By Michael Motes

In an effort to acquaint churchmen of the state with the intricacies of the various departments of Georgia Government, the Georgia Interchurch Association, sponsored a daylong Churchmen’s Legislative Seminar in Atlanta last week.

Approximately 70 persons representing different religious groups attended the seminar at Central Presbyterian Church. Archbishop Donnellan of Atlanta and Bishop Raymond Lessard and Vicar General Father Kevin Boland of Savannah were among those representing the Catholic Church.

Cheatham E. Hodges, Jr., of Augusta, executive secretary of the Georgia Catholic Conference, served as Legislative Task Force Chairman for the Georgia Interchurch Association and organized the seminar.

“What we attempted to do,” Hodges said, “was to show that government really is of the people and to develop better understanding by the heads of various church groups, and their advisors of how the government works.”

Planning for the seminar, began last October when Bishop Lessard, president of the Georgia Interchurch Association, appointed Hodges to serve as a resource person for activities of the organization.

Hodges recommended dealing in the realm of education and that a program be planned to assemble judicatory heads and council members with government spokesmen.

Following a welcome by Norman L. Underwood, executive secretary to Gov. George Busbee, a two-part discussion of “How a Bill Becomes a Law” was conducted by Dr. Edward Jackson of the Institute of Government of the University of Georgia; House of Representatives Speaker Tom Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller.

The lieutenant governor praised those persons attending and commented, “I wish we had more citizens taking part in such seminars.”

Frank H. Edwards, Legislative Counsel of the Georgia Assembly, described the functions of his office. A discussion of the state budget was led by Peter Hackney and James McIntyre of the governor’s budget staff.

Representative Sidney J. Marcus of the House Health and Ecology Committee drew many questions from the audience when he stated he favored reducing the use of marijuana from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Speaking on various state legislative committees and their functions were Representative Wayne Snow of the Judiciary Committee; Representative Albert W. Thompson of the Special Judiciary Committee; Senator Howard T. Overby of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senator W. W. Fincher, Jr., of the Human Resources; Dr. Allen Ault, Director of Offender Rehabilitation, and Commissioner Sam Caldwell of the Department of Labor.

Members of the Task Force established by Bishop Lessard concluded the program. In addition to Hodges, Representative Eleanor L. Richardson, Task Force Secretary, and the Reverend Lowry W. Anderson, Executive Director, Georgia Council on Moral and Civic Concerns, make up the committee.

Speaking after the seminar, Hodges said he feels it was “an excellent starting point of the education of various judicatory leadership. They, in turn, can render a valuable service for the common good of all Georgians.”

Executing such a seminar is but one of Hodges’ functions as Executive Secretary of Georgia Catholic Conference is to give witness to spiritual values in public affairs, and to provide an agency for corporate Catholic service to the statewide community. The conference formulates policy positions on Georgia governmental programs, legislation and policies which affect the common good and interest of the Church.

Future programs planned by the Georgia Interchurch Association include creating a task force on criminal justice and penal reform.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, the association will sponsor a daylong seminar on “The Local Church’s Ministry to the Campus” at the Admiral Benbow Inn at I-285 and Buford Highway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In April the executive board of the association will meet during Holy Week at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers.

The Reverend Jackson Braddy is coordinator of the Georgia Interchurch Association, which is located at 159 Forrest Avenue, N.E., Room 410, Atlanta 30308.