Government Relations at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is focused on holding government entities — mostly state, but sometimes federal, county or local governments — accountable for their responsibilities to people in need. Our government relations priorities are:

• Identifying the needs of people who use LSSI’s services and supporting public policies designed to meet those needs


• Identifying ways in which government can help to strengthen the human care “safety net” that combines the effort of public and private entities in support of disabled or otherwise disadvantaged people in Illinois.

Advocacy is that part of our ministry that goes beyond the specific needs of our clients or the programs that serve them and addresses underlying causes that contribute to the neediness of people and communities. Our advocacy ministry also addresses broader social justice issues, such as civil rights and environmental stewardship. Most of our advocacy ministry is carried out through Lutheran Advocacy—Illinois, a partnership of LSSI, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Advocacy Department and the three ELCA synods in Illinois. For more information on Lutheran Advocacy—Illinois, please go to www.LutheranAdvocacy.org.

Both the Government Relations and Advocacy functions of LSSI are part of the Office of the President and are overseen by Pastor Daniel Schwick, assistant to the President and director of the Office of Church and Government Relations, and by Jennifer De Leon, associate director. Stephen Taylor is the coordinator of the Office of Church and Government Relations at LSSI.

Book Your Date with LSSI

Is your congregation interested in having an LSSI Sunday, a presentation on Lutheran Advocacy, or want to know more about Lutheran Disaster Response or the Just Neighbors program on poverty? The “LSSI Church Relations Menu” lists many learning opportunities for your congregation, and the “LSSI Speaker Sign-Up” helps you let us know what you’re looking for!

For more information, or answers to your questions, please contact Stephen Taylor, coordinator for the Office of Church and Government Relations, at Stephen.Taylor@LSSI.org or 847/635-4653.

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