Urge your members of Congress to conduct essential oversight over ICE detention facilities and demand humane conditions.
The number of people in immigration detention has increased to more than 58,000 people, many of whom have no criminal charges against them. As existing detention centers are stretched to capacity limits and private corporations accept contracts to build new facilities and tent camps, it is urgent that we speak out against the mass detention of individuals and families, and for humane conditions and the right to legal counsel and religious expression for all those detained.
The ELCA social policy resolution, “Toward Compassionate, Just, and Wise Immigration Reform,” expresses support for “more humane, less costly, and more effective alternatives to detention, such as supervised release programs,” adding that, “When detention is necessary, compliance with humane standards and access to vital services must be ensured at every facility housing detainees.”
In their oversight role, members of Congress can draw attention to harsh conditions in detention centers and call on the administration to respect the rights and human dignity of all.
Customize your message to urge your members of Congress to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in their district or otherwise demand humane conditions and rights for those detained.
Read about how Lutheran faith, public policy and justice intersect in a recent article from Living Lutheran on our podcast Here I Pod from ELCA Advocacy!
This call will merge a Lutherans Restoring Creation “Connection Call” with ELCA World Hunger leaders, some of whom are gathering soon to revitalize their efforts to “do justice, love kindness, and [move] humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) We’ll meet people who work for justice across multiple sectors and manifestations: migrant, economic, racial, gender or environmental (MERGE). We’ll ask each other what we’re seeing in our communities and how we can work together for a world aligned with God’s just, kind vision.
Applications are now being accepted for 2025 ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants!
Hunger Education and Networking Grants are one of the ways ELCA World Hunger accompanies congregations, synods, organizations, partners and local teams throughout the US and the Caribbean. We know that learning about the root causes of hunger and effective responses is key to ending hunger locally and globally.
ELCA World Hunger will be accepting proposals from August 4, 2025 through September 15, 2025. Grant applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year. Please allow 2-4 weeks for review of your application. Grants average between $500 and $1000 and are non-renewable.
ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants support work that:
educate and engage ELCA congregations, groups, and/or synods;
influence this church body toward better action and engagement against hunger and poverty;
encourage sustainable participation in the work of ELCA World Hunger beyond the conclusion of the project, event or initiative. For more on the intersectional priorities of ELCA World Hunger, visit the link found here.
ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants are designed for projects that provide educational opportunities to deepen participants’ understanding of poverty and hunger (including root causes and intersectional issues) and equip participants to work toward effective solutions.
Projects involving direct service within communities are only eligible if the service happens within a program for service learning. If your project involves direct service, ELCA World Hunger’s Domestic Hunger Grants or Daily Bread Grants may be more appropriate for your needs.
Some examples of past grant partnerships or potential future projects include (but are not limited to):
synod-wide bike rides to promote hunger awareness;
creation of shareable networking databases for hunger ministries, community organizers, or advocates;
service learning events for youth and young adults;
online and in-person workshops;
climate justice education opportunities;
community organizing training;
creation of new resources to help participants learn about hunger; and
local research projects to help others learn more about hunger, health, and housing in their community.
The work of grant partners in the past has focused on a wide variety of areas, including climate change and sustainability, housing security, racial justice, worker justice, reducing food waste and economic justice.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grant, proposals must be:
received through the ELCA’s online Grantmaker portal (the link to the Grantmaker portal is at the link found here) from August 4th through September 15th, 2025;
[Note: If you have any difficulties with the ELCA GrantMaker platform and would prefer to apply in a different format, we can provide a Word document application. This is available upon request via email to Peter McLellan (peter.mclellan@elca.org).]
submitted by a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization;
[Note: If your organization does not have 501(c)3 status (this might include a synod hunger team), your ELCA synod can serve as your fiscal agent. Contact your synod office for this support.]
focused on education, engagement, and networking toward a just world where all are fed; and
consistent with ELCA World Hunger’s values and priorities (found at the link found here).
In addition, eligible projects must occur within the geographic footprint of the ELCA, which includes the United States and the Caribbean.
How to Apply
Applicants must pre-register on ELCA GrantMaker in order to access the grant application. Approval of registration may take up to ten business days, so register now at ELCA.org/grants, and submit your application by September 15th.
As the war in Ukraine presses on, Ukrainians who sought refuge in the United States through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program now face uncertainty due to lapses in their immigration statuses and work authorization. A pause in application processing stranded many in a state of legal limbo, with no recourse to move forward. In response, Global Refuge is supporting Congressional efforts to ensure continued protections for Ukrainians.
Read about those efforts in our blog post and write to your lawmakers about the Protecting Our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act to support guest status for Ukrainians using our Action Alert.
Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada 