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Tanya Ditty Archives – Concerned Women for America

Mar 17 2018
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Updated 3-17-18: Stay Informed: CWA of Georgia Capitol Watch

By | Georgia | No Comments

georgiastatecapitol

Read our 2017-2018 – Targeted Legislation List (updated 3-17-18)

The Georgia General Assembly convenes on Monday, January 8, and will run 40 days. Religious freedom, predatory gambling, marijuana cultivation, and LGBT special rights are among the issues we will be monitoring in the 2018 session. This is the second year of the 2017-2018 legislative cycle, so any bill introduced during the last session is still active until the end of this year.

You can depend on CWA of Georgia to actively represent you at the State Capitol in Atlanta. We have made it easy for you to track the progress of bills involving our 2018 legislative priorities that are aligned to CWA’s seven core issues. The targeted bill list and legislative scorecard will be updated regularly to include action items, links to committee and floor votes, and talking points to help you lobby from your kitchen table or laptop! In addition, we will provide specific ways to pray for pending legislation.

Helpful resources:

Jun 10 2017
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CWA of Georgia: Human Rights Prayer Rally and Celebration

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6-5-17 Update! Additional speakers added.

Click here for more information and to view flyer. Please print and distribute liberally.

Join us on Saturday, June 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a powerful time of prayer on behalf of minority babies being threatened by abortion and then a celebration of life.

Did you know October 16, 2016, was Planned Parenthood 100th anniversary?  100 years of death; tens of millions of babies have been murdered; millions of emotionally scarred mothers will never be the same.

This is an anniversary that Concerned Women for America (CWA) wished we’d never reached. That’s why CWA of Georgia is sponsoring a Human Rights Prayer Rally and Celebration. This is based on CWA national’s campaign – 100 No More: Defeating Sanger’s Dream, a human rights prayer rallies on behalf of minority babies. We not only want to shine a light on the dark intentions of Planned Parenthood’s founder Margaret Sanger, we also want to celebrate the lives saved through our women’s crises pregnancy centers.

In an age and society where minority rights are at the forefront, how can we ignore Sanger’s true intentions any longer? That’s why CWA of Georgia invites you to come hear Dr. Alveda King, founder of Alveda King Ministries and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Catherine Davis, Founder and President of The Restoration Project; Sancha Smith, CWA of Louisiana State Director; Charity Ana Cosio Lewis, Freelance Writer, and other invited guests.

Rally Location: (10:00 a.m.) Planned Parenthood, 220 Cobb Parkway N. #500, Marietta, GA 30062
Celebration Location: (11:00 a.m.) Women’s Pregnancy Center, 774 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060

We will leave Planned Parenthood at 10:55 a.m. and drive the short distance to the pregnancy center (approximately one-half mile). There you will have an opportunity to hear from a representative of the center, interact with our speakers and enjoy some light refreshments. Dr. King will speak at both locations. 

Feb 21 2017
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Sen. Marty Harbin Files Religious Freedom Bill

By | Georgia | No Comments

Resource Page for Georgia’s Religious Freedom Legislation

Religious Freedom Alert!
Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone) filed Senate Bill 233, a state-level religious freedom bill that mirrors the 1993 Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.  CWA of Georgia supported a similar bill in 2015. SB 233 provides religious liberty protections for people of all faiths living in Georgia.

Action item: Contact your state senator and urge him or her to support SB 233 when brought to the floor for a vote. Click here to find your state senator.

Educate yourself on the need for a state Religious Freedom Restoration Action in Georgia. Read through the resources provided by below.

Pray that our state legislators, Speaker, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and Governor will stand on the side of religious liberty and not buckle to the pressure of corporations who do not see the need to pass a religious liberty bill.

Online Resources

CWA of Georgia Talking Points: Why Georgia need a religious freedom bill.

State Religious Freedom Restoration Act Resources:
This document contains the following:

  • View Historical Timeline of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (As a result of 1997 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Georgians have been left vulnerable to state religious discrimination lawsuits.)
  • Read Remarks by President Bill Clinton (Remarks by President Bill Clinton on signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.)
  • What a Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does and Does Not Do
  • Recent Examples in Georgia of Religious Discrimination (Read actual examples of religious discrimination in Georgia.)

Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act Resources:
The Hobby Lobby/Conestoga Woods Decision

Others:

Religious Liberty is one of CWA’s Seven Core Issues on which we focus our efforts. CWA is concerned about the trend of government to diminish and disregard the God-given inalienable rights of individuals, and are working to see our government strengthen and renew its commitment to respect and protect each individual’s exercise of his God-given inalienable rights. Click to read more.

Nov 30 2016
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Merry Christmas Georgia (and Looking Ahead to 2017!)

By | Georgia | No Comments

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A hearty “Merry Christmas!” to you from Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Georgia. I pray this letter finds you enjoying the blessed Christmas season as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we come to the end of another busy and productive year, we at CWA of Georgia want to pause and pass along some of the accomplishments and blessings of 2016 to our faithful members and supporters. We want you to know how much we appreciate your participation in our work. Your prayers are always appreciated and without them our work would not be fruitful. 

 

Legislation, Policy and Events

  • Lobbied full-time under CWA Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) as volunteers during the Georgia legislative session.
  • Lobbied under CWALAC tirelessly for the passage of a broad-based religious protections bill that was passed by the state legislature, only to be vetoed by the governor.
  • Lobbied under CWALAC against and successfully stopped a state-level casino gambling bill and a public accommodations bill (i.e., “bathroom bill”).
  • Testified under CWALAC before several House and Senate committees.
  • Partnered with several other faith-based organizations and schools to sponsor Georgia’s first Religious Freedom Day at the State Capitol.
  • Spoke at a press conference under CWALAC in response to Gov. Nathan Deal’s veto of the religious freedom bill.
  • Participated in a press conference for Dr. Eric Walsh who was fired from a state job because of his religious beliefs.
  • Lobbied our Georgia Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. under CWALAC.
  • Attended CWA’s 100 No More Human Rights Prayer Rally in Washington, D.C.
  • Sponsored our 13th Annual Encourage-A-Legislator Prayer Project. Over 70 faithful members prayed for and encouraged our state lawmakers during the Georgia legislative session.
  • Met with the State School Superintendent, the State Board of Education Chairman, local school board members and local school district leadership to educate and voice opposition under CWALAC to the U.S. Department of Education directive on school bathrooms.
  • Actively opposed a private grant taken by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) to develop Social-Emotional Learning standards. I met with the State School Superintendent, State Board of Education members and several state legislators to educate on the dangers of these types of standards.  Because of the pressure put on the GaDOE by CWA of Georgia members, the grant money was returned. This was an enormous victory!

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CWA Is On The Move in Georgia – Will You Join Us In 2017?
I hope you will prayerfully consider joining with CWA of Georgia in one or all of the following ways:

  • Prayer/Action Chapters – The heart of CWA is prayer and action, and we believe we will only see change in our nation when we as God’s people commit to both prayer and action. We want to grow our Prayer/Action Chapters by five in 2017. Consider starting a local Chapter where members meet monthly to pray and act on issues affecting the family and our Judeo-Christian values. Learn more about our prayer/action chapters
  • Encourage-A-Legislator Prayer Project – 2017 will include our 14th Annual Encourage-A-Legislator Prayer Project. We would love to have you on our team of encouragers and ga-ealintercessors. Sign up today! Encourage a friend to do the same!
  • Encourage-A-Legislator Day at the State Capitol – Join us for our very first Encourage-A-Legislator Day at the State Capitol on February 8, 2017. Details about the event will be e-mailed to participants in the EAL project.
  • 100 No More Human Rights Prayer Rally – CWA of Georgia will host one of CWA’s 100 No More human rights national prayer rallies. In 100 years, Planned Parenthood has aborted over seven million babies. Over 30 percent of all Planned Parenthood abortions are performed on black mothers. We unite our voices and pray, “100 No More!” Details about the event will be e-mailed and posted on our state webpage (ga.cwfa.org).
  • CWA/YWA Partnership Event – We are in the planning stages of hosting our first ever event with CWA’s Young Women for America (YWA). We covet your prayers as we begin to plan this great event. Watch for more details to follow!
  • CWA of Georgia Leadership Team – To have an even greater impact in the state, CWA of Georgia is growing our state steering committee and grassroots activist team. Please pray for our state organization in this area, that the Lord will raise up like-minded women and men to help advance His kingdom values in the public policy arena. Perhaps the Lord might be moving you to get more involved with CWA of Georgia. Learn more about the positions here. Contact CWA of Georgia by phone at 770-617-1987 or email for more information on how you can get involved.
  • E-alert Response Team – Commit to faithfully praying and acting on the e-alerts we send out and forwarding them on to friends and family. Sign up today if you aren’t already on the list by e-mailing us at [email protected].

The Lord has called CWA of Georgia to be both salt and light in our state. We are working diligently in Georgia – standing for what is righteous, fighting for life and upholding faith and family.  But we cannot do this work as effectively without you.

Your generous tax-deductible year-end gift to CWA of Georgia will help us continue working on your behalf and our beautiful state. To support us financially, make your check payable to “Concerned Women for America” and send to CWA of Georgia, PO Box 671374, Marietta, GA 30066, or donate online. You will be sowing seeds into good soil!

Please know that what you do makes a difference!  We encourage you to continue standing for righteousness with us so that Biblical values are restored to our nation. Let’s honor God and His Word!

In Christ,
Tanya Ditty
State Director

Nov 01 2016
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Update: Georgia Attorney General Back Off Demand for Sermons.

By | Georgia | No Comments

Thank you for your phone calls and e-mails made last week to Gov. Nathan Deal and the Attorney General’s office concerning the ludicrous demands that Dr. Eric Walsh turn over copies of his sermon notes and transcripts to the State of Georgia. Because of public pressure, the Attorney General withdrew their request for Dr. Walsh’s sermon notes and transcripts!

While this was a huge victory, there is still work to do! The demand that Dr. Walsh turn over his sermon notes and transcripts was only one of five egregious requests on the part of the state against its own citizen. As was pointed out by First Liberty Institute’s Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys at the October 26, 2016 press conference, the State of Georgia is also demanding that Dr. Walsh submit the following:

  • Validation of Dr. Walsh’s credentials as a minister
  • Proof that Dr. Walsh has served as a minister with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination
  • Production of any and all contracts Dr. Walsh has, or has ever had, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, its subsidiaries or affiliates
  • A report to the State of Georgia on how—and how much—he has been compensated for producing and delivering his sermons

This invasive request by the State of Georgia (even though the state claims that Dr. Walsh was not fired on religious grounds) is a disturbing display of injustice, intolerance and outright government overreach into the sacred life of a pastor. The state’s actions in this case are reminiscent of the sort of “monitoring” the great German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer experienced in his time. We must demand an immediate end to this type of anti-religious bigotry on the part of state authorities.

Take Action Today!
On November 1, 2016, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Chris Carr to replace Sam Olens as Georgia’s Attorney General.  Contact Gov. Deal and urge him to instruct his newly appointed Attorney General to settle Dr. Walsh’s case.
Phone: 404-656-1776 | Online contact form

Contact Attorney General Chris Carr and urge him to settle Dr. Walsh’s case.
Phone: 404-656-3300 | Email

If you made calls last week, please call again. Gov. Deal and Attorney General Carr must hear from you!

Pray that Gov. Deal and the Attorney General will be God-fearing and recognize that they are accountable to Him for each decision and act. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

Tanya Ditty
State Director

Oct 27 2016
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Gov. Nathan Deal’s Georgia: “Pastors, Turn Over Your Sermon Notes.”

By | Georgia | No Comments

The witch hunt against people of faith in Georgia is on the rise. Remember Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran? He was fired by the City of Atlanta for writing a book on the Biblical view of marriage on his own time (read here, here, and here). In 2014, Dr. Eric Walsh accepted a job in Georgia as a district health director with the Georgia Department of Public Health (GPH). However, within a week of being hired, the GPH abruptly fired Dr. Walsh for his religious beliefs (read here and here).

You see, not only is Dr. Walsh a public health expert; he is also a lay minister. According to First Liberty Institute, who filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit in 2014 against the State of Georgia on behalf of Dr. Walsh, shortly after hiring Walsh, “state officials requested copies of his sermons and searched online for others. His sermon topics included following Christ, having compassion on the poor, health, marriage, sexuality, world religions, science, creationism, and more.”  Dr. Walsh was not fired for anything he said or did at work. Dr. Walsh was fired because of what he said outside of work. 

Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel for First Liberty, said: “If the government is allowed to fire someone over what he said in his sermons, then they can come after any of us for our beliefs on anything. We must ensure every American has the right to talk about their faith at church without getting fired or being barred from public service.” Read First Liberty Institute’s background on the case here.

