New Resource: “Unpacking White Privilege: The Important Work of Making the Church Less Harmful”
For years, the ELCA has been working to educate and inspire Lutherans to promote fairness and racial equity in our churches, communities and country. At the 2019 Churchwide Assembly, the "Strategy Toward Authentic Diversity in the ELCA" was adopted. This strategy includes a commitment to digging deeper into the history
LAMPa Policy Council Sets 2020 Priorities and Elects Officers
LAMPa's Policy Council met on December 5, 2019 and adopted a broad agenda that encourages disciples to act where they are called, lifting their ministry context, lived experiences, vocations and gifts for public witness. Alleviating hunger, protecting all of creation, especially the most vulnerable, and addressing poverty and its root
New Research from Blessed Tomorrow & ecoAmerica: How Faith Communities Fuel Social Movements
EcoAmerica and Blessed Tomorrow have shared their latest research on How Faith Communities Fuel Social Movements: Lessons for Climate Advocacy from the Immigration Black Lives Matter, and President Trump Election Campaigns. While each effort is rooted in the authentic experiences of those impacted, the report examines the successful replicable strategies
Impending “Public Charge” Rule Could Drive Up the Uninsured Rate for Children
The “public charge” test refers to the evaluation by federal immigration officials to determine whether a person applying for a visa or green card is likely to rely on government benefits. The final rule, which was published by the Department of Homeland Security, changes the public charge definition by adding
UN Climate Action Summit 2019
Global emissions are reaching record levels and show no sign of peaking. The last four years were the four hottest on record, and winter temperatures in the Arctic have risen by 3°C since 1990. Sea levels are rising, coral reefs are dying, and we are starting to see the life-threatening
Ensure Your Schools Are Welcoming with Welcoming Schools Survey, Toolkit
In 2017, Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) launched the Welcoming Schools Campaign to ensure that immigrant students and parents had the tools they needed to advocate for welcoming policies at their schools. Last year, PICC members, partners, and allies worked together to pass Welcoming Schools Policies in Reading City,
2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Summary of Actions
Gathering under the theme "We are church," voting members of the 2019 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) made a number of key decisions to further the mission and ministry of this church. The assembly, the chief legislative authority of the church, met August 5-10 at
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Adopts: Faith, Sexism, and Justice Social Statement
At the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, gathered in Milwaukee August 5-10, voting delegates adopted a social statement focused on sexism and gender justice: "We believe all people are created equally in the image of God. Every individual is dependent upon God, and all share in the God-given vocation to contribute
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Declares ELCA Sanctuary Church
In a key action, the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to approve a memorial that declares the ELCA a sanctuary church. The ELCA is the first North American denomination to declare itself a sanctuary church body. As a sanctuary church the ELCA is committed to serving and supporting migrant children
Responding To Conditions At The Border
Recent 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. Mary Campbell, ELCA's Director of AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) invites any faith leader (not
