News
July 6, 2018
Sister Dottie Almoney, director of education and outreach at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lancaster, is featured in a Deaconess Community advocacy video “Who Is Not our Neighbor” about the 2018 Farm Bill. Almoney, who was the Lower Susquehanna Synod recipient of the “Serve.Pray.Speak.” award at this year’s Lutheran Day in the Capitol, shares her...
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July 5, 2018
Thank you to everyone who has advocated for SB 554, “Safe Harbor”, a bill aimed to protect children in our Commonwealth who are sexually exploited by traffickers from becoming re-victimized in the juvenile justice system when they are arrested and prosecuted for prostitution and other “masking crimes” arising directly out of their sexual exploitation. Unfortunately,...
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July 2, 2018
More than 30,000 youth and their adult leaders attending the 2018 ELCA National Youth Gathering in Houston Texas, June 27-July 1, had the opportunity to learn about and engage in advocacy on issues from hunger to immigration to environmental justice and human trafficking. ELCA Advocacy staff, including LAMPa director Tracey DePasquale, worked with partners such...
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July 1, 2018
Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are seeking sites to introduce the Energy Star program for houses of worship. The EPA Energy Star specialists are looking at doing a “road show” in September in several locations across the state to present information on the Energy Star resources they have available for faith communities. If...
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June 29, 2018
Pennsylvania recently became the first state in the nation with a “Clean Slate” law. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bipartisan-backed legislation, referred to as the “Clean Slate” bill designed to remove the stigma that can stand in the way of someone getting a job, housing, college admission or loans if they had convictions for a summary...
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June 26, 2018
June 26, 2018 Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow … (Jeremiah 22:3). I am dismayed by the Supreme Court’s recent decision concerning the president’s authority...
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June 26, 2018
A long-awaited report on a study of the death penalty suggests a number of changes to the way Pennsylvania handles its capital-punishment cases, including a state-funded agency to defend those charged in capital cases and a transparent and humane process for lethal injection. The Joint State Government Commission was tasked in 2012 with studying the...
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June 25, 2018
Statement from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton on executive order 6/22/2018 About two weeks ago, I joined more than 20 other faith leaders in raising concerns about the administration’s announced plans that it would begin separating families and criminally prosecuting all people who enter the U.S. without previous authorization. In line with that statement, I acknowledge...
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June 23, 2018
Governor Wolf signed the 2018-2019 state budget into law Friday, June 22, a week before the June 30 deadline with very little controversy. This year’s budget includes no new taxes, funding transfers to pay for new school safety initiatives, and deposited money into the Rainy Day Fund for the first time since 2006. Three of...
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June 21, 2018
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 resolution on migrant minors and...
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