Wednesday Witness for Justice
January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, & February 22, 2006
Sponsored by the Justice Ministries Commission of the Kentucky Council of Churches

Capitol Annex 1st Floor Room 125
Frankfort KY
10:00 - 11:00 am Eastern Time
February 8, 2006

Capitol Annex 4th Floor Conference Room 436-B
Frankfort KY
10:00 - 11:00 am Eastern Time
February 15, & February 22, 2006

Just call our office at 859-269-7715 to let us know that you will be attending and remember to bring a government-issued form of photo identification when you arrive at the Capitol.

WEDNESDAY WITNESS FOR JUSTICE

During the 2005 General Assembly in Frankfort, the Kentucky Council of Churches will be continuing our new model of being a presence in Frankfort. Instead of our fromer "Day at the Legislature," there will be multiple opportunities for witness for social justice at the Capitol, on Wednesdays.

Every Wednesday, beginning January 18, 2006, the Kentucky Council of Churches will sponsor a one-hour forum for church people on issues being deliberated by the Kentucky General Assembly. Called "Wednesday Witness for Justice", the program will give participants an opportunity to reflect theologically and biblically about important public policy matters, to review pending and proposed legislation, and to interact with legislators. "Wednesday Witness for Justice" forums are held in Frankfort, in the Capitol Annex, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in conference room 436-B, on the 4th floor, near the offices of members of the State House of Representatives.

On January 18, the Honorable Jonathan Miller, State Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and author of a soon to be published book entitled The Compassionate Community (see the web-site: http://www.thecompassionatecommunity.com/), will begin the series by reflecting on the role of faith in citizenship. Although Mr. Miller is Jewish, he is very knowledgeable of the Christian tradition, and his new book uses Christian and Hebrew scriptures to argue the point of God's desire for compassion and justice. This first forum will be held in Room 111 of the Capitol Annex, from 10:00 - 11:00, in order to accommodate a larger audience.

The remaining schedule of themes and issues to be discussed, and the scheduled speakers are:

January 25 Theme: Gambling Expansion

Theological Reflections by the Rev. Dr. Howard Beauman, Executive Director of the Kentucky League on Alcohol and Gambling Problems. Legislative overview: Rev. Nancy J. Kemper, Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, and media spokesperson for CAGE (Citizens Against Gambling Expansion).

February 1 Theme: The Budget

Theological Reflections by Dr. Albert Pennybacker, former Associate General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, and current national director of the Clergy-Laity Network, a national social justice organization. Legislative overview: Deb Miller, Policy Analyst for Kentucky Youth Advocates, and Kentucky Economic Justice Alliance.

February 8 Theme: Health Care

Theological Reflections by Fr. Ron Ketteler, Chair of the Department of Theology at Thomas More College. Legislative Overview by Dr. Sheila Schuster, director of the Kentucky Mental Health Alliance and convenor of the Medicaid consortium.

February 15 Theme: Children

Theological Reflections by Dr. Margie Ralph, professor of biblical studies at Lexington Theological Seminary. Legislative overview by Lacey McNarey and Tara Grieshop, Policy Analysts with Kentucky Youth Advocates.

February 22 Theme: Work

Other forums on themes that may emerge as the session unfolds may be possible and will be announced. Please watch the KCC website for further information: www.kycouncilofchurches.org

All Wednesday Witness for Justice Forums will be held in Frankfort in the Capitol Annex from 10:00 - 11:00. If you need a ride, please call the KCC Office at 859-269-7715, and we will try to arrange for transportation if someone else from your area might be planning to attend. It is helpful if you will let us know of your intention to attend, and provide us with a phone number, and or e-mail address, in case of inclimate weather. In case of bad weather, sessions will be postponed until the following Wednesday. The KCC office opens at 8:00 a.m. daily. There is no reigstration fee for these events.

WHO: YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
and meet with theologians, policy experts, and legislators during these Wednesday Witness for Justice forums.

WHEN: EVERY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18 THROUGH FEBRUARY 22 FROM 10:00AM EASTERN TIME UNTIL 11:00AM EASTERN
January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, & February 22, 2006.

WHERE: CAPITOL ANNEX, FRANKFORT, KY
On January 18 we will meet in room 111, on Janaury 25 through Fenruary 22 we will meet in room 436-B.
See below for driving directions.

WHAT: WE WILL DISCUSS HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE REALM OF

• January 18, we will look at the role of faith in citizenship.
• January 25 will examine gambling expansion
• February 1 will focus on the budget
• February 8 will look health care
• February 15 children will be the focus
• February 22 will deal with work issues
  
  

Driving directions appear below. A map to the Capitol can be found at http://www.kycage.org/CapitolMap.html.

DIRECTIONS TO THE CAPITOL and CAPITOL ANNEX GARAGE, FRANKFORT

From the West (Louisville):

• Exit 1-64 at exit number 53-B to Highway 127 (Northbound)
• Drive North on 127 to intersection of 127 and 676 (the East-West Connector) Turn Right on 676. Go down the hill.
• At the stoplight, turn left onto Big Eddy Road, and follow it along the Kentucky River (if you go over the Kentucky River, you have gone too far)
• After about a mile, you will come to a building hanging over the roadway, on your left This is the Capitol Annex garage entrance.
• Turn left into the Garage. Park on floors 4, 5, or 6. Take elevator to the second floor of the garage.
• Exit elevator and go to your right, around the elevator, and you will see a doorway straight across from the back of the elevator. Using that entrance, go through the tunnel. You will arrive in the basement of the Capitol Annex. Take stairs or the elevator to the first floor and you will find signs to Room 111, where we will be meeting on January 18. Take stairs or the elevator to the first floor and follow signs to Room 436-B, where we will be meeting on January 25-February 22.

From the East (Lexington)

• Take either 1-64 or U.S. 60 to Frankfort. From 1-64, exit Right onto US 60.
• Follow U.S. 60 to the intersection of U.S. 421 (Leestown Road/Main Street)
• At the intersection (2nd stop light), turn left on to the East-West Connector. (The East- West Connector to the right is U.S. 421. To the left, it is State Route 676.)
• Follow the East-West Connector until you come to the Kentucky River.
• Just after the Kentucky River bridge, there is a road with a sign to the Capitol to the right. Turn Right on "Big Eddy Road" which follows along the side of the river.
• After about a mile you will come a building hanging over the roadway, on your left. This is the Capitol Annex garage entrance.
• Turn left into the Garage. Park on floors 4, 5, or 6. Take elevator to the second floor of garage.
• Exit elevator and go to your right, around the elevator, and you will see a doorway straight across from the back of the elevator. Using that entrance, go through the tunnel. You will arrive in the basement of the Capitol Annex. Take stairs or the elevator to the first floor and you will find signs to Room 111, where we will be meeting on January 18. Take stairs or the elevator to the first floor and follow signs to Room 436-B, where we will be meeting on January 25-February 22.