Montana Association of Churches Day at the Legislature
MAC Day at the Legislature
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I encourage you to consider MAC Legislative Day for yourself and your community. It is an opportunity to learn about shared-value, partnered advocacy in the public sphere and to speak with the Montana legislature who form policy and writes laws for the people of Montana. Following are two sections: an invitation from a member of the Board for MAC (Montana Association of Christians), and details on taking a bus from St. Paul next Monday to Helena!
MAC DAY at the Legislature 
January 26th is MAC Day in the Montana State Legislature. The Montana Association of Churches (MAC) has been bringing the united perspectives and passions of tens of thousands of Montana’s Christians to our legislature for over forty years. MAC represents American Baptists; Christian Church-Disciples of Christ; Episcopalians, Lutherans (ELCA), Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, and United Methodists, and works in collaboration with Roman Catholics, The Society of Friends, and the Montana Association of Jewish Communities. This fall, our name was changed to The Montana Association of Christians to open membership to individual people, congregations, and organizations.
In faith, unity, justice and compassion, MAC members pray together as one, seek to be present in our state’s broken places and walk in the freedom and openness of the Holy Spirit. Representatives of our member denominations meet annually to discuss and strengthen common ministry, including our priorities for the legislature. This year our priorities include abolition of the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment without parole; the well-being of children; care for immigrants and returning prisoners to society.
In addition to a paid lobbyist, we encourage a network of grassroots activism and we host a gathering of folks from across the state on one day during every legislative session. Busses and cars from across Montana will converge in Helena for MAC Day on January 26th. Our day begins at 8:30 in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1000 Helena Ave., for worship and an introduction to the day. At 10 a.m. we move to the Capitol to visit with our legislators and attend committee hearings.
Lunch is offered to all legislators at noon in the Rotunda. As we share lunch and visit, we will hear statements from The Right Reverend Franklin Brookhart, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Montana, The Reverend Jessica Crist, Bishop of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The Reverend Dr. Ruth Fletcher, Regional Minister of Montana for the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, and Archdeacon Roxanne Klingensmith, the Episcopal Diocese of Montana.
Following lunch, at 1 p.m. we will attend the floor session of the House of Representatives. All interested parties are welcome to attend. For more information about MAC please go to our website at www.macmt.org or call President Peter Erickson 406-892-3784, President-Elect Valerie Webster 406-579-3980, Secretary Su DeBree 406-422-3302 or Administrator Pam Sheldon at 406-449-6010.
Working together for the sake of the love of Jesus - Rev. Su DeBree, UMC
GET ON THE BUS
Meet at St. Paul Lutheran Church (202 Brooks Street) 5:30 am
Bus departs for Safeway Parking Lot (800 West Broadway) 5:45 am
Bus depart for Helena 6:00 am
Arrive at John's Lutheran Church (1000 Helena Ave.) 8:30 am
Bus departs for the Capitol 10:00 am
Conclude day’s events and prepare to depart for Missoula 2:00 pm
Arrive in Missoula (St. Paul Lutheran – 202 Brooks Street) 5:00 pm
Free will offerings will be accepted by individuals; it is asked that participating faith communities or organizations donate what they can to the day (call or email Daniel for more information - #549-7792).
Lunch will be provided by MAC!
All checks may be payable to “Atonement Lutheran Church” with the memo “MAC Bus” – if you’d like a receipt, please let us know.
Please RSVP with the number of people and names. You’ll be greeted at the bus with coffee and a treat!