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Office of Public Witness

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The Office of Public Witness
Phone: (202) 543-1126
Fax: (202) 543-7755
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100 Maryland Ave. NE
Ste. 410
Washington, D.C. 20002

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Demanding a Faithful Budget

As people of faith our call is clear. Scripture instructs us to do justice, love mercy, and to care for our neighbors.  We live out these commandments not just as individuals in our local communities, but as a society through our government. The yearly debate over the federal budget is — at its heart — a struggle for our nation’s moral conscience.

At the end of March, hundreds of faith advocates gathered in the Nation’s Capital at the PC(USA)’s Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day and at Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) to demand a Faithful Budget. Together they carried a message to Congress, asking that our national leaders defend people struggling to live in dignity by funding programs that protect vulnerable populations here and abroad.

Presbyterian biblical scholar, Dr. Margaret Aymer, delivered the opening call to conscience at EAD.  The next morning, Dr. Gary Dorrien explained the Church’s call to Social Justice and Dr. Ellen Nissenbaum explained how federal budget priorities make a difference in all of our lives.  Watch their slide or video presentations on the Ecumenical  Advocacy Days website.

The Faithful Budget Campaign, an interfaith project led, in part, by the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness, has proposed principles and policies that could compose a Faithful Budget.  In the OPW’s new publication, Advocacy as Discipleship, these “Principles for a Faithful Budget” are introduced and unpacked. Learn more about the Faithful Budget presented to Congress.


A weekend of successes

We give thanks to God for a wonderful series of events the weekend of March 23–26, 2012. Presbyterians from across the nation descended on Washington, D.C., to participate in Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day, Ecumenical Advocacy Days, and “A Night of Cherry Blossoms on the Potomac.” 

On Friday, March 23, more than 200 people gathered at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church to get energized and educated about the ministries of Compassion, Peace and Justice (CPJ). Director Sara Lisherness brought greetings, and the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson brought the word. Organizers from across the denomination and its ministries shared best practices, new ideas, and useful information about organizing for justice in the life of the church. The program booklet from the day provides a great snapshot of the breadth of our experience and the depth of our shared ministries.

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What is the Office of Public Witness?

When Jesus was asked to state the greatest commandment, he replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart ... And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." In this complex age, one way we love our neighbors is to help shape the laws and policies that define how we live together in God's world.

 

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Washington Report to Presbyterians second quarter 2011

Update on Recent Events, Celebrating Outgoing and Incoming Interns, and Issue Updates

 In this edition:

  • Presbyterians Converge on the Nation’s Capital for Compassion, Peace, and Justice Training Day Event
  • Building An Alliance With Young Adults
  • Important Internship for Public Witness Dates and Deadlines
  • Welcoming New Faces
  • Challenging the Rhetoric of Scarcity: Living in a World of Abundance, by Leslie G. Woods
  • Colombia Free Trade Agreement, by Catherine Gordon
  • A Successful Start to the OPW Internship Program: Interviews with Outgoing Interns
  • Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2011

One of the great challenges of our denomination is relating to young adults. Presbyterians often want young adults to join their congregations, but struggle with embracing new ideas to build upon their desire to serve. The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness is committed to training young adults to participate in justice advocacy.

Download the Washington Report

See past issues of the Washington Report.


Second Tuesdays

The Office of Public Witness offers assistance to Presbyterians who wish to visit their Members of Congress in Washington. A special program of issue briefings and congressional visits is offered to groups of Presbyterians on the second Tuesday of each month.

The next Second Tuesday will be June 12.

Read June 12 topic information

Download a flier

Bulletin insert on Second Tuesdays

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Learn more about legislation and advocacy

How to Be an Effective Advocate

Our lawmakers' votes are influenced by their personal views, their party's positions, the advice of staff, friends and lobbyists. But the single most important influence is constituent opinion.

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List of Presbyterians in the 112th Congress

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