March 25, 2011

WASHINGTON – More than 700 policy and advocacy experts, theologians, congressional aides, faith leaders and grassroots activists are gathering today at the Doubletree Hotel in Arlington, Va. for Ecumenical Advocacy Days (Mar.25 – 28), the nation's largest annual meeting of faith-based advocates.

The objective of the three-day conference is to inform and train participants to become active around a variety of issues, from global access to clean water to childhood nutrition. It is sponsored by global humanitarian agency Church World Service and the National Council of Churches with broad ecumenical support.

"We have to let our lawmakers and policymakers in government, the United Nations, and key international institutions know that we expect them to enact laws and policies that respond to the needs of poor and vulnerable people in the U.S. and around the world," says Church World Service Executive Director and CEO John L. McCullough.

It sometimes is years – even decades – before activists for change can claim victory for their cause. After six years of lobbying the Bush and Obama administrations, the ecumenical community's efforts to get the United States to loosen restrictions on religious travel to Cuba finally resulted in success this year. In January, President Barack Obama announced changes that restore the national churches' freedom to travel to Cuba for fellowship with and support of partner churches there.

"From Cuba, to climate change, to child nutrition and global access to clean water, there are scores issues that need strong voices speaking out to people in the corridors of power. The more we do to inspire those voices, the closer we come to empowering the people on whose behalf we advocate."

This year's event, with the theme "Development, Security and Economic Justice: What's Gender Got to Do With It?" features nearly 50 workshops focusing on domestic and international issues that affect women, who bear a disproportionate burden of poverty throughout the world.

Following the two days of plenary sessions, educational workshops and advocacy training, participants will engage in a full day of lobbying their lawmakers in Washington.

On Monday, participants will descend on Capitol Hill for scheduled meetings at the offices of members of Congress from their districts for. The goal is to urge lawmakers to fully fund programs that serve families – especially those struggling to overcome poverty – in the United States and around the world, and to encourage re-authorization and full funding of the Violence Against Women Act and the International Violence Against Women Act.

Underscoring the significance of the event, McCullough, who delivered the keynote speech at last year's conference, says "Ecumenical Advocacy Days is one way to help people understand not just why we must make our voices heard but also how to do it effectively," says McCullough.

For more information, go to http://www.advocacydays.org/.

Church World Service