In my Board position on the NH Council of Churches, I get to witness first hand the communities most directly impacted by legislative efforts. This last week was a flurry of bills designed to restrict workers rights, enable no-fault evictions thereby creating more chaos and homelessness in an already stretched housing market, threaten immigrant lives and LGBTQ persons, ignore the disability community's call for equity, and funnel money away from public education to a voucher program that has no transparency or accountability. Many of these bills have been given titles designed to mislead their intent or hide their true impact. People of faith and the Christian denominations of the Council are working hard to inform the public about these efforts and their impact. And they invite your reflection on these pieces of legislation and your engagement in the process. You can stay informed by signing up for the New Hampshire "State House Watch" newsletter that is published weekly during legislative sessions to bring you information about matters being discussed in Concord including immigration, civil rights, and labor rights. https://afsc.org/state-house-watch
You can of course, take advantage of their information sessions (many of which are online), show up at the State Capitol at their witness events, AND/OR, from your home, you can log in and share your comments online, registering your support or opposition to a bill. It's easy to do. And it's one way you can make your voice of faith heard.
There's a lot going on nationally that it's harder to know how to have an impact on, but advocating your faith values at the State level is something you can do. Know that at all levels, the denominational representatives and interfaith voices of faith are working together to create strategies to follow Jesus' lead in protecting the most vulnerable. Closer to home, GSOP has offered workshops for immigrants to know their rights. Efforts are underway to protect worship spaces from the intrusion of ICE. You can use your buying power to support companies that support diversity and equality.
This Saturday, Main Street has a "Light a Candle for Justice" workshop at 10:30 in the vestry. Even if you don't want to make a candle, you can come and learn about ways you can stand for justice. We're in this together.
Pastor Kelly
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