A partnership ministry of the

Church in Society Program Unit of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),

Pennsylvania Lutheran synods, and

Pennsylvania-based ELCA agencies and institutions.

900 S. Arlington Avenue, Suite 117

Harrisburg, PA  17109

Telephone:  717-545-3500

Fax:  717-545-3501

Email:  lampa@lamp.org

Description of the Organization

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  It is a partnership ministry of the Church in Society Program Unit of the ELCA, the seven ELCA synods in PA, the ELCA social ministry organizations (SMOs), seminaries, colleges, and other agencies and institutions located in PA.  As an unincorporated entity, it dwells under the incorporation and taxation status of the ELCA.  LAMPa is the State Public Policy Office (SPPO) of the ELCA in Pennsylvania.

The mission of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania is to advocate in both public and private sectors of society on behalf of, and in partnership with, those persons who are denied justice, dignity, reconciliation, peace, and access to basic human rights, and who lack adequate representation and voice in the arenas of public policy.   The ministry presents advocacy based on the Social Statements and social policy resolutions of the ELCA.  It is guided by the Constitution and continuing resolutions of the ELCA.  The Constitution commits the church, through the Church in Society Program Unit, “to assist this church to discern, understand and respond to the needs of human beings, communities, society, and the whole creation through direct human services and through addressing systems, structures, and policies of society, seeking to promote justice, peace and care of the earth.”

LAMPa engages the congregations, synods, seminaries, colleges and other institutions of the church in PA in advocacy through exchange of information, enlistment of advocates and training.  Clergy, other rostered leaders, and members provide grassroots contact with public policy makers.

LAMPa engages the SMOs through structured communication patterns; distribution of action alerts to the board members and staff, an annual consultation among the Steering Committee leadership of Lutheran Services in America-PA (LSA-PA); the Executive Director of the Church in Society Program Unit and the Executive Director of LAMPa; and by networking with the industry organizations and lobbyists related to the SMOs.

LAMPa engages the churchwide expression of the ELCA through the Church in Society Program Unit primarily by adhering to the Social Statements and social policy resolutions of the church, and by relating to the ELCA Washington Office and the SPPO network.  LAMPa addresses the objectives of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal by providing advocacy to PA public officials in addressing the systemic causes of hunger.

LAMPa recognizes and welcomes the diversity of personal opinions held by Lutherans in Pennsylvania.  Sound research, theological foundation, and adequate study are primary in the development of LAMPa advocacy positions so that they may be carefully interpreted to the Lutheran constituency and society at large.

It is the intent of LAMPa to provide a common voice for the Lutheran church by speaking to public policy makers as it represents those who find it difficult or impossible to speak for themselves.  In the case of exceptional issues where LAMPa senses that there is not a common voice among LAMPa and its constituencies (synods, agencies and institutions and Church in Society Program Unit), LAMPa will intentionally explore these issues with the constituencies involved.

As an advocacy ministry of the ELCA, LAMPa’s vision is centered in the ELCA “Public Church” strategic direction:

“Claimed, gathered, and sent by God's grace for the sake of the world, 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in and through its churchwide expression will…

Step forward as a public church

 that witnesses boldly to God's love for all that God has created.”

“People of faith must step boldly into the public square and exert their individual and collective political power for the sake of the common good.  This is not a choice but a moral imperative based on scripture, faith traditions and God’s call to live out our faith in the public world.”  (Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson)

Governance of LAMPa

A Policy Council of twenty persons directs LAMPa.  The members are appointed as follows:  each of the seven synods appoints two persons; the SMOs appoint three members (one of whom shall be from the LSA-PA Steering Committee—that person serves on the LAMPa Personnel Committee; two persons are appointed by the Pennsylvania Lutheran Network (PLN) to represent the other ELCA agencies and institutions in PA; and one of the synod bishops serves on a rotating basis.  As constituency relationships are strengthened and funding developed, the Policy Council will review the representation pattern, including ways to increase engagement with congregations. 

The Policy Council has responsibility for planning the advocacy agenda, fiscal oversight, and building constituency relationships.  The responsibility for supervising staff is shared by the Policy Council with the Church in Society Program Unit of the ELCA.  LAMPa staff are ELCA employees, subject to the personnel policies of the ELCA, and the Church in Society Program Unit is the employer of record.

Strategies for Accomplishing LAMPa’s Mission

The goals and objectives of LAMPa are centered in a biennial public policy advocacy agenda established and associated with each two-year cycle of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  Foundational to the agenda is the principle that the work will be conducted to further the goals of the World Hunger Program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 

The 2007-2008 Public Policy Advocacy Agenda was developed by the LAMPa Policy Council in consultation with the LAMPa partnership during the fall of 2006.  The 2009-2010 agenda will be developed in the fall of 2008.

Strategies to accomplish LAMPa’s mission include the following goals and objectives:

• Building relationships with policy makers in the Executive and Legislative Branches of PA Government

• Monitoring policy development within the Legislature and the priorities and regulations promulgated by the Executive Branch, assuring LAMPa’s advocacy agenda is expressed consistently to both branches

• Developing and equipping a network of advocates in congregations, institutions and agencies of the ELCA

• Introducing current and future clergy and other rostered leaders to opportunities for advocacy ministry

• Preparing resources and assisting congregations in advocacy and justice ministries

• Equipping PA voters and church leadership to address federal issues that impact the citizens of PA

• Assisting in the strengthening of the ministry of Lutheran agencies and institutions in PA through membership in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Network (PLN) and through other means identified by the agencies and institutions

Deliverables

LAMPa’s vision is organized with a ministry plan including the following deliverables:

• Through annual evaluation, positive review by synods, congregations, rostered leaders, SMOs and other ELCA institutions and agencies that LAMPa has been faithful in its intent to speak with a common voice for the Lutheran church as it represents those who find it difficult to speak for themselves

• The existence of a two-year public policy advocacy agenda for legislative action that is adopted by the Policy Council in consultation with the Bishops, the leadership of the SMOs, and the ELCA Church in Society Program Unit.  The agenda is reviewed and updated annually.  Special attention is given to actions taken by synods in assembly, synod councils and the priority issues identified by the leadership of the SMOs.

