Here I Pod from ELCA Advocacy

Did you hear about the new ELCA social statement Faith and Civic Life ? This reading takes you inside the important intersection. This episode contains Section 2, "God Calls All People to Robust Civic Participation."

As we participate in God's work in the world, ELCA social statements provide broad frameworks to help individuals and communities with moral formation, discernment and thoughtful engagement with current s...

Did you hear about the new ELCA social statement Faith and Civic Life ? This reading takes you inside the important intersection. This episode contains Section 3, "Assessing the U.S. Constitutional Form of Government."

As we participate in God's work in the world, ELCA social statements provide broad frameworks to help individuals and communities with moral formation, discernment and thoughtful engagement with current...

Did you hear about the new ELCA social statement Faith and Civic Life ? This reading takes you inside the important intersection. This episode contains Section 4, "Religion and the First Amendment."

As we participate in God's work in the world, ELCA social statements provide broad frameworks to help individuals and communities with moral formation, discernment and thoughtful engagement with current social issues. Soci...

Did you hear about the new ELCA social statement Faith and Civic Life ? This reading takes you inside the important intersection. This episode contains Section 5, “Constructive Relationships Between Religious Organizations and Political Authority.”

As we participate in God's work in the world, ELCA social statements provide broad frameworks to help individuals and communities with moral formation, discernment and thoughtful eng...

Did you hear about the new ELCA social statement Faith and Civic Life ? This reading takes you inside the important intersection. This episode contains Section 6, “Selected Contemporary Concerns in Civic Life,” and the Conclusion.

As we participate in God's work in the world, ELCA social statements provide broad frameworks to help individuals and communities with moral formation, discernment and thoughtful engagement with curre...

Give yourself some encouragement! This Special Episode is a conversation between the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, senior director of ELCA Witness in Society, and the Rev. Laurie Larson Caesar, bishop of the ELCA Oregon Synod. Rev. Reumann and Bishop Strickland discuss a letter to the ELCA signed by ELCA synod bishops. 

Special Guests: 

The Rev. Laurie Larson Caesar, Bishop, Oregon Synod

Interviewed by:

The Rev. Amy Reumann, Senior Director, E...

This Special Episode is a conversation between the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, senior director of ELCA Witness in Society, and the Rev. Kevin E. Strickland, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod. Rev. Reumann and Bishop Strickland discuss a letter to the ELCA signed by ELCA synod bishops. 

On our first episode of our new special series, Bishop Strikland shares the meaning of “Evangelical” in his southern context on behalf of the Evangelica...

One of the most pressing aspects of the current shutdown of the US federal government is its effect on SNAP and other hunger related programs. The interviews you're about to hear were recorded on Monday, October 27th, as advocates across the country expected SNAP funding to run out or be withheld starting November 1st.

Since this was recorded, SNAP benefits were not released on November 1st, and federal judges have is...

In this episode of Here I Pod, host Regina Q. Banks speaks with Sean Coffman from Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). Sean and Regina were both in Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators on October 22, 2025 regarding proposed FEMA reform alongside other members of LDR's community of practice. 

Following the conversation with Sean, we hear from two other members of the community of practice, as well as Marcus T. Coleman, Jr from...

In this episode, we travel with host Regina Q. Banks to the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering, which took place this September in Columbus, Ohio. 

The following people were interviewed: 

• Dr. Evie Landrau, Director of Networks & Engagement for ELCA World Hunger
• Deacon Nick Bates, Director of Hunger Network in Ohio
• Deaconess Katelin Hansen, Church & Community Development for All People
• Hallie Carrino-Lee, Government Relat...

In the first episode of Season 3, Regina Banks speaks with Mary Campbell, director of ELCA AMMPARO. AMMPARO is the "the ELCA’s strategy to Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO)." Mary provides crucial updates regarding how the ELCA's own congregational lives are being impacted by this administration's immigration actions, including rescinding the sensitive lo...

In this episode, Regina Banks speaks with Phoebe Morad, Executive Director of Lutherans Restoring Creation, about the intersection of faith and climate advocacy. They discuss the importance of integrating climate justice into congregational life, the role of young adults in advocacy, and the resources available for faith communities to engage in climate conversations. The conversation highlights the need for intergenerational dialo...

In this episode, our host Regina Banks speaks with Silas Kulkarni, director of strategy and advocacy for ELCA Witness in Society. They discuss how the ELCA has advocated at the federal level around budget reconciliation and rescission bills, as well as the opportunities for advocacy during August Recess, when members of Congress return to their districts and are available for meetings with their constituents. 

We will then hear from...

This conversation explores recent policy changes to FEMA and the evolving role of Lutheran Disaster Response in disaster management, highlighting community resilience efforts and the importance of advocacy. The speakers discuss the challenges faced in disaster response, the significance of local partnerships, and the need for effective preparation and recovery strategies. They also reflect on the moral imperative of supporting thos...

In episode 1 of season 2, our host Regina Q. Banks speaks with Tammy Walhof & Jacob Summerville from Lutheran Advocacy - Minnesota about the recent political violence that occurred in their state. 

Following their interview, Regina checks in with The Rev. Amy Reumann to discuss the various resources the ELCA has at its disposal to speak to political violence.

Finally, The Rev. Angela Denker, author and ELCA pastor serving in Minn...

In episode 10, our final episode for season one, host Regina Banks speaks with the Rev Amy Reumann, senior director of Witness in Society. They discuss how Witness in Society fits into the rest of the ELCA and alongside other faith-based partners, how the work of advocacy has changed, different forms of activism, and much more. 

After the interview we’ll hear first from hunger advocacy fellow Joey Chin, who will discuss the Lutheran...

In episode 9, host Regina Q. Banks speaks with Sasha Ghosh-Siminoff, program director for Middle East & North Africa (sometimes referred to as MENA) policy with ELCA Witness in Society. 

 This is a wide ranging conversation which discusses many aspects of the ELCA's relationship with local church bodies in the Holy Land and in other parts of the region.

Regina & Sasha also discuss many current events, including...

In episode 8, host Regina Q. Banks speaks to Vance Blackfox (Director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations for the ELCA), Justice Nichols (Program Coordinator for Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations for the ELCA), and Brenda Blackhawk (Director of Communications at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis).

This conversation delves into the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the broader context ...

In episode 7 of Here I Pod, host Regina Q. Banks speaks to Alesia Frerichs, President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. They discuss the broad array of services LSA provides and how they plan to respond to the upcoming budget reconciliation process, which is set to start in earnest around May 7th.

 Following the interview, our impact story comes from Hailea James of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, and illustr...