Fast forward to today.  CWA of Georgia State Director Tanya Ditty attended a press conference (read CWA press release) yesterday at the Georgia State Capitol and listened as First Liberty Institute release this chilling information in their ongoing lawsuit against the State of Georgia, “the State of Georgia served a Request for Production of Documents on Dr. Walsh, which requires Dr. Walsh to surrender copies of all his sermon notes and transcripts.”  In this blatant government overreach by the State Attorney General’s office, the State gave no date limit or specific sermon topic to this request. What this means is that Dr. Walsh must turn over any and all sermon notes, whether written or typed, with no specific time period given. Any notes in Dr. Walsh’s Bible(s), journals, PowerPoint presentations, or even scribbled on a notepad is fair game for the Attorney General’s office.

This should concern all Georgians!  No one in Georgia should be fired from their job over their religious beliefs or over something they said in their church. Should a public school teacher lose his or her job simply because they teach a Sunday school class?  Should employees who work at the State Capitol be fired because they choose to lead a Bible study in their own home? Should an employee with the Department of Juvenile Justice be fired because they work with at-risk youth through a church-sponsored program? Should a receptionist at any state agency be fired for teaching ESL at their church?  According to the State of Georgia, yes they can.

Take Action Today!
Contact Gov. Nathan Deal and urge him to do the following:

  1. Take whatever action is necessary to settle Dr. Walsh’s case.
  2. Instruct the Attorney General not to demand sermon notes.

Phone: 404-656-1776 | Online contact form

Contact the State Attorney General’s Office and urge the Attorney General to withdraw the “Request for Production of Documents” that demands sermons and sermon notes.
Phone: 404-656-3300 | Email

Pray that Gov. Deal and the Attorney General will be God-fearing and recognize that they are accountable to Him for each decision and act. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” Proverbs 9:10.

Additional press conference articles and videos:

Jeremy Dys, an attorney with First Liberty Institute, speaks in defense of Dr. Eric Walsh at a press conference at the Georgia Capitol building. GERALD HARRIS/Index

Jeremy Dys, an attorney with First Liberty Institute, speaks in defense of Dr. Eric Walsh at a press conference at the Georgia Capitol building. GERALD HARRIS/Index

May 02 2016
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CWA of Georgia Recommends These Two Events

By | Georgia | No Comments

NDP-Slider-WakeUpAmerica

    Georgia National Day of Prayer 2016
    When: Thursday, May 5
    Time: Noon – 1:00 p.m. Music will begin 11:15 a.m.
    Location: Liberty Plaza, across from the State Capitol in Atlanta

 

 

rtm Road to Majority – The Premier Event for People of Faith and Conservative Activists
When: Thursday, June 9 – Saturday, June 11
Where: Omni Shoreham Hotel 2500 Calvert St NW Washington, DC 20008
For more information to go roadtomajority.com and be sure to put in promotional code CWA when you register!

 

CWA of Georgia State Director Tanya Ditty attended this event last year and she will tell you she was not disappointed!  Make plans to attend this year. Come be educated on an array of issues from well-known speakers, enjoy fellowship with hundreds of like-minded individuals and get equipped during CWA breakout sessions.

Apr 05 2016
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Georgia’s 2016 Legislative Wrap-Up

By | Georgia | No Comments

Concerned Women for America of Georgia Legislative Action Committee
2016 Legislative Session Wrap Up

 The fast-paced 2016 state legislative session came to a close at midnight on March 24. The 40-day session opened on January 11, and State Director Tanya Ditty represented your interests as a volunteer lobbyist at the State Capitol throughout the entire legislative session.

Concerned Women for America’s seven core issues are: Sanctity of Life, Defense of Family, Education, Religious Liberty, National Sovereignty, Sexual Exploitation, and Support for Israel. Legislation this session encompassed several of these core issues. On-the-ground lobbying efforts combined with grassroots prayer and action gets results! Without calls and e-mails from CWA members and friends, successes would have been more difficult to achieve.

CWA of Georgia had an aggressive list of legislative priorities for the 2016 legislative session.  Many of the legislative priorities were not addresses by the General Assembly this year. We did want to highlight for you a few of the bills that we fought hard to support or oppose.

