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| Hoosier United Methodists together |
April 2005 |
Columbus pastor experiences Capitol Hill advocacy first hand
WASHINGTON - A Columbus pastor joined 55 other youth adult clergy on Capitol Hill this past winter to experience advocacy first hand.
The Rev. Lisa Marchal, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Columbus, took part in the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society's second Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum. She represented the South Indiana Conference.
Clergy representing 32 U.S. annual conferences participated in the event hosted at The United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C. in February.
Participants met with board staff to discuss legislative priorities on Capitol Hill, practiced interactive exercises to more effectively teach the church's Social Principles and met with the Rev. Chester Jones, general secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race, a position Bishop Woodie W. White once held.
A highlight of the conference was conversations with several members of the House of Representatives, who also are United Methodists, to discuss the relationship between faith, values and the domestic policy.
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"I was unexpectedly impressed with the passion, intelligence, and thoughtfulness of the legislators on Capitol Hill." |
Marchal told Together, "I think I was unexpectedly impressed with the passion, intelligence, and thoughtfulness of the legislators we met on Capitol Hill. I was additionally impressed with how the legislators we met sought to mesh faith and public service with integrity and fairness toward all Americans. I also was thoroughly impressed with the capabilities and enthusiasm of our GBCS staff. They are true advocates for the thoughtful responsible, blend of faith and life."
Marchal joined other participants who prepared, signed and presented a letter challenging Congress to support Food and Drug Administration regulation on tobacco. Legislation to regulate tobacco products was passed by wide margins by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in the previous session of Congress but was removed in the reconciling committee. This was a great disappointment as many in the health and faith communities worked together to promote FDA regulation for years.
The young adult clergy also enjoyed hearing from Rep. Frank Wolf, (R-Va. 10), a devout Presbyterian. He discussed a book that highlights the profound influence of John Wesley on the life of William Wilberforce (Hero for Humanity: A Biography of William Wilberforce by Kevin Belmonte).
Wolfe said, "Wesley's ministry reached many of England's leading figures, and Wilberforce was one who was so moved by the Gospel message that it totally changed the way he approached his work in Parliament. He became the leading champion and voice to abolish slavery. His heart was moved and people listened to him."
Other representatives who addressed the clergy included: the Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver, a newly elected United Methodist pastor representing Missouri's 5th district; Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, lifetime member of the Asbury UMC representing the 2nd district of Mississippi; Rep. Rosa DeLauro, representing Connecticut's 3rd district and the Rev. David Price, representing North Carolina's 4th district.
Marchal left the experience saying, "I hope to use my experience to help the local church engage in dialogue around The Social Principles.
"I've already been helping the Rev. Darren Cushman-Wood on the Putting Children First work that's been happening within the South Indiana Conference. I love advocacy, and hope to keep interfacing responsibly with the state and federal legislative processes so that I can offer a faithful voice to the changes we experience in the realm of law and justice," she said.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008