Through the Service & Justice unit, including the Witness in Society team, the ELCA Churchwide Organization fosters and facilitates this church’s engagement in service and promotes efforts to call and act for justice. It engages in mission, service, and justice in accompaniment with churches and organizations in other countries; serves as the means through which churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society; engages with communities, coalitions and networks, congregations, and synods in service and justice work within the territorial jurisdiction of this church; and provides guidance to members on matters of social justice.
The ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellows participate in a year-long transformative experience that combines leadership development and faith formation with impactful advocacy that move us toward an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed.
The longstanding work of the ELCA to address hunger is furthered by specific efforts of advocacy based on the experience of Lutheran ministries, programs and projects around the world and in communities across the United States. As part of its holistic and transformative strategy, ELCA World Hunger works for change in public policy with the purpose of ending hunger in our lifetime.
The Hunger Advocacy Fellow working with federal advocacy staff based in Washington, D.C. will advance their professional communications skills in the advocacy endeavor
- ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT: Guide the development of a Lutheran state advocacy network by engaging with communities to empower disciples for hunger advocacy; connect with congregational ministries (especially hungerministries) to provide tools and support for moral deliberation and faith-based advocacy; and work with community members who have faced hunger and poverty to create platforms for their voices to be heard by elected officials, policymakers and the church. Create advocacy opportunities that help expand the network and connect youth and young adults to the church and its ministries.
- COMMUNICATIONS: Research, write and edit action alerts, position papers, web updates, newsletter articles and other resources, such as video and social media to educate the advocacy network and lawmakers on hunger advocacy priorities. Creatively facilitate communication and story-sharing with Lutheran synods, agencies and institutions throughout the state.
- REPRESENTATION OF ADVOCACY NETWORK: Participate in ecumenical and human service coalitions that advocate for public policy positions in harmony with issues identified by the ELCA and the State Policy Council. Advocate on issues with state lawmakers, legislative and administrative staff and other public policy leaders.
- LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND FAITH FORMATION: Connect throughout the year with ELCA Witness in Society, Service and Justice Home Area, ELCA World Hunger, the sppo network and Hunger Advocacy Fellows in other parts of the country for collective faith formation, leadership development and community building.
- Work in collaboration with sppo director to identify any additional contextual responsibilities or duties as needed in the region.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
