Advocacy
Welcome to the ministry of advocacy. An "advocate" is one who pleads the cause of another.
In Proverbs 31: 8-9, we are told to "speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Micah clearly commands us to "do justice" (Micah 6:8), and James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-17).
When we consider the ministry of Moses, Esther, Jeremiah and other prophets, we see obvious examples of believers who were called and willing to speak out on behalf of those in need. Advocacy was their ministry.
Of course, Jesus was the advocate par excellence. According to Luke's Gospel, he began his ministry by announcing that he would be an advocate for the needy and neglected, using a text from the prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:16-20). Jesus considered our treatment of the "least of these" with such importance that he likened our attitude toward them to our attitude toward him (Matthew 25).
Today, members of the the Baltimore-Washington Conference believe in the Methodist principle of putting their faith into action to bring about systemic change for the good of all people, especially the least, the last and the lost, who play a special role in Christ's ministry.
To bring about change, United Methodists work in partnership with others, actively lobbying local, state and national legislators, especially on such issues at homelessness, health care, immigration, education, welfare, home energy costs, the death penalty and gambling.
If you would like to join the ministry of advocacy, please consider completing an Advocacy Interest Sheet and mailing it to the Baltimore-Washington Conference, or contact Beth Reilly, the Advocacy Consultant at bwc-advocacy@earthlink.net.
ISAIAH National Solidarity Vigil and Fast for Arizona - Follow-Up
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19, NRSV
"We are a nation of immigrants and a global church whose commitment is hospitality for the immigrant...God, today we ask you to watch over those who protect our borders and those who seek a new life by crossing our borders. Bless those born within our borders and those who have found a new home by crossing our borders." Bishop Schol, July 1, 2010, American University
Click on the following Petition Form if you would like to collect signatures to affirm the presence and contributions of immigrants and if you would like to reject legislation resembling Arizona's SB 1070. Mail completed forms to Beth Reilly, 41 State Circle, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401.
2010 Maryland General Assembly: Legislative Review
The Maryland Interfaith Legislative Committee agenda focused on the following topics: energy, housing, children and income support. United Methodists also spoke out in favor of gun control, and we opposed efforts to re expand the death penalty.
January 26: SB 107 Unemployment Insurance- Modernization and Tax Relief Act. Testimony to support those who are unemployed. This did pass and has become law.
January 26: HB 52 Regulated Firearms - License Issued by Delaware, Pennsylvania or Virginia - Reciprocity. Testimony to oppose less gun control. This bill was defeated in committee.
January 28: HB 91 Unemployment Insurance - Modernization and Tax Relief Act.
February 4: SB 248 Civil Cases - Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund - Surcharges. Testimony to support preserving legal services for poor people. This bill did pass in the Senate and in the House.
February 24: SB 243 Housing - Discrimination Based on Source of Income - Prohibitions. Testimony to support. This bill did not pass the committee vote.
March 10: SB 404 Criminal Law - Death Penalty - Evidence. We opposed this effort to re expand the use of the death penalty. This bill was defeated in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. In fact, all efforts to expand the use of the death penalty were defeated in committees.
March 10: HB 1322 National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Information. John Coleman testified in support of this bill during the House Economic Matters Committee hearing. Click on this Testimony link to read his testimony. This bill was amended and did pass in the House and in the Senate.
March 11: HB 82 and SB 645 Firearm Safety Act of 2010. Rev. Doug Sands and Bishop John Schol testified during the Senate hearing. A press conference at St. Anne's Episcopal Church on Church Circle took place before the hearings, at 12:00 noon. This bill was defeated in the House Judiciary Committee.
March 18: HB 14 Gaming-Video Lottery Facilities-Restriction on Location. Rev. Byron Brought will be testifying to the House Ways and Means Committee in support of this legislation which would prohibit slot facilities from being located within 1000 feet of a church, community center, playground, school or shopping center. This bill did not pass the committee vote. However, efforts to expand gambling were also defeated.
Events
March 31: Celebrate Federal Health Care Reform with Governor O'Malley, AARP, Health Care for America Now and Health Care for All.
March 21: Rally for Immigration Reform in Washington DC.
Voicing your Faith:
To contact a Maryland state legislator:
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
Senate (410) 841-3700,
(301) 858-3700
House of Delegates
(410) 841-3800,
(301) 858 -3800
www.mlis.state.md.us
To contact a West Virginia state legislator:
Building 1
1900 Kanawha Blvd.
Charleston, WV 25305
(888) 438 2731
www.legis.state.wv.us/legishp1.html
To contact members of the Washington, D.C City Council
Government of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Citywide call Center : (202) 727-1000
www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/contact.html
Links:
Coalitions and organization -- Some of our partners in social justice
Responding to action alerts -- How to effectively take action
The Social Principles -- What United Methodists believe