Religious Freedom
VETO-stampAfter a three-year battle to pass a religious freedom bill in Georgia, a compromise was reached between the House and Senate, and HB 757, the Free Exercise Protection Act was passed. Less than two weeks later, Gov. Nathan Deal caved and vetoed the bill. Was HB 757 perfect?  No.  Was the compromise bill worth supporting? Yes. Georgians saw nothing unreasonable in this legislation, yet Gov. Deal chose to turn his back on people of faith. Read CWA of Georgia press release.

In a poll taken by national pollster Clout Research after the passage of HB 757, this question was posed:  Should Gov. Nathan Deal sign the [religious freedom] legislation?  Sixty-six percent agreed that Gov. Deal should sign the legislation. There was majority support for the bill across political parties, in all fourteen congressional districts and across all demographic groups.  The poll also showed that 80 percent said the tide of political correctness has run amuck in this state, endangering our fundamental right to freedom of conscience – the right to think and believe what we want without fear of punishment.

At a press conference following the veto announcement, CWA of Georgia State Director Tanya Ditty made this statement, “Clearly Gov. Deal is out of touch with the people of our state. This is why people are angry with the politicians in our nation. They are elected to represent the will of the people – not Hollywood values, not Wall Street values. They are elected to represent the voters of Georgia, and that does not preclude the people of faith.”

Sadly, Gov. Deal sold our religious freedom protections for thirty pieces of silver. Instead of signing a bill that provided broad-based religious freedom protections for all Georgians, Deal buckled to the pressure of the LBGT community, the film industry, the NFL, Atlanta’s hometown teams the Falcons, Braves and Hawks, and large corporate interests, such as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Home Depot, Delta, Coca Cola, SunTrust, UPS, Disney, and Salesforce.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Speaker David Ralston have vowed to work on religious freedom legislation next year. There is a strong appetite for religious liberty in this state, and CWA of Georgia will continue to work tirelessly until a broad-based religious protections bill is passed and signed by the governor.

lobby 1Defense of Family
STOPPED sign“Georgia Civil Rights in Public Accommodations Act”
Introduced by Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna), HB 849 would have placed in state code the federal code that prohibits public accommodations discrimination. Taken at face value, this bill posed no dangers to Georgians. However, CWA of Georgia opposed HB 849 for several reasons. First, HB 849 was not necessary – public accommodation protections are already codified in 42 U.S.C. Section 2000a.

Second, HB 849 could have easily been amended to include “sexual orientation”. Data shows that of the 45 states that have embodied the federal code in their respective state code, 22 states now prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and 18 prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

Third, HB 849 was amended in committee to include “sex.” Here was the danger in the amendment: the Obama administration has deemed “sex” an elastic term, and regards “gender” (how one feels) synonymous with “sex” (biology), and is aggressively embedding “gender” as a part of federal policy, including Title IX funding.  As recent as December 2015, a Chicago suburb high school must now allow a transgendered male to female student full access to female restrooms and locker rooms or risk losing Title IX funding.  Passing the bill could have had grave consequences for our public school students.

Lastly, CWA of Georgia opposes any real or potential Sexual Orientation Gender Identity nondiscrimination legislation, i.e., “bathroom bills”, which would allow transgendered men and women to utilize the bathrooms, showers and locker rooms of their choice.

Stopping HB 849 was a victory for the privacy and safety of women and children.

Gambling: Casinos and horse racing
STOPPED signThe efforts to expand predatory gambling via casinos and pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing were stopped for this year! The following bills were passed out of their respective committees but were not voted on by either the House or Senate.

  • HR 807, the proposed constitutional amendment for casino gambling and HB 677, the enabling legislation for HR 807.  Bill sponsor: Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah).
  • SR 135, the proposed constitutional amendment to allow pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and SB 264, the enabling legislation for SR 135. Bill sponsor: Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta).

Stopping the gambling bills was a major victory, because any form of gambling is destructive and causes irreversible harm on individuals and families.

Marijuana:  In-state cultivation of marijuana
STOPPED signIntroduced by Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), HB 722 sought to permit in-state cultivation of marijuana for the purpose of extracting cannabis oil for medicinal purposes. The bill would have also expanded the medical conditions eligible for medical marijuana (cannabis oil). HB 722 passed the House but died in the Senate.

CWA of Georgia opposed HB 722 because it would have brought Georgia one step closer to the outright legalization of recreational marijuana.

