wfn.org | Lutherans Communicate With U.S. Elected Officials Via E-Mail

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 8, 2004

Lutherans Communicate With U.S. Elected Officials Via E-Mail
04-189-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) have moved toward a new way of communicating
with elected officials in the United States.  Through the
church's Web site Lutherans now have the opportunity to identify
and write state legislators, members of the U.S. Congress and
others to advocate for social justice.
     "Members of Congress are becoming increasingly savvy about
electronic communication and are finding ways to effectively
communicate with their constituency via e-mail," said Michael
Hauck, senior programmer/analyst and project manager, ELCA
Division for Church in Society.
     "We live in a very different world after 2001.  Security
around Capitol Hill is tighter than ever, and hand-written
letters to Congress must pass through an offsite hazmat screening
before they are sent to a representative," Hauck said.	"It takes
an average of six weeks for snail-mail to reach the Hill.  E-
mail, on the other hand, is instantaneous.  As soon as you hit
send, you can expect your letter to be sitting in a congressional
inbox.	That means your voice will be heard on specific, timely
votes and issues."
     At http://www.elca.org/advocacy Lutherans receive
information about voter registration, learn some basic principles
for engaging in advocacy work, collect information and receive
updates on important current issues, and access ELCA resources,
messages and social statements.  It also provides announcements
on special events, such as online discussions and more.
     "Government officials appreciate hearing from their
constituency regarding issues they are engaged in," said Hauck.
"Letters are less apt to be read and considered if that official
is not involved in [a] specific issue.	The ELCA's advocacy Web
site carefully selects recipients for [one's] message and sends
it to those who work directly on the topic," he said.
     A special feature of the site includes "Action Alerts"
designed to provide information on a particular issue and
suggestions on how to take action, such as writing directly to
the White House from the ELCA Web site.  All action alerts are
built upon the ELCA's eight social statements and eleven messages
that constitute the social policy of the church.
     "When, for example, the prophets addressed kings and priests
on behalf of those suffering injustice, they were advocating,"
said the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA
Division for Church and Society.  "The ELCA calls persons to
advocate justice with and for those without power and voice in
places where important political and economic decisions are being
made that affect the lives of those who are marginalized.  It is
one way the ELCA carries out its strategic direction to 'step
forward as a public church that witnesses boldly to God's love
for all that God has created.'"
     According to Larson, "Lutherans should engage in advocacy
because our baptismal calling compels us to care for one another
and all that God has created.  In a complex world such caring
comes in various ways, through individual care and through
addressing systems and policies which affect the poor and
marginalized.  Advocacy is one way in which we seek to love our
neighbor in response to God's love given us in Jesus Christ."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news