ABOUT ADVOCACYWhat is advocacy? Why does the ELCA do advocacy? Does the ELCA understand advocacy to be part of its mission? The ELCA believes it important for its members to be engaged in moral deliberation. For more information about the ELCA's advocacy efforts, click here. OUR CORE VALUES The word "values" is somewhat loaded. Different people have different values. For us, the word means those concepts that are so important to the foundation of our beliefs that the compel us to act. Some of those include: - Love God, neighbor and self: "37 (Jesus) said . . . 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:30-40, NRSV
- The Manna Way: "So Moses told them, "It's the bread God has given you to eat. And these are God's instructions: 'Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.'" Exodus 16:15-18, The Message
- Love is:
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- Faith in Jesus Christ gives us . . . the
- Hope from Jesus Christ . . . to share the
- Love of Jesus Christ . . . so we
- Pray . . .
- Your Kingdom come . . .
- Your will be done . . .
- On earth . . . and then we
- Go and do as He has done
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES THAT GUIDE OUR WORKJohn 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that God gave God's only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send God's son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 25:35-36, 40 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me . . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these . . . you did for me." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. . . 13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Amos 5:24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. Micah 6:8 And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. THE ELCA SOCIAL STATEMENTS AND MESSAGES - OUR POLICY BASESocial statements are major documents, adopted by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, addressing significant social issues. Since 1991 the ELCA has adopted seven social statements. Click on the links below to review the social statements. Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice Abortion Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective Death Penalty For Peace in God's World Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor Education ELCA Messages are statements adopted by the ELCA Church Council that raise awareness of a social issue and urge action. Since 1988, the ELCA Church Council has adopted nine such messages. Click on the links below to review these messages. Aids and the Church's Ministry of Caring Commercial Sexual Exploitation Community Violence End-of-Life Decisions Homelessness Immigration Israeli/Palestinian Conflict Sexuality: Some Common Convictions Suicide Prevention Terrorism | 
