INTRODUCTION TO

FAITH- BASED ADVOCACY

The poor you will always have

with you.

Matthew 26:6-13Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon

the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’

Deuteronomy 15:11

“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land”

Martin Luther:Poverty, I say, is not to be

recommended, chosen or taught; for there is enough of that by itself, as He says, “The poor you always have with you,” just as you will have all other evils. But constant care should be taken that, since these evils are always in evidence, they are always opposed.

Baptismal Foundations “Let all Christians regard their baptism as the

daily garment they are to wear all the time…If we want to be Christians, we must practice the work that makes us Christians.” (Martin Luther, Large Catechism)

“To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth...” (LBW Rite for the Affirmation of Baptism)

From the ELCA Constitution

This Church is to:

Advocate for justice and dignity for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, and standing with the poor and powerless and committing itself to their needs

Study social issues and trends in order to discover the causes of oppression and injustice, and develop ministry to further human dignity, justice and peace in the world.

This takes place throughCoordinating theological study of

social issues, developing social statements and messages

ELCA World Hunger

Implementing public policy advocacy – international, national and state – Lutheran World Federation, Washington Office, State Public Policy Offices

Social Statements

First Statement is “Church in Society” 1991

Provides foundation for all social statements and messages

Guides work of advocacy, justice and ethics in the ELCA

Opens the door for respectful dialogue in denomination

Affirmations

Church’s Responsibility in Society

The God who justifies expects all people to do justice through the divine activity of the Law. God preserves creation, orders society and promotes justice in a broken world.

Church must participate in social structures critically. This church must unite realism and vision, wisdom and courage in its social responsibility.

Church has an obligation to name and denounce idols, identify sin present in social structures and advocate in hope with poor and powerless people.

Affirmations

Baptismal Vocation of all Christians

The Spirit transforms for discipleship in daily life, Jesus frees Christians to serve others and walk with people who are hungry, forgotten, oppressed and despised. Christians exercise vocation by being wise and active citizens

AffirmationsCommunity of Moral Deliberation

Christians often disagree passionately on responses to social questions

because we share a common faith, we are freed and obligated to deliberate together

respectful dialogue is critical in our discernment of what is the will of God

Commitments Sustaining Vocation

Foster a faith that is active in love, a love that seeks justice, and an insight that strives to discern what is right, good and fitting;

Support its members in their callings to love their neighbor, to mend the creation, to advocate justice and mercy in situations of brokenness, and to seek peace where there is conflict;

CommitmentsWitnessing as an Institution

Develop social statements …that will guide the life of this church and inform the conscience of its members in the spirit of Christian liberty

Speak out on timely, urgent issuesWork with and on behalf of the poor, powerless, those

who suffer, using its power and influence with political and economic decision-making bodies to develop and advocate policies that seek to advance justice, peace and the care of creation

Expect bishops, pastors, lay church leaders to pray for and to exhort those in positions of authority on the basis of God’s prophetic word

Commitments

Deliberating on Social Questions

Be a community where open, passionate, and respectful deliberation on challenging and controversial issues of contemporary society is expected and encouraged – moral deliberation

Draw on the resources of faith – Scripture, church history, theology, knowledge and personal experience - and reason to learn and discern how to respond to contemporary challenges

Engage those of diverse perspectives, classes, genders, ages, race and cultures in the deliberation process so that each of our limited horizons might be expanded and the witness of the body of Christ in the world be enhanced

In a nutshell

“In faithfulness to its calling, this church is committed to defend human dignity, to stand with the poor and powerless, to advocate justice, to work for peace, and to care for the earth in the processes and structures of contemporary society.”

Social Statements

Social statements are social policy documents, adopted by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, addressing significant social issues.

