Lutheran Statewide Advocacy

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About Advocacy

ABCs for the ELCA

Advocacy
Because we
Care

The advocacy ministry of the people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - through the ELCA Division for Church in Society

as we witness to the gospel through service and study, seeking justice for all; in our commitment to human development and global concerns; through advocacy, moral deliberation and social analysis; in cooperation with congregations, synods, regions and social ministry organizations.

"...and for all people according to their needs"

AD-VO-CATE (vt.)

1. To speak in favor of; recommend
2. To argue for a cause; to support or defend
3. To plead on behalf of another; to intercede

Nationally, this ministry is centered in the ELCA Division for Church in Society's (DCS) ministries of study, service and care. The ELCA maintains an Office for World Community (LOWC) at the United Nations in New York City, and offices for Corporate Social Responsibility (LOCSR) and Governmental Affairs (LOGA) in Washington, DC. In addition, the ELCA has public policy offices in 18 states.

Why do we engage in advocacy?

Advocacy has an ancient history. It permeates the Old and New Testaments through the voices of the prophets and the ministry of Jesus as they sought justice for God's people.

Advocacy continues to be a crucial part of the church's ministry today. That often means speaking for those without worldly power, and those whose voices are not heard and who may not have a vote. It means seeking to do God's will in the world and, as scripture testifies, it includes exercising responsible stewardship of God's creation. There is a powerful evangelism witness to advocacy.

In doing advocacy, the church seeks to be sensitive to the needs of people locally, nationally and internationally. It tries to identify, study and analyze significant issues. So informed, and in accord with its social statements and those of its predecessors, the ELCA can make its opinions felt through letters, statements and direct conversation between its authorized representatives and those who are public or private decision makers. The ELCA also offers encouragement and protest as it consults, supports and works with others to achieve just ends.

To be on behalf of means to seek the benefit of another. Much of Jesus' ministry was to and on behalf of the poor, the outcast, the downtrodden of his day. He said that all of God's children were his, and taught us by example how we are to treat others.

Millions of Christians offer help to those in need. We give gifts of clothing and food, donate our time and our means in hundreds of ways. This kind of direct relief and service provides a loving response to those in need.

Advocacy goes one step further on behalf of by encouraging governments and corporations to adopt policies that serve justice and help people who suffer. Through our advocacy we often can extend the loving response and concern manifested in direct services to vast numbers of people we could not otherwise reach.

How do we engage in advocacy?

Advocacy works on behalf of in the realm of public policy.

Public policy is concerned about people's lives. One of the most effective ways of demonstrating our concern is by seeking responsible, enlightened and compassionate public policy.

Since public policy decisions are often made in the political arena, working here - at the same time we work to provide direct relief and services - we can often address societal malfunctions that foster injustice. Speaking together as the church, we can confront a host of issues that affect lives; things such as rural, urban and global poverty, affordable and equal medical care, education, immigration, food production and consumption.

We live in a world of multinational corporations and huge public and private bureaucracies that administer society's needs. As a church that cares about those needs, when we speak with a corporate - as well as an individual - voice, we work on behalf of those who are often severely impacted by inequities.

As Christians, we need to be part of the whole public policy process.

As advocacy exhorts, it also consoles. While it challenges the status quo, as Christ's ministry did 2,000 years ago, like his ministry, it also expresses the care and concern we have for God's people.

Advocacy is the act of intercession, of speaking out for those who may be victimized, oppressed, without enough power to change their situations. In James 2:15-17 we read, "If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat you fill,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what good is that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (NRSV)

As direct care works to warm and fill, its companion advocacy addresses the causes for being hungry and cold. Care, concern and advocacy are companion ministries in the life of the church.

How can we best care for others?

From the Old Testament injunction to let the poor glean the harvested fields, through the ministry of Jesus who placed a special value on the poor and downtrodden, to contemporary social systems, the people of God have always cared for suffering and needy people. Christians have a long history of providing direct services to those in need.

Lutherans in this country and throughout the world have given high priority to caring for people in need - the physically and menatlly ill, the aged, the young without families, those ravaged by war and famine in need of food and shelter. The name of our church is almost synonomous with our Lutheran Social Systems (LSS), hospitals and care facilities, Lutheran World Relief (LWR), and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS). We are known as a church that cares deeply for society.

Since our Christian witness is also one of reconciliation and wholeness, our advocacy witnesses to the biblical view of peace (shalom). We show our love, care and concern both by feeding the hungry and advocating for justice, peace, their well-bring and the well-bring of future generations.

