Wisconsin Council of Churches : Advocacy

- Christian Public Witness Ministry
and Legislative Alert Center
Representing the collective voice of member denominations, the Wisconsin Council of Churches takes seriously its role in bringing Christian witness to the public square. Recently, the Council:

held a statewide Legislative Briefing at the State Capitol advocating for an increase in state support for the School Breakfast Program. Wisconsin ranks last among the 50 states in the percentage of low income children who participate in this critical anti-hunger program;
successfully advocated for legislation to provide Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP) for non-violent drug offenders, in participation with WISDOM, the church-based community movement in southeast Wisconsin;
opposed legislative efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Wisconsin;
opposed legislative proposals to enshrine arbitrary spending caps in the state constitution that would harm our schools and communities, and our most vulnerable neighbors.

The Council is working to establish a statewide, ecumenical grassroots advocacy network focused on issues of social and economic justice. Justice in the biblical sense is achieved when all persons have what they need to survive, develop and thrive, and to give back to the community, along with the right of each person to share in the goods of creation. Christians at their best look to their common values and similarities in religious experience that provide foundations for mutual understanding, respect and collaboration, bringing diverse people together to solve social challenges and crises.

For a listing of WCC Board of Directors position statements and Council news releases check the "Resources" pages or click here.

2008 Voter Education Guide

See how your congregation can help its members learn about the candidates and issues, encourage voter registration, raise the level of public dialogue, and exercise faithful citizenship in an election year. Click to download a copy of the Guide in Word format or PDF format.