Education
Textbook transparency
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville), HB 739  provides for an open and transparent approval process for state and local instructional materials and content. The bill also requires school districts to post online the textbooks that are currently be used in their schools. HB 739 passed the legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature. CWA of Georgia supported this bill.

Digital Learning Platform transparency bill
Sponsored by Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick), SB 281 would require schools to notify parents prior to using any digital learning platform. The bill was tabled in the Senate Education and Youth Committee. CWA of Georgia supported this bill.

You can review all the bills that CWA of Georgia tracked this year by clicking here.

Encourage-A-Legislator Prayer Project
This was CWA of Georgia’s thirteenth year to pray for and send note cards of encouragement to state legislators. Scripture commands us in I Timothy 2:2 to pray for “kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness,” and over 60 volunteers did just that!  These volunteers prayed and encouraged 100 state legislators during the 40-day session. 

So what lies ahead in 2016?
One doesn’t need to look far to see that powerful forces are at work to destroy not only our state and nation, but our culture, our families and our way of life. But even in these unsettling times, God had promised restoration to that nation whose people will humble themselves and pray.

In the midst of attacks on our faith, it is easy for people of faith to retreat and to simply close their hearts and minds to the madness happening all around them.

But we can do the opposite! Instead of retreating and closing off the world, CWA of Georgia is boldly moving forward in strength and confidence, seeking God’s face and calling on Him to reset our state…as we work to restore our foundational stones. CWA CEO and President Penny Nance said this, “During this time in our country’s history – with the cultural battle raging around us – it’s never been more important that the voice of conservative women be heard – loud and clear.”

Get involved with CWA of Georgia
Psalm 11:3 says “When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?” If you are interested in becoming a leader who thinks big and would like to be where the action is, we have a place for you!  Click here for exciting CWA opportunities.

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Mar 17 2016
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Religious Liberty Bill Heads to Governor Who May Not Sign It

By | Georgia | No Comments

Calls and/or e-mails needed immediately!

HB 757, the “Free Exercise Protection Act” passed both the House and Senate on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, and is now on the way to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. HB 757 was a compromise bill between the House and Senate that provides broad-based religious protections for all Georgians. We are not assured that Gov. Deal will sign the bill so it critical that calls are made to him immediately.
Contact Gov. Deal and urge him to sign HB 757.

Phone: 404-656-1776 | E-mail

Pray that Gov. Deal will be God fearing and recognize that he is accountable to Him for each decision and act. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10.

Dec 01 2015
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Merry Christmas Georgia (and Looking Ahead to 2016!)

By | Georgia | No Comments

Dear Faithful Friend,

Concerned Women for America of Georgia wishes you a very Merry Christmas filled with peace and joy!

Jesus came into a world much like today – a world full of unrest but He came offering something that only He could offer.  He gave a gift for our minds and hearts in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  Whatever troubles and unrest we face as families or as a nation, they are not new to God – Ecclesiastes 1:9.  If we’ll turn to Him, He’ll heal our land – 2 Chronicles 7:14.  With God all things are possible – Mark 10:27.  So, in this fast-paced, every-day’s-a-race world, doesn’t the idea of a trouble-free heart and stress-free mind sound like a wonderful idea?  May the reminder of John 14:27 be our gift to you this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our King!

As we come to the end of another very busy year, we at CWA of Georgia want to pause and pass along some of the accomplishments and blessings of 2015 to our faithful members and supporters. We want you to know how much we appreciate your participation in our work. Your prayers are always worthy and without them our work would not be fruitful.

State Legislative Session
CWA of Georgia members were represented throughout the 40-day legislative session. During the legislative session, CWA of Georgia:

  • Lobbied for the passage of the state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB129).  State Director Tanya Ditty testified at four hearings for SB 129. CWA of Georgia members took their time to travel to the State Capitol to lobby and attend the hearings.  We are so grateful for our faithful members!
  • Participated in the Standing for Our Faith rally in support of fired Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran and participated in the Second Annual Religious Freedom rally.  Hundreds of Georgia citizens poured into the State Capitol to take a stand for religious freedom!
  • Lobbied for the passage of the Advanced Placement U.S. History resolution. CWA of Georgia members attended the joint House and Senate Education Committee hearing on the revised Advanced Placement (anti) U.S. History Curriculum Framework and Exam.
  • Sponsored our 11th Annual Encourage-A-Legislator Prayer Project. Over 120 faithful members prayed for and encouraged our state lawmakers during the Georgia legislative session.

