Mission
United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania educates and empowers United Methodists to engage legislators and other state officials on social and governmental policy issues.
Vision
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
- John Wesley – Founder of Methodist movement
Say No to Beer, Wine Sales in Gas Stations, Grocery Stores; Vote Expected Soon
We urgently need you to contact your state House member today.
House members are poised to vote on Monday, Dec. 19, on legislation that would allow gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, delicatessens, taverns, restaurants, and hotels to sell beer, and in many cases, wine and beer, for off-premises consumption.
Click here to find out the name, email and other contact information for your legislator. Send an email and/or call her/him to oppose this unneeded, dangerous legislation.
Scripture cautions us that alcohol needs to be regarded with great caution. Paul writes in Romans 14:21 that "it is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall"
This legislation is the opposite of what Pennsylvania needs. Instead of expanding access to as many as 10,000 new outlets, we believe the Commonwealth should tighten control of the sale of alcohol.
This proposal emerged after it became clear that support was lacking in the House Liquor Control Committee to send House Majority Leader Michael Turzai's plan to radically privatize the state's liquor system to the floor for a vote. It's clear proponents hope expanded wine and beer sales will hurt the state store system and will over time spur efforts to shut it down.
In the meantime, beer and wine will be available at gas stations across Pennsylvania, in grocery stores, delicatessens, and other food outlets. Seventy years of tight control of access to alcohol will be gone.
We've seen what increased access to alcohol has done in communities across the country. In some communities, beer and wine are sold on nearly every street corner. It's easy for young people to obtain alcohol to drink, then drive, and die in an alcohol-fueled accident. Alcohol addiction becomes a bigger threat to public health. And we all know the negative consequences in families affected by alcohol addiction.
The United Methodist Church has long supported tough controls on access to alcohol. We believe this proposal, and others to expand access and loosen control, is a bad idea that needs to be defeated. The church's position is scripturally and morally sound.
Your help is urgently needed. Please contact your legislator today. Let your legislator know of your concern.
PA Bishops Oppose Privatization of Liquor Stores;
United Methodists Urged to Contact Governor, Legislators
The United Methodist Church supports tough controls on the sale of wine, liquor and beer.
That is why Pennsylvania’s three bishops, Thomas J. Bickerton, Peggy Johnson, and Jane Allen Middleton, have written to Gov. Tom Corbett and the members of the General Assembly, strongly opposing efforts to privatize Pennsylvania's state store system.
And that is why United Methodist Advocacy asking United Methodists to are asking contact the governor and members of the General Assembly. Please ask them to keep the existing system of state-owned and controlled wine and spirits stores.
Click here to send the governor a message.
And click here to find out the name, email and other contact information for your legislator. Try to meet with your legislator to tell her/him your views, and the views of the church on this issue.
Your voice counts! Please speak out. Get your church to speak out. Voices of faith are needed in Harrisburg.
For decades, Pennsylvania governors have wanted to do away with the state-owned wine and liquor stores. Dick Thornburgh, Tom Ridge, and now, Tom Corbett, want the state to get out of the business of selling alcoholic beverages. Their argument is mainly philosophic: selling wine and spirits should be a private-sector enterprise.
We believe maintaining tight control over the sale of alcoholic beverages is a good deal for Pennsylvania. It saves lives. It keeps alcohol out of the hands of persons under the age of 21.
The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church are clear on the issue: "We support the strict administration of laws regulating the sale and distribution of alcohol and controlled substances. We support regulations that protect society from users of drugs of any kind, including alcohol, where it can be shown that a clear and present social danger exists.' (Paragraph 162 2008 Book of Discipline)
Scripture supports this view. Among the references to avoiding alcohol is this exhortation from the apostle, Paul, who tells tell people of Ephesus, "do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18 NRSV)
The state store system was created after Prohibition to control access to wine and liquor. While over the years it has evolved into more modern stores and a broader selection of wine and spirits, the original controlling access to alcohol philosophy remains. Underage drinkers know better than to even try to buy booze at a state store.
We believe this system needs to continue. This is an area where the government is doing a valuable public service by tightly controlling access.
If the privatization efforts succeed, Pennsylvania would see an explosion of the number of outlets selling wine and liquor. There are about 600 right now. Under the various proposals being considered, that number to increase to up to 3,000. That could mean liquor stores on street corners all across the Commonwealth.
Let Gov. Corbett and your legislators know of your concerns. Ask them to oppose House Bill 11 and any other attempts to privatize the state store system. It's a bad deal for Pennsylvania.
Strong Regulation, Fair PA Natural Gas Tax Plan Needed
Let your legislator know that Pennsylvania needs tough regulation and fair taxation of natural gas from the state's Marcellus Shale deposits.
We believe legislation offered by Reps. Gene DiGirolamo and Thomas Murt, Republicans from Montgomery and Bucks counties, respectively, offers the fairest and best path forward.
The Pennsylvania House and Senate are expected to begin making key decisions on regulating and taxing natural gas from the shale deposits.
Click here to find your legislator's contact information. Send an email. Write a letter. Meet or phone your legislator.
Click here to electronically contact Gov. Tom Corbett. Other contact information for the governor can be found by clicking here.
Urge your legislator to support legislation that imposes a substantial, but fair tax on natural gas extracted in Pennsylvania. Urge your legislator to advocate for tough, but fair regulation and oversight of natural gas drilling and distribution.
Revenues should be used for environmental protection initiatives, to help local communities that host drilling operations, and to fund vital social services in the state budget.
We believe proposals offered by the governor through state Rep. Brian Ellis R-Butler County, fall far short of producing a fair revenue stream for Pennsylvania. Ellis's proposal (HB 1950) passed the House Finance Committee by a 15-10 party line vote. Republicans are in the majority.
Ellis's proposal was part of a 127-page bill that also strips local communities of their right to control where natural gas wells may be drilled, and privatizes the permitting process required of natural gas drillers. Permits are currently proces
sed by the state Department of Environmental Protection. We believe this is the wrong approach.
Communities deserve a strong voice in this process. It would be irresponsible to block the persons most affected by the potential negative effects of natural gas drilling from being part of the decision-making.
DiGirolamo and Murt's legislation is comprehensive and fair to the natural gas industry. It provides funds for environmental protection, local communities, and social service programs.
DiGirolamo and Murt see this measure as a compromise among the various pieces of legislation seeking to institute a tax. The tax rate they propose - 4.7 percent - is less than neighboring West Virginia's 6.1 percent and Texas' 5.4 percent.
Urge your House member to support the Murt-DiGirolamo proposal when it comes for consideration as a bill or as an amendment.
All three Pennsylvania annual conferences adopted resolutions during their annual conference sessions this year calling for strong regulation and taxation of natural ga extraction.
Pennsylvania is one of a few states that does not impose a tax on gas at the place where it comes from the ground.
United Methodists Uniting: Pennsylvania Anti-Poverty Summit II
Save This Date! Oct. 9-10, 2011 Camp Hill UMC, Camp Hill, PA
Featuring: Shane Claiborne
Bestselling Author, Prominent Christian Activist, Sought-after Speaker and Recovering Sinner. Founding partner of The Simple Way, a faith community in inner city Philadelphia that has helped to create and connect radical faith communities around the world.
Fasting for PA’s Vulnerable
Prayer Focused on Pennsylvania’s Budget
Seeking Moral Choices, Moral Decisions, A Moral State Budget
Fast for PA’s Vulnerable supports Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens during the state budget debate.
Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable – children, persons living in poverty, the elderly, and persons with disabilities – are at risk in the 2011-2012 state budget.
