The Washington Office is guided by the biblical vision of being restored to a right relationship with God, each other and creation. Our mission statement, in part, cites biblical guidance which embraces:

• justice for all, with special concern for poor and oppressed people (Deuteronomy 14:17-22);
• dismantling racism and sexism (Galatians 3:25-28, Ephesians. 2:11-22);
• human rights, including freedom of conscience and religious practice (Proverbs 31:8-9, Luke 4:18-19, Acts 5:17-42).

Civil Rights

Past and current injustices still persist in our society. Many people are mistreated because of, among other things, their ethnicity, gender, religion or nationality. The goal of securing justice and equity in areas such as education, employment, housing, legal and voting rights and religious life remains before us. Some policymakers have tried to follow the same desire by implementing federal actions and protections for the sake of the common good and fairness.

We, who desire a beloved community where all are respected and live in mutuality, ponder how to speak to government and how to interact with society regarding civil rights concerns. In 2000, about 75 Mennonites attended the Washington Office Spring Seminar, "Race and Public Policy: Exploring an Anabaptist Approach," to consider these issues through an anti-racist lens. They spoke to members of Congress about the issue of racial profiling. This issue continues today.

Other issues that the Washington Office has monitored and reported include racial disparities in criminal justice (particularly regarding prisons, the death penalty, and juvenile justice), fair representation within the census process, and restorative relationships with Native peoples - respecting sovereignty and historical trust agreements.

In 2001, the MCC U.S. Board adopted a statement reaffirming civil rights which offers further guidance for our work.

Civil Liberties

The Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, Article 23, acknowledges that governing authorities are "servants of God... called to act justly and provide order. But like all such institutions, nations tend to demand total allegiance... Even at its best, a government cannot act completely according to the justice of God because no nation, except the church, confesses Christ's rule as its foundation."

Since Sept. 11, 2001, whether most U.S. Americans realize it or not, regulations regarding their civil rights and law enforcement practices have been altered. Domestic policy changes have occurred through the USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act) which:

• minimizes judicial supervision regarding certain surveillance by law enforcement;
• expands the ability of the government to conduct secret searches;
• gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of State the power to designate groups as terrorist organizations and deport any non-citizen who belongs to them;
• leads to broad investigations of U.S. citizens for "intelligence" purposes, and
• enables the indefinite detention of non-citizens who are not terrorists on minor criminal charges or immigration violations.

The new law also creates a broadly-defined new crime of domestic terrorism that could include acts of civil disobedience and nonviolent dissent. Other executive actions suggest that peace groups and religious bodies could be subjected to intrusive investigation. Congress and the administration have also considered various approaches to security including national identification systems and expansion of background checks.

We must continue to desire and pursue better ways to live at peace with each other.

Biblical Reflection: Hospitality

Biblical Reflection: Accompaniment