ELCA is Integral to Texas Impact

The synods of the ELCA in Texas have played an integral role in Texas Impact since its inception in 1973. The ELCA bishops were among the Texas religious leaders who established Texas Impact, and Reverend Phil Walberg served as a member of the staff and developed many of the foundational documents and principles that guide the organization to this day.

 

Each of the ELCA synods in Texas has two representatives on Texas Impact’s board of directors, with Nancy Benthien of Houston serving as Texas Impact’s vice-president and the Reverend Franz Schemmel of Weatherford serving as a member of the executive committee.

 

Texas Impact’s portfolio of issues and projects is consistent with ELCA’s social concerns.

According to the ELCA’s Church in Society unit, the ELCA’s state public policy advocacy offices “represent the church in advocating at the state government level with and on behalf of those without economic or political power." These offices advocate for issues, not for particular candidates. State office work is directed to hunger-related causes such as food and nutrition, shelter and affordable housing, environmental stewardship and justice, employment and income, and access to preventative and primary health care.

 

It is important to note that the ELCA, as with most faith groups, does not understand its public policy positions to be binding on the consciences of ELCA members. Rather, ELCA public policy positions are intended to be educational resources for ELCA members. They are, however, binding on the ELCA's own work in the public sphere. In other words, while individual ELCA members may hold positions and even actively work against the public policy positions adopted by the ELCA, the ELCA's own advocacy offices represent the ELCA position.

 

More information at the Texas Impact website.