Throughout the Year

  • Attended the Road to Majority Conference in Washington, D.C.  This event was co-sponsored by Concerned Women for America and Faith & Freedom Coalition.  Conservatives leaders from around the country descended on Capitol Hill to lobby on critical legislation, attended leadership training, and heard from over ten presidential candidates.
  • Joined pro-life groups from across the state and nation to peacefully rally for life in front of Planned Parenthood clinics.
  • State Director Tanya Ditty testified before a joint House and Senate study committee which is considering expanding predatory gambling in Georgia.

CWA of Georgia is making a difference in our state!  Check out just a few of our 2015 pictures.

Looking ahead to 2016
I hope you will prayerfully consider joining with CWA of Georgia in one or all of the following ways:

  • The heart of CWA is prayer and action, believing we will only see change in our nation when we as God’s people commit to both prayer and action. We want to grow our Prayer/Action Chapters by ten in 2016. Considering starting a local Prayer/Action Chapter where members meet monthly to pray and act on issues affecting the family and our Judeo-Christian values.  Click here for more information.
  • 2016 will include our 13th Annual Encourage-A-Legislator Project.  Click here to sign up and encourage a friend to do the same.
  • Participate in our Religious Freedom Day at the State Capitol on February 10. More information to come!
  • Lobby our state legislature on CWA of Georgia’s 2016 legislative priorities.
  • Learn how you can be proactive in helping create a safe environment in your schools and communities by attending our “Saying No to Bathroom Bills” training seminars.
  • Stay informed.  For information on state events, where to hear your State Director speak in person, how to get involved, and stay updated with legislative E-alerts, visit our website at ga.cwfa.org, visit our Facebook at Concerned Women for America of Georgia, or feel free to contact me with any questions at: [email protected].

The Lord has called CWA of Georgia to be both salt and light in our state. We are working diligently in Georgia – standing for what is righteous, fighting for life, and upholding faith and family. But we cannot do this work as effectively without you.

Your tax-deductible year-end gift to CWA of Georgia will help us continue working on your behalf and our beautiful state. Donations sent to P.O. Box 671374, Marietta, GA 30066 stay in Georgia for our projects. Gifts to our national Washington, D.C., office are utilized for national issues.

Click here if you would like to donate online to CWA of Georgia.  You will be sowing seeds into good soil!

Please know that what you do makes a difference!  We encourage you to continue standing for righteousness so that we will see Biblical values restored to our nation. Let’s honor God and His Word!

Thank you again. Together with God we are making a difference. God bless you abundantly.

In Christ,
Tanya Ditty
State Director

Nov 09 2015
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Action Alert! Gambling: A Bad Bet for Georgia Families

By | Georgia | No Comments

Action Alert!

The expansion of state-sponsored predatory gambling could be heading to Georgia if some state lawmakers have their way. In the last week of the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) introduced legislation that would open the door for up to six casino resorts in Georgia.  For this to happen, the state legislature must first pass the proposed constitutional amendment, which requires a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. If passed, the casino amendment will be put before the voters on the November 2016 statewide ballot.  If passed by the voters, state lawmakers must then pass the enabling legislation, which will specify how casinos will be operated and regulated.

A study committee is holding hearings to vet the draft legislation.  The latest hearing was held in Savannah on November 2, 2015.  I represented CWA of Georgia at the hearing and testified in opposition to the proposed gambling constitutional amendment.  Concerned Women for America opposes all forms of gambling, and you can be sure that your voice will be continued to be represented on this issue.

Action Item: The 2016 legislative session starts in just over two months, and we need calls made to legislators TODAY to stop the legislation. Will you please call your state senator and representative TODAY and urge them to vote against any gambling legislation.  If your legislators tell you they want the people of Georgia to decide on gambling, respectfully tell them no thank you.  Don’t let them punt their legislative responsibility on such an important issue! This is a state issue, so please be sure you contact your state legislators. Click here to locate your state legislators.

Pray specifically for your legislators, that they will truly understand the dangers gambling will bring to Georgia families. Pray they will have the moral courage to oppose the efforts by representatives of the lucrative gambling industry who unashamedly seek to exert their influence in the political process.

