Church and Society

As concerned United Methodists, we need to make a more consistent effort to stay informed and to express those concerns to our legislative representatives.

Each year we receive a questionnaire listing multiple topics from which we are asked to select the ones that are of greatest concern to us as Christians and as Methodists. We may also add topics if we have other concerns. Very few are sent from our church.

Topics that have recently been of Christian concern to many of us are:

• Children's Health Insurance (FAMIS)
• Education Issues
• Services for Elderly
• Gun Control

On our United Methodist Day at Virginia's General Assembly, we have the opportunity to see the workings of our state government, take tours, and even meet some representatives, but we do not have an opportunity to express our opinions or to ask questions of individual representatives. This could be a more productive day if we left FUMC with more awareness of bills being debated and ways to give our opinion, if only through a brief note handed to the delegate's administrative assistant.

Our best source of information is the UMC Legislative Network on the internet. Our conference website is: www.vaumc.org This web address gives us a list of bills being considered and the representatives who sponsor them, as well as valuable information on other Methodist concerns and announcements.

Next January, we plan to use the Sunday bulletins and the Tower to keep our membership informed on legislation as it is being considered and how you can express your opinion or question a representative. Letters are given more weight than other means of contact, but we will encourage everyone to use the method most familiar or preferred by them.