STATEMENT to WV STATE SENATORS OPPOSING HB 5319

“The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” 1 John 4:20–21

Many followers of Christ across the state denounce HB 5319. Echoing the WV Council of Churches, we ask that legislators consider instead, “that the practice of the Christian faith calls us to minister to the homeless and others in economic distress through a variety of ministries including feeding, clothing, and housing programs.” 

As followers of Christ, we believe in a God who created all beings and loves all creation. And in this nation full of plenty, Christians ask God to open our hearts so that when we see a person in need of a place to sleep, rather than wanting them to be disappeared into a jail cell, we look at them the way God would and ask, “How can I help?”

Instead of legislation that offers help, the WV House of Delegates passed HB 5319 on March 3^rd.  Under the bill, anyone found in violation of the “camping ban” would first be given a written warning; second violation would subject the person to a misdemeanor and fined $200; and third violation would be punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or incarceration in jail for up to 30 days. 

Believing that homeless people are to blame for their plight allows us to sleep at night, pray with others in our faith, and tell ourselves that the people experiencing homelessness aren’t the ones for whom our sacred texts call on us to care. 

Churches and congregations who serve the homeless understand that criminalizing homelessness and a human being’s fundamental need to sleep will not end homelessness. 

In fact we are certain that HB 5319 will create a revolving door between homelessness and jail, prevent people from getting on a path to stable housing, and make it harder for service providers and law enforcement to focus on solutions that center human dignity. We cannot disappear human beings, nor expect that people experiencing homelessness have the money to pay any fine.  

The solution to people sleeping outside and living in encampments is access to housing and the services they need to get better. 

We ask that WV state senators roundly reject consideration of HB 5319, a bill that is antithetical to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. 

West Virginia Council of Churches

Rev. Dr. Doug Dyson – Executive Director

Member Bodies:

The African Methodist Episcopal Church

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

American Baptist Churches USA

West Virginia Baptist Convention

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church

Diocese of Oakland, Charleston and the Mid-Atlantic

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia

Church of the Brethren

West Marva District

Shenandoah District

Virgina District

Coptic Orthodox Church

Diocese of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and all its territories

The Episcopal Church, USA

Diocese of West Virginia

The Right Reverend Matthew Cowden

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod 

Greek Orthodox Church

Metropolis of Pittsburgh

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Presbytery of West Virginia 

Shenandoah Presbytery

Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery

Synod of the Trinity

Synod of the Mid-Atlantic

Roman Catholic Church

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

The Salvation Army

Charleston WV Area Command

Potomac Division

United Church of Christ

Heartland Conference

Central Atlantic Conference

United Methodist Church

West Virginia Conference

Baltimore-Washington Conference

Additional Signatories:

American Friends Service Committee - West Virginia

Lida Shepherd - Program Director

West Virginia Faith Collective

Rev. Jenny Williams (she/her) - Co-Chair

Baptist Creation Care Initiative - Berkeley Springs, WV

Rev. Dr. Katherine Smith - Executive Director 

Central/H&H Chapel/Trinity United Methodist Churches

Rev. Brad Bennett – Pastor

United Methodist Temple Clarksburg WV 

North View United Methodist Church Clarksburg WV 

Rev. Sarah E. Allen - United Methodist Elder 

Barrackville & Monumental United Methodist Churches

Rev. Cheryl George – Pastor

Rev. Dr. Thaddaeus B. Allen

Regional Minister and President the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia

Rev. Zach Drennen – Rector

St James Episcopal Church, Lewisburg

Rev. Damon Rhodes, Parkersburg WV. 

Rose Ann Hefner, CSJ

Rev Linda Muhly, retired ELCA