Today, we present our ELCA Advocacy Update for the month of December. Please read below for important information on ELCA Advocacy efforts in Washington, across the country and throughout the world. To read the full version of the update and for more information on advocacy efforts from our Lutheran State Advocacy offices, visit our blog!

Advocacy Update - December 2016

A Message from the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, ELCA Executive Director for Domestic Mission

On the 15th anniversary of 9-11 I posted from the first chapter of my new book, Baptized For This Moment.  The book traces the world which emerged from Ground Zero, fearful, divided, graceless.  I hope and pray that the book is helpful to congregations trying to find their voice and space in this public arena and its many manifestations of terror, racial violence, immigration, disaster, refugees, space for listening and engaging in new ways.  I hope and pray that the book will be an invitation to young adults to consider church as an institution supporting their desire to show up and make a difference in our polarized world.  Chapter Six deals directly with the Hunger Ministries, Advocacy, and how congregations can enter the public arena.  Blessed Advent to all.  If you follow this URL you will get the first chapter.  If you care to purchase the book use the code: JUSTICE for free shipping and 50% discount.

http://actapublications.com/baptized-for-this-moment/

Any royalties will go to the domestic ministries of The ELCA Hunger Fund.  I am grateful to the Advocacy Network for your witness to the Gospel and its vision for justice in our world. 

ELCA Advocacy, Washington D.C.

2016 ELECTIONS: Advocacy Director Amy Reumann offered an advocacy message on the 2016 election, highlighting stewardship of our common life together and looking ahead. The statement thanked Lutherans who took action for #ELCAvotes and advocacy intentions moving forward. Her statement can be shared on the ELCA Advocacy Blog.

Lutheran congresswomen Lois Capps, D-Calif, and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., did not run for re-election and are retiring at the end of the year. All other incumbent Lutheran members of the House and Senate facing re-election won their respective seats in November. Joining the 115th Congress are newly elected Lutheran members Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., and Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa.. The new members of Congress are now in D.C. for orientation and will begin their first session in January. ELCA Advocacy will hold meetings with newly elected officials at the start of the new Congress.

ADVOCACY ADVENT DEVOTIONS: Throughout Advent, ELCA Advocacy is releasing video devotions to connect our work with the life of the church. The videos are on the ELCA Advocacy Facebook page. 

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS: Congress is preparing to pass a final spending bill to fund the government in December, and support for housing and homeless programs are at risk for cuts. A congressional proposal to keep federal funding flat for several months, would risk stopping many existing Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and affordable-housing contracts that keep families secure in stable homes. Inflation and rising housing costs across the U.S. are putting constraints on housing and homeless programs. ELCA Advocacy sent an action alert to support sustainable housing funding earlier this month.  

WATER JUSTICE IN FLINT: Leaders in Congress seem intent on passing financial support for Flint, Mich., and other cities facing lead crises by the end of the year. Aid to help repair lead pipes and water infrastructure, which was included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), has stalled in Congress due to an unrelated debate on the bill for Army Corps of Engineers projects. Republican and Democratic leaders are discussing ways to tack the support onto the final government spending bill. Advocates can take action on this issue by visiting ELCA.org/advocacy.   

UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE: Ruth Ivory-Moore, policy director for environment and energy issues, returned from Marrakech, Morocco, this month following the U.N. Climate Change Conference meeting. International delegates began the process of implementing the Paris Agreement. Negotiators worked on issues such as common timeframes for national climate pledges and goals for financing climate projects. Ruth’s reflection series and commentary on faith-based involvement is on the ELCA Advocacy Blog.  

Lutheran Office for World Community

U.N. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: On Nov. 21, an “Orange the World” event took place to mark the beginning of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, Nov. 25-Dec. 10. Panelists included representatives from U.N. Women, UNICEF, the U.N. Population Fund, the U.N. Development Programme, the World Bank and civil society organizations. Everyone involved emphasized the importance of action, as 1 in 3 women globally continues to suffer from domestic violence.

The panelists elaborated on many aspects of gender-based violence. Many emphasized a funding shortfall and the need for sustainable financing:  Even though the overall aid flows have increased, only about 8 percent of aid goes to gender-focused programs in affected countries and even less to women-led organizations.

ADDRESSING MIGRATION AROUND THE WORLD: On Nov. 22, Global Compact Modalities co-facilitators Mexico and Switzerland convened a meeting for members of civil society to discuss involvement in the 2017 global compact negotiations. More than 20 non-government organizations (NGO) representatives took the floor to discuss civil society involvement, including many of our ecumenical partners and a representative of the NGO Committee on Migration. Most speakers emphasized the importance of active civil society participation through regional and global consultations during every stage of the process, and increased transparency throughout the negotiations. A focus was placed on the inclusion of different migrant voices and vision, and the inclusion of differing intersectional identities – such as migrants with disabilities, and migrant children. 

Lutheran state advocacy efforts across the country

Find out all about the vast and incredibly important work of Lutheran advocates across the country by visiting the ELCA Advocacy Blog. 

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