Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Nevada

Speaking Out on Contemporary Social Issues from a Lutheran Perspective

 

LAMN Speaks Up!
"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Micah 6:8

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Nevada (LAMN)

2011 Report

For Sierra Pacific and Grand Canyon Synods, ELCA

By Larry Struve, Director of Advocacy for Nevada

 

I.                   What is LAMN? 

 

LAMN is a joint ministry of the Sierra Pacific and Grand Canyon Synods within the State of Nevada, to advocate in the State Legislature and elsewhere for public policies reflective of the values and concerns of ELCA Lutherans.  Since 1991, LAMN has provided a voice within the State of Nevada to persuade those who shape public policy to care for those who are least able to speak for themselves or who have the least  basic necessities of life.  In 2010-2011, LAMN’s voice in the Nevada Legislature was provided by Larry Struve, Director of Advocacy for Nevada and Assistant to Bishop Steve Talmage of the Grand Canyon Synod, He also reports to Bishop Mark Holmerud of the Sierra Pacific Synod.  LAMN is an active partner in an ecumenical advocacy group known as RAIN (Religious Alliance in Nevada), which is comprised of leaders from 5 Christian denominations in Nevada:  ELCA Lutherans, Presbyterians, United Methodists, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics.

 

II.                Highlights of LAMN’s Advocacy Ministry in 2010-2011

 

·         Maintaining a physical presence in the 2011 regular session of the Nevada Legislature, which was preceded by a RAIN Legislative Forum on Feb. 7, 2011 that highlighted issues pertaining to health care, prisoner reentry, and resolving Nevada’s fiscal and budgetary problems;

·         Completing a successful effort with RAIN, known as “Passport to A New Life,” to raise funds (over $14,000 as of Jan. 25, 2011) through free will offerings, which were deposited in a special revenue account for reentry (RA) in the Nevada State Treasury to help pay the cost of providing prisoners with valid identification prior to their release back into society, the number of which is estimated to be 5000 per year;

·         Sponsoring a community event in Las Vegas in October, 2010, known as Hunger 101, in which Lutheran parishioners played the roles of various people with little or no money and had to learn first hand through a simulation the challenges of obtaining nutritious food in today’s society, when few, if any resources, are readily available;

·         Developing new ways to support LAMN’s advocacy ministry in Nevada (despite a decision by ELCA churchwide to cut all funding for LAMN on Feb. 1, 2011) through formation of a “385 Club” and renewed support from both the Sierra Pacific and Grand Canyon Synods.

 

III.             Financial Support and Operations  of LAMN

 

The 2011/2012 annual budget of LAMN (without churchwide funding) is conservatively estimated at $14,000, of which 40% will come from Grand Canyon Synod, 25% from the new 385 Club, 17% from Sierra Pacific Synod, 14% from RAIN, and 4% from other sources.  Hopefully, other revenues, including hunger grant funds can be found.  LAMN’s budget has been reduced nearly 35% from recent budgets, reflecting lower revenues in the past 2 years.    

 

IV.              Goals of LAMN in 2011:

 

    1. Educate Nevadans on the root causes of hunger and enlist parishioners’ support both in terms of direct giving, serving, and advocating to better address hunger and poverty;

 

    1. Educate Nevadans on the need for criminal justice reform, with particular focus on raising contributions for the Reentry Account (RA) to help prisoners newly released back into society obtain proper identification and to work with the Nevada Department of Corrections in developing a mentoring program, so that recidivism is reduced;  

 

    1. Work with RAIN in making sense of health care reform, so that policy changes can be better understood and gaps in providing access to health care are brought to the attention of policy makers;

 

    1. Participate in 2011 Synod Assemblies, explaining advocacy ministry and the work of LAMN in Nevada; and

 

    1. Plan and sponsor legislative forums and workshops to follow up on the work of the 2011 Nevada Legislature.

 

V.                 Activities Planned in 2011:

 

a.   LAMN is planning some follow up activities in 2011 from the Hunger 101 event in 2010, as noted above, and members of ELCA congregations will be recruited to participate in activities and events that increase awareness and address the problems of hunger in the greater Las Vegas area, as well as other parts of Nevada.  

b.    LAMN will continue its work on prisoner reentry by continuing to raise funds for the special reentry account (RA) noted above to provide soon-to-be released offenders with valid IDs.  LAMN will also work with RAIN in exploring the feasibility of expanding re-entry efforts, to include a mentoring program for ex-offenders.

c.    LAMN must actively recruit members of the 385 Club, to provide a support group interested in maintaining the active voice of LAMN in the State of Nevada; and

d.    LAMN intends to work with the Bishops and Treasurers of the two Synods, other

leaders in both Synods and the public policy network of ELCA churchwide, as well as persons who have supported LAMN with their time and contributions, to seek help, advice, and assistance in maintaining LAMN as a viable presence and voice for social justice in Nevada and for providing continuity of leadership as the ELCA transforms itself without a Division for Church in Society.