There are Central American children and youth in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, specifically in Roslyn, PA that are in great need of either short or long term family foster care. You can help through “Give the Gift of Family,” a joint initiative of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and the ELCA AMMPARO program. LIRS is one of just...
Category: Advocacy
June 7, 2017
Give the Gift of Family
There are Central American children and youth in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, specifically in Roslyn, PA that are in great need of either short or long term family foster care. You can help through “Give the Gift of Family,” a joint initiative of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and the ELCA AMMPARO program. LIRS is one of just...
February 28, 2017
Interfaith Leaders Condemn Desecration of Jewish Cemetery
Interfaith leaders from across Greater Philadelphia gathered Monday at the Lutheran Theological Seminary to lament and condemn the weekend vandalism that desecrated the final resting places of Jews buried in Mt. Carmel Jewish Cemetery. Bishop Burkat opened a news conference with Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders by calling the damage to more than one hundred...
February 28, 2017
Video: Interfaith Leaders Respond to Jewish Cemetery Desecration
Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders spoke in solidarity Monday against the desecration of graves at Mt. Carmel Jewish Cemetery in Wissanoming. Bishop Burkat facilitated a press conference in which dozens of faith leaders from across Greater Philadelphia stood together in support of the Jewish community and others — including immigrants, refugees, Muslims and the LGBTQ...
June 13, 2016
Orlando: Christians Cannot Keep Silent
“As Christians, we turn first to Jesus” in the wake of the nation’s worst mass shooting in history at Pulse in Orlando, Florida-Bahamas Synod Bishop Robert G. Schaefer wrote in a message to that synod Monday (June 13). “But, we can no longer afford to let it end there,” he wrote. “Church, it’s time to...
June 7, 2016
ELCA Advocacy Statement on Ryan Poverty Plan
Today (June 7), Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and the House of Representatives’ Task Force on Poverty, Opportunity, and Upward Mobility released a plan that will launch a bipartisan discussion on hunger and poverty and the policies required to end them. ELCA Advocacy appreciates Speaker Ryan’s leadership, and that of all who make poverty in our...
March 3, 2016
Global Focus: Irente School for the Blind
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and the North-Eastern Diocese of Tanzania have shared a strong partnership for many years. This Lent, we invite you to become part of an exciting new chapter of this companionship with an exciting new project, Located on a beautiful mountain in Tanzania, the Irente School for the Blind is a primary school for...
February 1, 2016
Presiding Bishop Calls for Conversation About Race
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has called on the ELCA’s 3.7 million members to “be the church that models for the rest of this country what it means to have these difficult conversations” about racial inequality. Eaton made her remarks during a Jan. 14 live webcast, “Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning.” Watch the webcast recording and get...
December 8, 2015
Get the Facts About Syrian Refugees
Lutheran Children and Family Service is the largest refugee resettlement organization in PA, and is involved in resettling Syrian refugees in Allentown. Did you know that refugees are the most scrutinized and vetted individuals entering the U.S.? Or that the process takes on average two years? LCFS has created an online resource center so that...
December 8, 2015
Refugees Welcomed in Allentown
As Christians celebrated Christ the King on Nov. 22, 500 people gathered in Allentown, Pa., to stand in solidarity against the face of fear and hatred at an interfaith event to welcome refugees from Syria. Those in attendance included young and old, the mayor of Allentown, clergy from the community, and people of many faiths...
November 9, 2015
Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice
The Synod is co-sponsoring live webcasts of “Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice” featuring New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, actor Anna Deavere Smith, and Vanderbilt Divinity School Dean Emilie Townes on January 21-23, 2016, at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. The webcasts from Trinity Wall Street’s annual theological conference will...
July 1, 2015
Lutherans Raise Voices For School Funding
Lutherans from around the state raised their voices in Harrisburg at a rally for fair education funding June 23. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) started the day by leading a prayer service on the steps of the capitol, joining other faith groups fasting there to protest Pennsylvania’s distinction of being the least equitable state...
June 19, 2015
PA Bishops Support Anti-Discrimination Bill
Harrisburg, PA — The seven Pennsylvania bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released a letter June 18 in support of legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania Public Relations Act to prohibit discrimination in areas of employment, housing and public accommodation on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity or...
May 18, 2015
Bishops Call for Education Equity
“The area I serve, the five counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania has the distinction of having the highest spending district per student and also the highest poverty district,” Bishop Claire Burkat said at a press conference in Harrisburg in which three Pennsylvania bishops called on the legislature to find an equitable way to fund schools in the...
March 17, 2015
Religious Leaders Oppose Anti-Muslim Ads
Join the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia (RLC) in supporting our Muslim neighbors and opposing a hate campaign scheduled to appear in the SEPTA transit system this spring. The RLC affirms free speech while vigorously rejecting hate-filled messages like these that have appeared in several other cities in a campaign by the American Freedom...
October 20, 2014
Standing Strong Against Ebola
Updated Oct. 27 with new video. In the face of the Ebola outbreak that has stricken West Africa, several hundred people – Africans and Americans, from several faith traditions – gathered Sunday (Oct. 19) to pray together, console each other, and build bridges of hope rather than barriers of fear. Crush Ebola from sepasynod@gmail.com on...
August 20, 2014
Prayer for Ferguson
Please include the people of Ferguson, MO in your congregational prayers Sunday, using the following petition written by Linda Manson of Living Gospel Ministries, or a similar prayer: God of Peace and Healing, We experience violence and hatred that divides us as cultural groups, ethnicities and nations and we feel we do not have the...
May 2, 2014
Ministry Partner: Welcome Church
“We are moving 40 folks into permanent housing in May!” was the happy response of Pastor Violet Little of the Welcome Church when asked “What’s new and exciting in your ministry?” Working cooperatively with Project Home the Welcome Church, a ministry of our Synod that worships weekly outdoors on a corner of Logan Square with...
April 2, 2014
Immigration Reform on Bishop’s DC Agenda
As a person of faith, Bishop Claire Burkat of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Church in America (ELCA), recognizes that she is called to welcome the sojourner and walk alongside migrants and refugees as they rebuild their lives in America. Bishop Burkat took that message of welcome to Capitol Hill today and visited...
January 30, 2014
Diverse Faiths Unite for Immigration Reform
The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia has adopted “Religiously Diverse, United for Immigration Reform,” a statement that calls on communities and individuals of faith to welcome immigrants and refugees, educate themselves about the immigrant experience and the laws that govern it, and advocate for reform locally and nationally. “Our religious teachings, our nation’s ideals,...
November 27, 2013
Act Now to Give Kids a Good Start
Deadline to register for School Breakfast Challenge is Dec. 20 School breakfast is one of the best ways to address childhood hunger. It also improves test scores, reduces tardiness, absenteeism, discipline problems and the likelihood of obesity. Yet less than 45 percent of the state’s students receive school breakfast. Right now, our congregations have a...
