RELIGION BRIEFING

-- Associated Press

POLITICS

Election-Year Guide for Lutherans

The nation's largest Lutheran denomination has issued election-year guidelines and outlined seven issues, from hunger to health care, that reflect the church's social justice concerns.

The guide, "Called to Be a Public Church," from the 5 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, suggests ways for churches to participate in the political process without endangering their tax-exempt status.

"This church understands government as a means through which God can work to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just social order in a sinful world," Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson wrote in introducing the 76-page document.

The document notes that "all of the suggested activities . . . are nonpartisan and do not encourage the promotion of any one party or candidate for public office."

The guide suggests that churches participate in poll monitoring or candidate forums. It says direct contributions, endorsements and get-out-the-vote efforts with particular candidates or parties are prohibited.

The document also offers background materials from the denomination's Washington office on domestic hunger, housing, health care, global poverty and hunger, global warming, immigration and peace.

-- Religion News Service