The Council’s policy statements are derived from the Council’s Principles for Public Advocacy. These statements are designed, along with the Principles, to inform the Council’s advocacy efforts, but not to cast specific efforts in stone; issues and priorities do not remain static, and neither should the Council’s advocacy efforts. They provide a concise presentation of the Council’s positions for members, legislators and other decision makers, other organizations, and individuals.

 Each statement is organized as follows:

• Policy Positions—presents a listing of general positions/principles held by the Pennsylvania Council of Churches within a given issue area (e.g. “the Council supports legislation, regulations, government policies, and corporate practices that promote sustainability by controlling and/or reducing air, water, land, noise, and thermal pollution”).

• Background—describes the conditions (both environmental and societal) that have led the Council to respond.

• Theological Perspective and the View of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches—provides specific scriptural references, general theological/doctrinal principles, other theological references, and supporting statements from the Principles for Public Advocacy.

These statements are not meant to present the Council’s positions on specific bills or issues, which change over time.

Policy statements are available for the following issues (click on desired issue):

•      Church & State  

•      Civic Engagement  

•      Death Penalty

•      Environment  

•      Government Reform Foundation Statement

•      Health

•      Human Needs  

•      Peacemaking  

•      Public Education

•      Tax

 (NOTE:  Others will be added as they become available.)

Pennsylvania Council of Churches 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17109-5089

Telephone 717.545.4761 Facsimile 717.545.4765 E-mail pcc@pachurches.org 

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