2010 legislative priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has set its 2010 legislative priorities for the U.S. Congress. The six priorities cover a gamut from tackling global problems to U.S.-specific issues.

The priorities support actions taken by General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s highest policy-making body. The priorities are grounded in the denomination’s “Social Principles” and its Book of Resolutions. They also are aligned with focus areas of the denomination approved by General Conference, which meets every four years.

The priorities are grounded in the denomination’s “Social Principles” and its Book of Resolutions.

GBCS’s legislative priorities are determined by the social action agency’s work area directors in consultation with its top executive, Jim Winkler. He said the priorities all represent areas to which the faith community can bring a unique voice to the legislative process by its focus on justice.

The six legislative priorities for 2010 are reform of the U.S. health-care system; just, humane immigration reform; eliminate child hunger; address the global climate crisis; overcome global poverty; and increase levels of U.S. spending for international family planning.

Reform of U.S. health-care system

Reform of the U.S. health-care system is the priority of GBCS’s work area on Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care. “We are farther along in successful advocacy for key components in the United Methodist position on health care than ever before,” said the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of the work area.

Every day, people’s health is jeopardized because they face limited access or gaps in their insurance coverage, according to Abrams. She said 45.7 million people are without health insurance in the United States.

We haven’t lived completely into God’s vision that no one is left out.

“We are close to major reform, but we haven’t lived completely into God’s vision that no one is left out,” Abrams said. “A health-care system that is inclusive, accessible and available to all lives out God’s intention for wholeness and abundant life.”

Among key protections Abrams identified of health-care reform legislation before Congress are no denial of coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, and coverage for alcohol and other addiction recovery and rehabilitation services. Abrams called this a significant help for families with addicted persons.

For more information about health-care reform, contact Cynthia Abrams at (203) 488-5636.

Just, humane immigration reform

GBCS’s Civil & Human Rights work area has set “just, humane immigration reform” as its priority this year. “Common sense tells us that the immigration system is badly in need of reform,” said Bill Mefford, director of the work area.

According to Mefford, effective reform must be comprehensive in nature. He said this reform must entail a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants, protection of the rights of workers and reunification of families.

Scripture calls us as people of faith to welcome the sojourner.

“Scripture calls us as people of faith to welcome the sojourner,” Mefford emphasized.

The first three to four months of 2010 will be crucial to finally achieve justice for undocumented immigrants and their families, as well as for those sentenced to excessively long prison sentences, according to Mefford. “There are plenty of ways to get involved to support these necessary reforms, so get your church involved today,” he implored.

For more details, contact Bill Mefford at (202) 488-5657.

Eliminate child hunger

John Hill, director of GBCS’s work area on Economic & Environmental Justice, said one in four children in the United States lives in a home suffering from food insecurity. “As part of our denominational emphasis on eradicating poverty,” he said, “GBCS will work to strengthen and expand child nutrition programs with the goal of eliminating child hunger.”

For more information on this priority, contact John Hill at (202) 488-5654.

Global climate crisis

Hill said 2010 provides a “critical window of opportunity” to enact energy reform and climate justice legislation. “The United States must take strong action,” he said, “to invest in a green, low-carbon energy future, reduce global warming pollution, and protect those living in poverty in the U.S. and around the world.”

For more information on this priority, contact John Hill at (202) 488-5654.

End global poverty

GBCS supports legislation that helps to end global poverty, said Mark Harrison, director of the agency’s Peace with Justice work area. He said foreign aid reform, fair trade, debt cancellation and major reform of international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, are instrumental ways the United States can lead to end poverty on God’s world.

More than 1 billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day

“More than 1 billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day,” Harrison said. “Chronic hunger affects more than 800 million people in the world. We United Methodists can make a difference by urging Congress to support legislation to overcome poverty.”

For more information, contact Mark Harrison at (202) 488-5645 or the Rev. Liberato Bautista, assistant general secretary, United Nations and International Ministry, at (212) 682-3633 ext.3112.

International family planning

“The United Methodist Church has been a strong supporter of family planning over the decades as a way of living out Christ’s healing mandate and John Wesley’s commitment to health and healthy families,” said Linda Bales Todd, director of the Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project at GBCS.

More than 200 million people worldwide lack access to information and services for family planning, according to Todd. She said this “critical health provision” will reduce the spread of AIDS, allow couples to space their children, reduce abortions, and reduce child and maternal mortality.

Family planning is a life-saving resource that needs to be available to men and women around the globe.

“Family planning is a life-saving resource that needs to be available to men and women around the globe,” Todd emphasized.

Increased spending on international family planning should include support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), according to Todd. UNFPA estimates that one in three deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth could be avoided if all women had access to contraceptive services.

For more information, contact Linda Todd at (202) 488-5649.

In addition to these six priorities, each work area also selected three other areas of legislative importance this year. All priorities are available in .pdf format by clicking on 2010 Legislative Priorities.

The General Board of Church and Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education & Leadership Formation, United Nations & International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the more than 40,000 local churches of the denomination worldwide. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center at the United Nations. Action Networks

GBCS’s program staff sponsors Action Networks that provide information on these and other advocacy issues. The networks are free. They include legislative updates, advocacy resources and identify opportunities to take action.

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Information is distributed via e-mail. You can subscribe to any or all of the networks.

You can join a network the following ways: by mail to General Board of Church & Society, 100 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002; by fax to (202) 488-5639; or online at UMPower or GBCS >>My GBCS. For more information, go to My GBCS on the GBCS web site, or contact Donna Brandyberry at (202) 488-5641.