• Partnership with coalitions and networks organizing advocacy engagement related to the biennial public policy agenda and other legislative priorities for increased effectiveness

• Maintain an active presence with the PA General Assembly and Executive Branch leadership and agencies through staff interactions on a one-on-one basis and in coalition/network delegations with legislators, legislative staff, and policy makers in the Executive Branch (Governor, Secretary of Public Welfare, their staffs; agency staff)

• Partnership with the ELCA Washington Office and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) on federal issues with a state impact

• ACTIONET (statewide advocacy network) alerts and announcements (12 “calls to action” per year)

• InterSections (LAMPa newsletter) published [2-3 editions per year]

• Developed, maintained and updated ministry website (www.lamp.org)

• Annual Lutheran Day at the Capitol

• Seminary students contacted (LTSG and LTSP) and engaged in advocacy

• The existence and implementation of a strategy to develop and coordinate LAMPa’s statewide advocacy network (ACTIONET) to educate, nurture, and engage the Lutheran community in what it means to be a public church

• Legislators and staff invited to attend LAMPa sponsored events (i.e. Lutheran Day at the Capitol)

• The existence and implementation of a strategy for shaping advocacy ministry in congregations (i.e. forum presentations; advocacy ministry teams)

• The existence of structures that acknowledge, provide dialogue and process agenda differences among LAMPa and LAMPa constituencies in a timely manner.

• The existence of electronic access to leadership staff and board members of SMOs and other Lutheran agencies and institutions with the distribution of action alerts and other communications

• The existence of plans for redesigning governmental programs/policy developed at policy tables in partnership with the SMOs and other Lutheran agencies and institutions and other stakeholders (as appropriate), including organizations representing industries serving societal needs, that address long term issues of the Commonwealth that are presented to staff of the Executive Branch in an interactive way

• Signs of a developing relationship with the ELCA colleges and campus ministries in PA

• Administrative services for the Pennsylvania Lutheran Network (PLN)

• Consultation and professional partnership with the PA ELCA bishops and other church leaders for their “public church” leadership roles and mutual advocacy ministry

These deliverables anticipate three full-time staff.

Investment of Person Power

LAMPa will engage leaders, staff, and members of the following stakeholders to implement the strategies and produce the intended outcomes:

• ELCA Church in Society Program Unit

• ELCA World Hunger Program

• Bishops

• Synodical Units (i.e. World Hunger Committees, Church in Society Committees)

• SMOs

• Seminaries

• Colleges and campus ministries

• Congregations

• Individuals

LAMPa, as a significant strategy to accomplish its goals and objectives, will partner in the development and work of coalitions, networks and other organizations, including but not limited to:           

• The Pennsylvania Welfare Coalition

• PA Interfaith Justice Coalition

• The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

• The Pennsylvania Health Access Network

• PA EITC Coalition

• Good Schools Pennsylvania

• PA Moratorium Coalition (death penalty)

LAMPa will also work in cooperation with organizations having similar advocacy objectives, including the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center.

LAMPa’s staffing plan includes:

• Executive Director:  The Rev. Neil P. Harrison, SPPO Director; effective 2/16/07.

• Assistant Director:  The LAMPa 2006-2008 Business plan projected implementation of the Assistant Director position, effective 7/1/07.  LAMPa has had two full-time executives for many years (until late 2005).  The 2007 decision was to defer implementation of this position as funding is not solidly predictable (Direct Supervisor: Executive Director).     

• Advocacy Developer:  Marissa Harris, Full-time professional (non-executive) position; recruitment and selection in early 2008; (Direct Supervisor:  Executive Director)

• Administrative Assistant:  Gail Wilson, 4 days per week (Direct Supervisor:  Executive Director)

• 2 Seminary Field Education Students (2 each semester from LTSG and LTSP) in 2007-2008 and future years (potential for 4 seminary field education students and/or 1 intern each year); (Supervisor:  Executive Director)

• As necessary, contracted part-time staff for special assignments may be organized when resources are available. 

Financial Resources

LAMPa’s ministry is supported financially by its partners (i.e. ELCA Church in Society Program Unit, the seven PA synods, SMOs, seminaries), in accordance with funding arrangements organized since it was developed as the first SPPO by the Division for Mission in North America (DMNA) of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1978, and evolving relationships over the years.  There is other limited financial support (i.e. designated contributions). In addition, LAMPa has an administrative services agreement with the Pennsylvania Lutheran Network (PLN) and receives limited remuneration for PLN administration work.

Financial support is used to accomplish LAMPa’s mission, goals and objectives for related deliverables as organized in the LAMPa budget adopted annually by the Policy Council.  The ELCA SPPO Support Grant funds are dedicated to public policy advocacy agenda activities associated with the advocacy goals, objectives, and guidelines of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, based on the program Principles and Assumptions.