wfn.org | Washington Office Celebrates 50th Anniversary

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

20-June-1997 
GA97110 
 
            Washington Office Celebrates 50th Anniversary 
 
                      by Emett Barfield 
 
Syracuse-- Sixty years ago the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 
established the Department of Social Education and Action. It was the first 
national effort to organize political advocacy. In 1946, Fern Colborn was 
called to maintain an office in the nation's capital for Christian advocacy 
there. In 1996, celebrating those years of Speaking the Truth to Power, The 
Washington Office scheduled a number of events concluding with dinner at 
the 209th General Assembly. 
 
    Elenora Giddings Ivory, director of the Washington Office, after 
welcoming the guests, presenting the staff, introduced the keynote speaker 
for this auspicious occasion: Robert Walker, president of Handgun Control, 
Inc. 
 
    Bringing greetings from fellow Presbyterian Sarah Brady with whom he 
works, he praised the Washington Office for being well respected and having 
given real meaning to the motto "Make a Witness and Make a  Difference." 
 
    He pointed out in his address that "little" things make a huge 
difference. Something as small as a bullet can make a difference in life 
and death, joy and suffering, inflict great pain and disability, and 
radically change one's life. 
 
    He went on to enumerate some of the little things that his organization 
has done to make a difference. He pointed out that because of the Brady Law 
in the last five years, 250,000 convicted felons have been prevented from 
going into gun stores and buying  guns simply by lying on the Federal form. 
In addition, he reported that because of the Assault Weapons Ban, in 
previous years when 10, 12, 14, police officers were killed by assault 
weapons, last year there was only one. 
 
    After listing additional gains, he then challenged the guests to begin 
to move toward making little differences in their own communities. 
Observing that death by firearms exceeds auto fatalities in many states, he 
urged those in attendance return to their homes and work for laws that 
would close the "Irish Pipe Line," gun runners bringing guns for resale 
from states that do not limit the purchase of handguns. Walker declared 
that the simple limiting of one handgun purchase per month would virtually 
eliminate the pipe line  within one year. 
 
    Since handgun violence prevention begins at home, requiring the 
purchase of safety locks with the purchase of handguns would save countless 
lives. Walker's address was received with great enthusiasm by those 
present. 
 
    The evening concluded with recognition of the 50th Anniversary Award 
Winners. The Public Policy Advocacy Team of the Presbytery of Baltimore 
received Effective Ministry in Speaking Truth to Power. The Leadership in 
Speaking Truth to Power was presented to Robert Howell White, Jr. executive 
of the Synod of the Northwest, who offered the closing prayer. 

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