Are You Passionate About Social Justice? Join Us!

Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN), a faith-based organization that represents Nevada’s ELCA congregations at the Nevada State Legislature by advocating for fair, equitable laws that protect and champion the state’s underserved populations, seeks to expand its volunteer Advisory Board before the next Nevada Legislature biannual session begins in February 2023.

Since its inception in the late 1990s as Lutheran Advocacy & Ministry in Nevada, and now as LEAN, the organization works with a contracted, registered “advocate” who follows each legislative session’s docket of potential bills, known as Bill Draft Requests (BDRs), and full-fledged proposed legislation through every stage of the legislative process. LEAN’s current advocate, Bill Ledford, is preparing for the 2023 session with direct and regular input from the organization’s Advisory Board, which meets monthly to set advocacy goals, discuss expected and introduced legislative bills and vote to either advocate for the passage or dismissal of legislation based on ELCA Social Statement guidelines. During off years, the LEAN Advisory Board continues to meet monthly to discuss general business and budgeting, event planning, and initiatives such as its recent “Living With Hunger” project. Supported solely by donations from the Grand Canyon Synod and Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA, and donations from congregations and individual believers,

LEAN has long built its advocacy foundation on Matthew 25 in the New Testament, specifically verses 35-40: “…‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” It has a 25-year-plus record of advocating for legislation that helps Nevadans who don’t have the voice or power to advocate for themselves, including minority and disabled populations, prison inmates returning to society, sex trafficking victims, the unsheltered, the hungry, the uninsured or underinsured, families in need and many others.

Time commitment is minimal for LEAN’s Advisory Board — one one-hour meeting per month maximum (with potentially fewer meetings in legislative session off-years), along with occasional participation in special advocacy events or fundraisers. There is no fee or cost to join the Board for a three-year term, with the option to stay on for an additional term. LEAN is interested in attracting a mix of rostered clergy and laypersons as potential Board members.

If you have a passion for advocacy work and making a difference for Nevadans from a faith-based perspective, please consider joining us. To volunteer or for more information, please send an email of inquiry to leanforjustice@gmail.com.