Hunger Advocacy Fellow
Lutheran Advocacy-MN is pleased to welcome our new ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow! Rachel Wyffels is a recent graduate of St. Olaf College, where she was president of the St. Olaf Student Congregation Council, played violin in the St. Olaf Orchestra, and majored in music and religion. She is excited for the year with Lutheran Advocacy-MN and hopes to attend seminary afterward. In her free time, Rachel loves to read, knit, and spend time with her dog. Rachel’s email at LA-MN is rachel.wyffels@elca.org.
Hunger Advocacy Fellows are made possible through ELCA World Hunger and ELCA Advocacy, and the open positions are rotated between the ELCA State Public Policy Offices. (Remember Kendrick Hall about 4 years ago? He was also a Hunger Advocacy Fellow placed in Minnesota).
Federal Level Concerns
Refugees from Afghanistan: LIRS is calling for churches and volunteers to support incoming Afghan nationals who have been evacuated and being resettled in the United States. If you are able to volunteer your time to help with services like airport pick-ups, apartment set-ups, or bringing a meal, please sign-up using the button that represents your region or sign-up for the general stand-by list here. In addition, Churches and volunteers are needed to assist in a coordinated response to provide such services as travel, housing, meals, and refugee resettlement. Sign up for your area here. Bishop Eaton at the White House: ELCA Advocacy has been working on various portions of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the budget reconciliation “Build Back Better” bill, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill to work to have alignment with ELCA values. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton joined with other Circle of Protection faith leaders at the White House on Sept. 22 to advocate for children and families in different parts of the bills. “This is not a political issue, it’s a faith issue. It is not partisan; it is a scriptural mandate. To pass a bill like this is something that is part of our following of Jesus. It’s going to help children – and families. And helping families is good for communities,” said Bishop Eaton.
The group issued a letter on legislation that if “passed and signed into law they would strengthen the physical and social infrastructure of our society, cut family and child poverty…, and ensure the precious right to vote for all people made in God’s image” (https://circleofprotection.us). Watch a video of Bishop Eaton (ELCA) and Bishop Curry (Episcopal church) here
Upcoming October Events
Housing Webinars: Our partner, the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC), is hosting a series of five webinars on topics related to affordable housing in Minnesota. Join one or all five webinars to learn about these topics and prepare to advocate with Lutheran Advocacy-MN & JRLC for the 2022 Legislative Session. Those new to the issues and experienced housing advocates are welcome.
When: The first Thursday of the month from October through February (October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3)
What Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Where: Zoom
ELCA Hunger Webinar Series (October – Hunger & Climate Change): Our ELCA World Hunger colleagues are producing a “Hunger at the Crossroads,” webinar series.Understanding hunger – and working to end it – means seeing the many ways hunger and poverty intersect with so many other issues, including climate change, food production, access to housing, racial justice, gender justice and more. Attend the October webinar, led by World Hunger extraordinary educators, Ryan Cumming and Brooke De Jong, to learn more about how climate change exacerbates world hunger and how we can respond.
When: Wednesday, October 27
What: Time: 6:00 pm, Central
Where: Zoom
Creation Care/COP Climate Conference Webinar: The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) begins on October 31st in Glasgow, Scotland. Join our partner, Fresh Energy, and J. Drake Hamilton (Senior Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy) to learn what to expect from the conference and how Minnesota fits into the process.
When: Wednesday, October 20
What Time: 12:00 noon
Where: Zoom
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