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Speaking for the people in need, to the people in power
By Sumayya Coleman
 According to the Social Creed of The United Methodist Church, we commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging and people with disabilities; to improvement of quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
According to June Dasheil of Epworth UMC in Baltimore, Social action is part of our stewardship requirement as Christians. It is not something we do if we can get around to it. Dasheil made this remark at a Baltimore West District meeting on social justice that drew attention to the fact that United Methodists are connected to their communities and, in their actions and testimonies, speak for the people to those in power.
As part of its ministry for social justice, the Baltimore-Washington Conference is a member of The Maryland Interfaith Legislative Committee (MILC), the largest and oldest faith-based advocacy group in Maryland.
MILCs organizations work in concert with state and local government agencies to ensure that moral and social issues are addressed by public policy. It endorses and supports policies that enhance the wellbeing of the poor, addressing issues such as hunger, housing, health care, energy and the environment.
MILC examines the ability of legislative policies to create equality for all, diminish social ills, foster respect for life and increase economic self-sufficiency for families. The MILC 2004 legislative agenda was established by consensus at its meeting Dec. 3.
United Methodists are encouraged to work in
tandem with MILC through group and individual advocacy. Information and updates will be communicated through several channels, including the conferences electronic news bulletin, e-connection, the UMConnection newspaper and the Web site at www.bwcumc.org.
Throughout the Maryland legislative session, which began Jan. 14, individuals, groups and congregations may also receive action alerts urging them to call, write, visit and give face-to-face testimony to legislators. They may be asked to display lawn signs and bumper stickers to show their support for the conferences and MILCs stance on crucial issues.
There are strategies, structures and methods shaped to further our social action agenda. A United Methodist social justice linking person acts as a liaison to and from each of the conferences nine districts. This person contacts representatives in churches. Those representatives inform their congregations about issues of concern that require specific, timely responses. Lay members in committees and ministry groups can then work together to schedule car pools or van rides to the state Capitol to represent their views.
Training on how to lobby legislators is provided
to churches and persons in ministry with poor, marginalized and victimized constituents who want to share their experiences with state leaders.
In the current General Assembly session, Marylands lawmakers are wrestling with critical matters, including the budget deficit, gambling expansion, funding for childrens education and higher education costs, capital punishment, funding for drug treatment and other health services, housing assistance programs, civil rights and economic necessities for immigrants, gun control and the damages from smoking in public places. The American Cancer Society and the Baltimore-Washington Conference recently announced its partnership to educate United Methodists and legislators on various health-related concerns.
When it comes to crucial issues needing our advocacy, the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. We must find and send out the laborers into the Lords harvest to save and protect lives and defend the economic stability and growth of families. You can make a difference when you raise your voice and speak truth and justice to power.
United Methodists, gbwc_superusered by the denominations Book of Resolutions, have a rich history of social action and accountability, exercised globally and in local communities by people who have stood in compassionate ministry with all Gods children.
Marylands citizens have the power to affect, perhaps even change, the outcome of debates in Annapolis. That is a fact. Be persuaded by the sentiments of June Dasheil, your sister in Christ in the Baltimore West District. Let your testimony be gbwc_superusered by social principle and followed by social action, as a sign of your Christian stewardship and commitment to Christs ministry.
Sumayya Coleman is the Baltimore-Washington Conference legislative advocate consultant. She can be reached at
, or by phone at (410) 268-4122.
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