MAS Mission Support Storytellers

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America here assess economic life today in light of the moral imperative to seek sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all. This means giving attention to the scope of God’s concern (for all), the means by which life is sustained (livelihood), what is needed (sufficiency), and a long-term perspective (sustainability).

The statement broken down into smaller statements:

For all refers to all people and creation. The power of God’s suffering, self-giving love transforms and challenges the Church to stand with all who are overlooked for the sake of economic progress or greed—especially those who continue to live in poverty. Outrage over the plight of people living in poverty is a theme throughout the Bible. This statement renews our commitment as a church to creative, multi-faceted ways of addressing poverty Changes are needed in policies and practices of trade, investment, government spending and accountability, and international debt so that the poorest will benefit rather than being harmed.

Next: Livelihood

(from the ELCA website, http://www.elca.org/SocialStatements/economiclife/synopsis)