Four Lutheran leaders, citing the denomination’s long history of social work, offered policy advice to the two major presidential candidates in a letter this week.
The six-page letter released on July 8 touched on issues related to poverty, health care, global warming, immigration, international development, and conflict resolution.
The signers of the letter are the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Jill A. Schumann, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America; Ralston H. Deffenbaugh, Jr., president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; and the Rev. John Nunes, president of Lutheran World Relief.
"The Scriptures are clear about God's concern for and solidarity with people living in poverty and on the margins of society," the Lutheran leaders wrote. "They are equally clear that God calls us to be stewards of creation."
As a result, Lutherans bring into the public square "a commitment to service for the well-being of all of God's children, but they also have a “faith conviction” that the government is an “important catalyst in God's work of restoring peace, achieving economic justice and protecting the environment."
In the letter, Lutheran leaders urged U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to make a public commitment to a measurable poverty reduction goal of 50 percent over the next 10 years, and propose a budget to fund programs supporting services to low-income families.
In addition, the next U.S. president should propose a comprehensive health care plan, support an increase in Medicaid funding, and support the preservation and production of affordable housing in his effort to tackle economic insecurity and poverty.
On the issue of global warming and energy, the Christian leaders encouraged the next president to re-engage the United States in international talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emission cuts. They also called for resources to help low-income Americans with the increased energy costs, to enact energy conservation policies, and to increase research money for clean energy sources.
Other recommendations include the adoption of fair but humane immigration laws, the increase of foreign aid to fight poverty and disease, and support for sustainable peace in Iraq, Sudan, and between Israel and Palestine.
"The record of effective and transformative work by Lutheran organizations demonstrates our belief that people of faith can help change the world in practical ways,” wrote the Lutheran leaders.
"Our broad and long- standing experience also teaches us that our faith-based response to human need is enhanced and more effective when supported by government with the wisdom and will to provide resources to fulfill its basic constitutional mandate to protect the well-being of all its citizens.”
RSS
If you like the way the Government runs innercity schools you'll love the way they'll run the hospitals. Their first priority will be banning prayer like they did in the schools.
um... Christ gives hope to those who trust in Him. But He is not always reassuring.
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?"
Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Matthew 23:33
You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
Indeed, even in the same breath Jesus was assuring, but also warning.
John 3:15-18
15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
If you are trying to scare people, then you are not coming from God. The Lord is re-assuring! The end times belong to the Lord, the battle is His and he doesn't need your help.
When will the Lutes start discussing ABORTION!!!!
I still can't believe that some Lutherans won't support all Pro-life candidates!
I think both candidates stink, but based on a hiearchy of moral values McCain will get my vote. Obama is a very scary person. End Times???