All are invited to join the Young Adults as they create and enjoy a faith and film series, Mondays January 7, January 21, and February 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the library at LUMC. We will choose our films on Jan. 7. Come for the faith, fun, and fellowship! ALL ARE WELCOME!

Bring your sack lunch and join those who are able to be present mid day  for lunch and conversation and fellowship!  It is reported that in January, Fifth Thursday Fellowship will play cards in the library (Yes, bring your pack of Uno so that there will be enough for several games!)  Louise Kreutziger and Lynda Kramer will provide dessert and tea and coffee.  If you need a ride (especially if the weather is uncooperative, call Rev. Susan at the church office).
 

Outreach is sponsoring this adult education study during 11th hour for the five Sunday mornings beginning on January 6, 2002 and running through February 3rd..  Ken Kreutziger will be leading the study.  The primary text for the study is the booklet “Political Bribery in the U.S.A.: How Corporations and the Wealthy Buy Power and What We Can Do to Stop Them” published by The Alliance for Democracy, September 2001.

During the winter last year, a church task force sponsored by the Outreach Committee presented a series on the issues of corporate rule outlining its nature, magnitude, and the urgency for an evolutionary change to American democracy.  For the church to move forward in this area the LUMC planning session for programs this year indicated the need for additional church wide education.  This year's study about the influence of corporations in our democracy focusing on the election process will expand our education and provide that additional opportunity for more people to become informed.

January 6: The Clean Elections Crisis: Framing the Issue
The first presentation tells the story of how the clean elections crises came about and presents facts on campaign finance corruption.  A video case study from “Free Speech For Sale” with Bill Moyers, PBS, featuring Representative Cindy Watson and the Hog Farming Industry in Duplin County, NC, sets the stage for discussion by participants to share their understandings and questions about the clean elections crisis and their vision of viable solutions.

January 13: How Corporations Influence the Political Process, Mislead the Public and Intimidate Public Officials
The second presentation tells how current law encourages and in some cases allows unethical behavior in the democratic process.  The “Bribery of Public Officials” law that prohibits influence is emphasized.  A second video case study from “Free Speech For Sale”, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, sets the stage for participants to share their observations and attitude toward our corporation-dominated society.

January 20: Case Studies: Corporate Political Contributions
The third session provides an opportunity for the class to investigate several case studies.  We will explore how corporate political contributions have been used to insure that key public policies affecting millions of people and the natural environment serve corporate interests rather than the populace as a whole and many times degrade the environment.  We will discuss the reality of giant corporation influence in our democracy leading to individual assessment of the
situation.

January 27: Strategies for Clean Elections
The fourth presentation explores a strategy for getting from our present state of affairs to a future where elected representatives are no longer dependent on corporate campaign contributions to get reelected and where school teachers, laboring men and women, and housewives, people who don't have access to money can join white male lawyers as our elected national legislators.  How do participants in this seminar reflect upon the scenario for transformation of the democratic process beginning with the strategy to achieve full public funding for public elections?  This will be the focus of our discussion.

February 3: Are We Up To It?  What I Can Do!
The fifth session looks at how full public financing of campaigns works, why this is a civil rights issue, and what each of us can do about it.  The experience of full public financing of campaigns in the states of Maine and Arizona will be assessed to illustrate what can be accomplished.  Other needed structural changes in our political system will also be outlined.  We will discuss what each of us can do to live appropriately within these times becoming persons of fiber and firmness who can discern and resist the powers of unethical learned behavior in order to realize our public vision of a politics of human dignity and equality where “one vote, one person” truly prevails, “free and fair elections” exist, and “government of, by, and for the people” becomes the reality.