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2007-2008
Public Policy Advocacy Agenda
Along with all citizens, Christians have the responsibility to
defend human rights and to work for freedom, justice, peace,
environmental well-being, and good order in public life. They are to
recognize the vital role of law in protecting life and liberty and in
upholding the common good”
[1]
It is the intent of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa)
to provide a common voice for the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania as it
seeks to uphold the common good.
The starting point for this activity will be engaging members of the
Lutheran church living in PA in exploration of the issues that tear at
the human fabric. LAMPa will speak to public policy makers. As it does
so, LAMPa will represent those who find it difficult or impossible to
speak for themselves. LAMPa recognizes that much of its work will be
building for long term change by addressing issues as they come before
the PA legislature. It seeks to build continuity in its witness as it
speaks to various issues and over a number of years.
This continuity will derive from the Social Statements and Messages of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its predecessors.
These statements give the theological foundation and guidance in policy
review.
LAMPa recognizes and welcomes the diversity of personal opinions held by
Lutherans in Pennsylvania. In addition to the use of the Social
Statements, LAMPa shall engage in sound research, theological
reflection, and adequate study in the development of specific LAMPa
advocacy positions. This discipline will inform the interpretation of
these positions to the Lutheran constituency, public policy makers and
society at large.
Priority Issues to be addressed are:
Poverty/ Hunger
“Through human decisions and actions, God is at work in economic
life. Economic life is intended to be a means through which God’s
purposes for humankind and creation are to be served. When this does
not occur, as a church we cannot remain silent because of who and whose
we are. Based on this vantage of faith, “sufficient, sustainable
livelihood for all” is a benchmark for affirming, opposing, and seeking
change in economic life.”
[2]
Subjects that may be addressed in this
arena:
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Taxation Policies
§
Medicaid provisions
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
§
Immigration policies and local hospitality
§
Access to education
§
Higher Education funding
§
TABOR
(“Taxpayer Protection Act”)
§
Nutrition and feeding programs
§
Farm
legislation
§
Others will be added as legislative agendas are developed.
Health/Health Care
“Rising health care costs leave a growing number of people without
adequate health care. Health care resources are often rationed based on
ability pay rather than need. Finding access to quality health care
services is difficult for many. The growing number of elderly people adds
another stress on health care resources. Fear and self-interest defeat
social justice in the political processes of health care reform.”
[3]
Subjects that may be addressed in this arena:
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Universal health care
§
Insurance programs for children
§
Institutional health care inequities
§
Reliable and adequate support of persons living in health care facilities
§
Timely reimbursement to health care providers
§
Smoke
free PA
§
Environment
§
Pandemic response
§
Others will be added as legislative agendas are developed.
Unanticipated Subjects:
Subjects that cannot be anticipated at the time of the adoption of the
Advocacy Agenda and are subsequently introduced in the Legislature or in
procedures proposed or adopted by the Executive Branch may be addressed. If
deemed to have priority by the Executive Director and the Chairperson of the
Policy Council, they will be addressed using the Social Statements and
Messages of the ELCA.
[1]
The
Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective, 1991
[2]
Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, ELCA, 1999
[3]
Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor, ELCA, 2003
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