EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Two, Number Two November/December 1992 Call To Action: Join an Advocacy Network for Human and Environmental Justice "It may well be that America's Christian denominations have sufficient leverage — by preaching the connections between issues and principles, by developing new life styles, by confronting sources of pollution, and by providing input into community policy-making — to carry the nation into the environmental era almost single handedly." (Marshall Massey, "Where are Our Churches Today?" Firmament, Winter 1991). In many denominations public policy advocacy is an integral dimension of Christian witness. To write a letter to a legislator or lobby in the halls of Congress is seen as an act of faithfulness and a sign of hope by many Christians. The churches represent a moral force in society and many politicians will give them a hearing that they will not give to other groups. Get to know your denominational staff who work on environmental issues and encourage them. Visit them, and of course your own representatives in Congress, when you next visit Washington. Another option is to join one of the following organizations that monitor legislation, educate the public, keep church activist networks informed and/or lobby for certain bills . Turning Compassion into Advocacy: Evangelicals for Social Action do not lobby, but do provide public policy education from a biblical Christian perspective. They publish articles on environmental legislation in their ESA Advocate magazine. They have a program for evangelical PhD's doing public policy analysis. To join, send membership fee ($20 reg. $15 student) to Evangelicals for Social Action, 10 Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood PA 19096, (215) 645-9390. Bread for the World is an organization of 44,000 Americans who believe that responding to the Gospel involves both faith and action. BFW is a Christian citizens' movement with a good record of persuading Congress to adopt legislation to benefit the poor and hungry at home and abroad. Members receive Action Alerts to contact legislators and policy makers at the time when crucial decisions are about to be made. Their annual report on the state of world hunger, Hunger 1993: Uprooted People, includes a report on environmental refugees, the fastest growing segment of global refugees. To join, send membership fee ($25 individual membership) to Bread for the World, 802 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington DC 20018, (202) 269-0200. Interfaith IMPACT for Justice and Peace is an interfaith coalition of over 35 member agencies, with over 10,000 individual members. IMPACT helps congregations become effective advocates on the issues that concern them. Members receive legislative alerts, background reports, and special updates on their most important areas of concern, including Domestic Poverty and Human Needs, Justice for Women and Families, International Peace, The Environment, Energy and Agriculture, Economic Policy and Sustainable Development, and Civil, Human and Voting Rights. IMPACT organizes an annual National Legislative Briefing in Washington for training in advocacy and interaction with members of Congress. The next meeting will be March 14-17, 1993 at the Washington Marriott. To join, send membership fee ($30.00 for one area; $10 for each additional area of concern) to Interfaith IMPACT, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington DC 20002, (800) 848-5680. Home     Table of Contents