LAMA Newsletter Highlights Advocacy for Indigenous Communities, Hunger Relief, and Civic Engagement
The latest newsletter from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) highlights opportunities for faithful advocacy, prayer, learning, and public engagement across Arizona and the wider ELCA. Congregations, rostered ministers, and lay leaders are encouraged to read the newsletter in full, participate in upcoming events, and share the resources with their communities.
This week’s featured Action Alert centers on the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Relatives (MMIWGR) observed on May 5. The ELCA is encouraging congregations and leaders to participate through prayer, public witness, wearing red, and engaging resources connected to the church’s Truth-Seeking and Truth-Telling Initiative.
The newsletter also highlights an online Candlelight Prayer Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls led by ELCA leaders and written by Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy. The vigil invites Lutherans into lament, remembrance, solidarity, and faithful commitment to justice for Indigenous communities.
Additional upcoming events and advocacy opportunities include:
An ELCA World Hunger webinar on Domestic Hunger Grants
Arizona Faith Network justice and voting rights committee meetings
Food systems advocacy conversations addressing misinformation and hunger policy
Monthly LAMA Liaison Roundtable discussions on congregational advocacy engagement
Anti-hunger advocacy calls with Arizona food networks
The newsletter also points readers to several recent LAMA blog posts, including updates on Arizona’s state budget negotiations, the Farm Bill, election engagement resources, nonprofit security grants, Bread for the World Offerings of Letters, and hunger ministry funding opportunities.
As Lutherans, advocacy is one expression of loving our neighbors and seeking the flourishing of communities most impacted by injustice, hunger, exclusion, and violence. LAMA continues to equip congregations and individuals to engage public life through a faith-centered and nonpartisan lens.
Readers are encouraged to read the newsletter in full, sign up for future updates, and follow LAMA online for additional articles, alerts, and events.
