NYC Churches should not be homeless
Dear New Life Fellowship and friends,
As you know, New York City has barred churches and other religious groups from meeting in public schools and community centers. By February 12, at least 70 churches will be homeless. As a result of this issue, a growing coalition of church leaders and politicians are working to amend a vaguely-worded law that has been used to justify this action. They are asking that NYC encourage their members to send letters to key politicians asking them to support either a City Council resolution encouraging the State Assembly to act on this bill or to vote for the bill being offered by the Assembly.
Although we are not impacted by this decision at New Life Fellowship, the body of Christ in NYC is being impacted, and as a result, it would be a great act of unity to respond accordingly.
Councilman Cabrera (of the Bronx) and his office has taken the lead in mobilizing this endeavor. Below are templates that you can copy, paste and send. We’d love for you to write/call/email your representatives to take action by next week. Your actions can significantly impact this decision.
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To:
The Honorable Christine Quinn
224 West 30th St (Suite 1206)
New York, NY 10001
Re: Churches in Schools, NYC Council Resolution # 1155.
Dear Speaker Quinn,
I urge that you support the effort to allow Churches and Religious Groups equal access to rent spaces from Public Schools. Non-religious groups are allowed to meet in schools for activities central to their missions and religious groups should be allowed do the same. The exclusion of religious groups is discrimination against religious speech.
Speaker Quinn, in light of the impending February 12, 2012 deadline for religious groups to vacate schools, I urge that you provide your full support by expediently authorizing a public hearing on City Council Resolution # 1155, and bringing this vital legislation to the floor for a vote.
New York City has called on churches and religious groups during times of crisis in the past; I now ask that you not turn your back on us. I ask that you stand for the Equal Access.
Sincerely,
Name: _____________________________________________
Affiliation (optional):_________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Phone Number: ______________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________________
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To:
The Honorable Sheldon Silver
250 Broadway, Suite 2307
New York, NY 10007
212-312-1420
Re: Churches in Schools, NYS Assembly Bill A8800
Dear Speaker Silver,
I urge that you support the effort to allow Churches and Religious Groups equal access to rent spaces from Public Schools. Non-religious groups are allowed to meet in schools for activities central to their missions and religious groups should be allowed do the same. The exclusion of religious groups is discrimination against religious speech.
Speaker Silver, in light of the impending February 12, 2012 deadline for religious groups to vacate schools, I urge that you provide your full support by expediently authorizing a public hearing on NYS Assembly Bill A8800, and bringing this vital legislation to the floor for a vote.
New York has called on churches and religious groups during times of crisis in the past; I now ask that you not turn your back on us. I ask that you stand for the Equal Access.
Sincerely,
Name: _____________________________________________
Affiliation (optional):_________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Phone Number: ______________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________________
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To:
The Honorable Dean Skelos
55 Front Street
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Re: Churches in Schools, NYS Senate Bill S6087
Dear Majority Leader Skelos,
I urge that you support the effort to allow Churches and Religious Groups equal access to rent spaces from Public Schools. Non-religious groups are allowed to meet in schools for activities central to their missions and religious groups should be allowed do the same. The exclusion of religious groups is discrimination against religious speech.
Majority Leader Skelos, in light of the impending February 12, 2012 deadline for religious groups to vacate schools, I urge that you provide your full support by expediently introducing NYS Senate Bill S6087, holding a public hearing, and bringing the bill to the floor for a vote.
New York has called on churches and religious groups during times of crisis in the past; I now ask that you not turn your back on us. I ask that you stand for the Equal Access.
Sincerely,
Name: _____________________________________________
Affiliation (optional):_________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Phone Number: ______________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________________
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To:
The Honorable Michael Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY, 10007
Re: Churches in Schools,
Administrative Section I.Q of Chancellor’s Regulation D-180
Dear Mayor Bloomberg,
I urge that you extend the deadline for religious groups to vacate public schools, and moreover urge you to lift the discriminatory ban imposed by the Department of Education on religious groups renting school spaces for worship. Non-religious groups are allowed to meet in schools for activities central to their missions and religious groups should be allowed do the same. The exclusion of religious groups is discrimination against religious speech.
You have called on churches and religious groups during times of crisis in the past; I now ask that you not turn your back on us. I ask that you stand for the Equal Access.
Sincerely,
Name: _____________________________________________
Affiliation (optional):_________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________________
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To:
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Re: Churches in Schools
NYS Assembly Bill A8800 and NYS Senate Bill S6087
Dear Governor Cuomo,
I urge that you sign NYS Assembly Bill A8800 and NYS Senate Bill S6087 when they come to your desk. These bills would allow Churches and other Religious Groups to rent space from New York State Public Schools. Non-religious groups are allowed to meet in schools for activities central to their missions and religious groups should be allowed do the same. The exclusion of religious groups is discrimination against religious speech.
I hope that you sign this bill with the same earnestness that you did the Marriage Equality bill. I ask that you stand with us for Equal Access.
Sincerely,
Name: _____________________________________________
Affiliation (optional):_________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________________
