Pre-Conference Workbook - North Carolina Conference of The ...

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In December, Nancy Van Antwerp and I represented our Conference at “Washington DC Days on the
Hill,” sponsored by the General Board of Church and Society. This purpose of this program is twofold: 1)
to teach us about efforts by the UMC and others to eradicate malaria and 2) to lobby our congresspeople
to support such efforts. We were able to meet with representatives from Senator Kay Hagan and Senator
Richard Burr. Both senators are aware of the anti-malaria projects and regard them as useful. The fate of
governmental funding of such efforts remains caught up in the greater budget battles in Washington.
In April I attended the National Workshop on Christian Unity, which always has a strong focus on
matters germane to Church and Society. While typically there is consensus on societal issues, there were
two fissures that bear watching: 1) the issue of gay marriage. Many of the denominations represented
support the concept, whereas the Catholic Church and some historically black denominations do not. And
2) issues surrounding Obamacare as they pertain to the contraceptive mandate. Protestant churches
represented were in strong support, while the Catholic Church regards this mandate as an intrusion into
religious freedom.
Church and Society is increasing its presence in social media. We have a Facebook Page as well as a
dedicated site on the Conference site.
At that first meeting, I concluded my remarks with the following comment: I do not know if we are a
board, and agency, a committee, a commission, or a team. I like to call us a team, that God will use our
different talents and perspectives to help us lead the Conference into a Christian engagement with those
things of Caesar which we find ultimately to be those things of Christ.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eric N. Lindblade, Jr.
Chairperson, NC Conference Board of Church and Society