ELCA Bishop & Conference of Bishops Urge Release of Funds for East Jerusalem Hospitals
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have issued a letter to President Trump urging the administration to restore funding to Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) and other hospitals in East Jerusalem. AVH is owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
Pennsylvania One of 10 States in the U.S. With Increased Number of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty
Twelve percent of children in Pennsylvania live in concentrated poverty according to “Children Living in High Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods,” a new KIDS COUNT® data snapshot released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Using the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the snapshot examines where concentrated poverty has worsened
The Ethics of Dialogue and Debate from the Journal of Lutheran Ethics
Introducing a new ongoing resource for formal education classes or informal group discussion from the Journal of Lutheran Ethics Issue Index October/November 2019: The Ethics of Dialogue and Debate. The following Introduction is from Editor Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth. "In an age of conflict and division between political parties and within
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
Lutherans Raise Their Voices For God’s work. Our hands.
ELCA congregations across Pennsylvania shared their voices for "God’s work. Our hands" Sunday by addressing letters to legislators, federal and state, advocating on behalf of those whose voices may not always be heard. As a result of their thoughtful advocacy, several hundred letters were shared with state and federal lawmakers.
ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Shares Pastoral Message on Racism and White Supremacy
“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). “Racism — a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice — is sin, a violation of God’s intention for
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
State of Working PA 2019
The Keystone Research Center released the 24th edition of its report “The State of Working Pennsylvania.” The report finds that, despite low unemployment and a glimmer of good news on the wage front, economic gains are still disproportionately going to Pennsylvanians at the top of the income distribution at historic
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
