legislative advocacy 101 for the faith community presenter: the rev. sandra l. strauss director of...
TRANSCRIPT
Legislative Advocacy 101for the Faith Community
Presenter:Presenter:
The Rev. Sandra L. StraussThe Rev. Sandra L. Strauss
Director of Public AdvocacyDirector of Public Advocacy
Pennsylvania Council of ChurchesPennsylvania Council of Churches
Parable of the Recent Convert
"Isn’t it great that our faith "Isn’t it great that our faith allowed us to be here allowed us to be here during this time of need for during this time of need for that person?"that person?"
Parable of the Recent Convert
"Isn’t it great that our faith "Isn’t it great that our faith allowed us to be here allowed us to be here during this time of need for during this time of need for that person?"that person?"
"Yes. But why don’t we go "Yes. But why don’t we go to the top of the river, find to the top of the river, find out what is causing these out what is causing these people to come to harm and people to come to harm and stop it?”stop it?”
Church Exists for the Sake of the Neighbor
We are called to witness publicly We are called to witness publicly & to provide leadership& to provide leadership
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart ... And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." In this complex age, one way we love our neighbors is to help shape the laws and policies that define how we live together in God's world.
From the Home Page of the PC(USA) Washington Office:www.pcusa.org/washington.
Scriptural Imperatives for “Faith Shaped” Advocacy Numerous calls for justiceNumerous calls for justice
Scriptural Imperatives for “Faith Shaped” Advocacy Numerous calls for justiceNumerous calls for justice
Isaiah 1:17—”Isaiah 1:17—”…seek justice, rescue the …seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”widow.”
Scriptural Imperatives for “Faith Shaped” Advocacy Numerous calls for justiceNumerous calls for justice
Isaiah 1:17—”Isaiah 1:17—”…seek justice, rescue the …seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”widow.”
James 2:15-17—”…James 2:15-17—”…faith by itself, if it has not faith by itself, if it has not works, is deadworks, is dead
Early Calls to Advocacy
Proverbs 31:8-9—”Speak out for those who Proverbs 31:8-9—”Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Early Calls to Advocacy
Proverbs 31:8-9—”Speak out for those who Proverbs 31:8-9—”Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Martin Luther—Wrote Martin Luther—Wrote over one thousand over one thousand letters to civil authoritiesletters to civil authorities
“Neighbor Love Is Never Neutral”
“Neighbor Love Is Never Neutral”
““History is shamefully littered with the moral History is shamefully littered with the moral bankruptcy of people who were Christian in name but bankruptcy of people who were Christian in name but not behavior who were silent or indifferent or neutral in not behavior who were silent or indifferent or neutral in the face of dehumanizing and destructive public the face of dehumanizing and destructive public policies…Neutrality, silence and indifference are not an policies…Neutrality, silence and indifference are not an option for us. We must express our conscience in word option for us. We must express our conscience in word and in deed or we will lose our soul in addition to losing and in deed or we will lose our soul in addition to losing our way. our way. ””
--Rev. Ed Bacon, All Saints Episcopal, Pasadena--Rev. Ed Bacon, All Saints Episcopal, Pasadena
Many other scriptural references, but perhaps the best known… With what shall I come before the LORD… With what shall I come before the LORD…
and what does the LORD require of you but and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) (Micah 6:8)
How Can We Be Faithful Witnesses? Engage in advocacy efforts!Engage in advocacy efforts!
As congregationsAs congregations As individualsAs individuals
Laying the groundwork with your Laying the groundwork with your congregation may be a good ideacongregation may be a good idea
How Legislators are Influenced
How Legislators are Influenced
Ideology—influenced by their values and Ideology—influenced by their values and belief systemsbelief systems
How Legislators are Influenced
Ideology—influenced by their values and Ideology—influenced by their values and belief systemsbelief systems
Facts—influenced by strong data from reliable Facts—influenced by strong data from reliable sourcessources
How Legislators are Influenced
Ideology—influenced by their values and Ideology—influenced by their values and belief systemsbelief systems
Facts—influenced by strong data from reliable Facts—influenced by strong data from reliable sourcessources
Grassroots Pressure—influenced by what is Grassroots Pressure—influenced by what is important to a critical and/or vocal mass within important to a critical and/or vocal mass within their constituenciestheir constituencies
How Legislators are Influenced
Relationship with the Messenger—influenced Relationship with the Messenger—influenced by the source of information (trustworthy by the source of information (trustworthy persons, organizations, etc.)persons, organizations, etc.)
How Legislators are Influenced
Relationship with the Messenger—influenced Relationship with the Messenger—influenced by the source of information (trustworthy by the source of information (trustworthy persons, organizations, etc.)persons, organizations, etc.)
Political Considerations—influenced by Political Considerations—influenced by interests of large contributors or large swing interests of large contributors or large swing voting blocsvoting blocs
How Legislators are Influenced
Relationship with the Messenger—influenced Relationship with the Messenger—influenced by the source of information (trustworthy by the source of information (trustworthy persons, organizations, etc.)persons, organizations, etc.)
Political Considerations—influenced by Political Considerations—influenced by interests of large contributors or large swing interests of large contributors or large swing voting blocsvoting blocs
Influencers—influenced by a trusted Influencers—influenced by a trusted group/inner circlegroup/inner circle
How Legislators are Influenced
Party Leadership—influenced by party leaders Party Leadership—influenced by party leaders who hold the key to plum committee who hold the key to plum committee assignments, promotions to leadership, etc.assignments, promotions to leadership, etc.
