InterFaith Advocacy Day: 'Reclaiming our house, our capitol'

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator

OLYMPIA — Two hundred and seventy-five people from many walks of faith converged on the Capitol Campus on March 17 demanding justice for the poor.
This year's InterFaith Advocacy Day came at the half-way point of a grueling 105-day session in which lawmakers will make vast cuts to the upcoming biennial budget as the state faces a $500 billion-plus shortfall.
Welcomed by the Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State and others, participants learned that even the most basic safety-net programs are threatened this time around. Those include Washington Basic Health, which provides health-insurance to the working poor, and a portion of Disability Lifeline, which provides small monthly payments to those who cannot work.
The Rev. Paul Benz, executive director of the Lutheran Public Policy Office, has been tirelessly working to minimize impact to the poor.
"We as people of faith do not support an all-cuts budget," he said.
Participants later took Benz's message to their lawmakers. A third of them had never lobbied before. Contact Benz at lppooffice@lcsnw.org or (206) 464-4133 to see how your congregation can help in the crucial weeks to follow.

The following voices were overheard at the event:

"We want to reclaim that this is our house, and this is our capitol."
— The Rev. Paul Benz, executive director, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State

"It is not your obligation to complete the task, but neither can you desist from it."
— an ancient Jewish teaching recalled by Rabbi Seth Goldstein, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia, on advocating for the poor

"The budget is a moral document."
— Alice Woldt, executive director, Washington Association of Churches

"We consider our lobby work a spiritual exercise."
— Tom Ewell, lobbyist with Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy

"None of you has faith unless you want for your brother what you want for you."
— Shaykh Hamzah Maqbul Chaudhry, Thawr Institute, Seattle

"In some traditions, the spirit is called the advocate."
— Michael Ramos, executive director, Church Council of Greater Seattle

"In our brutish, nasty short existence, there are instances when we have compassion."
— the Rev. Guo Cheen, TCN Buddhist Center of Seattle