Faith Based Advocacy
As part of her work with the conference of Bishops, Bishop Anne took part in faith based advocacy with colleagues this past week. She serves on the Middle East Ready Bench, a group of bishops from across the ELCA who work to help our congregations and ministry partners engage in advocacy and support for fostering peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. With other colleague bishops from the ELCA, she spent time learning, conversation and training at the joint advocacy summit in Washington, DC. As she experienced this work on the ground, Bishop Anne reflected through several social media posts linked together here.
Traveling on Monday, our work on Tuesday included a meeting at the Department of State with the office focused on promoting international religious freedom; a powerful keynote address by the Rev. Khader El-Yateem, ELCA Executive Director for Service and Justice; and closing prayers with candle lighting.
Photo of Lutherans at break time!
Wednesday was a very full day of learning, conversation and training at the joint advocacy summit in Washington, DC.
On Thursday, many of us from the Joint Christian Advocacy Summit went to Capital Hill to talk with representatives, senators, and members of legislative staffs.
I got to visit our Wisconsin senators with Olivia, who works with the Maryknoll Catholic Community in DC and is from Middleton. We had a great meeting with Grant from Sen. Tammy Baldwin's office. Even though we weren't able to get a meeting with Sen. Ron Johnson's office, we had good conversation with his reception staff and one of them shared that he'd gotten to go to two ELCA Youth Gatherings (Detroit and Houston.) At Rep. Tony Weid's office, I got to meet with Kalyn, who is a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in DC, where she serves on the congregation's council.
On each of our visits, we asked our elected officials to use their connections to build support for the re-opening of the humanitarian corridor between Gaza and the East Jerusalem Hospital Network. Augusta Victoria Hospital, a ministry supported by the Lutheran World Federation, is part of that network and a crucial source of care for Palestinians, including cancer care and treatment, pediatric dialysis, and other advanced care that's not available anywhere else. Since 2023, people in Gaza in need of advanced medical care have not been able to get to Augusta Victoria and the other East Jerusalem hospitals, and there is great need for that care. We also asked our lawmakers to restore federal funding for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network.
Faith-based advocacy is powerful because we're able to have conversations beyond partisan politics. The inherent worth and human dignity of all people is a shared value where we can find a lot of common ground. I'm grateful for the good training and preparation we received from the advocacy summit, and hopeful for all the connections and conversations we were able to have today.
Faith based advocacy has been a part of Bishop Anne’s life for quite some time!
Thank you for the prayers for good travels and the Joint Christian Advocacy Summit. Together, we will continue to pray, advocate and act for peace with justice for Palestine and Israel.
Let us pray. Sovereign God, your Son Jesus lived within the structures of society even as he spoke truth to those in power and challenged systems of oppression. Empower us to be courageous disciples and responsible citizens. Grant that our life in the public realm be grounded in love for our neighbors, care for the most vulnerable in our midst, and respect for the common life we share, following the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
(Prayer from: All Creation Sings; Faithful Living in Society)