How Legislators are Influenced
Party Leadership—influenced by party leaders Party Leadership—influenced by party leaders who hold the key to plum committee who hold the key to plum committee assignments, promotions to leadership, etc.assignments, promotions to leadership, etc.
NOTE: None of these influencers are NOTE: None of these influencers are mutually exclusivemutually exclusive
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
When, Where, and Who (delegation)When, Where, and Who (delegation)
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
When, Where, and Who (delegation)When, Where, and Who (delegation) In district vs. capitalIn district vs. capital
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
When, Where, and Who (delegation)When, Where, and Who (delegation) In district vs. capitalIn district vs. capital Representation in delegationRepresentation in delegation
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Targeted audienceTargeted audience Legislator vs. appropriate stafferLegislator vs. appropriate staffer
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Targeted audienceTargeted audience Legislator vs. appropriate stafferLegislator vs. appropriate staffer
Showing powerShowing power Who you represent—and numbersWho you represent—and numbers Coalition—membersCoalition—members Petitions and postcardsPetitions and postcards
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Have a clear agendaHave a clear agenda Clear, specific “ask”Clear, specific “ask” Concise, persuasive rationaleConcise, persuasive rationale Focus on single issueFocus on single issue Don’t hesitate to reiterate your askDon’t hesitate to reiterate your ask
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Establish rolesEstablish roles Lead person/facilitator—for “ask”Lead person/facilitator—for “ask” Additional presenter—for rationaleAdditional presenter—for rationale Someone to “tell the story”Someone to “tell the story” Timekeeper/organizerTimekeeper/organizer NotetakerNotetaker
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Practice!Practice!
Preparing to Meet Your Legislators
Practice!Practice! Leave-Behind MaterialsLeave-Behind Materials
Contains “ask,” rationale, and some Contains “ask,” rationale, and some backgroundbackground
Members of delegation with contact Members of delegation with contact informationinformation
Engaging During the Visit
Arrive early, get organizedArrive early, get organized
Engaging During the Visit
Identify the group—members and who they Identify the group—members and who they representrepresent
Engaging During the Visit
Identify the group—members and who they Identify the group—members and who they representrepresent
Move the agenda—don’t let official co-opt Move the agenda—don’t let official co-opt the agendathe agenda
Engaging During the Visit
Identify the group—members and who they Identify the group—members and who they representrepresent
Move the agenda—don’t let official co-opt Move the agenda—don’t let official co-opt the agendathe agenda
State position clearly—”ask,” rationale, State position clearly—”ask,” rationale, some backgroundsome background
Engaging During the Visit
Request position/commitment to actRequest position/commitment to act Ask position if unknownAsk position if unknown Ask them to take a stand if undecidedAsk them to take a stand if undecided Ask them to be proactive if supportiveAsk them to be proactive if supportive If noncommittal, ask what they need to If noncommittal, ask what they need to
make a decisionmake a decision
Engaging During the Visit
Leave behind informationLeave behind information
Engaging During the Visit
Leave behind informationLeave behind information Follow-upFollow-up
Thank you with reminder of Thank you with reminder of commitmentscommitments
Additional information if requestedAdditional information if requested
Engaging During the Visit
Leave behind informationLeave behind information Follow-upFollow-up
Thank you with reminder of Thank you with reminder of commitmentscommitments
Additional information if requestedAdditional information if requested Debrief—assess the meeting’s outcomeDebrief—assess the meeting’s outcome
Other Ways to Advocate
Letters, faxes, e-mails, callsLetters, faxes, e-mails, calls Necessary for quick actionNecessary for quick action Communicate clearly and conciselyCommunicate clearly and concisely Helpful to include key staffersHelpful to include key staffers
Other Ways to Advocate
Letters, faxes, e-mails, callsLetters, faxes, e-mails, calls Necessary for quick actionNecessary for quick action Communicate clearly and conciselyCommunicate clearly and concisely Helpful to include key staffersHelpful to include key staffers
What about “click and send” advocacy?What about “click and send” advocacy?
Other Ways to Advocate
Committee and public hearingsCommittee and public hearings Spoken testimony—brief and directSpoken testimony—brief and direct Written testimony—can usually be longerWritten testimony—can usually be longer Helpful to encourage testimony by others Helpful to encourage testimony by others
who share your positionwho share your position
Other Ways to Advocate
Media eventsMedia events Opportunity to present position without Opportunity to present position without
challenge and show breadth and depth of challenge and show breadth and depth of supportsupport
Good coverage can “help the cause”Good coverage can “help the cause”
Other Ways to Advocate
Letters to the editorLetters to the editor Usually limited in length (200-250 Usually limited in length (200-250
words)—MUST be concise and directwords)—MUST be concise and direct Encourage others to write—strength in Encourage others to write—strength in
numbersnumbers
Other Ways to Advocate
Op-eds—”Done right, it’s persuasive writing at its Op-eds—”Done right, it’s persuasive writing at its best”best” Usually limited in length (around 750 words)—Usually limited in length (around 750 words)—
MUST be concise and directMUST be concise and direct Focus on single issue or ideaFocus on single issue or idea Personal, conversational—clear editorial (humor Personal, conversational—clear editorial (humor
is also good)is also good) Don’t fear being controversial—”fire in your Don’t fear being controversial—”fire in your
belly” is good!belly” is good!
Organizing for Advocacy
Having a broad spectrum of advocates Having a broad spectrum of advocates (denominations, faith traditions) and (denominations, faith traditions) and multiple visits (to many legislators) shows multiple visits (to many legislators) shows breadth and depthbreadth and depth
The Call of Jeremiah
Do not be afraid of Do not be afraid of them, for I am with them, for I am with you to deliver you!you to deliver you!
Questions, Discussion