WASHINGTON, D.C. (UMNS) — People of faith have a tremendous responsibility to keep the struggles of their neighbors’ daily lives in front of the U.S. president, Senate and House of Representatives.

Michael Strautmanis, an Obama administration staffer, told directors of the United Methodist Board of Church & Society, “We need your help to keep our voices from being drowned out by a culture that has been successful in thinking a certain way.” (UMNS photo by Kathy Gilbert)

Directors of the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) heard that message repeatedly as they visited legislators from their states and districts during their March 18-22 spring meeting here.

A member of President Barack Obama’s administration urged board members to remain engaged with their communities and the Oval Office. “We need your help to keep our voices from being drowned out by a culture that has been successful in thinking a certain way,” said Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to Valerie Jarrett, the assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison. He said the office would be changing its name from “public liaison” to “public engagement.”

Strautmanis said he brought a message from the administration. “People can’t rely on one person, such as the president, to do things for them,” he said. “People have gotten too much into waiting to see what is going to happen to them. “They need to open their doors and open windows and engage with their neighbors. The rest of the country seems to get this, but not Washington, D.C.”

A Chicago native, Strautmanis started his career as a paralegal in Michelle Obama’s law firm. He served during the Clinton administration, was legislative director to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and worked for the American Assn. for Justice.

Faith community role

Strautmanis said the faith community can play a role in the pluralistic society that Obama envisions. “What the president wants to achieve is motivated by his faith,” Strautmanis said, “and he’s not ashamed of that. This country flourished because of separation of church and state, but issues still need to be debated and discussed from both perspectives.”

Strautmanis addressed the board during lunch on March 20. He arrived after an overnight flight with Obama, who went to California to hold two town hall meetings, and appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

“Not one person talked about AIG. That’s all they are talking about here,” Strautmanis said. “They talked about health care, about teachers being laid off, about kids wanting to go to college. It reminded me of our responsibility to bring those voices to Washington, D.C.”

Strautmanis asked GBCS’s directors to “open your doors and windows” and engage with neighbors and friends. He said the president is motivated by his faith and he knows people are hurting because of the economic crisis.

In an interview after the luncheon address, Strautmanis said United Methodists can “lift us up during this enormously challenging time.”

Strautmanis shared that Obama makes it a point to read 10 letters sent to him from across the nation every night before he goes to bed. “He shares a lot of those letters with us,” he said. “It is a challenging time, but what keeps us going is thinking about the people we have met over the past two years.”

Strautmanis said he agreed to speak to GBCS’s board because United Methodists have a long history of engaging in public policy. “We want to reach out to [United Methodists] and tell them three things,” he said. “Keep it up, we need you, and we are your partners.’”

Messages of love

At the end of Strautmanis’ comments to the board, Bishop Jose Quipungo, East Angola region in Africa, shared a message to take back to his boss. “Obama is our president too,” the bishop said. “We in Angola are confident in his government and know it is not easy to guide this great country.

“We hope Obama will think about the children and women in Angola. Your work is important for all of us.”

Strautmanis replied that as the president engages in the world, he sees things from a grassroots level, and no more so than in Africa. “As the son and grandson of the continent, [President Obama] has no patience for corruption,” Strautmanis said. “He has tough messages of love and challenges all of us.”