Register for the 30-minute Lunch and Learn webinar on Feb. 14 to learn more about Advocacy Day and how you can do something about gun violence prevention here in Michigan.

JAMES DEATON
Content Editor

Faith and community leaders here in Michigan are calling on state legislators to prioritize the passing of common-sense legislation to curb the number of deaths related to gun violence. There is hope that key bills, which have stalled for years, will garner bipartisan support and pass during the first 100 days of the new term. It’s a growing movement that is gaining traction.

The Michigan Conference is doing its part by planning its first annual Advocacy Day on March 22 at Central UMC in Lansing. This will be a day of prayer, public witness, and meetings with elected officials.

Are you passionate about this issue and want to learn more? If so, click here to register to attend the 30-minute Lunch and Learn: From Prayers to Action on Gun Safety webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and join others in prayers of lament and learn about legislation and plans for Advocacy Day. The webinar will begin at 12:15 pm.

The Michigan Conference is planning its first Advocacy Day for Wednesday, March 22, to follow through on its promise made last summer to equip United Methodists to take action on the issue of gun violence prevention.

Rev. Alice Fleming Townley, Mission and Justice Coordinator for the Michigan Conference, is organizing the day’s events, along with Rev. Michelle King, provisional deacon, in collaboration with the Board of Justice. Townley encourages all United Methodists not to be paralyzed by the despair heard on the news. “It is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless,” she said. “What might happen if we come together as United Methodists across the state to build community, draw from deep spiritual wells, listen to the cries around us, discern focus, and organize?”

Advocacy Day will be held from 8 am to 3 pm at Central United Methodist Church in Lansing, across the street from the Michigan State Capitol. There will be times of worship and prayer in addition to set-aside time for pre-registered individuals to meet with elected officials and talk to them about moving forward on common sense gun safety legislative matters. Click here to see the full schedule for the day.

To help prepare individuals for meeting with their elected officials, the Michigan Conference is providing three pre-event trainings on March 7, 13, and 21, all done virtually. Learn more by visiting the event’s web page. The first one is highly encouraged and will be recorded so that it can be viewed later if it’s not possible to attend live. The second and third ones, on March 13 and 21, are required if people plan to meet with their elected officials.

For those ready to participate, complete this simple registration form now so that we can ensure appointments can be made with our state lawmakers. There is a $20 fee to help cover refreshments, lunch, and administrative costs involved in the event’s planning. Scholarships are available. Once you register for this event, you will also be registered for the pre-event trainings automatically. Contact Alice Townley at [email protected] or Michelle King at [email protected] with any questions.

After Advocacy Day in Lansing on March 22, participants will be invited to debrief and dream next steps in a virtual gathering on Tuesday, March 28.