2007 Legislative Agenda

Advocacy Team News and Testimonies

Karl Barth, a theologian in the Reformed tradition, recommended doing ministry with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other! For many years, Baltimore Presbytery has followed that wisdom, keeping a close watch on local, national, and international public policy and speaking out when public policy collides with the message of the Gospel.

The Peace and Justice Committee occasionally calls the Presbytery’s attention to issues of public policy that unjustly affect the lives of people or adversely impact the health of the environment. With full explication of each issue, the Committee recommends a position for the Presbytery to adopt that is consistent with the Gospel message. Following discussion and debate, these recommendations, if adopted, are frequently then communicated to public officials and government agencies that are able to formulate or change policies.

To convey to legislators the Presbytery’s adopted position on various issues, the Presbytery employs a public policy advocate, Julie Erickson, Director of Public Policy. Ms. Erickson personally contacts members of the Maryland State Legislature and promotes the Presbytery’s positions. For illustrations of the Presbytery’s ministry of advocacy, see POLICY STATEMENTS.  For Ms. Erickson's agenda items for the 2007 Maryland legislative season see 2007 AGENDA (for last year's items see 2006 AGENDA).

Individual ministers and members of local congregations are also encouraged to support the Presbytery’s adopted decisions by contacting their elected legislators, public officials, and agencies. However, no individual is ever expected to speak against his/her own conscience on any issue. (“God alone is Lord of the conscience…” – Book of Order, G-1.0301) To facilitate communication with State Senators and Delegates, a list of churches by legislative district is available.

Once a month, a small group of interested Presbyterians – both ministers and laypersons – travel to Washington, DC to further engage in the ministry of advocacy. They first meet with the PCUSA Washington Office staff to be briefed on current legislation; then they visits senators and representatives at their offices to advance Baltimore Presbytery’s positions. This activity is coordinated by the Peace and Justice Committee.