“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...
Category: Advocacy
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 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...
May 24, 2010
Captiol Hunger Garden Grows Food, Awareness
Thanks to the efforts of the Legislative Hunger Caucus, there is now a Hunger Garden on the grounds of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The garden, opened May 7, relies on volunteers to grow fresh vegetables to be donated to local food banks. At the 2010 Lutheran Day at the Capitol, the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania gave its "Hunger Leader Award" to Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36), a leading force in establishing the garden.
May 17, 2010
From the Street shares stories of homelessness
"From the Street," a photovoice project with individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, will be on display May 22 and June 1-4 in two locations in Center City.
January 4, 2010
Seafarer’s Ministry arranges Christmas reunion
It was a Christmas at Seamen's Church Institute that all involved will remember forever.
As always, this 166-year old vital-to-commerce ecumenical ministry practiced the Golden Rule with seafarers from around the world, even bringing a father together with his long-lost daughter.
