STATE BUDGET DEADLINE NEAR: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD | The 2026-27 state budget is due June 30, and negotiations are ongoing. After last year’s budget passed more than 130 days late, lawmakers are hopeful they can avoid a similar delay this year. For LAMPa, hunger is a top funding priority. What happens in Harrisburg this month has real consequences for people facing food insecurity across PA. Read more and download postcards to lawmakers here. | | | MARK PRIDE MONTH WITH ADVOCACY AND ALLYSHIP | June is Pride Month! You can advocate as you celebrate! Download copies of our postcards to lawmakers in support of marriage equality and nondiscrimination to share at gatherings. Consider training with the Silent Witness Peacekeepers Alliance to create safer spaces or join LAMPa's In God's Image network to build community and support year round. | | | HELPING TO CREATE HALO OF SUPPORT AND JOY FOR VOTERS | On primary election day, Lutherans in south central PA joined with veterans, faith leaders, legal professionals and other trusted community members to support the Project HALO pilot in a mission to help every voter feel safe, respected and confident when participating in one of our most important shared American traditions. | | |
IT'S SYNOD ASSEMBLY SEASON! STOP BY AND BRING FRIENDS!
SEPA Synod officially kicked off synod assembly season in PA this past weekend. It was great to see so many friends -- and make new ones! With seven in one month, staff cannot attend all, so policy council members will help staff tables. Stop by and bring friends! We'll have postcards to sign for hand-delivery to lawmakers in this important month for legislative action.
| | | SET A WELCOME TABLE WITH GREAT AMERICAN POTLUCK | On Sunday, July 5, communities across America will gather for potlucks to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. It's a great reason to set a welcome table for building beloved community! Learn about how you can host a potluck here and let us know what you are tables you are building in YOUR community! | | |
WHAT ARE YOU DOING SEPT. 13? LET LAMPA HELP AS YOU PLAN!
God's work. Our hands. Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Let LAMPa help you plan for our churchwide day of service and advocacy as we show up as Church Together for the aske of the world God loves! Send us a note with GWOH in the subject line.
| | | SUMMIT OF CHURCHES FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE | In May, LAMPa Advocacy Fellow Daniella Garber joined about 40 ELCA members participating in the Churches for Middle East Peace Joint Advocacy Summit. Hosted in part by ELCA Witness in Society, the summit brought together about 300 Christians from more than 28 states. Read her reflection. | | | | |
Urge your Lawmakers to Support Thoughtful Data Center Regulation
HB 1834 establishes regulations for large energy users, renewable energy requirements, and funding for low-income energy assistance in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers on both sides have also proposed a moratorium that could pause data center development. Learn more and act.
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Bills Offer Bipartisan Approach to Hospital Price Transparency
Pennsylvania patients face major challenges in finding clear, reliable information about the cost of care. When patients receive care, they often can’t find information in advance about what they’ll pay. SB752 and HB1469 represent a bipartisan approach to filling in those gaps to ensure information about prices and fees is easily accessible and complete. Learn more and act.
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Act to Strengthen Sunshine Act for Greater Government Transparency
In 2021, PA’s Sunshine Act required meeting agendas 24 hours in advance, with limited exceptions. A court ruling broadened a majority-vote loophole, weakening transparency. HB 2146 is bipartisan legislation that would clarify the Sunshine Act and ensure transparency for responsible and accountable governance. Learn more and act.
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Marriage Equality Bill Passes PA House -- Tell Senate it's Time to Act
HB1800 passed the House with bipartisan support -- an important step toward ensuring that PA's marriage statutes reflect the dignity and equality of all people. This bill replaces outdated language and formally removes the provision making same-sex marriages from other states void in PA. Learn more and act.
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Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention
As immigration detention surges across the United States, the private companies building and running detention facilities are reporting record profits.
Learn more and take concrete steps to ensure the safety of all, with the new ELCA Witness in Society and ELCA AMMPARO resource "You Shall Also Love the Stranger: Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention."
Register here to join us June 24 at 1:00 p.m. for a webinar on for-profit immigration detention centers.
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Being Public Church in the Electoral Process
Election years are a significant time for Lutherans to be active in civic engagement, including ELCA rostered ministers, congregations, synod offices, seminaries, and college or university campus ministry groups. As a church we affirm the importance of government, specifically democratic self-governance. An important part of faithful civic engagement is abiding by the law. This resource offers guidance for congregations and rostered leaders alike to ensure that activities related to the electoral process are transparent, nonpartisan and legal. Download here.
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Signs for the times -- Free to download from ELCA resources
Find this and other downloadable signs for witness in the public square.
ELCA resouces for advocacy and public witness can be found at https://resources.elca.org/tag/signage/
Share your statement! Tag LAMPa or ELCA Advocacy on socials with your signs.
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Artificial intelligence issue paper available from ELCA CSR
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been around for a long time, but in the past five years they have become nearly ubiquitous, thanks to faster computer chips and greater interest in their potential. There are potential benefits of AI, some of which we are already experiencing without even realizing we are being served by AI. There are also many concerns and worrying events that dictate caution and oversight. Learn more about benefits, risks and reasons for caution.
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Faith and Civic Life Study Guide Available for Congregations
We’re delighted to have available for congregational use a curriculum to help study and understand the ELCA social statement, Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All.
This six-week curriculum walks congregations and faith communities through important parts of the social statemen and offers a starting point for conversation and discernment around topics brought up by the statement.
Download the study guide here.
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Planning fall faith formation? Consider Bonhoeffer curriculum
If your congregation hasn't already used this curriculum, consider adding it to your fall faith formation plans. This resource congregational use was created by Dr. Lori Brandt Hale – “Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in a House Divided and a World on Fire.” The facilitator’s guide, participant workbook, and accompanying slides for each week can be downloaded here. Explore the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the lessons we can use as we live at the intersection of faith and civic life today. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian living in Nazi Germany, who eventually joined the resistance and was arrested and killed before the end of WWII. LAMPa is a partner in distributing to congregations to inspire deeper conversation and discernment about how we live as disciples today.
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