Purpose:
The purpose of Advocacy Day is to increase capacity, confidence and connections among people of faith to work with lawmakers for change. Folks from throughout the state gather at the Capitol in Lansing to talk with state representatives and senators about the budget and policy. Through training and experience, participants expand on their skills to advocate for other issues at the local, county and national levels. Advocacy Day is an active ministry of the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church.
History:
During the 2022 Annual Conference, Michigan United Methodists voted to advocate for gun safety legislation with state lawmakers. As a result, the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church held its first annual Advocacy Day in 2023. Several hundred people have gathered annually from nearly every house and senate district, including community partners and members from many faith backgrounds. Past themes have included: increasing gun safety, access to mental health care, and fixing the crisis in care gap from the 2019 auto insurance reform.
Focus 2026:
The focus for Advocacy Day 2026 is to thank lawmakers for supporting those who hunger in Michigan and, despite the state's revenue shortfall, find a way to continue these essential services. One is six adult Michiganders struggle with food security according to the 2023 census. As food prices have rise, wages have not kept up and federal funding has shifted leading to increased food insecurity. Advocacy Day is schedule for Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Community Partner:
The 2026 community partner is the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM). FBCM connects and supports seven regional food banks, all of which are part of the national Feeding America network. FBCM has led Michigan through the crisis of the pandemic, tornadoes, floods and the most recent government shutdown. The FBCM's mission is to create a food secure state through advocacy, resource management, and collaboration among stakeholders and Michigan's unified food bank network.