June 17, 2019
Susan Barclay, a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, part of the Allegheny Synod, recently joined the LAMPa Policy Council. She is a retired mathematics teacher from Rockwood Area School District. Susan is married to Kirby Barclay, the mother of four children and four grandchildren, all the loves of her life. She...
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June 12, 2019
In this critical time in history, “The Forgotten Luther II: Reclaiming the Church’s Public Witness”, this volume argues that what is urgently needed is a cogent, clear, biblically based and theologically grounded rationale for the manner in which the church speaks and acts in the political arena. Lured at times into other-worldly quietism because of...
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June 12, 2019
Pennsylvania is at risk of an undercount in the 2020 Census, and this could mean a significant loss of federal funds for healthcare, nutrition assistance, transportation, housing, education, programs for children and parents, and much more. Pennsylvanians can not afford to put these programs needlessly at risk. That’s why every Pennsylvania resident needs to take immediate action...
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June 11, 2019
Please act today to urge your state representative and senator to vote to include General Assistance in the PA General Budget. General Assistance will best serve Commonwealth residents if it is included in the General Budget, NOT as an afterthought in the Human Code. General Assistance in Pennsylvania (GA) provides cash support – about $200...
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May 31, 2019
Lutherans from across the Commonwealth gathered in the Capital on May 20 to speak up for the hungry, network with statewide advocates, worship, learn about hunger and child nutrition, human trafficking, climate change, prescription drug pricing, the ELCA’s proposed Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment with keynote Kathryn Lohre, and more. In addition, the day included worship,...
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May 30, 2019
Betty Rendón, a synodically authorized minister in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, and members of her family were detained by immigration officials May 8. On May 28,Rendón and her husband, Carlos Hincapie, were deported to Colombia, from which they fled civil war in 2004. Her daughter (a DACA recipient) and granddaughter (born in the U.S.) were...
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May 30, 2019
Dear Beloved in Christ, As most of you are well aware, many states have passed or are considering legislation to restrict access to legal abortion. Talking about abortion has never been easy in this country, and the same holds true in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The members of this church have divergent beliefs...
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May 30, 2019
The documentary “Emanuel” will be screened in theaters nationwide June 17 and 19. It follows the journey of the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, S.C., after the racially motivated shooting of nine members during a Bible study on June 17, 2015. The documentary features interviews with survivors and family members, telling...
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May 28, 2019
Children coming to our nation for safety and protection are still dying at our southern border while in U.S. detention. Carlos, a 16-year-old youth from Guatemala, died May 20 in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Wilmer, a 2-year-old, died May 14, also in the custody of...
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May 10, 2019
Leaders of diverse faith traditions were wrapping up a press conference in the state Capitol rotunda yesterday, calling for an end to hatred and violence, when lawmakers standing outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh announced a package of bills to address it. The Capitol event, organized by the Harrisburg area Muslim community, drew...
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