The elected members of the General Board of Church and Society have voted to join the following coalitions and organizations. The staff person responsible for maintaining a liaison with each group is listed.
Child Labor Coalition – Linda Bales and Bill Mefford
The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) exists to serve as a national network for the exchange of information about child labor; provide a forum and a unified voice on protecting working minors and ending child labor exploitation;’ and develop public education to combat child labor abuses and promote progressive initiatives.
Website: http://www.stopchildlabor.org
Coalition Against Religious Discrimination – Bill Mefford
The Coalition Against Religious Discrimination is composed of civil rights organizations, religious organizations, education organizations, and organized labor groups. The coalition seeks to protect the freedom of religious organizations to provide social services but not at the expense of civil liberties. The coalition promotes healthy relations between religious groups and the state and promotes the protection of people’s civil and religious rights when working in providing social services with tax dollars.
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence – Bill Mefford
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) emerged from the civil rights movement in the early 1970s and pushes a progressive agenda to reduce firearm death and injury. We were founded on the principle of collaboration, meaning that we work closely with other organizations to achieve our common goals. CSGV is comprised of 45 national organizations working to reduce gun violence. Our coalition members include child welfare advocates, religious organizations, public health professionals, and social justice organizations. This diversity of member organizations allows us to reach a wide variety of grassroots constituencies who share our vision of non-violence.
Website: http://www.csgv.org
Global Aids Alliance – Linda Bales
GAA is dedicated to a collaborative and aggressive campaign to stop global AIDS and the crisis affecting orphans and vulnerable children. GAA provides cutting-edge analysis for the media and key policymakers while supporting advocacy by a wide range of organizations and grassroots participants. Funding is allocated to GAA periodically.
Website: http://www.globalaidsalliance.org
Global Health Council – Linda Bales
GHC is the world’s largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. The Council works to ensure that all who strive for improvement and equity in global health have the information and resources they need to succeed. GBCS works with them on AIDS and family planning concerns.
Website: http://www.globalhealth.org
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights – Bill Mefford
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) was founded in 1950 by three giants of the civil rights movement: A. Philip Randolph, founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters; Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary of the NAACP; and Arnold Aronson, a leader of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council. It is the nation's premier civil rights coalition, and has coordinated the national legislative campaign on behalf of every major civil rights law since 1957.
Website: http://www.civilrights.org
National Coalition for Public Education – Bill Mefford
The National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) was created to respond to the many new legislative changes taking place regarding public education, and as a response to the many attacks against public education. The coalition is composed of a number of civil rights organizations, religious organizations, and parents and teachers’ organizations.
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty – Bill Mefford
Since its inception in 1976, NCADP has been the only fully staffed national organization exclusively devoted to abolishing capital punishment. NCADP provides information, advocates for public policy, and mobilizes and supports individuals and institutions that share our unconditional rejection of capital punishment.
Website: http://www.ncadp.org
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice – Linda Bales
RCRC is an alliance of national organizations from major faiths throughout the country unified to preserve reproductive choice as a basic part of religious liberty. RCRC looks beyond the abortion debate to seek solutions to pressing problems such as unintended pregnancy, the spread of HIV/AIDS, inadequate health care and health insurance, and the severe reduction in reproductive health care services. RCRC supports access to sex education, family planning and contraception, affordable childcare and health care, and adoption services as well as safe, legal, abortion services, regardless of income. RCRC works for public policies that ensure the medical, economic, and educational resources necessary for healthy families and communities that are equipped to nurture children in peace and love.
Website: http://www.rcrc.org