O u r  M i s s i o n

The Foundry Democracy Project is a Mission of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. The Foundry Democracy Project seeks to educate the Federal government and the public at large of the moral need to provide voting representation in Congress to the people of the District of Columbia.

The Democracy Project endorses no party, candidate, or political solution to the disenfranchisement of the District (e.g., statehood, retrocession to Maryland, constitutional amendment, etc.). The FDP seeks to elevate the debate above issues like the mayor, or the control board, and focus on one overriding question:

O u r  H i s t o r y

Is it moral to disenfranchise half a million people from a government to which they give their taxes, their service, their loyalty, and, in times of war, their lives?

We believe the answer is clearly "no." When enough people come to understand the immorality of the present situation, and appreciate the moral imperative for change, we believe that change will come. As such, we do not take a position on the form that change should take, and only seek to lay the moral foundation for future activity.

O u r  S o u r c e s o f  I n s p i r a t i o n

As good Methodists, we look to Scripture and to the United Methodist Book of Discipline. The Book of Discipline's "Social Principles" tell us that:

• "The form and the leaders of all governments should be determined by exercise of the right to vote guaranteed to all adult citizens..."; and
• "The strength of a political system depends on the full and willing participation of its citizens."

Where the people cannot vote for the government that has ultimate control over their lives, as the Congress has over the District of Columbia, then they cannot give their "full and willing participation" and neither are the form and leaders of that government chosen by the exercise of the right to vote of any Washingtonian.

When we look to Scripture we are reminded of the lessons of 1 Samuel. In that book we are told of the Israelites' desire for a king:

But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you." (I Samuel 8:7-8)

The message of this passage is clear. God and God alone is the true sovereign. Earthly forms of government which place the rights of some people below those of others, unjustly exalt some at the expense of others and lead away from a recognition that only God is to be exalted. The Hebrew scriptures are replete with examples of righteousness and justice being favorable in God's eyes and therefore providing favor for Israel. In the New Testament we read of Jesus' teaching that all are equal before God -- that all have a place in the Kingdom of God.

We might not recognize these Scriptural models as anything resembling our modern liberal democracies, but the underlying principle is the same: where there is democracy and equality, the recognition of God's sovereignty is easiest. Thus, democracy is the clearest acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God and of the equality of all before God.

Finally, we take note of the words of the great Christian theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, who wrote: "Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible - Man's inclination toward injustice makes democracy necessary." We concur.

O u r  C h u r c h

Foundry United Methodist is a large, diverse, reconciling congregation located in downtown Washington, D.C. at the corner of 16th and P Streets, NW. Foundry is at the center of ministering to the needs of the city and has missions to address hunger, homelessness, poverty, and many other important mission focuses. Over the years, Foundry has been the church of a number of well-known figures in politics and government, including Abraham Lincoln, George McGovern, Robert and Elizabeth Dole, and President and Mrs. Clinton.

If ever you are in Washington, we invite you to come worship with us at Foundry. We guarantee you will feel at home!

 C o n t a c t  U s

Foundry Democracy Project
Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20006

Ph. (202) 332-4010
Fax (202) 332-4035
E-mail foundrydemocracy@earthlink.net