Meet a Board Member: Chris Leifeld

This is the second installment of our "Meet a Board Member" series.  As a way for our network to get to know the JRLC leadership a bit better, each month we will be publishing a blog post written by a Board Member describing why they are dedicated to the work that JRLC does.

Meet Chris Leifeld, Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference:  

Since 2002, I have had the opportunity to serve on the board of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC), in my role as Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC). JRLC serves a vital role in Minnesota’s political landscape, speaking on behalf of the faith communities, represented by JRLC’s four sponsoring organizations, the MCC, the Minnesota Council of Churches, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Islamic Center of Minnesota.

The MCC works on behalf of Minnesota’s Catholic Bishops, addressing and advocating for state public policies that protect and support life from conception through natural death; place first the needs of those among us who are poor and vulnerable and promote the common good. 41 states have Catholic Conferences, promoting similar agendas at their state capitols. In conversations with my colleagues from the other state Catholic Conferences, it is impressive to see how fortunate we are to have the JRLC. Though there are other states where we see ecumenical or interfaith efforts in addressing public policy matters at state capitols, JRLC is unique in terms of the commitment it has from faith leaders to the work of JRLC, reflected in the faith entities strong financial support of JRLC and a willingness on all the four sponsors to approve and support a social justice legislative agenda.

A vital interfaith voice in Minnesota is even more important in these times where we have growing homelessness, increasing hunger and more and more people lacking healthcare. With a struggling state economy and difficult decisions facing Minnesota lawmakers in the upcoming 2010 session, strong leadership is needed on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. JRLC is a critical leader and voice on those issues. By coming together under the JRLC banner, we are able to have a united force to work for and build the common good.