December 22, 2009

WASHINGTON – In a Dec. 16 letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, a caucus of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) bishops acknowledged economic challenges and suggested opportunities for job creation. The group met with Martha Coven, special assistant to the president for mobility and opportunity policy, to present the letter and discuss the status of hunger and economic insecurity in the United States.

In the letter the bishops wrote, "We see firsthand the effects that unemployment has on individuals, families and communities. While we are there to counsel and comfort, we are also committed to encouraging policies that can spur job growth."

The bishops' letter outlined a number of propositions for job creation such as small business development, job retraining, green jobs for low-income people and expanding public service programs.

The caucus asked for particular consideration of sustainable development for low-income communities, as well as sustaining the environment and people living in poverty through investments in green jobs and clean energy technology.

The bishops also visited with members of Congress Dec. 16-17.

The Rev. Jessica R. Crist, bishop of the ELCA Montana Synod and caucus participant said, "We represent mainstream America; we speak for justice; we speak for the poor. To be together with others in this task is very helpful to the bishops."

Crist met with Montana's U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester while here.

"I discussed the importance of continuing unemployment benefits, and of creating new jobs. I also talked about the importance of continuing and improving child nutrition," said Crist. "I have a good relationship with both our senators, and I think this is beneficial to the caucus."

During their time here, the bishops received legislative updates from the ELCA Washington Office and others on health care reform, job creation and child nutrition reauthorization, and attended a "United We Stand: Feed a Neighbor" event hosted by the ELCA Washington Office.

Max Finberg, director of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and John Kelly, strategic advisor at the Corporation for National and Community Service, faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, spoke at the event about the recent "United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor" initiative. The effort challenges Americans to help feed people in more than 17 million households in the United States who struggle to put food on the table.

The purpose of the caucus was to mobilize the bishops to speak publicly and prophetically about the problems of hunger and poverty in America and influence legislation aimed at reducing them, according to the letter.

In addition to Crist, other bishops who participated in the caucus were the Rev. Michael L. Burk, ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod; the Rev. Robert L. Driesen, ELCA Upper Susquehanna Synod; the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod; the Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann, ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod; the Rev. James F. Mauney, ELCA Virginia Synod and convener of the caucus, and the Rev. David B. Zellmer, ELCA South Dakota Synod.

The bishops' letter is at http://bit.ly/5Tlwx3/, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service