The Hunger and Advocacy Highlights of 2024-25
No matter who you are, no matter what your politics may be, the year past has been fraught with anxiety. Events in our church, our state, our country and the world at large have caused us to question our leaders, our principles, our motives, even who we think we are as a nation. People who never gave a moment’s thought about advocacy find themselves showing up, and speaking up, for the first time. As Lutherans, we are called to use our voices and influence to shape public policy and advocate for justice, peace, and the common good, rooted in our understanding of God's love and concern for all people. This year reminds us, if we’d forgotten, that there is no more crucial time than now to be actively engaged in this important work.
I am encouraged by our synod’s engagement in Lutheran advocacy. We’re learning, we’re showing up, we’re speaking out… all signs of remarkable progress in the five years we’ve been at it. I am grateful – it is a privilege to be your director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Arizona!
Below are highlights of an exceptional year of advocacy and engagement in the Grand Canyon Synod.
Grand Canyon Synod Hunger Leaders Network – the network has met monthly since June 2021. With the unanimous approval of our Hunger Team’s Synod Resolution at synod assembly in June 2023, the group received its green-light to proceed with “Encouraging congregations to support local hunger ministries, increase awareness of hunger and poverty issues, and increase opportunities to financially support the work of ELCA World Hunger.” Through its meetings, education opportunities, coalition partnerships, advocacy efforts and more, the network is making a difference in the fight against hunger and succeeded in increasing the synod’s giving to ELCA World Hunger from $329,570 in 2023 to $445,473 in 2024, a 35% increase due primarily to the popular 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge.
Highlights of the GCS Hunger Leaders Network year include:
The Grand Canyon Synod won the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge, in which 547 Individuals from ELCA Region 2 (417 from the GCS alone!) – from 102 congregations came together to raise awareness and funds through Lutheran Disaster Response in support of water projects at the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, AZ. Solveig created the resources and chaired the Region 2 Hunger Team for a year
92 hunger leaders from the Grand Canyon Synod participate in the GCS Hunger Leaders Network. Our goal: One Hunger Leader from every congregation in the synod.
As part of our partnership with ELCA World Hunger, our synod hunger team was drafted to be an Early Adopter of Rallyhood, the new ELCA-WH communication platform, which will be rolled out churchwide at the Hunger Leaders Gathering in September 2025 (Solveig is on the planning team for the upcoming gathering).
Promoted World Food Day events and Hunger Action Month while celebrating ELCA World Hunger’s 50th Anniversary
We gratefully acknowledge the Northeast Valley Consortium, who sponsored the Grand Canyon Hunger Leaders Network this year!
LAMA Liaison Roundtable – These congregational liaisons meet monthly via Zoom for education, conversation, encouragement, and a deep dive into the social issues of the day. Topics included Arizona water; Voter engagement; a Bible study on the Magnificat in Luke; the Election; Lutheran Day at the Legislature prep; the current administration; When is the right time to get really angry about what’s going on?; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and much more… always using a faith-based, often specifically Lutheran lens, with social teachings, pastoral letters, real congregational experiences, and current events in mind. Our goal: One LAMA Liaison from every congregation in Arizona.
Lutheran Day at the Legislature – LAMA hosted its 4th annual Lutheran Day at the Legislature on February 10. 200 Lutherans and friends representing 29 of Arizona’s 30 legislative districts gathered to hear remarks from Senate President Warren Petersen, House Minority Leader Oscar de los Santos, Bishop Deborah Hutterer and more, and then met with their legislators about hunger, equal access to voting, and the need for low-income housing. Participants met with more than 40 lawmakers on our big day of advocacy.
Congregational Engagement – LAMA was invited to share news and information about LAMA and the GCS Hunger Leaders Network with 15 congregations across Arizona, and we learned a lot about the amazing work our congregations are doing in their communities, particularly around hunger. The following programs were highlighted in the LAMA newsletter: the Food Bank at Streams in the Desert, the West Valley Community Food Pantry, the Grand Canyon Food Pantry (Flagstaff), Our Savior’s Lutheran and Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal (Tucson), Santa Cruz Lutheran Food Bank, Project AZUL (Tucson), Offering of Letters at Faith La Fe (Phoenix), Feed My Starving Children at Lord of Life (Sun City West), Fifth Sunday Letter Writing at New Journey (Fountain Hills), Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Outreach Food Pantry (Goodyear), and the Flagstaff Family Food Center
Direct Advocacy – In addition to our work in congregational engagement and coalition building, we are called to build bridges and create possibilities with our Arizona state legislators. In addition to Lutheran Day at the Legislature, we participated in the following:
Promoted civic engagement through voting with LAMA’s first Voter Guide on Arizona Ballot Propositions, by provided resources, information and guidelines on voting for both primary and general election; by encouraging Lutheran congregations to be voting centers; and by personally working as a Poll Monitor.
Created a series of seven short Voter Engagement videos that were picked up by churchwide as well
Pastor Chris Stoxen testified on HB2191 before the House Appropriations Committee, the “Yes In God’s Back Yard” (YIGBY) Bill – February 2025
At Bread for the World’s invitation, Solveig participated in Bread’s annual Advocacy Summit in Washington D.C. in June, where she met with Representatives David Schweikert (AZ-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Andy Biggs (AZ-05) and Paul Gosar (AZ-09), among others.
274 people in our network – that we know of! – have Request to Speak (RTS) accounts, enabling them to weigh in on bills as they’re progressing through the legislature
Participated in the ELCA Youth and Young Adult Gathering in New Orleans in July, where Autumn helped design the ELCA Advocacy booth and Solveig facilitated 9 Accompaniment Day workshops on what advocacy looks like at every stage from your church door to Washington D.C.
Through a grant from the Grand Canyon Synod, LAMA utilized Skywolf, a legislative intelligence software tool for bill tracking
Amplified every ELCA Advocacy churchwide Action Alert in our network
In Other News – We offered information and updates on new resources, study guides, Bible studies, toolkits, ELCA social teachings, August Recess opportunities and “God’s work. Our hands.” activities; we advised about grant opportunities and churchwide and local events; we volunteered at West Valley Lutheran Thrift Shop; we convened a LAMA Policy Council Retreat to discern policy priorities for 2025; we tabled at Synod Assembly; and we wrapped an amazing year with ELCA World Hunger Fellow, Autumn Byars.
This report was prepared for the Grand Canyon Synod Assembly in June 2025.