Category: Protestant

By Solveig Muus, Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona  Lately I’ve been thinking about the many ways our Church intersects across so many different channels, and about how that intentional intersectionality benefits the whole. ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices (sppos), like Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), are one of those channels. I’m privileged to serve on the planning teams for this year’s sppo retreat as well as the ELCA World Hunger Leaders Gathering. In these settings and others, I’ve heard Christians in the ELCA passionate about the ways in which we, as Lutherans, connect people to create possibilities. Below is just…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: February 2025 DOMESTIC SERVICES AND GRANT ACCESS | PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHDRAWS FROM THE PARIS AGREEMENT | FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS | USAID IMPACTS | IMMIGRATION IMPERATIVES This month has seen rapidly developing impact of executive actions from President Trump, jolting a vast array of government agencies and the people who intersect with related vital supports. All Witness in Society staff have been active with ELCA colleagues and partners to discern and advocate in the rapidly evolving, complex political climate,…

Catalyst Question Describe a time when something out of your control was happening in your life. What did it feel like? A God We Can’t Control People often like to feel in control. Sometimes that’s for their own sinful reasons, like wanting unfair influence over others’ lives. At other times, people try to take charge because they’ve been hurt by someone they trusted.  And surely, there are things in our lives that we should control. How we treat other people, how we choose to use money, and how we spend our time are all appropriately within our control. This week,…

Catalyst Question How do you define the word “mercy”? Mercy Meant for Today This devotion is based on The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). A lectionary is a set of scripture readings assigned to different days throughout the year. Right now, we’re in the third year (known as Year C) of the RCL’s three-year cycle, which was assembled in 1983 by leaders of many denominations. That’s important background because, today, many congregational leaders are being accused of manipulating the biblical selections for worship to fit their own political or social agendas. If the congregation is using the Revised Common Lectionary, that’s…

How can we use our voices for justice in Palestine and Israel as American Christians? ELCA Blogs

ARIZONA | KANSAS | MINNESOTA | NEW MEXICO | PENNSYLVANIA | TEXAS | VIRGINIA   Following are updates shared from submissions from ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices (sppos) this quarter (formerly shared monthly). Full list and map of sppos available. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAM-AZ) Solveig Muus, Director  Arizona Lutheran Day at the Legislature photo credit: Eric O. Ledermann ©2025, www.ericoledermann.com Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) hosted its 4th annual Lutheran Day at the Legislature on Feb. 10. More than 200 Lutherans and friends representing 29 of Arizona’s 30 legislative districts gathered to hear remarks from Senate President Warren Petersen,…

By Courtney Hall, Lutheran Office of Public Policy – California [ABOUT THE AUTHOR] In all honesty, I feel I have lost sense of what the phrase “common good” even means today. In a world so divided, what I view as the common good may be the antithesis of my neighbor’s beliefs; so, who decides? Is it those with power, is it a popular vote, is it those with the most influence? As I try to understand how my role as a faith-based advocate contributes to the common good, I am left with more questions than answers.   It is in times…

“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.   Prayer prompts: For areas of the world impacted by ongoing war, conflict, or political instability, especially Ukraine, Gaza, and…

By Jake Summerville, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota [About the Author] In a time as tense and divided as ours, ideas like a united church working together toward a common good feel more and more idealistic. Our neighbors are hurting, yet barbs of hatred and division wound. How can we expect to take any meaningful action? The Corinthian church faced a similar problem. As the early church began to grow, theological and ideological differences began to drive wedges into budding Christian communities, threatening to destroy them before they could truly begin. Paul’s letter in 1 Corinthians served as a stern reminder…

Proposed cuts to Medicaid advancing in Congress threaten the wellbeing of millions of vulnerable Americans. We have a critical opportunity to raise our voices and share our values and experiences that shed light on the valuable role Medicaid fills. Proposed cuts would have far-reaching impact, potentially hampering the work of our ministries that serve low-income children, seniors and individuals with disabilities. ELCA social teaching emphasizes both fiscal responsibility and moral obligation (see ELCA social statement Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All). These  principles can work together to strengthen our healthcare system while responsibly stewarding taxpayer resources.   “We of the Evangelical Lutheran…