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  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

    Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

    2022 Churchwide Assembly

    Follow the Live Stream Starting August 8th

    ELCA Churchwide Assembly

    The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 8-12, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. We gather under the theme, Embody the Word. There’s an importance in the double meaning of the two words:

    • Embody, meaning both the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the life of the church emerging from a pandemic.
    • Word – both meaning Jesus Christ and scripture

    Luke 24:45 states, “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” We embody the Word, both Jesus and the scripture, by speaking it and proclaiming it. In 1522: Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament made the Word accessible to the people and revolutionized the Christian movement worldwide. 500 years later, the call to make Jesus accessible to the people still exists today and as we look to the future of this church.

    The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the church, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members:

    • Hear reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units;
    • Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies;
    • Elect officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws;
    • Establish ELCA churchwide policy;
    • Worship together;
    • Adopt a budget; and
    • Conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.
  • Busch Valentine, Trudy

    Busch Valentine, Trudy

    Trudy Busch Valentine

    Connert Media Endorsement – Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate for Missouri

    The stakes have never been higher. We need to send Trudy to the U.S. Senate, She will be the 51st vote the Democratic Party needs to pass truly comprehensive gun reform, protect the right to an abortion, and break through the partisan divide.

  • The Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act of 2021 (S.3017)

    The Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act of 2021 (S.3017)

    Connert Media urges Congress to Pass this Bill

    Congress.gov – S.3017

    It is the sense of Congress that—

    Dental; Care fro Veterans
    Pixabay
    1. the Department of Veterans Affairs has pioneered a whole health approach to health care, which brought mental health and suicide prevention under the umbrella of primary care and integrated health, provides access to alternative medicines, delivers a holistic approach to health and well-being, and repeatedly demonstrates better health outcomes than the private sector at a low cost to taxpayers in the United States;
    2. the effects of poor dental care are seen in patients who are at risk of or diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary conditions, kidney impairment, and even dementia;
    3. the Department spends countless dollars on prescription drugs, community care, urgent care, and emergency room visits on preventable ailments that would be reduced or eliminated through preventative dental care; and
    4. in order to best achieve a whole health model for the provision of health care to veterans and reduce long-term costs, the Department must furnish veterans with preventative and comprehensive dental care.

    “Just 15% of the more than 9 million veterans enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs health care are eligible for dental benefits. However, the number of veterans actually receiving VA dental care is much lower—about 463,000—according to senators supporting legislation that would significantly increase access. The Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act of 2021 (S. 3017) would remove the current barriers to VA dental care by broadening eligibility for all veterans enrolled in VA health care. The bill also seeks to address the shortage of dentists by providing incentives to dental school students and mandates the expansion of VA dental clinics in all 50 states.” 1

  • Cramer, Kevin (R-ND)

    • Republicans Vote Against Veterans

      “Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a bill to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits weeks after the measure initially sailed through the Senate with 84 votes, angering Democrats, veterans groups and comedian Jon Stewart, a leading proponent to aid the community.” 2

      “A bill aimed at protecting veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service was shut down yesterday in the Senate, in a 55 to 42 vote that failed to meet the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance the legislation. Of the 42 senators who voted against the PACT Act, 41 were Republicans.” 3

      ‘Republican lawmakers blocked passage of a bill in the U.S. Senate Wednesday that expands healthcare coverage for military veterans who were exposed to toxins and burn pits during their service.’ 4

      “He was among the veterans, military family members and advocates staged on the Capitol steps for the fourth night on Sunday, pledging to remain until Congress passes a bill that covers health care for those exposed to toxins while serving in uniform. Earlier that day, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs warned that a new Republican proposal could leave the agency “rationing” veterans’ health care. GOP lawmakers blocked the aid from passing last week in what comedian Jon Stewart, a longtime veterans advocate, blasted as “a disgrace.”” 5

  • Crapo, Mike (R-ID)

    • Republicans Vote Against Veterans

      “Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a bill to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits weeks after the measure initially sailed through the Senate with 84 votes, angering Democrats, veterans groups and comedian Jon Stewart, a leading proponent to aid the community.” 1

      “A bill aimed at protecting veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service was shut down yesterday in the Senate, in a 55 to 42 vote that failed to meet the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance the legislation. Of the 42 senators who voted against the PACT Act, 41 were Republicans.” 2

      ‘Republican lawmakers blocked passage of a bill in the U.S. Senate Wednesday that expands healthcare coverage for military veterans who were exposed to toxins and burn pits during their service.’ 3

      “He was among the veterans, military family members and advocates staged on the Capitol steps for the fourth night on Sunday, pledging to remain until Congress passes a bill that covers health care for those exposed to toxins while serving in uniform. Earlier that day, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs warned that a new Republican proposal could leave the agency “rationing” veterans’ health care. GOP lawmakers blocked the aid from passing last week in what comedian Jon Stewart, a longtime veterans advocate, blasted as “a disgrace.”” 4