Take Action Now Toolkits How and Why


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Involving Congregations in Advocacy Now (ICAN)

Introduction
My Faith and Advocacy
The How-tos of Advocacy
How to bring advocacy to my congregation
Resources
Miscellaneous Activities and Handouts
 


Involving Congregations in Advocacy Now (ICAN)
an ELCA guide to developing an advocacy ministry within your congregation
The How-tos of Advocacy
In this section:
The Mission Statement

Faithful to God’s call, the ELCA Washington Office fulfills the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s witness for social justice on domestic and foreign policy issues facing the nation, and through it, the world. With a commitment to a prophetic vision which stands with the poor and the powerless, the office represents the church’s positions within the complex arena of public debate. To achieve effective interaction between the whole church and the federal government, the office educates, informs and enables full involvement of the church in this ministry.

How Does The ELCA Engage in Advocacy?

The work of the ELCA Washington Office is grounded in the Scriptures and Lutheran confessional writings. Its involvement in specific issues is based on social statements of the ELCA or social statements of the ELCA’s predecessor churches when those statements are in agreement.

The ELCA Washington Office staff help to prioritize issues for the church’s public policy activity.

The staff of the ELCA Washington Office monitors issues and becomes directly involved in efforts to support measures when deemed timely and appropriate.

Such efforts could include letters to members of Congress, contacts with the Administration, visits with House or Senate staff, appointments with Representatives or Senators, presentation of testimony before key committees, and phone calls to contacts in specific congressional districts or states to encourage their involvement on a particular issue.