ELCA, Church of Sweden and The Episcopal Church Issue Climate Commitment
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joins the Church of Sweden and The Episcopal Church in a commitment to work together to advocate for national and international policies that address the urgency of the climate crisis and help create resilient communities while leaving no one behind. This statement is
Grant Opportunity for Pennsylvania Schools Expanding School Breakfast Participation
Grants are available to support schools with the purchase of approved equipment, materials and initiatives facilitating alternative breakfast delivery models, such as breakfast in the classroom, grab and go, or second chance breakfast, in an effort to increase student participation in school breakfast. All schools implementing or prepared to implement
LAMPa Welcomes the Rev. Matthew Best to Policy Council
The Rev. Matthew Best recently joined the LAMPa Policy Council as a representative of the Lower Susquehanna Synod (LSS). Since 2017, Best has served as the pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, New Kingstown. Pastor Best also serves on the LSS Council, currently serving on the Executive Committee of Synod
Annual Food Security Summit Focuses on College Hunger
Governor Wolf's Annual Pennsylvania Food Security Summit was held recently in Harrisburg to update stakeholders, advocates, and federal partners about Pennsylvania’s progress with the Blueprint for a Hunger-Free PA to address food insecurity and discuss work to combat hunger around Pennsylvania. Presentations regarding hunger in Pennsylvania were shared by the
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)
EPA Releases Booklet to Assist Houses of Worship Identify and Reduce Environmental Health Hazards
In accordance with Children’s Health Month, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the release of a new EPA booklet, Supporting Healthy Houses of Worship: Effective, Affordable Measures to Protect the Health of Congregations and Staff. This booklet is designed to provide places of worship with information on
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
Policy Council Gathers for Annual Retreat
The LAMPa Policy Council recently gathered at Camp Hebron, Halifax, for their annual retreat. The group engaged in discernment about strategic direction as policy council to support LAMPa's mission and to foster being church in the public square. Their work built upon responses to a statewide survey of ELCA rostered
