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
Hundreds Rally for Renewable Energy
Hundreds of Pennsylvanians gathered under murals depicting Pennsylvania’s industrial history in the Capitol to rally for a new vision for the Commonwealth powered by 100% renewable energy. The attendees were joined by businesses, religious leaders, local mayors, and nurses and doctors to advocate for bipartisan legislation awaiting action in the General Assembly
New Payday Lending Bill Introduced in House
A new payday lending bill before the House Commerce Committee would threaten protections for struggling Pennsylvanians. The Commonwealth has one of the strongest laws in the country to guard against predatory lending, with a cap on fees and interest that has kept high-cost payday lenders at bay. Our law saves residents
Presiding Bishop, Faith Leaders, Issue Statement on Family Separation
CHICAGO (June 7, 2018) – The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has convened ELCA ecumenical and inter-religious partners in a statement addressing concerns over a recent U.S. government policy calling for more stringent enforcement of federal immigration laws. The policy will
School Breakfast Mini-Grants Announced
Harrisburg, PA – As part of his School Breakfast Initiative to help more children start their day with a healthy meal, Gov. Tom Wolf today announced $900,000 from the inaugural round of grants to help 200 schools make breakfast available to all students and expand options for the children. “A healthy
State Sets Goal for Paper-Verified Voting Systems
Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres today informed Pennsylvania’s counties to have voter-verifiable paper record voting systems selected no later than December 31, 2019, and preferably in place by the November 2019 general election. He also announced the commonwealth will receive nearly $14 million in federal funding to assist counties
LAMPa Welcomes the Rev. Karl Runser to Policy Council
LAMPa welcomes the Rev. Karl Runser to its policy council as the newest representative from the Upper Susquehanna Synod. Karl grew up in southeastern Ohio and studied music history at Ohio University. He received his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and was ordained in 2002.
ELCA Recommits To Work For Racial Justice and Inclusion
CHICAGO (April 6, 2018) – Following the “Act Now: Unite to End Racism” rally in Washington, D.C., the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has issued a statement on racism, recommitting this church “to work for racial justice and inclusion, to work
ELCA Bishops Support Student March Against Gun Violence
ITASCA (March 6, 2017) – The ELCA Conference of Bishops has approved the following statement of support for the March for Our Lives on March 24. STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH Our children and youth are like a young Jeremiah prophesying to the people: For I know the
