Advocacy Programs

Hunger Advocacy

As the hands of God in this place and time,
We encourage the people of St. Luke to
Work toward a world without hunger by:

• Educating our community,
• Advocating to our elected officials, and
• Working to defeat social and economic
  injustice.

We meet for an hour once a month to plan and report; most of our work is done outside the meeting. Our concerns range from local to international, including providing voter registration cards, letter writing campaigns, advocacy visits to our legislators and congressmen, and raising funds for Lutheran World Relief.

We coordinate our work with Norene Goplen, Oregon Director of Lutheran Advocacy. We meet with other Hunger groups and host a table at the annual ELCA Lutheran Synod Assembly. St. Luke is now a Jubilee Congregation and a ONE Congregation, both international organizations helping the poor and displaced worldwide.

We enjoy working on this committee because the need is so large, we meet the most interesting people, and once in a while, we win. There is no greater satisfaction!

To get involved, contact: Lisa Wenzlick, Carol Klett, or Alice Mills.

Peace and Justice Advocacy

Are recent national and international events getting you down? Wondering what you can do? Feel like giving up? Don't. There is a lot you can do without leaving your computer. We are a nonpartisan group of St. Luke members actively involved online in strengthening our commitment to peace and justice. We are staying in touch with frequent emails, providing mutual emotional support, staying informed by sharing news and links to websites, action alerts, and events that relate to peace and justice. We believe that internet grass-roots movement toward peace and justice has a big impact, so join us to try it out.

Our group has a lot of fun with outreach and connecting with other churches and peace groups. We sometimes bring in speakers for adult education, organize or go as a group to community events, advocate, and take action.

Our Mission: To generate active participation in striving for peace. To study, communicate, think, listen to the Spirit, open dialogue, promote educational opportunities, remind each other to pray, join peace-community-building events, encourage and support advocacy and action.

Our Accomplishments: Some examples of our activities include: Arlington Northwest, a memorial service and march to honor all lives lost in the Iraq war. Trips to Salem for peace and justice advocacy (both on our own and with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and Lutheran Lobbying Days). Volunteering for the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit and Hiroshima Day memorials. Various Candlelight Vigils for peace. Helping veterans build, plant and maintain the new Portland Peace Memorial Park (the largest peace symbol in the world planted with flowers). Hosting LPF Peacemakers Leadership Trainings for leaders from all denominations. Our current pet project is starting an emergency fund for returning veterans, building bridges with other active congregations, and working with Portland City Council for a broad support system to address those families’ needs.

Join us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StLukePeace

Veterans' Bridge Fund Project -- Over $31,000 given away

The project provides small grants to Iraq and Afghan war veterans who are in transition and experiencing temporary setbacks, often as they wait for disability or other assistance. The Bridge Fund allows any congregation or individual, regardless of attitudes about peace and war, to do what all faith traditions urge upon them: help people in need.

One in four homeless people are veterans, with veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars increasingly joining the veterans of Vietnam and earlier wars. Often, when a homeless or near homeless veteran decides to seek help, there are operational hurdles that he/she must clear. For example, a new veteran with PTSD who is trying to transition back may discover that he/she will have to wait weeks, even months, for treatment or for a disability claim to be approved. During the interim he/she could become homeless. We hope to prevent this, with small bridge grants—money that helps a person across an “open space” in their life.

The Veteran’s Bridge Fund has met needs like these:

• deposits on housing to help veterans into public housing
• payment of utility bills to prevent shut off
• rent when a student’s GI funds ran out before graduation
• travel expenses to reach a TBI training program
• bus tickets to reach job or medical/counseling appointment

How can you help? Congregations can establish their own Veterans Bridge Fund or donate to our central fund. Individuals may donate as well.

To donate: Make checks payable to St. Luke Veterans Bridge Fund and mail to:

St. Luke Lutheran Church Peace & Justice Group
Veterans Bridge Fund
6835 S.W. 46th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97219

If your congregation is interested in participating, please contact St. Luke. Thanks to lst Unitarian Church, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, Christ Church, St. Juan Diego Parish, People of Faith for Peace, and many individual donors.