In Matthew 22:21, Jesus said, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (NRSV)

Our country's constitution ensures that church and state remain separate. The church doesn't aim to run the government, nor does the government interfere with the church. However, Lutherans believe that each has a role in God's plan.

St. Augustine spoke of citizenship in two cities. Martin Luther called church and state kingdons of the right and left hands. As citizens of both, we participate in their legitimate interaction. We look at issues, seek solutions and advocate with government and private industry to help solve problems and advance the causes of justice and peace.

To discern and deliberate is a part of our responsible role within society - as individuals and as a church.

How can we best care for others?

For Christians, the crucial issue is "If there is a problem, how can we start to correct it?" Our problem-solving goals come from the gospel. God asks us to pray and act according to our best informed judgment as we seek solutions.

Because solutions to even seemingly clear problems are not always obvious, we seek to gather the best information possible. Listening to those in need and to our church, conscientiously studying options and praying "Your will be done, Oh Lord," we work to provide solutions by encouraging caring and moral political action.

Unlike lobbyists, we have no money to give away and make no contributions to political parties, candidates and legislators. Instead, we add to their understanding of issues through workshops, discussions, dialogue and mailings.

When we take public positions on issues, we also carefully note that these are not binding on the conscience of members. We believe that Christian people disagreeing on important matters while maintaining a bond of fellowship is one measure of the power of the gospel. We do not claim to speak unambiguously for God or all Lutherans. Yet, in our public advocacy we try to witness to the Word of God as it has been revealed to us and as it is reflected in the established positions of the ELCA.

Today, as in every age, many issues confront society and call for the church's advocacy ministry. As we witness to the gospel, seek justice for all and commit ourselves to human dignity and development, we invite your consideration of concerns that need our prayerful attention.

Here are some examples of current issues the ELCA seeks to address through enlightened public policy:

• Affordable health care
• Affordable housing and the plight of the homeless
• Agricultural crises here and throughout the world
• Arms reduction
• Civil/human rights violations and unequal education
• Domestic violence
• Drugs and crime
• Environmental crises
• Exploitation of immigrants and undocumented people
• Feminization of poverty and children at risk
• Policies of the world's powerful and less powerful nations
• Unemployment, underemployment, fair labor and wage practices
• War and oppression throughout the world
• World poverty and refugees

God's creating and preserving love is mediated in community through just human structures. Justice is that which people need to be human, and it involves every aspect of life. Social justice refers to those institutional and legal arrangements which promote justice for all members of society. Doing justice is a way of exercising our proper stewardship of the social and material resources of creation.

A community of informed and committed people is essential to this church's social justice public policy witness. You can help to achieve this goal in one or more of the following ways:

• Keep abreast of current events and public policy issues (You can receive legislative updates from LOGA by mail, the LOGA hotline 800-959-1988 or, if you own a computer, through the ELCA electronic network LutherLink. For information on the latter, call the ELCA Department of Communication 800-638-3522.)
• Examine and analyze public policy issues in the light of ELCA and predecessor church body social statements
• Participate in constructive public dialogue
• Use some of the many excellent study materials provided by the ELCA for forums/discussions
• Support and participate in the work of LOCSR, LOWC, LOGA and Lutheran Public Policy offices
• Join advocacy groups such as Bread for the World
• Ask your synod office about advocacy conferences in your area
• Write to ELCA-DCS to be placed on information contact lists for advocacy newsletters in areas of your particular interest

The Lutheran Office for World Community
(LOWC) represents the ELCA and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) within the United Nations community.

LOCATION: 777 United Nations Plaza, Suite 10B, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: 212-808-5360, FAX 212-808-5480.

The Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs
(LOGA) addresses the federal government, tracking legislation and informing Congress and the executive branch regarding the church's thinking on selected issues. The Lutheran Office for Corporate Social Responsibility (LOCSR) advocates corporate and investment policies that promote economic justice, world peace and responsible management of the environment.

LOCATION of both offices: 122 C Street NW, Suite 125, Washington, DC 20001. Telephone: 202-783-7507, FAX: 202-783-7502, LOGA Hotline: 800-959-1988.

The Lutheran Office for State Public Policy Advocacy
supports and coordinates the work of the ELCA's 18 state public policy offices.

LOCATION: Division for Church in Society, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631. Telephone: 800-638-3522, FAX: 312-380-2707.

For further information contact:
The ELCA Division for Church in Society
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, Illinois 60631
Telephone: 312-380-2710 or 800-638-3522
FAX: 312-380-2707

"...and for all people according to their needs"