LAMPa Welcomes New Policy Council Member from SWPA
The Rev. Jim Engel, pastor at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Uniontown, joins the LAMPa Policy Council representing the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod (SWPA). "I am excited to have the opportunity to return to working with a state government to advocate for those who have been marginalized by power,
ELCA Church Council Adopts New Social Message
The ELCA Church Council has unanimously adopted a new social message: “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” This project was called for at the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, with an intention that it be ready to read before the national election this fall. The
Home Utility Assistance is Available in Pennsylvania: Apply by August 31
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller reminds Pennsylvanians of the availability of assistance in paying certain utility bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Recovery Crisis program ahead of the program’s end on August 31. “We know that the COVID-19 public health crisis
ELCA Commemorates 500th Anniversary of Luther’s The Freedom of a Christian
This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's treatise The Freedom of a Christian. To observe this milestone, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), invites the church to read, study and reflect on this Lutheran witness of the Christian
Exercise Your Civic Duty and Prepare to Vote
"Christians are called to be stewards of our common life through serving as faithful and active citizens. We live out our mutual responsibility for one another by guaranteeing our neighbor's right to vote and participate freely and fully in society." -- The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA
Dr. Crystal L. Hall Joins LAMPa Policy Council
LAMPa welcomes Dr. Crystal L. Hall on board as a representative of the United Lutheran Seminary. Dr. Hall is an Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies. Her most recent book is Insights from Reading the Bible with the Poor, published by Fortress Press. Dr. Hall’s research and teaching address God’s
PA Council of Churches seeks Executive Director
The Pennsylvania Council of Churches continues its search for an executive director, with a deadline of August 31 for applications. They hope to find “a faithful and resourceful Christian disciple to lead the PCC in addressing the many issues and challenges facing the Christian community today and in the future.”
Accessing “Advocacy Tools for Loving Your Neighbor”
Our thoughts and prayers inform our actions. An online training event hosted jointly by the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, "Advocacy Tools for Loving Your Neighbor", was held July 9. Both Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, plus advocacy leaders from both denominations, participated
Federal Judge Orders ICE to Release Migrant Children from Berks County Residential Center
On June 26, 2020, California’s Central District Court ruled that ICE should release children from the country’s three family detention centers, two in Texas and one in Berks County. “There is no more time for half measures,” Judge Dolly Gee wrote, citing unsafe conditions at the centers and the dangers
ELCA Seeks Applicants for Migration Policy Program Director
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is seeking applicants for the Migration Policy Program Director. This position is located in the Advocacy Office of the ELCA located in Washington DC and serves the church as a member of the Domestic Mission Unit. The Domestic Mission Unit mission is to