The next stop on the Pews to Policy Tour is Phoenix, Arizona, where LEAN will join our partners in ministry for Lutheran Day at the Legislature.

Hosted by Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and Lutheran Advocacy in Ministry Arizona (LAMA), Lutherans and friends from across the state will gather at the Arizona Capitol in Wesley Bolin Plaza on:

Monday, February 23, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

This will be a day to learn, to witness, and to raise our collective voice in the public square — activating our faith in love.

Together we will:

• Meet with legislators
• Connect with congregational LAMA liaisons and the LAMA Policy Council
• Build relationships with Lutherans across Arizona
• Speak to the issues that shape our neighbors’ daily lives

All of this flows from our baptismal promise “to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.”

Advocacy Rooted in Our Shared Ministry

Many of the priorities in Arizona echo the work we are doing in Nevada — a powerful reminder that this is church together across state lines.

Issues for advocacy will include:

• Free school meals
• SNAP access & emergency funding during a federal shutdown
• Community school gardens
• Lactation care
• Rental assistance & transitional housing
• Rural affordable housing

These are not abstract policies. They are about food on the table, stable homes, healthy families, and dignity for our neighbors.

Some of the Speakers

We will hear from leaders in public health, government, social ministry, and the church, including:

• Will Humble, Executive Director, Arizona Public Health Association
• Angie Rodgers, Deputy Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security
• Sen. T.J. Shope (R), LD16
• Sen. Flavio Bravo (D), LD26
• Connie Phillips, President & CEO, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
• Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Grand Canyon Synod, ELCA

For LEAN, this gathering is more than a single day, it is part of a growing movement to bring the pews to the policy table.

When Lutherans show up:

• relationships are formed
• stories are shared
• hope becomes public witness

And we are reminded that advocacy is not partisan — it is a lived expression of our faith and our love for neighbor.