Bishops meet with U.S. lawmakers on AIDS, other issues
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Photo by Clayton Childress, GBCS United Methodist bishops pose in front of the U.S. Capitol after meeting with lawmakers.
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United Methodist bishops pose in front of the U.S. Capitol after meeting with lawmakers. More
than a dozen bishops-most of them African-attended a May 4 legislative
briefing at the United Methodist Building. Then church leaders met with
U.S. lawmakers and other government officials on such concerns as AIDS
and support for struggling African countries. A UMNS photo by Clayton
Childress, GBCS. Photo #05-350. Accompanies UMNS story #283. 5/6/05
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May 6, 2005 By Tim Tanton* WASHINGTON
(UMNS)—United Methodist bishops met with U.S. lawmakers and other
government officials on such concerns as AIDS and support for struggling
African countries during a visit to Capitol Hill. The
United Methodist Board of Church and Society hosted more than a dozen
bishops—most of them African—during a May 4 legislative briefing at the
United Methodist Building, across the street from the Capitol. After
briefings from board staff on legislative priorities such as AIDS
orphans, immigration issues and the federal budget, the bishops went to
Congress. At
the same time, Bishop John Innis of Liberia met with State Department
officials to discuss his country’s need for help with reconstruction
following years of civil war. He stressed the importance of investing in
such services as electricity, water and education. For
both Innis and Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo of the Democratic Republic of
Congo, upcoming elections in their countries are a concern. The bishops
expressed the need for U.S. help in ensuring fair, orderly elections. In the Congo, June elections represent a “very scary, sensitive moment,” Ntambo said. In
Liberia, 48 people are running for president next fall, Innis said. He
asked U.S. State Department officials if they could work with the
Liberian government in trying to narrow the field. He is concerned that
unsuccessful candidates might destabilize the country. Innis also said
he was going to ask the Council of Bishops to pray for elections that
are free, fair and calm.
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A UMNS photo by Clayton Childress, GBCS U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (far right), a Democrat and United Methodist pastor from Kansas City, meets with African bishops.
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U.S.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (far right), a Democrat and United Methodist
pastor from Kansas City, meets with African bishops. More than a dozen
of the church leaders, most of them African, met with U.S. lawmakers and
other government officials on such concerns as AIDS and support for
struggling African countries. A UMNS photo by Clayton Childress, GBCS.
Photo #05-351. Accompanies UMNS story #283. 5/6/05 |
Other issues of
concern for the African bishops included the debt burden on developing
countries, visa problems and AIDS. Ntambo said education and medical
assistance—not just money—are needed to fight AIDS. “We
have thousands of congregations across the continent of Africa, and we
have the infrastructure already to put into place ministries and
programs,” said Jim Winkler, chief executive of the board. “What we need
assistance on is financial help.” The
bishops and boards and agencies could develop a proposal to take to
potential partners such as the Rockefeller and Gates foundations,
Winkler said. “We need financing in the tens of millions if not hundreds
of millions of dollars, and those foundations have billions of
dollars.” Bishop
Roy Sano, executive secretary to the Council of Bishops, suggested
working with the denomination’s new Connectional Table on a proposal to
the private sector. Some
of the African bishops expressed interest in additional meetings with
U.S. lawmakers. Winkler proposed inviting members of Congress to travel
with U.S. bishops to Africa, where they can see the work the churches
are doing. The
African bishops as a group visited with U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a
Democrat and United Methodist pastor from Kansas City, and House
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. Bishop
Al Gwinn of the Raleigh (N.C.) Area met with U.S. Reps. David Price and
Brad Miller, both Democrats from his state. He shared his concerns
about the federal budget and advocated two bills in the House of
Representatives. One
of the bills would provide greater support for children in developing
countries, especially in African countries, where many children are
homeless and orphaned as a result of AIDS. “They are being indentured
into sexual slavery, into horrible working environments,” Gwinn said. The
second bill focuses on health care for legal immigrants, particularly
children and pregnant women, who currently are barred from receiving
Medicare or other federal assistance unless they’ve been in the United
States at least five years.
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A UMNS photo by Clayton Childress, GBCS Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi visits with some of the bishops who toured the Capitol Building.
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House
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California visits with some of the
United Methodist bishops who toured the Capitol Building. More than a
dozen of the church leaders met with U.S. lawmakers and other government
officials on such concerns as AIDS and support for struggling African
countries. A UMNS photo by Clayton Childress, GBCS. Photo #05-352.
Accompanies UMNS story #283. 5/6/05 |
United Methodist
leaders have characterized the federal budget as a moral document that
reflects the nation’s priorities. Gwinn said he sees an ethical problem
with cutting billions from Medicaid, food stamps, housing and other
forms of assistance, then turning around and providing $106 billion in
tax cuts. During the debriefing, Winkler was asked about the separation of church and state. “We
believe that religion should not control or dominate the state, but we
have the responsibility and the right to speak to the state,” he said. He
also commented on the increasing presence of religious voices in the
public arena. “We’re actually at a moment in American history where
political figures are very, very interested in hearing from religious
people,” he said. The
positive side, according to Winkler, is that it gives the church an
opportunity to be heard. A negative is that some religious figures see
the opportunity as a chance “to exercise undue influence on the state.” *Tanton is managing editor for United Methodist News Service. News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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