A Message to Wisconsin’s Religious Community From the Wisconsin Council of Churches Board of Directors

A few weeks ago the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Council of Churches heard a state budget update from our staff.  One Board member said:   “It’s hard to know what is true about the proposed budget and its impact on the people of our state.  The two sides are so polarized, and the rhetoric is sometimes so heated that I don’t know what to think.  Is it really as bad as they say?”   Probably, many other pastors and members of our congregations have the same view.  We are uneasy about the proposed budget.  We really don’t like the tone of the political debate.  People in our churches are sometimes as divided as the politicians on the issues.   Many of us don’t know what to think or to do about either the budget itself, or the divisive debates.   Yet together we can be sure of some things:  
  • BUDGETS are documents that reflect our values, and affect the well-being of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable.
  • In our democracy we have the privilege and the duty to participate in selecting our officials and expressing our views to them.   As Christian people we believe that FAITH and the FACTS matter in this process – matter to what is done, and how it is done.
We hope that our churches can play a constructive role in providing a safe place for real conversations about the state budget, respecting all people and sincerely seeking common ground for the common good consistent with our Christian faith.  We have developed a resource or mini-study guide for you to consider using in your congregations.  Perhaps it could be discussed in adult forums, or made available as information in other venues such as newsletters.  Perhaps some of it could provide information and inspiration for sermons.    http://www.wichurches.org/home_page_news/read-the-wcc-faith-and-facts-booklet-on-the-state-budget/
 Decisions on the state budget will likely be finalized in late May and June.  We hope this resource can be helpful to those who want to become involved in advocacy in this round, and will help build a broader understanding of issues as the political debates continue into the summer and beyond.    Sincerely, The Wisconsin Council of Churches Board of Directors