Include Advocacy in your church’s God’s Work, Our Hands day of service.
On “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, ELCA churches put our faith in action – visible year-round and on this day as we respond to God calling us into the world to serve together.
Among our gifts of service that we dedicate to the glory of God, engaging in advocacy is a way to serve our neighbor. Through advocacy ministry, we form relationships with our policymakers and can stand up for policies that move us closer to a world that God envisions, where the health and safety of all people are prioritized. We advocate to end world hunger and stand up for policies that create opportunities to overcome poverty, promote peace and dignity, preserve God’s creation, and promote racial and gender justice.
Making connections
Advocacy action is not dependent upon physical proximity. Should circumstances not allow for direct service activities, and to include members homebound for any number of reasons, advocacy action on your congregation’s day of service can include many participants in meaningful witness. It is a faithful way to serve our neighbors unencumbered by physical distancing.
Along with a direct service action, in accompaniment with community concerns at the forefront of your congregation’s awareness, and/or in amplification of a churchwide voice, our ELCA members can use advocacy in service to our neighbor on “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday in many ways.
Preparing nutritious food for a meal program? Clearing debris from a stream? Brightening the day of older adults at an assisted living center? Reflect on how policy intersects with the needs to which you are responding, such as food access, clean water protection and affordable care. Is there a policy consideration that could amplify your action in a systemic, long-lasting way?
Have passionate congregation and community voices highlighted justice concerns where you are? Policy advocacy action may align with those concerns. State public policy offices and ELCA Advocacy national staff can help shape a policy-directed response.
As affirmed by 2013 Churchwide Assembly action that launched the ELCAvotes initiative, would your congregation like to act by engaging in local efforts to guarantee the right to vote to all citizens? Any participation by congregations in activities related to the electoral process must be strictly nonpartisan and abide by Internal Revenue Service guidelines. Find ideas in the ELCA Advocacy Civic Engagement Guide around our role as U.S. residents and as people of faith in ensuring that our election systems promote dignity and respect for all, such as sharing state voting regulations and hosting Get Out the Vote initiatives.
Want to participate in a letter-writing campaign? The inequities that exist in our national and global health care systems have been tragically highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing ways that communities of color, immigrants and low-income communities have experienced the pandemic from unequal footing. Structural issues threaten us and our neighbors.
Email Solveig Muus to discuss ideas for including Advocacy in your God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday.