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Explore the fundamentals: how and why does the ELCA do advocacy?
What is advocacy? Advocacy is to plead the cause of another together with them and on their behalf. When, for example, the prophets addressed kings and priests on behalf of those suffering injustice, they were advocating. The ELCA calls persons to advocate justice with and for those without power and voice in places where important political and economic decisions are being made that affect the lives of those who are marginalized. This activity is what is meant by “advocacy.” It is one way the ELCA carries out its strategic direction to “step forward as a public church that witnesses boldly to God’s love for all that God has created.” [ top of page ] Why do we do advocacy?  Advocacy is one way we seek to love our neighbor in response to
God’s love given us in Jesus Christ. We are caring for, standing
with, and serving people who are living in poverty and who are suffering when we
work for public and corporate policies that advance justice, peace,
human dignity, and care for the earth.
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Does the ELCA understand advocacy to be part of its mission? Yes. According to the ELCA’s Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions, one of the purposes of our church in participating in God’s mission is to:
To fulfill this purpose, our church shall
Similarly, in its first social statement, “The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective” 1991, the ELCA committed itself to
[ top of page ] How does the ELCA determine what it should advocate? On the basis of ELCA social statements and social policy resolutions. Social statements are major documents on social issues adopted by at least a two-thirds majority of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Social policy resolutions address specific topics, are based upon and consistent with social statements, and may be adopted by either the Churchwide Assembly or the ELCA Church Council. “Social statements establish policy for the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America’s work in the areas of advocacy and corporate
social responsibility (ELCA 11.21.i.j., and m.; 16.11.E91.i., and
j.), enabling, limiting, and directing these activities.”
(“Policies and Procedures of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America for Addressing Social Concerns, p.13). Social policy
resolutions serve the same function. Does the U.S. Constitution permit religious bodies to advocate? Yes. Advocacy by the ELCA and other religious bodies does not violate
what is often referred to as “the separation of church and state.”
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the exercise
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of religious freedom, including for the public witness of religious
bodies. Advocacy is one way the ELCA exercises its religious
freedom. In doing so it “work[s] with civil authorities in areas of
mutual endeavor, maintaining institutional separation of church and
state in a relation of functional interaction” (Constitutions,
Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions, 4.03.n).
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