Living Faith Resources
Below are some Living Faith resources to further your learning
Declaration on the Way
"Declaration on the Way" [DOW] is a [statement] of the consensus achieved by Lutherans and Catholics on the topics of Church, Ministry and Eucharist as a result of ecumenical dialogue between the two communions since 1965." (DOW, preface).
For more reading: https://www.elca.org/declaration-on-the-way
Dr. David Grafton
Resources of Jesus in Islam for Christian Congregations
Lenten Resources
Lenten Calendar to Help Cultivate Creation (environmental) Justice
Lenten Reflections with Daily Readings
RIC & Advocacy Team Series
Actions and Resources to Start us on the Path of Intersectional Justice Advocacy
Federal Advocacy Opportunities
Action alert: Urge Senators to protect voting rights by passing the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.
Voter suppression disproportionately affects low-income people and people of color. Passage of The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act would be a key step in ensuring all citizens can vote safely. You can write to your senator in support of the John R. Lewis Act hereAction alert: Join Faith Leaders and Urge your Representatives to pass H.R. 40. The legacy of slavery and resultant systems of white supremacy affect Black communities deeply, especially causing racialized economic harm. H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, would establish a commission to study this and develop recommendations for advancing reparations for affected people. You can write to your representatives in support of H.R. 40 here
State Advocacy Opportunities
Legislative priority: Emergency Rental Assistance Program Covid has disproportionately harmed low-income, BIPOC, and disabled people. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps those who have been unable to pay rent due to pandemic-related hardships. Many PA counties have run out of funding. Senate Bill 1059 aims to increase funding so the ERAP can continue. Consider writing to your state representatives and senators in support of legislation that would fund the ERAP. You can read SB 1059 here
Planned Parenthood Keystone provides support and education for LGBTQIA+ people across PA, especially youth. Learn more about how you can support them here
Local Advocacy Opportunity
The Rainbow Room in Doylestown provides education, resources, community, and support for LGBTQIA+ youth. Learn more about how you can support them here
Further Resources
Baptized in Tear Gas by Rev. Elle Dowd offers insights, reflection questions, and specific actions to help people with privileged identities begin the work of intersectional justice work.
Reconciling in Christ
All Saints Day
Storm Water Manager Resources
By keeping rain where if falls and allowing for filtration the Ambler Borough community can contribute to Clean Streams in the Wissahickon Watershed. Through Clean Streams, Clean Water, Ambler Borough residents can be a solution to the pollution in our waterways, while beautifying property and moving towards a healthier Wissahickon Watershed. We can keep rain where it falls, allow for filtration and improve the waters we send downstream to our neighbors in Philadelphia.
Water Management
How polluted is the water in our local streams?
Find out the condition of your local waterway here: https://mywaterway.epa.gov/
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC)
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is in the forefront in protecting our waterways, air quality, maintaining and improving trails, storm water management, educational programming and lots more! Find out how you can get involved and learn more about what is going on in our home state: https://pecpa.org/
Lutherans Restoring Creation
Lutheran Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Ways for individuals to make a difference
Ways for congregations to make a difference
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa)
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) is the state public policy office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LAMPa serves the congregations, synods and Lutheran institutions in Pennsylvania, providing resources, training and information in the work of being a public church.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
Did you know that PA is one of the highest CO2 emitters on the East Coast? The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a cooperative effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia to cap and reduce power sector CO2 emissions. It is important for Pennsylvania to become part of this effort. For more information about the project and how Lutherans are supporting it click here.
Community Solar Projects Legislation
Senate Bill 472 and House Bill 1555 enable community solar projects in Pennsylvania that would allow us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while helping to create a more resilient energy system. Community solar allows neighbors, businesses, farms and nonprofits such as churches and other community organizations to directly participate in and receive benefits from an offsite solar project connected to their local electric distribution company’s grid.
Join Lutherans across Pennsylvania in encouraging lawmakers to support this bipartisan legislation. Simply sign each of the attached letters and list your address. (Lawmakers will not read without this!) Please consider adding a personal note about why caring for creation is important to you as a person of faith.
GWOHOV Community Solar House Letter
GWOHOV Community Solar Senate Letter
Care for Creation
During the month of October the Living Faith will be focusing on Care for Creation.
Did you know that the ELCA has many resources for congregations and individuals to help us learn more about our calling as Christians to care for Creation?
In 1993 the ELCA published a statement on the need and call for all Lutherans to work for environmental sustainability. Why do we care for creation? “For Christians, care of the Earth is not an “environmental cause.” Rather, it is central to our holy calling to treasure the Earth and to care for it as our common home, fully integrating creation-care into our love of God and neighbor”.
Read more here: Why Lutherans Care for Creation
ELCA Statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice (1993)
Introduction to the ELCA statement, Caring for Creation
Summary of “Caring for Creation”
Full Text of “Caring for Creation”
ELCA Fact Sheets on Environmental Issues
Health Issues: Within the U.S. and Globally
Problems in farming and agriculture world-wide
Global food security and climate change
ELCA factsheet on Water Stewardship
Advocacy and Other Resources from the ELCA
More helpful resources
Creation Justice Ministries - Creation Justice Missions educates, equips and mobilizes Christian communions/denominations, congregations and individual to protect, restore, and rightly share God’s creation.
Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development - The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) reveals the connection between religion and ecology and mobilizes faith communities to act. ICSD works on a global basis, with current engagement in Africa, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
The Eco Bible from the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development - is an ecological commentary on the first five books of the Bible. Volume one is now available on their website to download.
What Can the Bible tell us about Ecology?
As we face huge environmental changes - including more frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, and forest fires, and widespread plastic pollution - Eco Bible shows how the Bible itself and its great scholars embrace care for God’s creation as a fundamental and living message.
178 Daily Lessons on Living a Healthier, More Eco-Friendly Life
Ecological Commentary on the Book of Genesis & Exodus
Specific Action Items for Achieving a Sustainable Future