An update on HB 132, the Faith Letter you all added your names to, and where we are headed at this point, from Kurt A. Rager. Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM:

As I shared at our last board meeting, in addition to your names, I issued an invitation to our network of congregations and individual advocates of LAM-NM, that invited clergy and members to add their names as well. Through our online signup option, and over two Sundays, just over 400 people have added their names as well. I'm continuing to send out the message that additional names will be accepted through the weekend, likely ending on Monday. Those 400 names come from 31 congregations across NM, of which only 13 were ELCA congregations. This is truly an ecumenical effort.

As I mentioned in today's Action Alert, which I will link to this email, the letter has had an impact! The letter, Lutheran Advocacy, and the Conference of Churches were mentioned twice by bill sponsors during the House floor debate on the bill, late Monday night.

I will continue to send the letter in the coming days to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing of the bill, and to the full Senate if it makes it to the floor for a final debate.

If you have any opportunities to highlight the issue being solved in HB 132, through your network, I hope you will support us in that way. The more names we collect, the more visible and powerful our message can be.

Unbelievably, HB 132 still faces and uphill battle in the Senate. (The Senate passed an almost identical bill during last year's 60-day session.) I hope you can take some time to read the update sent this morning (Thursday 2/10).

If you would like a signup form to utilize, I have attached a copy. Any signatures added this weekend should be sent to me by Monday, via an email, scan, or photo.

Thank you very much for your participation and support on this issue.

Peace,

Kurt