State Supreme Court: Ending General Assistance Was Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has taken an important step to protect Pennsylvanians living in deep poverty because of serious disability, domestic violence, or other factors that prevent them from working. By a decision of 7 to 0, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on July 18 found that Act 80 of
Governor Wolf Signs 2018-2019 Budget
Governor Wolf signed the 2018-2019 state budget into law Friday, June 22, a week before the June 30 deadline with very little controversy. This year's budget includes no new taxes, funding transfers to pay for new school safety initiatives, and deposited money into the Rainy Day Fund for the first
Pennsylvania Synods Pass Resolutions at Assemblies
Four ELCA Synods in Pennsylvania voted to pass resolutions regarding social justice issues at their recent assembly gatherings. The Lower Susquehanna Synod, meeting at Messiah College, May 31 - June 1, 2018, adopted a resolution regarding homelessness. The Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, meeting at Thiel College, June 15-16, 2018, adopted a
Payday Lenders Thwarted For Now
Another attempt at passing a payday lending bill, HB 2429, was recently thwarted in June. Official word came through on June 19 that the House Commerce Committee vote was cancelled because the payday lenders didn’t have the votes to get it out of Committee. Thank you to everyone who worked
Emergency Food Providers: End Food Waste With MEANS Database
The MEANS Database, founded by ELCA member and American University student Maria Rose Belding, a speaker at the 2018 National Youth Gathering, is a non-profit communications platform for emergency food providers and their donors. Emergency food providers can mean soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food pantries. MEANS, which stands for
PA Hunger Leaders Advocate in D.C.
Eleven World Hunger Leaders from across Pennsylvania, joined Tracey and Lynn, to participate in the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering, January 21-24. More than 150 leaders from across the country gathered at Reformation Lutheran Church, Washington, D.C., focusing on the theme “Until All Are Fed”. All in attendance were equipped
Study Examines Food Security, Nutrition Programs and Health
A new white paper from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) reviews the latest research on the harmful impacts of poverty, food insecurity, and poor nutrition on the health and well-being of children, adults, and older adults. Two other accompanying white papers describe the critical role of the Supplemental
“For Such a Time as This.” Pray. Fast. Act. Lutheran-Episcopal call for Public Witness
On May 18, 2017, the presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church issued a joint invitation to a season of prayer, fasting and advocacy. The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA and The Most Reverend Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal
PA Lutherans Participate in State of Appalachia Conference
ELCA Lutherans from across the Appalachian region participated in an ecumenical State of Appalachia Conference on March 31 – April 1, 2017, in Pipestem State Park, West Virginia. The conference "was an important gathering for public advocacy and service ministries in Appalachia," said the Rev. Dr. Gilson Waldkoenig, professor of
Governor Releases Blueprint for a Hunger-Free PA
LAMPa applauds the Wolf Administration on the recent unveiling of its food security plan – Setting the Table: A Blueprint for a Hunger-free PA, and urges ELCA hunger leaders to bring their faith to the table to help make that goal a reality. After meeting with anti-hunger advocates, including LAMPa, Gov. Tom
