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LUTHERAN DAY IN THE CAPITOL

Thursday, April 27, 2023

REGISTRATION CLOSES April 21, 2023

Trinity Lutheran Church, Camp Hill, with shuttles to the State Capitol
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

On April 27, join advocates from around Pennsylvania for inspiration, learning and advocacy as church together for the sake of the world God loves. Taking Micah 6:8 as a starting point, we will focus on how we as Lutheran Christians understand our call to live together as God's faithful people and to strive for justice and peace in the context of today's debates over the role of faith in public life. We will be prepared to act on that call, with workshops that connect our ministries of service to opportunities to advocate on issues from hunger to housing, creation care and more. 

For "what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?"  Micah 6:8

This event is part of United Lutheran Seminary's Spring Convocation. Learn more.

Bring a friend — or a team! You'll save when you bring three or more from your congregation. Register for Lutheran Day. 

Thursday, April 27

8:30 a.m.             Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:20 a.m.             Welcome and Keynote

10:20 a.m.           Workshops 

11:30 a.m.           Luncheon and Celebration of Advocates

12:45 p.m.           Worship

1:45 p.m.            Buses to Capitol

2:00-4:30 p.m.    Legislative Visits and Capitol Tours

4:00 -- 4:45        Shuttles to Trinity

 

Lutheran Day Details

Note: The agenda above may change as planning proceeds. A final agenda and other details will be emailed to registrants.

Keynote Speaker:

 

The Rev. Dr. Roger A. Willer is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) serving as the Director for Theological Ethics in the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. He has worked in that capacity as co- or lead staff person with all the writing projects of ELCA social teaching documents since 2005. He earned his PhD from the University of Chicago (2009) in theology and is a contributing scholar in theology and ethics for both church and academic audiences.   Prior to work in the Churchwide office, he served as pastor for a decade in one urban and one suburban congregation on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio.  He currently is directing the work toward a social message on climate care and development of a social statement lead by the ELCA Task Force on Civic Life and Faith.

Keynote Address:

Discipleship in a Democracy: Sorting out a Lutheran View

Debates about the appropriate relationship between religious organizations and the state (government or political authority) today range from those who object to or are even hostile to religious expression in the public realm  to Christian nationalists who idealize and advocate a fusion of certain understandings of Christianity with American civic life.  What distinguishes the ELCA's particular stance in these debates?  This year's keynote will give attention to the biblical, theological, and historical sources that undergird the cornerstone concept that this church shall: "work with civil authorities in areas of mutual endeavor, maintaining institutional separation of church and state in a relation of functional interaction."  In this way we will sort out--distinguish--the ELCA approach compared to several other views and provide a refresher for Lutheran Day in the Capitol.

Workshops – Check out our list of workshop descriptions and presenters.  Registrants will receive a separate mailing with a detailed list of workshops and presenters along with other briefing materials. 

Celebration of Advocates — Help us celebrate the the inspirational stories in every synod! Click here for a preview and to see if you know some of our honorees. 

Capitol Visits: The agenda includes background and training for all participants to stop by their state legislators' offices to lift up common concerns on current issues. The LAMPa office will schedule meetings for those who wish to visit their legislators or their staff during their time at the Capitol.  Shuttle bus service will transport participants between Trinity and the Capitol.

Lutheran Day Registration Fee covers the day at Trinity and the Capitol, shuttle buses, continental breakfast and lunch.

• Registration is $50.00 ($45 for earlybird by April 13). Student registration is $25.00 ($20 earlybird). United Lutheran Seminary will cover registration for ULS seminarians as part of Spring Convocation -- mark as "pay by check." Registration closes on April 21. Walk-ins are welcome, although we cannot guarantee a meal or space on a shuttle. Payment can be made through PayPal or by mailing a check to LAMPa at 1959 Market St., Camp Hill, PA 17011. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A NEW ADDRESS AND MAY NOT APPEAR IN A GOOGLE SEARCH! GOOGLE HAS HAD AN INCORRECT ADDRESS, WHICH WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT.
• When you register, you will be given the opportunity to provide the names of your state legislators to schedule visits. Find your legislators before starting registration.

Logistics - Ample parking is available at Trinity. If you are coming by Amtrak, please contact the LAMPa office as soon as possible by emailing LAMPa@lutheranadvocacypa.org to arrange a shuttle from the Harrisburg station.  The Capitol Complex can be difficult to navigate, involving many steps and uneven floor surfaces. If you will need assistance accessing the building, or wonder if you might, please contact us at LAMPa@Lutheranadvocacypa.org. 

Rostered Leaders — Certificates of participation hours will be available at the registration table.  This event is part of United Lutheran Seminary’s Spring Convocation 2023. Learn more and register for convocation here. 

Lodging -- A block of rooms has been reserved at the Harrisburg Hilton,  One N. Second St., Harrisburg, PA.  Click here to make a reservation.   The Lutheran Camping Corporation (LCC) is partnering to offer family-camp-style reservations at facilities at nearby Nawakwa and Wittel Farm.  (Note: Interior doors do not lock, but exterior doors do lock.)   LCC can offer up to 10 rooms for 4-5 people each at Zinn-Tozer Lodge at Nawakwa, about an hour’s drive from Trinity/Harrisburg, for $4o/person/night for both Wednesday and Thursday nights.  They can offer five rooms for between 1-3 people at the Wittel Farm house, about a half-hour drive from the capital, for $45/person/night for both nights. Linens are provided at Wittel Farm, but not at Zinn-Tozer.  Both facilities have a full kitchen.  Make reservations here by April 20.

For questions prior to registering, contact Lutheran Camping Corp.

 

If you have any questions or problems with the registration process, please contact LAMPa at LAMPa@LutheranAdvocacyPA.org.

Register Now!