Where Do We Go From Here?

Good day,

The letter below was forwarded to me Thursday, February 23rd. Please read it and post your reaction, if desired.

Thanks,

mont


Dear Friends of Freedom:

Where do we go from here? Specifically, what are the steps necessary to enact the Workplace Religious Freedom Act into law?

From Bill to Law

Some of you may remember the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon explaining how a bill becomes law. Part of the song in the cartoon goes:

'Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will...'

And that is exactly where the Workplace Religious Freedom Act is currently located - in a congressional committee. Before it can become law, the committee members must vote in favor of the bill. Then it goes to the entire House of Representatives for a vote. A similar version must be passed by the Senate. The two bills will go to a committee to reconcile any differences. The bill then goes back to be voted on in both houses, and is then sent to the President to sign into law.

So passing a law is hard work! This raises two questions: First, what are we doing to move the bill through the process, and second, is it worth the effort?

What Are We Doing?

This week we are already beginning intensive follow-up meetings with all 49 of the committee members. Please keep us in your prayers as we work to move this forward. We are also working constructively in an attempt to work out some of the differences over language in the bill. This is the nitty gritty hard work that is necessary to get tangible results. And you can be a very real part of this effort.

Come to Capitol Hill!

First, every letter counts. If you haven't sent your letters yet, please go to www.religiousliberty.info<http://capwiz.com/narla/utr/1/NFBVICZPOA/IYMCICZQAR/1757760406> and make your voice heard. But second, this June 12th - 14th we are inviting you to come to Capitol Hill to make your voice heard in person. We will have experienced leaders with us to take you to meet with your Members of Congress and their staff to stand up for our brothers and sisters in the faith. You will participate in the great democratic process and enjoy outstanding speakers and events. Families are welcome, college students are welcome, pastors and church groups are welcome. For all the details, visit:

http://www.religiousliberty.info/article.php?id=11<http://capwiz.com/narla/utr/1/NFBVICZPOA/HEXGICZQAS/1757760406>

It is very important to register as soon as possible if you plan to come, as we are already working hard setting up meetings on the Hill in preparation for your arrival!

Is It Worth the Effort?

So is all of this worth it? This Sabbath, take a look around your church and ask yourself if your fellow church members deserve to be able to work while remaining faithful to God? If your church is like the vast majority of Adventist churches, there are a number of members who have been mistreated at work because of their fidelity to God. And this problem is only getting worse. Is it worth the effort to painstakingly work to ensure that faithful men and women are no longer arbitrarily fired in retaliation for keeping the Sabbath? Is it worth standing up for new converts who are threatened at work? Is it worth ensuring our children don't grow up to mistreated in the workplace?

Yes. Yes it is!

Conclusion

We remain just so thankful to everyone who wrote in advance of the hearing last week and for every raised prayer. After the hearing, one of the congressional offices wrote this to us:

'Let's try to keep up the momentum... I think this is within reach!'

I know why he thinks this. It is because of your prayers and your letters. Let's keep it up. If it takes a short time or a long time to pass this bill, it is well worth the sacrifice because the stakes are very high.

May God bless you,

James Standish


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