CWA talking points on the expansion of gambling in Georgia

Video resources

Articles

Anti-gambling organizations

Sep 25 2015
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Updated 10-8-15 “One Generation Away” Movie Viewings – Defending Religious Liberty in Georgia

By | Georgia | No Comments

You are invited!
Attend the viewing of “One Generation Away”, a timely movie that reveals how quickly First Amendment freedoms can disappear if Americans do not remain vigilant to defend them. “One Generation Away” is the winner of five Dove Awards and was awarded Best Documentary in the 2015 Christian Worldview Film Festival.

Date: Monday, October 19, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: The Praise Center, 1857 US-78, Monroe, GA 30655
Additional Details: Directly following the movie there will be a question and answer session with Congressman Jody Hice and movie Director Ken Carpenter.  Click here for press release.

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Calhoun Community Church, 222 WC Bryant Parkway, Calhoun, GA 30701
Additional Details: Directly following the movie there will be a question and answer session with movie Director Ken Carpenter, Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, and Sen. Josh McKoon, the sponsor of Georgia’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB 129).   Click here for press release.

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2015
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: First Baptist Church of Ellijay, 164 Dalton Street, Ellijay, GA 30540
Additional Details: Directly following the movie there will be a question and answer session with movie Director Ken Carpenter, Sen. Steve Gooch, and Sen. Josh McKoon, the sponsor of Georgia’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB 129). Other legislators, including the Speaker of the House, David Ralston, may also attend if their schedules permit.    Click here for press release.

Check back frequently – additional dates will be added in the coming weeks.

Aug 18 2015
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Education Alert: GaDOE Seeks Feedback on Science & Social Studies Standards

By | Georgia | No Comments

Georgia citizens have an opportunity to provide critical feedback on the current K-12 Science and Social Studies standards. Would you please take time today to review the standards and provide constructive feedback to the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE)?  The deadline to submit responses is September 15 at midnight EST.

Please see GaDOE media alert below:

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August 12, 2015 – The Georgia Department of Education is seeking public feedback as it conducts a review of the Science and Social Studies K-12 standards. After this process is complete, the new standards will be implemented in the 2017-18 school year.

Click here to provide input on the current standards.* This is a user-friendly, brief survey for professionals, parents and families, community members, students, and others.

“Educators have already given us valuable feedback on the current standards, and we wanted to make sure the public had a chance to weigh in as well,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “I’m committed to ensuring guaranteed, viable standards – standards that are appropriate and fully vetted. That can’t be done without input from all education stakeholders.”

Responses to this survey will be added to the educator responses and will be considered when Working Committees draft the revised standards.

The deadline to submit responses is September 15 at midnight EST.

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*Additional suggestion for completing the survey:

The survey allows feedback for each individual grade-level and course. We recommend reviewing the standards one grade level/course at a time.  The survey allows for written comments, so you might want to type any comments in a word processing program and then copy/paste into the comment box within the survey.

Make a difference today in Georgia’s education.  Complete the standards review survey today!

Aug 18 2015
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Update! Georgia Agencies Complete Review of Planned Parenthood Southeast

By | Georgia | No Comments

On July 26, 2015, Gov. Nathan Deal directed the Department of Community Health and the Department of Public Health to conduct a joint review of the clinics run by Planned Parenthood Southeast in Georgia to ensure that Planned Parenthood Southeast is not in the business of selling aborted baby body parts.  Both agencies have visited the five Georgia Planned Parenthood clinics and have released their findings. Both agencies report that the clinics are following current state law for the burial or interment of the remains of aborted babies.

Department of Public Health Planned Parenthood Report

Department of Community Health Planned Parenthood Report 

 

 

Aug 07 2015
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CWA of Georgia Recommends Defending Our Religious Liberties Seminar on September 1, 2015

By | Georgia | No Comments

Concerned Women for America of Georgia highly recommends the upcoming Defending Our Religious Liberties Seminar hosted by Citizen Impact, USA on September 1, 2015 at Berean Baptist Church in Lilburn, Georgia.

We are on a collision course in this country over religious liberties. It is critical to become engaged in the battle and an important step is to be educated on this issue.

I hope you will plan to attend this informative event. Be sure to stop by the CWA table!

Click here for event information.

Tanya Ditty
State Director