Greetings, everyone.  I want to pass along to you an invitation to participate in the National Weekend of Faith in Action, focusing on the Death Penalty, and sponsored by Amnesty International USA.  The following is an introductory letter on the event, opportunities for you to participate and information on how to gather resource materials.  I encourage you to take a moment, read the letter and then register as a participant.  It costs nothing and resources/guidebooks will be provided after registering.

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

I am writing to invite your faith community to participate in an upcoming initiative, the 2006 National Weekend of Faith in Action on the Death Penalty, which has been designated as October 20-22, 2006 and is sponsored by Amnesty International USA.

 

The National Weekend of Faith in Action (NWFA) is an opportunity for faith communities, interfaith groups, human rights activists, and others to examine the death penalty from a faith-based or values-based perspective.

We encourage you to set aside some time during the weekend of October 20-22 for an activity or event that focuses on the death penalty, using the ideas and resources provided by Amnesty International USA as your guide.

 

Local involvement in the NWFA takes many different forms and is based upon the needs and capacity of your congregation.  For example, you might deliver a sermon on the death penalty, host a speaker, watch a film, or distribute information on the issue to your congregation.  You might also work with others to organize an interfaith event, such as a panel discussion, vigil, or prayer service.  AIUSA will provide you with a Faith in Action Resource Guidebook, a free DVD on the death penalty, and other practical materials to assist in your planning.

 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Gregg v. Georgia, which formally reinstated the death penalty and allowed for the resumption of executions.  We encourage you to use the NWFA as an opportunity to examine how the death penalty has been applied and carried out in the 30 years since the Gregg decision and to commit to taking further action on this issue.

 

How to get started...

 

> Explore the NWFA website at http://www.amnestyusa.org/faithinaction

> Read more about the NWFA and check out some of the activities that

> tookplace last year

> Register as a participant, using a quick and easy online form

> Start planning your activity or event for October (a NWFA Organizing

Packet will be sent to all registered participants in July; it contains a wealth of ideas and resources)

 

Online registration for the 2006 NWFA is now available: simply go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/faithinaction/register.html and complete the form.  You can also send an email with your contact information to NWFA Coordinator Kristin Houlé at khoule@aiusa.org.

 

If your faith community has a conflict with the weekend of October 20-22, we still encourage you to register and schedule your activities whenever it is more convenient for your congregation.

 

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the National Weekend of Faith in Action.  We look forward to your participation in this year's effort.

 

 

 

Thanks for your time.

Grace and peace.

Andrea

 

 

Andrea Wilson

Administrative Coordinator

Illinois Conference of Churches

522 East Monroe, Suite 208

Springfield, IL 62701

 

(217) 522-7099   FAX: (217) 522-7105