The Rev. Lauren Bloom, St. Luke’s, Eastport; the Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Episcopal Diocese of Maryland; Mr. Jonathan Laycock-Nisely, Interfaith Power & Light, the Rev. Margaret Brack, Diocese of Easton and Mr. Glenn Mortoro, St. Anne’s, Annapolis stand for protecting the environment.
Episcopalians from across Maryland gathered in Annapolis and online on Wednesday to learn how to effectively advocate at the state capital. The day-long event, organized by the Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network (MEPPN), was held at St. Anne’s Episcopal, Annapolis. The meeting opened with rousing remarks on building Beloved Community from special legislative guest Delegate Gabriel Acevero and a video message from Speaker Adrienne Jones. Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton offered the prayer to open the Senate session at 10:00 AM.
Advocates and partners followed our special guests. Marilyn Miller, President of MCEA/AFT; Rabbi Nina Cardin of the Maryland Environmental Human Rights Amendment (MDEHR); Vincent DeMarco of Maryland Health Care for All; Johnathan Laycock-Nisely of Interfaith Power & Light; Phil Caroom of Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR); and the Rev. Dr. Marlon A. Tilghman (Ames Memorial United Methodist Church, Bel Air) and Hannah Freeman from BRIDGE Maryland presented on the important issues they advocate for that line up with our diocesan priorities as a Community of Love.
The Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton offers opening remarks and prayer.
Mr. Jonathan Laycock-Nisely of Interfaith Power & Light, talks about key environmental legislation.
Del. Gabriel Acevero offers inspiring remarks on why we, as people of faith, do the work of advocacy.
Attendees learned about the state legislative process, how to testify before a committee, and how to write effective letters to legislators, including taking action through our online advocacy software, which allows constituents from the across the state to easily locate their legislators, send them letters electronically or via the U.S. postal service, make advocacy phone calls or contact them on social media. Action alerts allow participants to send personalized letters on individual bills that we, as people of faith, find important regarding the well-being of all of God’s people.
Participants then joined a series of breakout sessions, highlighting the importance of tracking bills in our six areas of priority: education, housing, public health/safety, public justice, racial reconciliation, and creation care/environment. At the end of the day, attendees left with a better understanding of how to effectively engage in the state legislative process and how to use their faith to advocate for the common good. The event was an important step for Episcopalians to learn how to be faithful in the public square.
The Rev. Christine McCloud, Diocese of Maryland canon for mission, calls participants to understand the difference between gospel politics and partisan politics.
The Rev. Ken Phelps, Deacon for Public Policy, welcomes everyone to Advocacy Day.
Mr. Vincent DeMarco, Maryland Health Care for All, tells attendees about important health care legislation this session.
The Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network is committed to providing resources and support to help Episcopalians across Maryland better understand and engage in public policy issues. In addition, our diocese committed to building relationships with our ecumenical partners across the state of Maryland including the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Episcopal Diocese of Easton.
Follow MEPPN’s advocacy work year-round, track bills during the General Assembly Session and more by downloading MEPPN’s advocacy app below. Join us! Be a part of making the state of Maryland a community of love, where all of God’s people receive equitable and fair treatment.
