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From the Pastor

But the LORD sits enthroned forever, the LORD has established the throne for judgment. The LORD judges the world with righteousness; judges the peoples with equity. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:7-10)

'Every ordained minister shall speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God's love for the world. ' (ELCA Constitution C.9.03)

As a pastor within the Lutheran tradition, which holds that government has a God-given calling to promote the common good and which also maintains, that, while it isn't the church's calling to create a Christian state, it is to hold the state accountable to its calling through prophetic witness and appeals to neighborliness, the presidential executive orders of the past weeks have been deeply troubling and outrageous. As of this moment of penning this article, executive orders have been issued that have frozen federal funding through grants and loans. Much of this funding goes for educational, nutritional, environmental, health, and housing programs that have real benefits for our community and the individuals and organizations that utilize it. This funding is one way our government fosters the common good, facilitating a way for our communities to take care of one another.

Other executive orders follow through on the vilifying of immigrants, further militarizing the border and authorizing raids and deportation measures, measures which no longer honor hospitals, schools, and churches as sacred ground free from interference. Refugee programs, including from our own Global Refuge, have been given a stop action order, so that they cannot use the funding they have already received to support refugees that are already in process of being re-settled. Such actions reveal that none of this actually about curbing 'illegal' immigration. Legal and routine pathways to residency and citizenship are also being limited or halted.

Still more executive actions are creating an atmosphere of fear for our siblings in the LGBTQIA+ community. Our beloved transgender family members and friends have especially been targeted through narrow-minded, uninformed, and dangerous measures which seek to invalidate their existence. Similarly, the closure of Diversity-Equity- Inclusion programs across governmental entities strikes at the heart of values which, we as followers of Jesus, hold to be central to God's vision for human community.

Pastor Jeff

Last Updated:  February 2025    Limitations & Policy