News and Views

The Baltimore-Washington Conference held the first of three advocacy days on Feb. 25 in Annapolis, the state capitol of Maryland. 

Key bills were advanced that align our faith with our experiences as United Methodists living across the many diverse counties in Maryland. As constituents we encouraged our representatives to thoughtfully support these bills and to promote compassion, justice, and equity for the common good of all across the state. 

The Better Buildings Act (SB0804/HB0973) 

"We affirm that all creation belongs to God and is a manifestation of God’s goodness and providential care. Human beings, nonhuman animals, plants, and other sentient and non-sentient beings participate in the community of creation, and their flourishing depends on the care of all God’s creation. Rather than treating creation as if it were placed here solely for humanity’s use and consumption, we are called to practice responsible stewardship and to live in right relationship with the Creator and with the whole of God’s creation (Gen. 1:26–31; Matt. 6:26–30; Rom. 8:22–24)."
-- United Methodist Church Social Principles - Community of All Creation: Preamble

United Methodists affirm a mutually beneficial relationship between God’s beloved children - humanity - and God’s good gift of Creation. We were made to keep and cultivate the Earth in ways that help it flourish, and - reciprocally - when we make sustainable choices, our public health and livable environment benefit our society. The Better Buildings Act offers a tangible way for Maryland to support a healthier environment and healthier residents in the future by discouraging the use of fossil fuels in new homes’ appliances and by helping our state transition away from appliances that harm our world and our communities. In turn, Marylanders would have healthier homes, a better atmosphere, and a more environmentally sustainable future.

The Housing for Jobs Act (SB0403/HB0503)

As members of God’s oikos and as followers of Jesus, who taught that we must “give to those who ask and not turn away from those who want to borrow,” we embrace our charge to share the abundance of God’s creation in just and equitable ways (Matt. 5:42). We, therefore, urge governments, businesses and civic associations to ensure that individuals, families and communities not only survive, but also thrive.
- The United Methodist Social Principles - The Economic Community: Economic Justice

The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, invested in serving the victims of economic insecurity. Access to affordable and safe housing is about more than increasing prosperity through wealth and property; housing benefits the whole of a person’s life. Children whose parents have stable housing do better in school. Families who are housing secure have measurably better health and overall quality of life.

We know that there is an affordable housing crisis -- in Maryland and across the US. We hear the stories in our churches and from our families and see it crisis among our neighbors. Many United Methodist churches have developed affordable housing projects on their property to address this issue - but the problem persists. A crisis of this proportion requires our state to take calculated and committed steps to addressing the shortage. The Housing for Jobs Act will help develop more affordable housing in precisely the neighborhoods where there is great need, helping to get families of all sizes into life-changing affordable housing.

Family Law Enforcement Protection Act (SB0943/HB1050)

“We support the enactment of policies aimed at safeguarding children, youth and adults from bullying and violence . . . We call on church and society to support and advocate for the well-being of all children and young people and for their safety . . . We condemn destructive practices of neglect and abuse . . . We affirm the dignity and worth of all women and girls and urge the church, governments and civic bodies to ensure their rights to life free from harassment, discrimination, violence . . . and other forms of gender-based violence in all times and places.” - The United Methodist Social Principles - Basic Rights and Freedoms: Children and Young People & Women and Girls

Jesus charged his followers to care for and protect children and families (Matthew 18:4-7). Jesus also decried the existence of violence in all forms (Matthew 5:21-22,38-39.) The Baltimore-Washington Conference has long supported efforts to address intimate partner violence and we affirm that each person impacted by domestic life; parents, partners and children - should be assured of safety. The Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act will save lives, protect families in the midst of the tragedy of domestic violence, and prevent deadly crime in the State of Maryland. This bill provides authority and direction for law enforcement to seize firearms from perpetrators of domestic violence before those guns can be used to escalate conflict in fatal ways. 

The Maryland Values Act (HB1222), The Maryland Data Privacy Act (SB977/HB1431), and The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (SB0977)

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:17-19 (NRSVU)

We oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants or refugees. Additionally, we decry attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. - The United Methodist Social Principles - Basic Rights and Freedoms: Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees

Our congregations bring people together from nationalities and immigration statuses. Recent changes in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) directives directly impact people we care about and risk dehumanizing persons in our communities who live at risk because of their immigration status. These policies encourage profiling and discrimination for immigrant communities, while ignoring the real political and economic turmoil they seek safety from. This runs counter to our biblical directive to welcome and care for immigrants.

We support these three bills that Maryland live better into values of hospitality and judicial integrity. The Maryland Data Privacy Act helps protect Immigrants from warrantless data searches - which in turn protects other Maryland residents’ data. The Maryland Values Act blocks the harmful program that deputizes local law enforcement into ICE agents, which both creates a state of constant fear and anxiety in immigrant communities - no matter their immigration status - while eroding community trust between law enforcement who are supposed to be protecting these communities.

Finally, The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act is of vital importance for our community. Spaces - such as our churches - that promote health, safety and community should not be weaponized against our immigrant siblings. If someone is sick, they should feel safe seeking treatment at a hospital. If they are seeking to learn, they should be able to attend their public school. If someone wants to worship God, they should feel safe in their church. This bill protects these locations from ICE raids - a premise dating back to 1993 - helping ensure that everyone can receive basic rights without fear of harassment or profiling.

We encourage all United Methodists to speak with their state representatives and senators and affirm these bills as part of our public witness for the common good.