by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
Faithful Democracy has launched a nonpartisan Web
site designed to educate and engage people of faith
about their role in the 2008 electoral process.
FaithfulDemocracy.org is a "safe and welcoming space"
for people to discuss the role of faith in the public
life and promote civic participation, according to an
April news release from Faithful Democracy. The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a
member of Faithful Democracy -- a coalition of 13
national faith-based organizations.
"This is a critical time for the voice of the church
and our broader faith community to be heard. It is
not a time for people of faith to keep their faith
private, but rather to step boldly into the public
square to encourage participation in our democratic
process for the common good," said the Rev. Mark S.
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.
"FaithfulDemocracy.org is foremost a clearinghouse
of resources created by our faith partners that discuss
the legal guidelines on what political activity can
be conducted by houses of worship during an election,
provide how-to guides for people of faith wanting to
get involved in nonpartisan and permissible electoral
activities, and issue analysis from many different
perspectives digesting issues that effect the lives of
people of faith across this country and throughout the
world," said Daniel Pieper, convener for Faithful
Democracy, ELCA Washington Office.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
