2012 Policy Priorities
Fulfilling our Responsibility to Care for Our Neighbors, Neighborhoods and All of God’s Creation
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s (ELCA) The ELCA’s Social Statement observes, “While a market economy assumes people will act to maximize their own interests, we acknowledge that what is in our own interest must be placed in the context of what is good for the neighbor.” As the Minnesota public advocacy arm of the ELCA, the LCPPM has identified the following priorities for our advocacy and outreach in 2012:
First, do no harm! As people of faith, we believe Christ calls us to work together to meet our neighbors’ basic needs (Matthew 25). Minnesota’s six ELCA bishops teamed with the six Roman Catholic bishops and archbishop in sending a letter to the governor and legislators on March 15, 2011, stating:
"The most telling measure of how well we care for each other is to consider how we treat those who are most vulnerable among us."
The Minnesota State Constitution Article I, Section 1, declares, “Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people.” This declaration is more important than partisan politics and ideology. This principle charges the State of Minnesota with the duty to provide and preserve sufficient funding for essential services as well as a viable safety net. However, Legislators have proposed multiple constitutional amendments that would fundamentally limit the Legislature’s flexibility in making budget decisions.
Reducing waste and increasing the availability of clean energy while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas pollution and promoting a healthier environment are noble, wise and attainable goals. In 2007, both houses of the Minnesota Legislature overwhelmingly supported these wise goals in "Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act" and Governor Pawlenty signed them into law.
LCPPM will continue to oppose any proposed weakening of the initiatives in this Act, including:
- 1.5 percent per year energy savings goal (download fact sheet)
- 25 percent by 2025 Renewable Electricity Standard (download fact sheet)
- Science-based limits on our global warming pollution; no new coal without carbon offset
As people of faith, "we see the despoiling of the environment as nothing less than the degradation of God’s gracious gift of creation" (ELCA, 1993).
