Dear Friends -

I am following up with you about the work against the MO Civil Rights Initiative. In November, the overwhelming majority of clergy & congregational delegates at the 168th convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri voted to work against this deceptive ballot initiative. There IS a lot of work to be done to make sure that the so-called Missouri Civil Rights Initiative DOES NOT get on the November 2008 ballot! This work must be done before May 2008. WE CAN DO IT because NOTHING is impossible with God!

There are three main ways that individuals and congregations may get involved:

1. Education – Given the deceptive name of the ballot initiative, it is KEY that you educate parishioners, friends, family, and colleagues about this deceptive ballot initiative and encourage them NOT to sign any petition to get the MCRI on the ballot. There are trainings for volunteers who want to work on the Decline to Sign campaign offered every Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m. at Epiphany UCC Church at 2911 McNair, 63118 (south city) and every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Teamsters Local Hall 688, 4349 Woodson Road, 63134 (north county). 200 volunteers are needed to help educate voters about the MCRI ballot initiative on Tuesday, February 5, outside of polling places in Districts 1,2,& 3. (Note: This is perfectly legal according to nonprofit law, since this is an issue that we are combating on faith-based principles and is not related to supporting or combating particular candidates.)

Volunteers need to attend a Decline to Sign training first. There will be additional trainings on Monday, Feb. 4. Please contact organizer Aaron Burnett at aaron@stl-jwj.org or 644-0466 for more information about becoming a Decline to Sign volunteer on Feb. 5 and beyond. Another way to sign up to volunteer is available at the following link:

http://www.stl-jwj.org/help-protect-affirmative-action/

2. Leadership – Following up on the commitments that the clergy and delegates of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri made collectively by passing Resolution J-168 and that we make in our Baptismal Covenant, the Diocese of Missouri and every congregation in the Diocese of Missouri can take a stand against the MCRI by signing on as an organizational sponsor of the Decline to Sign campaign. Sign onto the statewide WECAN coalition (Working to Empower Community Action Now) using the attached form. There is also an Individual Endorsement form WE CAN Individual Member Form, but I hope that all Episcopal congregations, the Diocese of Missouri, and the Diocesan Dismantling Racism Task Force will all sign on as Organizational partners with the statewide WECAN coalition. Organizational Sign On Form

3. Presence – There will be a state-wide public hearing and kick-off of the Decline to Sign campaign on Wednesday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Harris Stowe State College Auditorium, at 3026 Laclede, 63103. Parking is available at Market and Compton. If you would like more copies of the printed brochure hit Ballot Public Hearing, please contact Aaron Burnett or Katrina Molnar at STL Jobs with Justice, aaron@stl-jwj.org or katrina@stl-jwj.org or 644-0466. I hope that at least 50 people from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri will attend the Hearing on February 13 – the Feast Day of Absolom Jones, the first African American Episcopal priest. http://satucket.com/lectionary/Absalom_Jones.htm
How appropriate!

Thank you so much! In Christ’s peace, Teresa+