Advocacy News

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: A bi-partisan coalition of Senate Judiciary members recently introduced and passed out of committee S. 2123, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. Both sides have credited the faith community for creating the political will to negotiate through our advocacy efforts in Iowa – home to Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives with committee action expected soon. The faith community sponsored two Capitol Hill briefings for staff to hear from faith leaders on the importance and moral urgency for criminal justice reform on Nov. 3.

Thus, ADVOCACY WORKS!!  In April, Pr. Joy Gonnerman, Pr. Paul Stone and Cindy Wells, WIS Director for Global Mission participated in the Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference in Washington, DC.  This year's theme centered around the social justice issues surrounding mass incarceration.  Awareness was raised, state advocacy groups were formed, best practices were taught and practiced, and 1,000+ Christians embarked on capitol hill to discuss the issue with their congressmen and women.  Iowa played a particularly important role in that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee where any such possible change might begin to take shape.  Such efforts eventually led to bipartisan support of criminal justice sentencing reform that is fairer, reduces violence, uses our tax dollar more properly, unveils the profit-making nature of the system, and cares for social and health concerns of all those involved.  Let us continue to pray and to use our voices and our actions to change the social injustice issues we face...
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Please Mark Your Calendars: 
"Plan to attend next year's Ecumenical Advocacy Days event, April 15-18, themed Lift Every Voice:  Racism, Class and Power (www.advocacydays.org)

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