Episcopal Migration Ministries is offering a three-day training program on refugee resettlement in Denver from October 11-13, 2017.
 
There is information about the training and registration for it here:https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/lglndenver
 
I participated in the pilot training in Hartford earlier this summer, and I can recommend it very highly. There will be other regional offerings in the coming year, too.
 
Faithfully,

Richard J. Mammana | Communications and Social Media | Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations | The Episcopal Church

We must resist this dehumanizing and heartless deportation attempt. #StandwithAudemio #Not1more

Contact the supervisory deportation office in Montana to ask that they stop this unjust deportation!
Laurence Carroll, (406) 495-2170
Laurence.J.Carroll@ice.dhs.gov

And sign the petition below: http://bordercrossinglaw.com/audemio/

From the Montana Human Rights Network

Anti-Muslim Legislative Action Alert

Next week, the State House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on SB 97.  SB 97 is a thinly veiled attempt to target people of the Muslim faith. It is part of the growing anti-Muslim movement in the country. Montana hate groups are perpetuating fear of refugees and immigrants effort to build bolster the radical right and support for Trump.

The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, falsely claims the bill is an effort to protect the rights of women and children in an effort to divide supporters. If  legislators truly want to protect women and children there are many other pieces of legislation that do so, like fully funding public education or supporting "Equal Pay for Equal Work" and "Paid Family Leave."

This bill is about spreading hate, fear and bigotry and promotes religious discrimination. In additional, the bill is legally unnecessary and confusing for international business contracts. Human rights, women's rights and religious freedom supporters need to speak up against hate.

We need IMMEDIATE messages and phone calls to members of the committee,and ask you to contact your Representative. Click the link below, and let your representative know that Montana has no room for hate. 

Send Message HERE!

Happy second day in February. This month, we celebrate Black History and the long arc of the moral universe that, we pray, bends toward justice. 

I keep returning to the new hymn by Mark A. Miller from his collection Roll on Justice!, a setting of Eric Garner's last words, "I can't breathe." Miller then asks, "how long? How much longer must we wait?" May we continue to work in that impatient urgency for real, enduring justice.  

In that spirit, we have a wide variety of opportunities for advocacy and legislative action. I also welcome YOUR input for other issues, actions, or campaigns you'd like to see us take on: 

Mark Your Calendars: Interfaith Day of Advocacy on March 24th
We invite you to participate in a reception, interfaith prayer service, and day of advocacy on Friday, March 24th, in Helena with other progressive clergy! Details forthcoming, but please save the date!

You're Invited: Montana Human Rights Network Advocacy Day on Feb 20th
MHRN will host an LGBTQ Lobby Day on Monday, February 20th, including a teach-in and workshops. It's a great way to show clergy solidarity with Montana's LGBTQ community—come if you're able! 

Raise Your Voice: Upcoming Issues
Jules sent this a few days ago, but here is a reminder that a few critical pieces of legislation are coming up in our state. Consider testifying, writing a letter, or calling your Senator or Representative. Please let Jules (jules@mhrn.org) know if you'd like to raise your voice on any of these, and she'll be in touch. 

1) Paid Leave: Currently, there are no protections for employees in the instance of extended illness, caregiving for parents, childbirth, or bereavement. The United States remains the only industrialized economy in the world that does not guarantee paid leave for new mothers or a paid sick leave standard, and one of a handful that does not guarantee leave for new fathers. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides job security but does not allow employees to receive any portion of their pay.  This bill would create a pool similar to Unemployment Insurance, that asks for shared contribution from employer and employee.  For someone making $40,000/yr, shared contribution would be $7.65.  The definition of family is kept intentionally broad to make sure LGBTQ families are included. 
Hearing Date: Tentatively Thursday, Feb 9th in the morning
Bill #: LC350
Bill language: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2017/lchtml/LC0350.htm
More Info: http://www.montanabudget.org/helping-people-balance-work-and-family/

2) Montana Human Rights Act: Would add "sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression" to the Montana Human Rights Act to protect from discrimination.
Hearing Date: potentially third week of February
Bill #: LC1152
Bill language: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2017/lchtml/LC1152.htm
More Info: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Montana-ND-March-2015.pdf

Thanks, all. I will send out regular legislative updates as they surface! The leadership team has a few updates soon, as well, so please look for another e-mail to come!

“Civil Discourse: A Workshop Demonstrating Respectful Conversation About a Controversial Issue”
 
Have you ever been involved in a conversation or dialogue that suddenly became uncomfortable or antagonistic? Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I wish I had said …” sometime much later?  Do you discover it difficult to advocate for a point of view and still be tolerant of other opinions? These are issues of “civil discourse”. Our patience, listening skills, and respect for others is tested everyday. In church we are reminded of the Golden Rule, where it is compelling and effective to treat others (even the ones with whom we don’t agree) as we would like to be treated.
 
Plymouth Congregational Church – UCC in Helena recently received funding from Humanities Montana to hold two identical workshops this fall, focusing on civil discourse, specifically in reference to the refugee crisis in Montana. The first workshop will take place at University UCC on Saturday October 22 from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM.  The second will be in Helena at Plymouth - UCC on November 5.
 
Led by Bruce Whittenberg, Director of the Montana Historical Society, assisted by Senator Diane Sands of Missoula and by Jamie Doggett of White Sulphur Springs, former Meagher County Commissioner, each workshop invites only 20 participants. As hosts it is the responsibility and privilege of the congregations involved to provide gracious and welcoming space and a warm meal at mid-day. What better place to provide warmth and hospitality than in the Christian embrace of our fellowship.
 
The UCC Conference Minister, Rev. Marc Stewart, is assisting with financial and administrative support as we seek to introduce a very practical approach to the Golden Rule. It is hoped that the UCC’s role in modeling civility will earn requests from other faith-based institutions throughout the state to host similar workshops in the months and years ahead.
 
If you have questions you may contact Jennifer Jeffries Thompson, Project Director, in Helena at jjthompson@bresnan.net.

Keith Swartzendruber of the National Council of Churches has shared this call for participants from the Institute for Peace and Dialogue in Baar, Switzerland:

http://www.ipdinstitute.ch/Winter-Academy-3-Month-CAS-Research-Program-2017/

Faithfully,
Richard


Richard J. Mammana
Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers | Secretary
New Haven, Connecticut USA

The members of MAC - individuals, churches, denominations - are deeply grieved by the shooting in Orlando. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the wounded and to the family and friends of the 49 people killed. We invite you to join us in praying the following prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi and offering a time of contemplative silence honoring those who died, inviting healing for those wounded, and welcoming peace for our hurting world.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is discord, union;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

The attack in Orlando targeted one group, and so our prayers go up for gays, lesbians, and other sexual minorities who now live with a heightened sense of fear. We are glad to hear of so many Christians, from many theological persuasions, reaching out to comfort them in their grief.