Advocacy Day March 22, 2023

Join other Michigan United Methodists on Wednesday, March 22 for our first annual Advocacy Day at Central UMC in Lansing! This will be a day of prayer, public witness, and meetings with your elected officials about  gun safety! There will be three virtual training events before Advocacy Day where you can learn more about the topic and prepare for your meetings. All three trainings will be recorded for you to view later if you cannot attend live. The second and third trainings are required in order to attend the meetings with elected officials, to make sure you are well prepared. We will also have a virtual debrief after the event to share key learnings and next action steps. Registration costs $20, which will help cover related expenses, and scholarships are available. Contact Alice Townley or Michelle King with any questions. 

Register by March 13 to be included with in meetings with your lawmakers.  Registrations after March 13 will not include lunch, nor meetings with lawmakers.  Your onsite witness, and participation is welcomed!

A Call Towards Justice

A call towards justice is core to United Methodist theology and biblical studies. Our news is full of stories illustrating increasing polarization, violence, and disparities that disproportionately affect those already marginalized among us. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. 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? 

Moved by the dramatic rise in school shootings and other deaths by guns, the 2022 annual conference voted to address gun violence in our state. I want to invite you to add energy to justice. Attend our first annual Advocacy Day on March 22, 2023 at Central UMC in Lansing. Prepare with 3 virtual meetings on March 7, 13, and 21 to build community, expand skills, and learn the issues. After the day in Lansing on March 22, debrief and dream next steps in a virtual gathering on March 28. Let your state reps know you are coming and invite neighbors to join you. Let us hear again the words from Mordecai to Esther, “Perhaps you have been called to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)

Advocacy Day Schedule

Date/time: Wednesday, March 22, 8:00am-3:00pm
Location: Central UMC in Lansing - 215 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Additional Activities

We will have many opportunities for public witness beyond the meetings with elected officials. In the morning they include letter writing to lawmakers, and poster-making for the press conference at Central UMC. Prayer vigils at Central UMC and in the rotunda of the Capitol. A ‘United Methodist and Friends Press Conference” beginning with music at 11:15am and speakers at 11:30am on the Capitol steps. Introductions in the Senate chamber tentatively at 10am and the House chamber tentatively at 2pm. Corey Simon, pastor and blacksmith, will transform a gun into a gardening tool on the Capitol lawn during the morning, and we will use this tool in worship at 1pm. A State Capitol tour at 2pm. And all day there will be opportunities to meet people from around the state of Michigan who are committed to faith, justice, and gun safety. We will have a continental breakfast of bagels and fruit, and boxed lunches, along with water, tea, and coffee. To help us coordinate, some activities need participants to sign up, including the silent prayer vigil in the rotunda, the introduction to House and Senate from the balcony, and the capitol tour. Sign up here to participate.

Press Conference Speakers 

• David Bard, Bishop of the Michigan Conference
• The Honorable Julie Rogers, State of Michigan House of Representatives, District 41
• Heather MacDougall Walsh
• Other speakers TBA

4 Legislative Asks

1. Safe Storage - would require guns in homes with children to be locked away safely
2. Universal Background Checks - for all firearm purchases
3. Extreme Risk Protection Orders - allow judge to temporarily remove firearms from individuals that may be at risk for harming themselves or others
4. Restrictions on ability of domestic abusers to own firearms

Ways to get Involved if you are unable to attend Advocacy Day in person

• Download this Letter Template to write to your representative.

Pre-Event Training Dates:

Training #1: Spiritual Grounding and Relationship Building
Tuesday, March 7 at 4:00pm
Watch the video here.

*Training #2: How to Speak and be Heard by Elected Officials
 Monday, March 13 at 7:00pm

*Training #3: Preparing for Your Advocacy Day Meeting
Tuesday, March 21 at 4:00pm

Debrief: Key Learnings and Takeaways
Tuesday, March 28 at 4:00pm

*Preparation is required to meet with elected officials.  We ask that participants attend these zoom training sessions live for helpful tips and an opportunity to prepare in breakout sessions with your Senate district (March 13) and House district (March 21). If you cannot join live, please watch the recordings prior to Advocacy Day.  As people begin arriving at Central UMC in Lansing on March 22, seating at tables will be by Senate and House districts. After a brief welcome at 8:30am, we will have a few minutes to review for meetings with a team leader.  Meetings with State Senators and House Representatives are being scheduled as able and times vary.  Beyond these meetings, we will have many opportunities for public witness.  They include a press conference, places of prayer, letter writing, music, worship, opportunities to meet people, a State Capitol tour, introductions in the House and Senate chambers, transformation of a weapon to a gardening tool on the Capitol lawn, and more.

Links to connect sent via email after registration.

Justice & Advocacy Resolutions Passed at Annual Conference 2022

Read about the resolutions passed at 2022 Annual Conference.