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Advocacy Day
March 22 @ 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Annual Advocacy Day Lansing
There will be opportunities to meet at the capitol with legislators and talk about gun violence prevention matters along with other justice advocacy items voted on at annual conference.
Rev. Alice Fleming Townley, Mission and Justice Coordinator for the Michigan Conference, encourages Michigan United Methodists to “let elected officials know, as applicable, that reducing gun violence matters, and that you will be in Lansing on March 22, 2023, and hope to meet with them as part of Advocacy Day with the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.”
Registration costs $20, which will help cover related expenses. Scholarships are available. There will be three pre-event training events (all on Zoom).
Contact Alice Townley or Michelle King with any questions.
Advocacy Day Schedule
Wednesday, March 22, 8 am-3 pm
Central UMC in Lansing – 215 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933
- 8:00am: Registration and refreshments
- 8:30am: Welcome
- 8:45-11am: Meetings with groups and elected officials
- 11:15am: Press Conference
- 12:15pm: Lunch
- 1:00pm: Worship
- 2:00pm: Tour of the Capitol available
- 3:00pm: Home
Acts of Public Witness
- Corey Simon, Disruptive Disciple Blacksmithing
- Press Conference on south steps of State Capitol, 11:30am (In case of inclement weather: Central UMC)
Press Conference Speakers
- David Bard, Bishop of the Michigan Conference
- The Honorable Julie Rogers, State of Michigan House of Representatives, District 41
- Heather McDougall-Walsh
- Other speakers TBA
4 Legislative Asks
- Safe Storage – would require guns in homes with children to be locked away safely
- Universal Background Checks – for all firearm purchases
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders – allow judge to temporarily remove firearms from individuals that may be at risk for harming themselves or others
- Restrictions on ability of domestic abusers to own firearms
Pre-Event Training, Live on Zoom
- Training #1: Spiritual Grounding and Relational Building
Tuesday, March 7 at 4 pm - Training #2: How to Speak and be Heard by Elected Officials
Monday, March 13 at 7 pm - Training #3: Preparing for Your Advocacy Day Meeting
Tuesday, March 21 at 4 pm
Post-Event Debrief
- Debrief: Key Learnings and Takeaways
Tuesday, March 28 at 4 pm
To learn more about the Church & Society Committee of First UMC, visit our webpage.
