2021 ELCA federal policy priorities
This month, our ELCA advocacy staff released priorities for 2021 federal policy advocacy action. This information is presented in a printable resource (link to pdf) on the Advocacy Resources page at ELCA.org/advocacy/resources and a blog post. The Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Director for ELCA Advocacy, shared the following opening to that post:

“With the start of the 117th Congress and a new administration, and as the devastating COVID-19 pandemic influences our lives and shapes our concerns, we face pressing need for national policy action. Yet even with changes, as Christians in the world our engagement is consistently shaped by our love of one another as God loves us.

‘Over time Lutherans have learned that energetic civic engagement is part of their baptismal vocation, both as individuals and through the church’s corporate witness. Such civic participation is not simply voluntary, idealistic, or altruistic. The ELCA holds to the biblical idea that God calls God’s people to be active citizens and to ensure that everyone benefits from the good of government (Jeremiah 29:7, Romans 13:1-7).’ - from the ELCA social message on 'Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy' 

“Presented here are federal policy priorities for ELCA advocacy activity in 2021. As our nation and world face unprecedented challenges, we expect the first part of 2021 to be a flurry of legislative and regulatory activity. In this arena, Lutherans will express our commitment to addressing heightened hunger, climate changes, poverty, economic hardship and racial and gender disparities in the U.S. and globally. We look forward to working with the new administration in promoting unity and healing in our country. And we look forward to working together as your ELCA advocacy staff and in a network of engaged people of faith.”

Please review and share the 2021 priorities. Issues of Advocacy Connections in future months will reference developments related to these directions. Invite others not already in the network to do so from ELCA.org/advocacy/signup.

Thank you for your engagement in 2020. We look forward to prayerfully working together in the year ahead.