Greetings JPANet Advocates,
It has been another fast-changing legislative year, full of twists and turns, and it is only August! There is no doubt that your voices, messages, action and faithful witness for justice have made a difference! Over the last several months of 2022, you have taken action on climate justice, gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, immigration, LGBTQ equality, defense of human rights around the world, reproductive justice, hate crimes and federal budget policy, to name but a few. In addition to your weekly legislative advocacy through the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet), you have participated in another timely and meaningful Ecumenical Advocacy Days, joined the Poor Peoples Campaign mass mobilization in June, lifted your voices in response to pivotal Supreme Court decisions and engaged members of your congregation and community in the UCC Our Faith Our Vote campaign in this midterm election year.
Our hope is that you will find some well-deserved rest and renewal in August, and time to celebrate your critical, impactful witness! Your efforts have helped to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act after a long impasse, reenergized efforts in support of reproductive justice on the local, state and federal levels, helped to pass the first federal legislative steps to address gun violence prevention in nearly three decades, and helped to move congressional action on key provisions of the Build Back Better plan after months of stalemate.
In a time when it can feel like we are taking one step forward, two steps back in the work of justice and peace, it is so important to recognize, affirm and celebrate our steps forward! We are reminded again of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., yes, the moral arc of the universe is long, but it does bend toward justice!
Of course, much work and challenge awaits us in the fall. In September, we will intensify our focus on the 2022 midterm elections and the UCC Our Faith Our Vote campaign. Beginning in August and moving toward November, candidates will be stepping up their appearances at town hall forums, in-district meetings and campaign events, so it is a great time to engage them with questions about the issues that matter to you – gun violence prevention, reproductive justice, climate change and more.
Now is a good time to check your voter registration status, and encourage others to do the same, through our Civic Action Center. After a wave of voter suppression measures in the states, it is more important than ever to encourage, empower and mobilize voters in the 2022 midterms. You can help voters find the information they need to participate in the elections and work to ensure free and fair elections. For resources and tools for engagement, visit the UCC Our Faith Our Vote website. And stay tuned for more OFOV resources and opportunities for action through the JPANet in the fall.
We hope you will come back in September renewed, encouraged and energized for the work ahead!
With gratitude from your UCC Washington D.C. Office Team,
Sandy, Mike, Katie, Jessi, Thaddaeus, and Suanne