Faith & Justice Team – A Call to Advocacy
About Us
Advocacy means “to speak or plead on behalf of another.” Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church understands that hands-on help for people living in poverty, the vulnerable, and the oppressed, whether around the corner or around the world, is incomplete when we don’t question why those conditions exist. What government policies need to change? Do we need to speak truth to power as a way to love our neighbor and to do justice in society?
Faith & Justice Team sponsors adult forums to educate about current events and issues in our society where our faith may be calling us to seek understanding and then provides ways that we can speak out and ask those in positions of power to make needed changes.
Currently, the team leader is Beth DeHaven. Contact her at bethadehaven@gmail.com to join the team or to find out other ways to get involved with advocacy work at OSLC
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
- Tuesday, April 22, 5 pm: Roadmap to Ruin video study with author and pastor, Dr. Jemar Tisby (see details and registration link below)
- Tuesday, April 22, 6 pm: Braver Angels DEI Debate (sign up and see details below)
- Wednesday, April 23, 10 am: Faithful Witness Wednesdays in D.C., calling on Congress for Moral Courage – livestream and videos: HERE
- Monday, April 28, 4 pm: Women’s Forum in Denver on Antisemitism and Islamophobia(join Pastor Leta-contact her for details!)
- Wednesday, April 30, 2pm: Good Faith Podcast – reflecting on Trump’s first 100 days in office Register HERE
- Thursday, May 1, 6 pm: Braver Angels MAGA Debate (sign up and see details below)
- Tuesday, May 6 Health District of Northern Larimer County Board of Directors Election. LWVLC website showing Health District boundaries, deadlines, and how to get a ballot: HERE To evaluate the candidates, watch the candidate forum: HERE
- Saturday, May 10, 10-11:30 AM:Legislator Town Hall, end of CO assembly session wrap-up, CSU, Nutrien Agriculture Building, Room 135, 301 University Ave, Fort Collins
- June 9-11, Washington, D.C. Bread for the World Advocacy Summit to End Hunger at the Museum of the Bible. Information & Registration
- Friday, July 11: Nadia Bolz-Weber Red State Revival close to home!Cheyenne, Wyoming Tickets HERE. (Possible carpool-contact Beth D. if interested)
EDUCATION & ADVOCACY:
- Braver Angels: Current campaign focused on President Trump’s First 100 Days. Listen in on the events, or lend your voice to the debate as well. Highly recommend watching this 4 minute intro: Braver Angels Campaign. Share it online, or send it to a friend. A SHORT, EXCELLENT INTRODUCTION TO THE CURRENT POLARIZATION OF OUR COUNTRY!
- Trump’s first 100 days. Join our upcoming debates on Trump’s first 100 days, including a national debate on DEI policy featuring professors Cornel West, Wilfred Reilly, and Americans from across the divide.
Sign up Resolved: Defend DEI April 22 at 8 p.m. ET - Sign up Resolved: President Trump is Making America Great Again May 1 at 8 p.m. ET .
- ELCA draft social message on child protection and maltreatment. This draft social message is in response to a request from the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and addresses the church’s calling to protect and nurture children and youth, both within the church and within society more broadly. We are writing in hope that you will participate in the public comment period on this draft. CLICK HERE to continue reading about this.
- The Center for American Progress (CAP) has unveiled an interactive map tracker to keep citizens updated with the best possible information on cuts and which communities they affect, allowing viewers to sort cuts by city, state, and even Congressional District. To access the map and learn more about the Trump administration’s cuts to grants and federal departments and how they are affecting you and your community. DOGE Cuts Interactive Map
ARTICLES OF INTEREST:
(these are from Melanie Reed)
1. Opinion piece about education: Screen time vs reading books and how it’s harming us, by
David Brooks: HERE
2. Tariffs, trade deficit, natl debt:
Episode 2 of “Roadmap to Ruin” is out now. It’s called “Architects of Ruin” and it pulls back the curtain on the shadowy network of money, individuals, and institutions behind the dismantling of democracy. Watch the episode and join us Tuesdays at 7 pm ET this month for a live, online video study led by me!
Attachments area
Recommended Books from Faith & Justice
The reading list has been updated with a few more titles to curl up with under a cozy blanket! All suggested books have been read and recommended by members of OSLC.
Faith-Justice-Book-Club-Suggestion-List-2023-1-1Resources from Vance Blackfox
Listed HERE are resources that Vance Blackfox suggested when he presented his two-day workshop last year. There are a variety of resources for your perusal.