ADVOCACY

MARYLAND EPISCOPAL PUBLIC POLICY NETWORK (MEPPN)

 

ABOUT MEPPN

We join the words “Faith” and “Justice” into a single term to reflect our belief that faith and justice are intimately bound together. God calls us – as individuals and as communities – to act on behalf of the vulnerable, weak and oppressed. Through working together, we ask people of faith to revisit and renew their commitment to the Gospel and the common good.

KEY ISSUES

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

Healthcare is a necessity, not a luxury. We support efforts to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare. Safe neighborhoods and accountable policing are reasonable expectations for every citizen. All are necessary to move toward a healthier environment in which our citizens can thrive, regardless of income, education, race, age or gender.

FOLLOW THESE BILLS WITH US:

SB 388: Prescription Drug Affordability Board – Authority for Upper Payment Limits and Funding (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Act of 2024)

HB 340: Prescription Drug Affordability Board – Authority for Upper Payment Limits and Funding (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Act of 2024)

SB 705 – Health Insurance – Qualified Resident Enrollment Program (Access to Care Act)

HB 728: Health Insurance – Qualified Resident Enrollment Program (Access to Care Act)

 

HOUSING

Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew how the nations will be judged and it is all about how we have treated the very people that our systems and biases have marginalized. Like food, clothing, and proper health care, housing is a basic human right that our system has capitalized beyond the means of a significant portion of our population and our politicians have consistently turned a blind eye to the issue of homelessness and have politicized attempts to solve our housing issues. Adequate, safe and affordable housing for all continues to be a high priority for the Diocese.

FOLLOW THESE BILLS WITH US:

SB 483: Maryland Community Investment Corporation – Establishment (Housing and Community Development Financing Act of 2024)

SB 481: Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024

SB 356: Land Use – Expedited Development Review Processes for Affordable Housing – Requirements

SB 484: Land Use – Affordable Housing – Zoning Density and Permitting (Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024)

 

 

EDUCATION

A fundamental tenant of our faith is that God created all of us and, as such, all of God’s children should have equal access to a sound education in settings where each child feels safe, each child thrives and blossoms to be the person God has envisioned. In today’s society, the higher paying jobs require college degrees and beyond. Our educational system must provide education that supports those aspirations. Schools should enable all children to pursue their dreams, whether it be as a physician, or as an electrician.

FOLLOW THESE BILLS WITH US:

HB50: Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education

RACIAL RECONCILIATION

In 2006, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church passed resolution 2006-CO11: “Resolved, that the 75th General Convention, affirming our commitments to become a transformed, anti-racist church and to work toward healing, reconciliation, and a restoration of wholeness to the family of God, urge the Church at every level to call upon Congress and the American people to support legislation initiating study of and dialogue about the history and legacy of slavery in the United States and of proposals for monetary and non-monetary reparations to the descendants of the victims of slavery.”

Our work towards racial reconciliation is consistent with the Resolutions passed by General Convention. “Our call by God as the Body of Christ in the world today is to participate in God’s reconciling work in the world. The centuries of damage and harm caused by institutional racism calls for our continued leadership as a Church to do our part to bring restitution, beginning in our own diocese…” So began the explanation for Resolution 2020-06; Title: Racial Restitution and Reconciliation; presented by the Diocesan Council and passed unanimously by the 236th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

FOLLOW THESE BILLS WITH US:

SB 622: Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund – Funding (Maryland Reparations Act of 2024)

 

CREATION CARE / ENVIRONMENT

“Every person, as a matter of basic human dignity, has a fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful and stable environment.”

That quotation from Diocesan Convention Resolution 2021–3, captures both the conviction and the urgency that define our environmental policies. Our Diocese affirms the need for governments, private industry and all people to act to protect the sanctity and wholeness of our environment and to protect the health of all persons from unsafe and unhealthy environmental exposures.

FOLLOW THESE BILLS WITH US:

SB 1023: Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use, Energy Conservation, and Electric– and Solar–Ready Standards (Better Buildings Act of 2024)

HB 130: Department of General Services – State Buildings and Facilities – Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions

PUBLIC JUSTICE

As Christians, we believe that Faith and justice are inextricably linked. We are all children of God and that God dwells within each of us. Consistent with Jesus’ call to love our neighbors as ourselves, we oppose institutional unfairness that disproportionately affects God’s children.

FOLLOW THESE BILLS WITH US

SB 134: Office of the Attorney General – Correctional Ombudsman Unit

 

GET INVOLVED

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is pleased to announce our online advocacy program. In anticipation of the upcoming legislative session beginning in January 2020, we encourage you to sign up below to receive action alerts for the bills chosen, with the help of our legislative committee and Bishop Sutton, that we will follow this session. The online program also allows you to easily locate and contact your representatives and our action alerts will provide you with resources to send in your correspondence with them.

Why we must be advocates and activists, following in the call of John the Baptist, a homily by Jesse Milan (8:36)

 

OUR PARTNERS

 CONTACT

The Rev. Ken Phelps 
The Rev. Linda Boyd

Deacons for Public Policy
meppn@episcopalmaryland.org

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