St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene
Episcopal Church

17 S Fitzhugh St
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 546-7730
Fax: (585) 546-7733
office@twosaints.org

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I. Purpose

A. We are responding to #5 of the Vision Statement of the Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene as approved at the Annual Meeting, January 22, 2006:

We envision our parish as a center for urban mission and ministry for the Diocese of Rochester, with special concern for families, parents and children in the city and as advocates for change in our political and economic policies and systems (emphasis added).

B. More specifically, we are forming a parish committee in order to fulfill the last bullet under point #5 of the proposed Implementation of the Vision, which reads:

We will establish a parish public policy team that will work closely with the diocesan public policy committee, but focus particularly on City of Rochester and Monroe County issues. Further, when relevant, we will include state, federal, and world issues, especially when they impact the local community.

II. Objectives

A. We will study issues affecting the health, safety, and livelihoods of individuals and families in the city of Rochester, Monroe County, and elsewhere when and where appropriate.

B. We will network with other churches and groups in the city to discover how we can join with them in education and advocacy about issues of mutual concern.

C. We will select and present timely public policy issues to the parish at Sunday Adult Forums—at least once a month during the church’s program year. (Such forums were held last year—usually the second Sundays and will be this spring as well. But our work together will begin now to plan for next fall and the following spring programs.)

D. From time to time we might want to plan Saturday Forums with Workshops, inviting other churches through Listserve and mailings.

E. We will facilitate advocacy for specific changes in public policies by encouraging parishioners to exercise their role as citizens by writing letters, making phone calls, signing petitions, and from time to time arranging for groups to visit our elected officials to lobby for particular actions.

F. When appropriate, we will seek endorsements of crucial positions from the Vestry, the Bishop, Diocesan Council, and Convention.

III. Procedures

A. We will attempt to meet once a month during the church program year on a day and at a time convenient for all of us.

B. At these meetings we will pray, study, share reports of research, and decide forums and other actions.

C. We will establish a list of priorities—issues and concerns.

D. Each of us will then select an issue or area of concern to study and give reports about at meetings, suggesting what the rest of the committee and the congregation might want to do.