Legislative Advocacy 101 for the Faith Community Presenter: The Rev. Sandra L. Strauss Director of...

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


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.”


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


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



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


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



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


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.


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


When, Where, and Who (delegation)When, Where, and Who (delegation)


When, Where, and Who (delegation)When, Where, and Who (delegation) In district vs. capitalIn district vs. capital


When, Where, and Who (delegation)When, Where, and Who (delegation) In district vs. capitalIn district vs. capital Representation in delegationRepresentation in delegation


Targeted audienceTargeted audience Legislator vs. appropriate stafferLegislator vs. appropriate staffer


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


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


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


Practice!Practice!


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


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



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


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


Leave behind informationLeave behind information


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


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


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?


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


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”


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


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!

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