Students Advocate For Children's Issues
When Martin Luther King, Jr. marched on Washington for civil rights, he carried his Bible in one hand and a copy of the United States Constitution in the other. He believed that people of faith had a responsibility to effect change. Many in today’s church also feel that faith and political advocacy go hand in hand. As followers of Christ, we believe that our faith calls us to act with love for the sake of others. John seems to agree: "Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action" (1 John 3:18).
In response to this call, ten students from LTSP recently joined 1000 other Christians for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, held March 9th-12th in Washington, D.C. The focus of this year’s gathering was on issues relating to children. Participants learned about international and domestic issues in different area tracks, including Africa, Latin America, Eco-Justice, Global Security, Economic Justice, and the Middle East. We learned about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, health care access issues, and the effects of US foreign policy on children in developing countries. All this was done in preparation for a day of lobbying on Capitol Hill.
Particular attention was given to the effects of global warming on children. As worldwide weather patterns shift, traditional food sources and economies are disappearing. Children usually end up disproportionately suffering from malnutrition, disease, and hunger. Dr. Larry Rasmussen spoke about the “mismatch of metabolism” between the human economy and nature’s economy, and the need to stop seeing the “good life” as “the life of goods.” Other speakers included Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of Children’s Defense Fund; John McCullough, Executive Director of Church World Service; and many excellent speakers from different countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Participants spent Monday visiting their state legislators. LTSP students met with staff members of Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, and U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah of the 2nd District, Philadelphia. We asked for Congress to move toward enacting quality health care coverage for all children in the United States, including the nine million children who are currently uninsured. We lobbied for legislation to significantly reduce U.S. carbon emissions to 15-20% of 2000 levels by 2020, and to 80% of 2000 levels by the year 2050. Finally, we asked that Congress shift military spending to fund a wide variety of peace initiatives, including Middle East peace, aid in Columbia for displaced children, human rights in the Philippines, and for 100% funding of the JUBILEE debt relief act. This included requesting that Congress NOT appropriate funds for Complex 30 – the Administration’s plan to spend 150 billion on developing and manufacturing new nuclear weapons.
In addition to sessions and lobbying, the Lutheran LTSP students joined together on Saturday evening with other ELCA Lutherans for a meal, music, and fellowship at Resurrection Lutheran Church. Working together, our shared experience of faith-based advocacy shaped and formed us into the Body of Christ. We learned that when people of faith combine their efforts, thing can and do change! Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.” Will we pass this test? Are we a moral society? How is God calling us to express our faith? When Christians hear and faithfully respond to this call, we help bring about God’s vision for justice and peace.
(Reprinted from my article in "The Seminarian", the student newspaper of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia: www.ltsp.edu. For more details and information on Ecumenical Advocacy Days, check out www.advocacydays.org)
Students Advocate For Children's Issues
