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Take Three Actions For A Just Budget

This week the Illinois General Assembly begins its 2010 session. On the first full day of session, Wednesday January 13, we need to tell them that WE CAN'T WAIT for a responsible budget that provides adequate revenue to fund essential education, health care, public safety and human services. Tomorrow the leaders of the General Assembly will receive a letter signed by 100 faith leaders from around the state expressing our belief that we must care especially for those pushed furthest down in our society and Pass HB174 now!

TAKE 3 STEPS TO JOIN PEOPLE OF FAITH IN CALLING FOR JUSTICE!

  • Sign the Faith Letter for a Responsible Budget
  • On Wednesday , January 13, participate in the Responsible Budget Coalition call-in day. Call your state representative and tell them, "Please act to stop devastating cuts to schools, hospitals, human services and state and local governments! Support HB174!"
    —  Dial the capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to speak your     rep by name.
    —      Find your state representative using your address.
  • Join Community Renewal Society, Protestants for the Common Good, and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois in Springfield on Tuesday February 16, the day before Lent begins, to deliver the letter with more than 1,000 signatures to the General Assembly and call on our state government to make this Lent a time of justice for the most marginalized in our state.

Illinois is facing a budget deficit of more than $12 billion dollars in the coming fiscal year. HB174 is comprehensive tax reform to raise new revenue to close the deficit and make taxes fairer. It has already passed the State Senate but must now pass the House.

Learn more about HB 174

To learn more or to join the delegation on February 16, contact

Rev. Elaine Bellis ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Alex Wiesendanger  ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at (312) 427-4830.

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Congregational Justice Trainings

As people of faith, we cannot sit back and watch our brothers and sisters be harmed by systematic injustice and deprivation. The Community Renewal Society believes that change will only happen when well-organized, well-informed, and well-trained congregations act decisively on their beliefs. To help build the public leadership skills in congregations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the Community Renewal Society is conducting free trainings to help congregations take effective and meaningful action to shape public policy in our state. In this half-day session, attendees will learn to:

  • understand and articulate the theological basis for citizen activism;
  • network with other local congregations;
  • analyze power and how it shapes our world;
  • create and expand justice ministries in your congregation;
  • activate members and build power in your church; and
  • develop the skills to build relationships with policy-makers and promote change!

For more information or to register call Alex at 312.673.3840 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Check out our Action Center!

Want to get more involved in the work of the Civic Action Network?  Check out our Action Center to find out about upcoming bills for the Veto Session of the State Legislature, November 19 - 21.

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