The Christ Church Public Policy Network is being established to research, initiate, educate and respond to public policy issues of interest to the parish, the state and nation, with special attention to initiatives of the Diocese, the Virginia Interfaith Public Policy Center and the national Episcopal Public Policy Network, as well as the public policy initiatives of ecumenical bodies. Specifically, for Christ Church current public policy issues include:

•         At-risk and disadvantaged youth issues
•         Mental Health community services for youth
•         Immigrant youth and family issues

To accomplish that mission we will pursue the following objectives:

1. We will study issues affecting the health, safety and livelihoods of at-risk young people and their families in the city of Roanoke and elsewhere where appropriate.

2. We will work with civic leaders and other congregations and groups in the city to discover how we can join them in education and advocacy around local state and national issues of mutual concern.

3. We will select and present timely public policy issues to the parish in Sunday Adult Forums and other occasions - at least twice a year and also utilize the Parish Home Companion newsletter and the parish website for interim discussion and reports.

4. From time to time we might plan Community Forum workshops, inviting other churches and civic leaders through listserves and mailings.

5. We will facilitate advocacy for specific changes in public policies, encouraging parishioners to exercise their role as citizens by writing letters, making phone calls, attending public events, signing petitions and occasionally visiting our public officials to advocate for particular actions.

6. When appropriate we will seek endorsements of crucial moral positions from the Vestry, the Bishop, Diocesan Council and General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

7. We will NOT endorse partisan political candidates or parties nor will we compel consensus in our parish, rather we will seek diverse, civil, non-violent, cooperative and spiritually informed dialogue and responses to systemic issues of our public life.

 

2007 Current Public Policy Partnerships: 

1. Roanoke Valley Mental Health America -- Advocates for more effective mental health care in the Roanoke Valley.  Website: http://www.cvc.vipnet.org/cgi-bin/cvc-view.cgi?org_id=1a061160549563a2d00.

2. Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy - Faith based advocacy for Virginia.  Website: http://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/.

3. Episcopal Public Policy Network - The Episcopal Church national public policy network.  Website: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn.htm.

4. Bread for the World - An international advocacy agency for hunger relief.  Website: http://www.bread.org/.