Social Justice Corner Newsletter October 10, 2024

As we approach the General Election, our focus will be on non-partisan election engagement. Senator Raphael Warnock (GA) reminded us that "A vote is a kind of prayer about the kind of world you want to live in".

• The Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church advocates for public policy issues aligned with the Church’s values, engaging with government leaders to promote justice, peace, and the well-being of all people. Follow this link for a current list of resources for your congregation and community from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others.

• The Episcopal Church has a longstanding commitment to protecting undocumented individuals brought to the United States as children, who are protected through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy.

DACA has been ruled unlawful by two separate federal courts since 2021 and will be challenged again on October 10th, 2024. While the more than 600,000 DACA recipients are still able to keep and renew their status, a future ruling could very well strip these protections.

Only Congress has the tools to provide permanent protections by passing legislation to create a pathway to legal status for DACA recipients. We ask you to join us and ask your Senators to pass The Dream Act of 2023 (S.365) to protect individuals who have called this country home for their whole lives. https://www.votervoice.net/EPISCOPAL/Campaigns/104408/Respond

• Parish Election Challenge: Building Community with Election Engagement The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the United Methodist Church are together calling on our member parishes, congregations, and worship communities to take part in the 2024 Parish Election Challenge to help facilitate voter participation in this year’s U.S. national election.

• Vote Faithfully: Episcopalians Engaging the U.S. Election Watch this recording of a program with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry with other guests from across the church speaking on election engagement. Co-hosted by the Episcopal Parish Network.

• Election Engagement Resources Get your parish ready to help your community vote in the 2024 election.