Brief History of LPPO


Lutheran Public Policy Office (LPPO) began in 1984, a ministry of the Pacific Northwest Synod of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) relating to the Division for Mission in North America (DMNA). The first Lutheran state advocacy office had begun in Pennsylvania five years earlier. Minutes from the 1984 Pacific NW Synod assembly mention a Legislative Advocacy Policy Committee. The LCA Oregon Synod, an initial partner, formed a separate ministry within a year.

Nancy Carlson served as the first director of LPPO-Washington from 1984-July 1988. She was an active member of Peninsula Lutheran Church, Gig Harbor until her death in January 1992. The four subsequent directors:
  • Steve Lansing (Aug 1988-June 1994)
  • Dan Comsia (July 1994-June 1996)
  • Danielle Welliever (Oct 1996-Nov 2000)
  • Paul Benz (Dec 2000-Present)
More than 60 lay and clergy persons have participated on the Advisory Council, supporting the office and shaping advocacy priorities. Lutheran Community Services Northwest has served as a ministry partner and fiscal agent/administrator since 1994.

In 1987 with the merger between the LCA and the American Lutheran Church, the office came under the auspices of the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA maintained and expanded the public witness of the Church describing the advocacy mandate in its constitution:

“This church shall advocate dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among nations, and standing with the poor and powerless and committing itself to their need…This church shall study social issues and trends, work to discover the causes of oppression and injustice, and develop programs of ministry and advocacy to further human dignity, freedom, justice, and peace in the world.” 4.02 and 4.031