All Saints Church

At All Saints Church one of our core values is putting our faith into action. We believe our personal journeys of faith are informed by and made accountable to the world’s deep needs when we commit ourselves to the courageous and risk-filled work of peace and justice. We take action locally, nationally and globally on issues from hunger & poverty to marriage equality; from ending torture to building interfaith bridges of understanding; from peacemaking to immigration reform; from environmental sustainability to economic justice.  

This week’s Action:

Each week we put our faith into action.

This Sunday we are petitioning President Obama to put the words he expressed at an April 30 press conference into action and bring about the closure of Gitmo.

During a press conference on April 30, President Obama reiterated his belief that the United States needs to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. Later in the day, 38 religious leaders released a public letter sent to the President and all members of Congress, describing the desperate situation at Guantanamo and calling on President Obama and Congress to back the President’s words with action by expeditiously moving to close the prison there.
Please stop by the Action Table this Sunday and sign a petition to President Obama. If you are unable to stop by the Action Table, the petition is also available here.

On May 12, we wrote President Obama in support of the Arms Trade Treaty.

The Arms Trade Treaty will help put a stop to the flow of arms to areas of conflict, which only promote greater violence and instability. It will also address pressing human rights concerns by monitoring international arms sales and keeping them out of the hands of human rights violators, warlords, gangs, and others that plan intentional harm.
If you were unable to stop by the Action Table, the letter is still available here.

On May 5, we wrote our members of the California State Legislature asking them to support SB 283, Successful Re-Entry & Access to Jobs Act.

It would overturn the lifetime ban that California currently maintains on people with prior drug-related felony convictions from receiving basic needs assistance, job training and employment support services. This rule exists despite the fact that countless studies have found that access to basic needs supports, like food and housing assistance, reduces crime and contributes to successful re-entry of individuals who have been incarcerated.
You can view a fact sheet here. If you are unable to stop by the Action Table, the letters are also available here [state assembly and state senate].
You can find your state senator and state assembly member by using the links provided further down this page.

On April 28, parishioners added their signature to petitions in support of SB 52, the California DISCLOSE Act.

The Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling unleashed a torrent of untraceable money into the political advertising machine. SB 52, the CA DISCLOSE Act challenges the unlimited, anonymous special interest spending that is subverting our democracy. Authored by Senators Mark Leno and Jerry Hill and sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign, SB 52 requires all state and local political ads in California, except those paid for by candidate-controlled committees for their own races, to clearly and prominently list their top three funders of $10,000 or more ($2,000 for local races). It also requires committees to maintain a campaign website that lists all funders of $10,000 or more for state races ($2,000 for local races). We are signing petitions which will be delivered to the Senate Elections Committee as this bill builds momentum and support through the legislative process.
You can download a petition form here. You can add your signature and fax or e-mail as indicated on the form.

You can find your member of the United State House of Representatives at www.house.gov.

You can find your member of the California State Assembly at www.assembly.ca.gov.

You can find your member of the California State Senate at www.senate.ca.gov.

Episcopal Relief and Development provides vital relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters. You can donate by using this link to the ERD website.

Volunteer for the Action Table

If you would like to help with the Action Table ministry by giving 15 or 20 minutes of your time after one of the Sunday services, please use this Doodle link to sign up. Thank you.

For more information, visit the Peace & Justice pages and explore where your deep gladness meets one of the world’s deep hungers – and join us in putting your faith into action.