More than 300 Lutherans converged on the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines Tuesday to advocate for human services, justice and compassion in the 2017 Lutheran Day on the Hill.
Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) and the three Iowa synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sponsor the annual event, which “is essential for giving voice to those who are not heard, for seeking social justice and for empowering people to exercise their right and responsibility to be part of the legislative process,” according to the LSI website.
“They do this every year,” said Lou Hoger of Perry, a retired Lutheran minister who attended the event. “They have speakers and instructions in the morning, have lunch and then each meets with his or her legislators to encourage or discourage certain legislation.”
Whether it was the balmy February weather or the unsettled politics of the day or a little bit of both, the attendance at the event was more than 50 percent greater than usual.
“They usually have about 200,” Hoger said. “Interesting how this year had so many more registrants.”
The Lutheran Day on the Hill is supported in part through a grant from the ELCA’s World Hunger-Domestic Hunger Grant and was planned in partnership with the three Iowa synods.
