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WHEN YOU VOTE
October 18, 2006 – from John Ross Thompson
A duty of all Christians is to be responsible citizens. If you doubt the need
for government or authority, read Romans 13. Especially in a democracy, we need
to be informed, responsible members of our community and nation, as well as a
vital part of the church.
There are five proposals on the Michigan ballot for November 7. I cannot (by
Internal Revenue regulation) and will not tell you how to vote, but I urge you
to study each of them and vote with your heart as well as your head.
Some of the issues are matters in our United Methodist Social Principles. There
are some copies of those Social Principles on the counter at our church
information desk, if you want to know the official position of our church on
various social issues.
I lament the polarization of our nation. I am dismayed that many persons opt out
of even voting. Even if you feel something is the “lesser of two evils,” you
have a responsibility to cast that vote. I also see in several of the Michigan
proposals an alarming trend toward mandating decisions, rather than trusting
elected officials.
Proposal One would require that money collected from state park entrance fees,
hunting and fishing licenses, etc., can only be used for conservation and
recreation matters. Our church takes a strong stand on protection of the
environment, preserving our natural world for all persons to enjoy.
Proposal Two is, to many persons, the most confusing. It is called the Civil
Rights Initiative, but many feel it would take hurt racial minorities, women and
children because it will do away with affirmative action. Others feel it is
discriminatory to give preference to any class of people. Please join the United
Methodist Women and United Methodist Men of our church for dinner and a program
next Thursday, October 26, at 6 p.m. to hear more about this proposal. There
will be opportunity to ask questions and find out what effect this proposal will
have on us.
Proposal Three would permit hunting of mourning doves.
Proposal Four would prohibit government from taking private property for reasons
of economic development or increasing tax revenue.
Proposal Five would mandate school funding levels, helping our public schools
but limiting funding of other state services.
I urge you to find out more, to discuss these proposals with friends and
co-workers, and to let your faith be a guide as you vote. Christians have a
responsibility to help all those in need. Be sure that you find out before you
vote what the impact of these proposals will be on those who are marginalized in
our society.
Faith and our everyday life are not separate. They go hand-in-hand, if our faith
is living and active. I invite you to find out more, to pray before you vote,
and to share your views with others.
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