Tag: Dignity

By Abigail Raghunath [About the author] Origins of the Declaration of Human Rights In the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations began to take shape, grounded in a vision of peace, dignity and shared responsibility. Its foundational document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was not just a promise; it was a global commitment that human rights are universal and must be protected. While the declaration was drafted by representatives from across the globe, it holds a special connection to the Lutheran community. The Rev. O. Frederick Nolde, a professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, participated…

By: Kate Parsons Migration Policy Advisor   The Bible writes of one human family, honored and elevated through the image of God that each of us bears. As a Christian community, we are grieved when we hear language about human beings that does not honor the deep love Christ holds for them or the imago Dei — the image of God — that each of them carries. One group of people who have frequently had their dignity denied is immigrants and those who have been forcibly displaced. Dehumanizing language dishonors the dignity of human beings. It divides people into an…

By Emily Ahern, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow [About the Author]  On May 1st, many observed the public holiday May Day, otherwise known as International Workers’ Day. This day is set aside specifically to commemorate working class people and to shed light on the demands made by people involved in the labor movement. Christians have intertwined with this movement, historically and today, and Lutheran teaching shapes our point of view.    A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE  May 1 was specifically chosen to commemorate the strike which would culminate in the Haymarket Riot, a clash between labor protesters and police on May 4, 1886…