Southeaster Synod Advocacy E-News February 18, 2023

February 18, 2023

Civil Rights Pilgrimage April 29-30, 2023

We invite you to join the Southeastern Synod on a pilgrimage to experience places and learn about people that comprised the Civil Rights Movement. We will begin in Atlanta on Saturday, April 29th, 2023, and travel via a chartered bus, making stops in Montgomery and Selma, with an overnight stay in Birmingham, returning to Atlanta late afternoon on Sunday, April 30th. This pilgrimage includes stops at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, The MLK National Historic Park, The Legacy Museum and Memorial, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and The 16th Street Baptist Church/Kelly Ingram Park.

The pilgrimage cost is $200, including travel, lodging, meals, and entrance to the museums. Sign up quickly – registration is limited to 54 people! We hope you will join us as we learn about critical issues, people, and places related to the fight for racial justice in the United States.

40 Days - 40 Miles - $40 for World Hunger

Each year during Lent, we decide upon a ministry to support, as well as ask for folks to commit their own physical health. "Forty For Lent" invites you to commit to walking 40 miles over the 40 days of Lent and making a donation to ELCA World Hunger of at least $40. Together we can help eradicate hunger one step at a time.

Guardian Angel Training

Saturday March 3, 10am-2pm, Grace House on the Georgia Tech Campus

En Conjunto Latiné Ministries of the Southeastern Synod invites you for a training session to become an ELCA Guardian Angel. The Guardian Angel program provides spiritual and physical accompaniment of unaccompanied migrant children and families through their immigration court process.

Remembering the Lynched, Black History Month Concert

The Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing invites you to “Remembering the Lynched” the annual Black History Month concert, featuring Dr. Black and the Mighty Voices of Power Choir singing original songs and those that are evocative of the struggles and victories of African Americans. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Center’s chapel, 807 Atlanta Student Movement Blvd., Atlanta 30314. To RSVP, email your name and number of guests to centerforracialhealing@episcopalatlanta.org. Seating is limited.

Bishop Strickland Responds to Anti Transgender Legislation in GA, MS, and TN

You can see Bishop Strickland's response here.

Online QPR Training Sunday March 12, 4pm EST

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans like you are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.

Tapestries Counseling Center

Let me introduce you to Jeannie Ingram, creator of Tapestries Counseling Center at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville. Bishop Strickland was honored to dedicate the new center in October. The Southeastern Synod is committed to improving the mental health of all people, especially those who are children and youth.

Jeannie has created quite a remarkable legacy. Check out the interview below to learn more and find out how you can support this ministry. Watch an interview with Jeannie here.

LGBTQ Safe Spaces Survey

The LGBTQ Safe Spaces Protection Project is a national needs assessment survey focused on combating anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime violence. The survey is specifically focused on including the voices of affirming faith leaders in this work, particularly in the Southeast because we know the South is a historically under-represented region when it comes to LGBTQ+ data collection efforts. You can take the survey here.

Faith Forward Democracy Webcast

Thursday February 23, 12pm EST

The 2022 U.S. election is behind us, but the country remains deeply divided. As a nation, we increasingly struggle to find common purpose and connection with our fellow citizens. Join us for a cross-partisan conversation about what people of faith can do ahead of the 2024 presidential election to help create a healthier democratic republic. Join The Carter Center and Northern Ireland’s Rev. Gary Mason for a cross-partisan conversation with lay leaders and news personalities Rashad Richey and Martha Zoller. Register here.

To learn more about Advocacy in the ELCA, visit: https://elca.org/Our-Work/Publicly-Engaged-Church/Advocacy

To contact Allison Lizdas, Assistant to the Bishop for Advocacy, email alizdas@elca-ses.org or call our Synod office at 404-589-1977 ext. 224