LAMA Policy Council Retreat and Policy Priorities
The Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona Policy Council met Wednesday - Thursday, November 2-3 to listen and learn and discern what would be LAMA’s Policy Priorities for 2023. Highlights of the extraordinary weekend are below:
Attending the 2022 Policy Council Retreat were:
Rev. Deborah Hutterer, Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA
Connie Phillips, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
Mark Engel, chairperson of LAMA Policy Council, member Holy Trinity Lutheran, Chandler
Solveig Muus, director of LAMA, member Grace Lutheran, Phoenix
Rev. Sarah Stadler, interim pastor of Esperanza Lutheran, Ahwatukee
Rev. Conrad Braaten, pastor retired, member Christ Lutheran, Sedona
Melanie Hobden, member Desert Cross Lutheran, Tempe
Rev. Brian Weinberger, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran, Mesa
Rev. Robert Jones, pastor of Santa Cruz Lutheran, Tucson
Rev. Alan Field, guest, chair of the advocacy group on the LSS-SW Board of Directors
Jane Hobbs, guest, Grace Lutheran, Phoenix
Donnita Jones, guest, Grace Lutheran, Phoenix
Policy Priorities for 2023 are:
Food Insecurity as it relates to hunger and the root causes of hunger. Our ELCA social teachings on hunger and poverty include “Economic Life” and “Homelessness.”
Civic Engagement as it relates to the ELCA being a “publicly engaged church” and the ELCA social teachings on educating, advocating, and engaging in our political process, including “Government and Civic Engagement” “Church in Society,” and the the ELCAvotes initiatives Called to Be a Public Church, Voting Rights and Racial Justice, Movement into Action.
Water Crisis. Despite visionary water planning and management in Arizona, drought, population growth and other factors are diminishing this precious, life-giving resource in Arizona. Together, we will educate ourselves and raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the water supply in Arizona and around the globe as, according to the ELCA, close to half of all people in developing countries are suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by contaminated water or unsanitary conditions. The ELCA social statement Caring for Creation expresses a call to pursue justice for creation through active participation, solidarity, sufficiency and sustainability, and states the commitments of the ELCA for pursuing wholeness for creation — commitments expressed through individual and community action, worship, learning, moral deliberation and advocacy.
Seeking Policy Council Members
If you or someone you know is interested in being on the policy council, please contact LAMA at director@lamaz.org.