CHURCH OUTREACH

THE CHURCH CALLS FOR PEACE

"Let us follow after the things that make for peace." (Romans 14:19)

"Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:19)

"God is not the author of confusion, but of Peace." (1Cor.14:33)

MN ASAP VIDEO CLIPS http://mnasap.org/video-clips.html

GROUP PARTICIPATION

What are the signs of growing militarization?

GROUP PARTICIPATIONWhat are the signs of economic / social crises? Please be specific.

MISSION STATEMENTMNasap is a non-partisan citizen-based initiative using a simple resolution process to build political support to shift federal spending priorities from war to meeting essential needs.

Like…..

INFRASTRUCTURE

EDUCATION…

FIGHTING FIRES…

WHO DO WE APPROACH WITH THE RESOLUTION?

City CouncilsSchool BoardsChurchesNon-profitsMayorsCommunity leaders Everyday People

MN ASAP PROGRESS

Resolution Co-Sponsors Total Co-Sponsors: 39MN House: 37MN Senate: 2Minneapolis: 9Twin Cities & Surrounding Suburbs: 26

RESOLUTION CO-SPONSORS

Hilty ; Hausman ; Hornstein ; Brynaert ; Gauthier ; Anzelc ; Falk ; Greiling ; Kahn ; Mullery ; Scalze ; Winkler ; Hansen ; Persell ; Knuth ; Wagenius ; Benson, J. ; Thissen ; Johnson ; Lillie ; Atkins ; Slocum ; Huntley ; Mahoney ; Laine ; Davnie ; Murphy, E. ; Clark ; Moran ; Paymar ; Hortman ; Hayden ; Murphy, M. ; Rukavina ; Champion Hornstein ; Greene ; Carlson

RESOLUTION ENDORSERS

Veterans for Peace, Chapter 80: (Duluth,MN & Iron Range)

Holy Trinity Peace and Justice Committee (Minneapolis, MN)

Peace United Church of Christ Coordinating Council & Just Peace Committee: (Duluth, MN)

Northland Anti-War Coalition: (Duluth, MN) Loaves and Fishes: (Duluth, MN) Community Action Duluth: (Duluth, MN)

RESOLUTION ENDORSERS

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth: (Duluth, MN)

Duluth DFL Convention: (Duluth, MN) Duluth / Superior Religious Society of Friends: (Duluth,

MN College of St. Scholastica Center for Just Living:

(Duluth, MN) College of St Scholastica Campus Ministry: (Duluth,

MN) College of St Scholastica Earth Action: (Duluth, MN) Twin Ports SOA Watch: (Duluth, MN) UMD Students for Peace: (Duluth, MN) Grandmothers for Peace - Northland Chapter: (Duluth,

MN)

COMMUNITY LEADER ENDORSEMENTS

Rep. Bill Hilty, MN House District 08A Sharla Gardner, Duluth City Council President Steve O’ Neil, County Commissioner, Second

District MN Joel Sipress, Duluth DFL Executive Board

MN ASAP RESOLUTION Minnesota Arms Spending Alternatives

Project (MN ASAP) Resolution

Whereas Minnesota recently faced a $5 billion two-year budget shortfall that led to a state shut-down causing great harm to many Minnesotans; and,

Whereas many cities and communities in Minnesota are laying off police, firefighters, teachers and other essential

employees; and,

MN ASAP RESOLUTION

Whereas Minnesota taxpayer spending for war far exceeds the state’s budget deficit with Minnesotans set to spend $8.4 billion over the next two years for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan bringing Minnesota taxpayer spending for these wars to approximately $35 billion; and,

MN ASAP RESOLUTIONWhereas in addition to paying for

these costly wars Minnesota taxpayers, even during these times of economic crisis and fiscal austerity, are poised to pay approximately $26 billion over the next two years for their share of the base Defense Budget of the Federal government, a budget that has doubled since the collapse of the Soviet Union; and,

MN ASAP RESOLUTIONWhereas 59 cents of every dollar of

federal discretionary spending is devoted to military purposes; and,

Whereas our nation desperately needs to better balance its approach to security to go beyond military expenditures

and to include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our communities, state, and nation;

MN ASAP RESOLUTION

Therefore be it resolved that we, *______________________________ call on Senators Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen, McCollum, Ellison, Bachmann, Peterson and Cravaack as well as President Barack Obama, to shift federal funding priorities from war and the interests of the few, to meeting the essential needs of us all.

MN ASAP RESOLUTION *e.g. the Legislature of the State of Minnesota

or Duluth City Council or Minneapolis Library Board or Trinity

Church, etc…

Approved __________________________________ signature

***Possible additions to the Whereas clauses (others more specific to one’s location and organization may be added as well):

_________________________date

59 % OR 59 CENTS OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR OF THE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET GOES TOWARD “DEFENSE SPENDING”.

CHURCHES & POLITICAL ISSUES

Q: Does it violate Minnesota non-profit (501c3) laws to make political statements about military spending?

A: No. According to the IRS, the “prohibition on political campaign intervention” refers to a non-profit advocating politically on behalf of one politician over another. 501c3 non-profits are authorized to advocate on behalf of an issue, whether it’s political or not. The MN ASAP is non-partisan.

WHO IS BEHIND MN ASAP?

The Community of St. Martin was established in the fall of 1984 and describes its vision in the following way: We strive to be an ecumenical Christian community. Rooted in Scripture, sharing worship and ministry, we affirm active nonviolence, love of justice and peace, and the integrity of God’s creation.

WHO IS BEHIND MN ASAP? (CONTINUED)

….Acknowledging our complicity in the materials and oppression of the dominant culture, we seek to practice loving hospitality and care-filled stewardship of God’s gifts of ourselves, land, time and possessions. Through an ongoing process of action and reflection we seek to shape our lives according to our faith and the urgings of the Spirit. We commit ourselves to one another and to the way of Jesus Christ. Our community is open to all who share these values.

PLEASE DEBATE AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION

Following the presentation, the MN ASAP volunteer will offer to leave the room while the board / committee / congregation debate and then vote on the resolution.

The End