ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 8, 2004 Lutherans Communicate With U.S. Elected Officials Via E-Mail 04-189-MR CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have moved toward a new way of communicating with elected officials in the United States. Through the church's Web site Lutherans now have the opportunity to identify and write state legislators, members of the U.S. Congress and others to advocate for social justice. "Members of Congress are becoming increasingly savvy about electronic communication and are finding ways to effectively communicate with their constituency via e-mail," said Michael Hauck, senior programmer/analyst and project manager, ELCA Division for Church in Society. "We live in a very different world after 2001. Security around Capitol Hill is tighter than ever, and hand-written letters to Congress must pass through an offsite hazmat screening before they are sent to a representative," Hauck said. "It takes an average of six weeks for snail-mail to reach the Hill. E- mail, on the other hand, is instantaneous. As soon as you hit send, you can expect your letter to be sitting in a congressional inbox. That means your voice will be heard on specific, timely votes and issues." At http://www.elca.org/advocacy Lutherans receive information about voter registration, learn some basic principles for engaging in advocacy work, collect information and receive updates on important current issues, and access ELCA resources, messages and social statements. It also provides announcements on special events, such as online discussions and more. "Government officials appreciate hearing from their constituency regarding issues they are engaged in," said Hauck. "Letters are less apt to be read and considered if that official is not involved in [a] specific issue. The ELCA's advocacy Web site carefully selects recipients for [one's] message and sends it to those who work directly on the topic," he said. A special feature of the site includes "Action Alerts" designed to provide information on a particular issue and suggestions on how to take action, such as writing directly to the White House from the ELCA Web site. All action alerts are built upon the ELCA's eight social statements and eleven messages that constitute the social policy of the church. "When, for example, the prophets addressed kings and priests on behalf of those suffering injustice, they were advocating," said the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA Division for Church and Society. "The ELCA calls persons to advocate justice with and for those without power and voice in places where important political and economic decisions are being made that affect the lives of those who are marginalized. It is one way the ELCA carries out its strategic direction to 'step forward as a public church that witnesses boldly to God's love for all that God has created.'" According to Larson, "Lutherans should engage in advocacy because our baptismal calling compels us to care for one another and all that God has created. In a complex world such caring comes in various ways, through individual care and through addressing systems and policies which affect the poor and marginalized. Advocacy is one way in which we seek to love our neighbor in response to God's love given us in Jesus Christ." For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news