Abortion 1991

Church in Society 1991

Death Penalty 1991

Environment 1993

Race, Ethnicity and Culture 1993

Peace 1995

Economic Life 1999

Health and Healthcare 2003

Education 2007

Human Sexuality 2009

Underway – Genetics and Bioethics, Criminal Justice, Justice for Women

Messages

Brief communications that draw attention to a social issue and encourage action on it

Adopted by the ELCA Church Council

Intended to further discussion (not result of widespread deliberation)

Build on previously adopted social statements and social policy resolutions

MESSAGES Aids 1988

Israel/Palestinian conflict 1989

Changing Europe 1990

Homelessness 1990

End of Life Decisions 1992

Community Violence 1994

Sexuality 1996

Immigration 1998

Suicide Prevention 1999

Commercial Sexual Exploitation 2001

Terrorism 2004

Underway – Disabilities

Social Policy ResolutionsActions, other than social statements, of the

Churchwide Assembly or Church Council on matters of social concern:

Refugees

Separation Wall in Palestine

National School Violence Campaign

Landmines

Fair Labor Practices

Advocacy Ministry in the ELCA

ELCA Washington Office

State Public Policy Offices, LAMPa is one of 10

Lutheran Office of World Community

State office work is directed to hunger-related causes such as food and nutrition, shelter and affordable housing, environmental stewardship and justice, employment and income, and access to preventative and primary health care.

Arizona California Colorado

Illinois Michigan Minnesota

Nebraska Nevada New Jersey

New Mexico Oregon Pennsylvania

Virginia Washington Wisconsin

LAMPa’s Mission

Advocates on behalf of, and in partnership with, those persons who are  denied justice, dignity, reconciliation, peace, and access to basic human rights, and who lack adequate representation and voice in the arenas of public policy

Provides an advocacy voice for the ELCA , synods, congregations , social ministry organizations and ministries with government policymakers

LAMPa’s MissionEquipping Pennsylvania Lutherans to be advocates by

Leading discussion forums on current social issues and public policy to help Lutherans understand the connections between faith and daily life and the call to be a public church

Providing training and resources for Lutherans live their baptisms and grow in faith through advocacy for justice

Advocacy Agenda for 2011-12

Hunger/Poverty

State-wide poverty study

Funding for the State Food Purchase Program

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LAMPa is a partnership ministry among Lutherans in PA

7 Synods

18 Social Ministry Organizations

2 Seminaries

4 Colleges

Campus Ministries

Outdoor Ministries

Pennsylvania Lutheran Network

LAMPa ELCA partnerships

ELCA World Hunger

Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit

Washington Office

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Lutheran Services in America

State Public Policy Offices

Advocacy Agenda for 2011-12

Health Care

preserving the adultBasic health insurance program for low income adults or identifying an acceptable alternative to cover 42,000 people

Advocacy Agenda for 2011-12

Care for Creation

Clean Energy/Green Jobs Bill

Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale

Advocacy Agenda for 2011-12

Immigration

Collaboration with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service on immigration-related legislation

Coalition WorkInterfaith Justice Coalition

Coalition for Low-Income Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania Health Access Network

Hunger Fighters Coalition –

Pennsylvania Works!

School Funding Campaign

Better Choices for Pennsylvania Budget Coalition

Communications ACTIONET (statewide E-Advocacy Network)

Website: www.lutheranadvocacypa.org

- up to date Issue Briefs and Action Alerts

* Twitter @LutheranAdvocacyPA

* monthly e-newsletter LAMPa Highlights

ELCA E-Advocacy from the ELCA Washington Office

Facebook PageInteresting facts, figures, articles, quotes, & more!

LAMPa TacticsACTIONET

Lutheran Day at the Capitol (Spring)

LAMPa Ambassadors

Staff presentations and trainings at your site

Arrange briefings and legislative visits in Harrisburg

Produce educational resources

Advocacy and coalition work by staff

LAMPa StaffDirector – Amy Reumann

Advocacy Developer – Marissa Krey

Field Education Students from Gettysburg and Philadelphia Seminaries, Messiah College

Master’s in Public Leadership degree field education site

Hundreds of engaged Lutheran advocates around the state, working on local and state-wide issues – including YOU