Ongoing Work
As part of our commitment to support the most vulnerable among us, The Office of Government Relations advocates for rights for those living with disabilities, and for restoring, sustaining, and empowering communities affected by the U.S. criminal justice system. We also support our non-U.S. dioceses and Anglican Communion partners through advocating to the U.S. federal government for policies designed to promote peace and justice everywhere.
Please explore the links below about the work of The Episcopal Church and our partners in upholding the cause of the poor and protecting God’s creation. Please send us resources on these issues that you have found helpful, and share your stories of policy advocacy by writing us at Office of Government Relations!
Featured Actions
Corporate Social Responsibility
One key aspect of the work of the Office of Government Relations is to partner with the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Finance Office in corporate social engagement and socially responsible investment. By aligning all of our advocacy efforts, from engaging the government to the private sector, we will be able to have more of an impact in transforming society to be more just, equitable, and closer to God’s vision.
Watch the video in English or Spanish here
For more information about The Episcopal Church’s Socially Responsible Investment practices, including No Buy lists and proxy voting guidelines, please visit the Finance Office page.
To learn more about socially responsible investing, visit the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, of which The Episcopal Church is a founding member.
To learn more about the history of socially responsible investing and The Episcopal Church’s role, visit the ICCR 50th Anniversary page.
On COVID-19
COVID-19 Resource page – Find Episcopal Church statements and action alerts related to legislation and public policy concerning the COVID-19 outbreak and the U.S. government response both domestically and internationally. You will also find resources from the CDC and others providing health guidance and further information to assist you during this ongoing situation.
Episcopal Church Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution – This toolkit is designed as a compilation of ideas and educational resources to help your local Episcopal Church work with the government to help end this pandemic. Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as important trusted bridges between public health officials and congregations.
People ages 12 years and older may only get the updated (bivalent) mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) booster. For more information, please check out the CDC website.
Criminal Justice Reform
We maintain relationships in coalitions dedicated to broad criminal justice reform with the aim of achieving positive long-term advancements in our criminal justice system. As with all of our work, we are engaged in federal-level advocacy and seek to end mass incarceration.
EPPN Criminal Justice Series
Published Jan – Feb 2020
- Introduction: 13th Amendment
- School-to-Prison Pipeline
- Public Defenders
- Sentencing
- During Incarceration
- Re-entry
Police Reform
The Episcopal Church continues to commit to addressing police violence and discrimination by advocating for alternatives to deadly force, taking action to eliminate racism, and supporting the civil rights of those who have disabilities in interactions with law enforcement.
Partner Resources
Episcopal Church Statement on White House Pardons (10/7/2022)
Sign-on letters
Deradicalization and Extremism
Series on Deradicalization
Published June 2022
Voting Rights
The 2020 U.S. elections had the highest voter turnout in over one hundred years, and Episcopalians across the U.S. engaged extensively with our #VoteFaithfully campaign. The federal government and most states judged this election one of the most secure in electoral history. However, a significant number of legislative initiatives were launched immediately following the election to make voting ‘more secure’ through restrictions ranging from limiting vote-by-mail to Sunday voting.
The efforts to restrict voting rights are advancing quickly across the U.S. and we must act now to protect and guarantee voting rights.
Prepare for the next round of elections using our election engagement resources.
Learn more about voting rights for a faithful democracy by watching our webinar with The CEEP Network.
Partner with Faithful Democracy to engage even more in this advocacy.
Sign-on letter
Preventing Gun Violence
The Episcopal Church is a proponent of gun safety and gun reform. We advocate for a wide variety of reasonable measures the U.S. can take to reduce gun violence such as gun registration and permit requirements, background check improvements, and funding for research to prevent gun violence.
Episcopal Church Resources
Disability Rights
The Episcopal Church is committed to working for accessibility and civil rights for persons with disabilities. We support the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, transportation, and public and private spaces. An essential part of this advocacy is advocating for proper treatment and accommodations for people with disabilities throughout the criminal justice system.
Episcopal Church Resource
Sign-on Letter
Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition Letter Requesting Boost of Medicaid Assistance for People with Disabilities (July 24, 2020)
Non-U.S. Dioceses of The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church and the Office of Government Relations support the mission and ministries of the dioceses outside of the U.S. by advocating for federal policies designed to promote peace and justice everywhere.
Cuba
In 2018, The Episcopal Church voted to readmit the Diocese of Cuba after decades of separation. The Episcopal Church, through official policy, has long called and advocated for both a restoration of diplomatic relations and an end to the United States embargo against Cuba, particularly provisions that hamper the mission of the Church in Cuba like travel and remittances.
Statement on New U.S. Cuba Policy (updated Sept. 2019)
Province IX
The Episcopal Church seeks to engage with our neighbors in Province 9 in our shared mission to protect human rights, address climate change, and respond to disasters through stronger policies. This includes advocacy around foreign assistance to Honduras, speaking out for the resolution of the crisis in Venezuela, and encouraging engagement with other churches in the region
Haiti
We are committed to supporting reconstruction and sustainable development in Haiti. The Episcopal Church works to address these issues through advocating for improved U.S. foreign policy towards Haiti regarding anti-corruption efforts and election engagement, as well as urging support for food security, climate change mitigation, viable housing solutions, poverty reduction, and gender-sensitive development.
We currently chair the Haiti Advocacy Working Group, a working group of organizations committed to accountable, just, and sustainable development in Haiti, with a particular goal of uplifting Haitian civil society groups.
Anglican Communion Engagement
The Episcopal Church is the U.S.-based province of the Anglican Communion, the third largest Christian community globally. At the head of the Anglican Communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry is the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. We invite global Anglican leaders to visit us and connect with members of Congress and other leaders in D.C. The Episcopal Church also engages with the Anglican Communion through The Lambeth Conference, The Primates Meetings, and The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).
Contact:
The Office of Government Relations
eppn@episcopalchurch.org