegas Area Churches Christ the Servant and Christ Lutheran help with orphanage in Liberia

New Life Liberia Lutheran Church in Las Vegas and Pastor Jackson Jaylah have inspired Christ the Servant and Christ Lutheran to participate in their ministry locally and globally. Together they have recently produced a 14 minute documentary of this ministry.

Colorado River Conference, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardNovember 19, 2019Christ the Servant Henderson, Christ Las VegasComment

ELCA Advocacy November Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy November Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy share their November Update for U.N. | California | Colorado | Kansas | Minnesota | New Mexico | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Southeastern Synod | Washington | Wisconsin.

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardNovember 12, 2019Comment

Trending chicken sandwich and voter registration

Trending chicken sandwich and voter registration

From the ELCA Advocacy blog by guest blogger the Rev. Lamont Wells, President of the African Descent Lutheran Association

The sidewalk alongside 116th Street was filled with hungry consumers lined up to purchase that very popular chicken sandwich from Popeyes as I left my local gym. I paused and watched the line grow longer and overheard various conversations.

While I listened, a young male said aloud, “I haven’t registered to vote yet!” I ran upstairs to my condo and grabbed a handful of voter registration applications leftover from a previous drive.

AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 18, 2019Comment

10/18/19 Grant Application Deadline

10/18/19 Grant Application Deadline

10/18/19 Deadline! As we take applications for 2020 GCS grants, we share stories from our 2019 Grant recipients, which you can see on our Grant Dollars at Work page.

House of Prayer, Rock Point, AZ: Participants are growing accustomed to telling their story and seeing themselves as a part of God’s story in this time and place. Visitors to the Mission are also engaging with local folks in conversation and sharing. Guests who have come to “eat and run” in the past are sticking around to talk. The conversation and encouragement is especially helpful to the elderly.

Grants, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 17, 2019Comment

ELCA Advocacy October Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy October Update: U.N. and State Edition

ELCA Advocacy provides updates for: United Nations | California | Minnesota | New Mexico | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Southeastern Synod | Washington | Wisconsin

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 16, 2019Comment

October Update: Advocacy Connections

October Update: Advocacy Connections

From the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director

PROPOSED SNAP RULE CHANGE | AUGUSTA VICTORIA HOSPITAL | INTERFAITH CLIMATE CONSULTATION | YOUNG ADULT HILL VISITS

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 15, 2019Comment

Breaking News in Syria — Families at Risk

Breaking News in Syria — Families at Risk

Lutheran World Relief staff based in the region are preparing for an influx of refugees, and share this message:

With bombs falling on northeastern Syria, as many as 300,000 people living in the area could be forced to flee their homes. Help us be ready to respond to families in need who will be desperately seeking safety, shelter and emergency supplies such as food and water.

Lutheran World Relief, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 10, 2019Comment

Faith-Based Organizations and Churches Discuss Migration and Human Trafficking in Asia

Faith-Based Organizations and Churches Discuss Migration and Human Trafficking in Asia

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Life With Dignity (LWD) — the ELCA’s partner development organization in Cambodia — convened a three-day conference in Cambodia on ”Migration and the Human Trafficking Crisis in Asia: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership.”

The conference aimed to assist the ELCA in developing strategies for policy and implementation with churches and faith-based organizations to address migration and human trafficking issues, and how to work together in the future, in Asia, and across the world. Read the whole story »

ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 10, 2019Comment

Registering to Vote: Love in Action

Registering to Vote: Love in Action

by Tessa Comnick, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow

I was the youngest person by maybe 30 years sitting in a dilapidated American Legion hall at 5 a.m. preparing to start a 15-hour shift at my local polling station. The gentleman next to me told me with some pride, “We’re expecting we’ll get more people than last year.”

“More people” turned out to be over double the voters on Nov. 6, 2018 than in the previous year. In Lorain County, Ohio, 26.80% of those eligible voted in November 2017—in November 2018, we hit 54.15%. This is a trend I am hopeful we will continue to see. Read the full blog post »

AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 4, 2019Comment

Grant Dollars at Work: Global Engagement Team

Grant Dollars at Work: Global Engagement Team

10/18/19 Deadline! As we take applications for 2020 GCS grants, we share stories from our 2019 Grant recipients, which you can see on our Grant Dollars at Work page.

One of the goals of this team and purpose for this grant is to deepen our companion church relationship with the Lutheran Church in Senegal (ELS). This Young Adult exchange is doing just that. When we hosted Pierre (the president of the Youth in Senegal) and four other guests, they connected with 12 congregations from Sedona to Phoenix to Tucson. In addition, they worked with Casa Soup Kitchen and LSS-SW.

Grants, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 3, 2019Comment

Thursdays in Black

Thursdays in Black

The ELCA Conference of Bishops participates in the Thursdays in Black Campaign, raising awareness of the possibility of a world free from rape and violence.

Bishop Hutterer, ELCA, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardOctober 2, 2019Comment

9/26 Prayer: ELCA Advocacy

9/26 Prayer: ELCA Advocacy

Pray for the ministry of ELCA Advocacy, its Washington office and its state public policy offices as they work with ELCA members to develop and advance legislation that will overcome poverty, defend God’s creation and promote peace, dignity and justice.

Prayers, ELCA, Advocacy, ResourcesBrian FlatgardSeptember 26, 2019Comment

Grant Dollars at Work: Celebration, Peoria, AZ

Grant Dollars at Work: Celebration, Peoria, AZ

As we take applications for 2020 GCS grants, we share stories from our 2019 Grant recipients, which you can see on our Grant Dollars at Work page.

Celebration in Peoria received two grants. Touching Heart of the Youth project grant monies were used for youth events. The Engaging Youth Project Grant was used to paint the classrooms in our education wing. As you will see in the video, this project is complete.

Grants, AdvocacyBrian FlatgardSeptember 12, 2019Celebration PeoriaComment