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Dateline Sacramento (06/18/2009)


Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
June 18, 2009
THIS WEEK’S DATELINE SACRAMENTO TAKES ON A DIFFERENT FORMAT
A message from Ron Prentice, California Family Council’s CEO: 
Recognizing the importance of marriage’s definition in the battle for California’s culture, California Family Council’s Board of Directors has approved a formal sharing of my time with the Protect Marriage (PM.com) coalition. I have been hired to serve as the executive director of the newly formed education and action organizations under the PM.com umbrella. My responsibilities at California Family Council (CFC) will continue. Currently, the activities of the coalition include ongoing grassroots development for the purpose of expanding our reach with marriage policy education, and responding to the federal lawsuit filed against Proposition 8. The Proposition 8 Legal Defense Fund, led by PM.com’s legal counsel Andrew Pugno, is managing the coalition’s response to this suit.   
Meanwhile, California Family Council’s primary mission and attention to its guiding pillars of the sanctity of human life, the protection of traditional marriage and the authority of parents continues in strength.
·          In the past three weeks, CFC has had opportunity to speak to more than 500 pastors on California’s cultural and legislative issues.
·          Committed to helping Christians view and respond to society from a biblical worldview perspective, CFC has completed 10 Truth Project Training Seminars thus far in 2009, and several more are already scheduled for the summer and fall.
·          Every month, more ‘Salt and Light’ outreach efforts are being started in churches, and our Strategic Forum meetings serve to encourage and develop lay leaders for these ministries. In addition, the leadership of the Forums – region by region – is grasping the urgency of our times and responding with tactics for significant community impact.
Still, California Family Council gives major time and effort to the legislative matters of the state. Our legislative coordinator, Everett Rice, helps to guide CFC’s analyses and strategic activities. For more than a decade, the conservative voice in our Legislature has been impotent due to the imbalance of party representation. Because of this, providing testimony at hearings is not always the best use of our time, as a committee’s decision is often made long before it offers the public opportunity to comment. 
In fact, there is growing consensus that California’s legislative direction will not change unless California’s Legislative membership changes! This is a huge undertaking, and cannot be accomplished by a single organization. A coalition is forming from the momentum gained from Prop 8’s success, and we ask for your prayers as plans take shape.
We are fortunate to have two collegiate interns serving with Everett in our Sacramento office. To date, Desiree and Jason have assisted us with our new Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace and Twitter accounts, compiled extensive research for a fact sheet on cohabitation vs. marriage, and supported Everett in his daily work in the Capitol Building.
Thank you for your attention to this update! As an organization that depends upon the charitable generosity of donors, we owe you these accountability reports. CFC is encouraged by the kindness and trust of its constituents. Please let us know how we can assist you, and if you are able to support us with your financial help at this time, click here.
With Gratitude,

 
Ron Prentice
 
California Links
San Francisco –The culture battle over marriage continues to be waged in the courtroom. Currently, in federal court, a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act is under way. However, the United States Department of Justice recently filed a motion to dismiss a homosexual couple’s lawsuit, arguing they have “no standing” in federal court. Read More in the Christian Post.
Sacramento – Despite the severity of California’s fiscal situation and the projected deficit in excess of $24 billion, the governor and legislators remain unable to find an agreeable solution. The saga continues as the state braces for insolvency. Chronicled n the San Jose Mercury News, is the state’s spending practices. Meanwhile, yesterday the Governor declined to support the budget as outlined by the joint committee’s report because it contained tax increases. Read more in the Sacramento Bee.
MODESTO – How important is family time? A recent report indicates that families are spending less time together. This may actually be a result of the rise in the use of the internet. Read more in the Modesto Bee.
Opportunity “knocks”
RIVERSIDE – California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is a prerequisite to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture with its subjective claims of truth. 
Make plans now to attend one of the upcoming seminars to learn about a biblical worldview and matching your belief system to your actions; equip yourself to lead others through this DVD series that asks, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?” Find out more! 
*June 27 at Diamond Bar Evangelical Free Church in Diamond Bar
*July 18 at Peoples Church in Fresno
 
 
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