CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

We want to act out our faith by mobilizing the church to engage at the local and state levels in a variety of ways. Join us in bringing salt and light to the civic arena!

School Board Team
     Theresa: tacollins53@protonmail.com

Elections Team
     Shannon: shannonlatrisha@gmail.com

Research Team
     Clarissa:  GraceResearchTeam@gmail.com

Inspiration Team
     Kim: kimberlystonge@gmail.com

FEATURED EVENT

GRACE FOUNDRY • June 8 • 6:30pm

An Inside Look

Ever wonder what’s really going on in Jefferson City? Well, you’re invited to join us as special guest, Bev Ehlen gives us an overview of Missouri’s 2023 legislative session. Learn more about what our state government has accomplished or wrestled with this year.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ARTICLES 

God’s Gift of Freedom and Equality in Christ at Grace Church

Written By Lou L. The Emancipation Proclamation, Juneteenth, and Grace Church’s Civic Engagement ministry. What is the common thread that binds them together, and how do they reflect the increasing revelation of God’s truth? To answer that question, let's go back to...

Missouri Legislative Wrap-Up: Contending With a Modern Day Pharaoh

Written By Peggy Welker  For many of us the beginning of the Missouri 2023 legislative session was promising. Conservatives had won a record number of Senate seats, (five in total) maintaining Republican super majorities in the state House and Senate. Bills were filed...

From Passover to Prince of Peace

Written By Olivia Payne Christians today are becoming more curious about Jewish holidays and the relevancy they may have within our faith. One of these holidays is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, more commonly known as Passover. Passover is a seven-day long festival...

Saving Women’s Sports

Written By Marci Imagine training for years as a student to participate in your sport of choice. Your parents invest money in uniforms, equipment, and tournament expenses, while you invest your time and energy relentlessly practicing to win.  Imagine how it would feel...

The Abolition of Abortion in Missouri

Written By Lou Lesinski  Contrary to popular belief, objections regarding the cruelty of abortion are not a new thing. Missouri has a long legislative history concerning this issue. As far back as the early 1800’s social movements have worked to end the practice,...

Israel Tour 2023

Written By Kim St.Onge   Preaching from a boat on the Sea of Galilee and worshipping Jesus in Old Jerusalem are two highlights Pastor Wes Martin recalls from his first experience leading a trip to Israel in 2019. Joel Richardson, a New York Times bestselling...

Feeding St. Louis

Written By Mike Boettge & Kim St.Onge   As concern grows over a possible worldwide food shortage and inflation continues, Grace Church is working to bridge the gap and help families put food on the table. On the second and fourth Monday of each month, Grace...

Building Up Reynosa

Written By Mike Boettge   Reynosa is a border city in the northern state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across from Hidalgo and McAllen, Texas, about 75 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately one...

3 Things to Know Before You Vote

When preparing to vote in next month’s election, there are three key touch-points to equip any person to be an informed voter. First, it's important to know the key issues and candidates on your ballot ahead of time. Some ballot issues may be clear and understandable...

Missourians to Decide Whether to Open State Constitution

Missouri’s Constitution could be radically changed in just a few years depending on how we vote in November 2022. On the November ballot, Missourians will decide whether to hold a state constitutional convention and open the constitution for changes. This is in step...

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RESOURCES

Love, Tolerance & Other Victims of the War of the Words

This is our fourth post on politics. Other posts are found on our Pastors' Blog page. Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a...

Untangling Problems With Character & Policy in Politics

This is our third post on politics. The first two are found on our Pastors' Blog page. It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness. — Proverbs 16:12 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and by lovingkindness he...

Politics Begin in the Bible

This is our second post on politics. The first is Politics in Church & Other American Heresies. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him...

Politics in Church & Other American Heresies

“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between...

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS

Since more and more employers and schools are mandating Covid vaccinations and many of our members object to the vaccines, we want to make some resources available to help if you wish to file for a religious exemption. Here are three resources for you. Click the “+” sign to the right to see more info. 

 

The applicable law that protects your religious freedom in the workplace
In accordance with the Missouri State Constitution  Article I Section 5.  Religious freedom — liberty of conscience and belief — limitations — right to pray — academic religious freedoms and prayer. — “That all men and women have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; that no human authority can control or interfere with the rights of conscience”,

and in accordance to The Civil Rights Act of 1964, “SEC. 2000e-2. [Section 703]

(a) Employer practices

It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer –

(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or

(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

How to apply for religious exemptions
Ask your employer if they have a specific form for you to fill out or if they want you to submit a written request on your own. This PDF from Informed Health Choice Missouri has some excellent information and suggestions about how to apply for religious exemptions. In addition to their suggestions, we would also point out that some companies/schools are rejecting religious exemption applications that say one objects based on moral or conscience reasons. They separate moral and conscience from faith. So just specify that your objections are religious rather than assuming that they will understand that your morals and your conscience are inextricable from your religious beliefs.

Click here:

Religious exemption letter tips for HC workers 

Letter from the church supporting religious exemptions to Covid vaccines
If your employer or school asks you to provide a letter from your church to substantiate your religious objections, you can print and present this pdf file of a letter written by one of our pastors. We do not recommend that you give this letter to them unsolicited, but have a copy of it ready if you are filing a religious exemption form. Then if they request it, you will be prepared. You can also use this letter as a resource to help you identify your own personal religious objections. But please do not copy and paste it. If you must give them a written explanation of your objections, write it in your own words so that they know you are honestly presenting your own objections.

Click here:

Signed Covid Letter

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