LAMPa, along with coalition partners who advocated for “Safe Harbor” legislation for the past four years are featured in a February Living Lutheran article. The article, written by Courtney Olsen, explores what happens “When Disciples Use Their Voice: Advocacy Leads to New Legislation.”

The article documents the long and arduous collaborative process the passage of the “Safe Harbor” bill moved through over the past four years.  The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Wolf, on October 24, 2018, provides funding for rehabilitation services to sex trafficking victims so they aren’t sent to prison under prostitution charges.

The article lifts the effective collaboration to move and pass this bill that involved the Women of the ELCA; the Villa Nova Law Institute to Address Sexual Exploitation; women across the state; ELCA congregations, including Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Eastmont, Pa; those involved in the “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution (SOAP) project; and LAMPa.

“When the church speaks as an advocate in the public square, their message is received differently.” LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale said. “We do not ask for anything for ourselves. Ordinary disciples speaking on behalf of their neighbor remind policymakers that God is at work in the world. We are the church of ‘God’s work. Our hands.’ But we are also called to use our voices for God’s reconciling and redeeming mission in the world.”

A study guide, written by Robert C. Blezard, assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and editor of Living Lutheran’s study guides, for the article is available at livingluther.org  under the Spiritual Practices & resources or by clicking here.

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