stand up — speak out - world vision canada church engagement

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Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. Introduction 2 Quick Start Guide 4 Start With Your Church — Where Passion Meets Need 6 Make a Plan — Move from Passion to Action 8 Be Strategic — Know Your Target, Know Your Allies 10 God Gave You a Voice — Use It! 12 Build Your Base — Make It Work For You 14 Unleash Your Creativity — Be an Attention-Getter! 16 Walk the Talk — Live What You Advocate 18 Resources 20 © 2013 by World Vision Canada Published by World Vision Canada, Advocacy and Public Engagement 1 World Drive, Mississauga, ON L5T 2Y4 www.churches.worldvision.ca All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — for example, electronic, photocopy or recording — without the prior written permission of the publisher The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America Used by permission All rights reserved Written by Doug Blackburn and Karen Stiller Printed in Canada TABLE OF CONTENTS Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World

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Page 1: stand Up — speak out - World Vision Canada Church Engagement

Empower Your Church. Engage Your World.

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Quick Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Start With Your Church — Where Passion Meets Need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Make a Plan — Move from Passion to Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Be Strategic — Know Your Target, Know Your Allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

God Gave You a Voice — Use It! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Build Your Base — Make It Work For You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Unleash Your Creativity — Be an Attention-Getter! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Walk the Talk — Live What You Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

© 2013 by World Vision Canada

Published by World Vision Canada, Advocacy and Public Engagement 1 World Drive, Mississauga, ON L5T 2Y4 www.churches.worldvision.ca

All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — for example, electronic, photocopy or recording — without the prior written permission of the publisher . The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews .

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America . Used by permission .

All rights reserved .

Written by Doug Blackburn and Karen Stiller .

Printed in Canada .

TablE of ConTEnTs

stand Up — speak out

Empower Your Church. Engage Your World

Page 2: stand Up — speak out - World Vision Canada Church Engagement

Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 3

Stand Up — Speak Out is a primer for church leaders wanting to make

advocacy a more integral part of their ministry . It pulls lessons from World

Vision’s work, from the rich body of literature on effective advocacy, and from

the experiences of churches in Canada . You can find more ideas and tools for

your church at www.churches.worldvision.ca/advocacy .

People are motivated to action when they sense there is something deeply

wrong . It may be an injustice in the life of a neighbour in your community or an

ongoing crisis affecting someone halfway around the globe . However it starts,

it strikes a deep chord within and you know you have to do something . You

know you need to stand up and speak out .

The Quick Start Guide is a short checklist of steps you can use when an issue is

immediate . Following this is the main part of the guide, designed to help you

be more effective in your efforts . You will find proven advocacy tips on the left

side of the panel and ideas for application in your church on the right .

This is a primer, meant to inspire and nudge . Where you take it will depend

on your particular justice journey . Godspeed as you empower your church to

effectively engage issues in your community and in your world .

World Vision Canada

www.churches.worldvision.ca/advocacy • church [email protected]

Photo/Michael Hudson

stand Up — speak out2

We are told in 1 John 2:1 that Jesus is acting as our intermediary — our

advocate — with God the Father, speaking up on our behalf . In the same way,

we as the church have the opportunity to speak up on behalf of those who

have no voice — to bring good news to the poor, to let the oppressed go

free . (Luke 4:18)

Jesus Christ is the model and basis for our advocacy — namely, His

identification with the poor, the afflicted, the oppressed, and the marginalized .

Jesus challenged unjust attitudes and systems, called us to share our resources

with each other, and loved all people without discrimination or conditions .

God’s church has followed that call, standing with the poor and oppressed .

The abolitionist movement in the 1800s comes quickly to mind . More

recently, Christian faith groups led the Jubilee debt cancellation campaign

at the turn of this century — breaking unsustainable chains of debt and

improving education and health care for millions .

Every day, churches actively take up the cause of helping people who are

hurting in their own communities and worldwide . Some of these churches are

highlighted in this resource . When we stand for justice, we fulfill God’s desire

for the church to impact a hurting world — much like salt to food, yeast to

dough, light to darkness .

stand Up — speak out: Empower Your Church. Engage Your World.

“Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” — Proverbs 31:8,9 (The Message)

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Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 5

6. EngagE ThE pUbliC. Advocacy can be quiet and behind the scenes — sometimes the best way to get change . Other times you will want to raise awareness and mobilize broader public support . A letter to the editor of your paper can be good publicity . Other ideas include: events, high-visibility peaceful actions, attention-getting stunts, captivating spokespeople, petitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. UsE soCial MEdia. The personal social media pages and messages of church members can have a powerful multiplier effect . Brainstorm a number of posts and tweets to keep the conversation going . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. CoMMUniCaTE ofTEn. Talk often about your advocacy work through updates in your church bulletin, announcements, and bulletin board . The more you update, the more engaged your church will be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. dEbriEf lEssons lEarnEd. When you complete a phase of advocacy, debrief to determine what worked and what didn’t . Campaigns can be swift or arduously slow . You might see progress right away, or the journey may involve many twists and turns over a longer time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10. bE aUThEnTiCallY in. Choose to be advocates who don’t parachute in and out of the lives of those in need . The best advocacy grows out of relationships . If you weren’t friends with those impacted by an injustice before, you probably are now . Cherish that relationship and keep talking, listening, and learning together .

ps: You might begin speaking out through an organization’s existing campaign . This is a legitimate way to start and much of the work will be done by the organization . But you will still want to go through the steps: research the organization and the issues, make personal connections to the people affected, invite others in, establish your own church’s goals, etc .

4

Most people are compelled to speak up about an issue because they can’t rest otherwise . It may be easier to walk away, or try to forget what you’ve learned, but it’s just not a comfortable option . Listen to that feeling . It may well be the calling of God in your heart .

1. sTarT WiTh rEsEarCh. Web search the issue and find out what the press is saying, what others are saying, who the players are . Talk it up in the church . Begin to picture how your church could be involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. EngagE ThE pEoplE iMpaCTEd. Find out who the vulnerable are and what they are saying . Meet face-to-face if you can . Prepare to listen more than speak . The people most directly impacted are the experts . Offer to be a partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. broadEn ThE basE. Offer your church as a meeting place . Bring in the people impacted and others already working on the issue . Invite churches and other groups that might be interested . Build critical mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. EsTablish ClEar, ConCrETE goals. Your goals will guide you, keep you focused, and help you craft messages . And they will inform your actions: “For [your goal] to happen, [decision-maker X] must [action Y] and the best way to make this change is …” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Talk To dECision-MakErs. Determine who has the say in your issue and reach out to them . Consider a letter or multiple letters from your church . Ask for a meeting when the person is next available . Do a brief, friendly presentation on the issue . Ask how you can support them in their work on it . Show appreciation for any positive movement — it goes a long way .

Quick start guide When You need to advocate now!

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Advocacy is taking on a cause and being brave enough to speak up about it . Advocacy thrives when passion meets need . What is your group passionate about? What needs do you see in your community and in the world? Trigger your thinking with these reasons for taking on advocacy:

Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 7

Churches are ideally set up for advocacy . You are part of communities, local and global . You are rooted in God’s love for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed . And you have prayer .

Prayer is your church’s starting place . What is God saying to your church? What is God already doing in your community? In the world? Where do you fit in?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“A church that starts by saying ‘we don’t know what to do’ is starting at the right place. The answers, the steps presented themselves to us as we were listening, talking, relating. That’s when you begin to see what the needs are and respond.” — Pastor Bill Sunberg, Church of the Nazarene, Jane/Finch area, Toronto, involved in advocacy on

youth violence and community housing

Make time: Work advocacy into the regular routines and activities of the church: prayers; Bible studies; worship songs; children, youth, and adult curriculum . Link to the church calendar, holidays and international days .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Get knowledge: The Bible is full of people like Moses and Peter who engaged in God’s plans at a higher level than they would have thought possible . Have faith and take the time to learn about your issue .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grow confidence: From ending slavery to cancelling odious debt to defending a homeless shelter in your community, advocacy makes a difference . Our faith is built on the belief that love wins and hope prevails: Thy kingdom come!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

But is it church? Yes! Some of the world’s most famous advocates — like Martin Luther King Jr ., Dorothy Day (Catholic Workers Movement) and Tommy Douglas — have been rooted in church life . Advocacy is in the Church’s DNA . If it’s been forgotten in yours, don’t worry, it can be reignited .

in Your Church

addrEssing ExCUsEs in ThE ChUrCh

6

start With Your Church — Where passion Meets need

proTECTionWho would you stand up for? What issue threatens people you care about, locally or globally?

angErBeing angry or upset can be a starting point, but you’ll need other drivers to sustain the energy .

CoMpassionConsider an issue where you already serve or give financial support — take the next step with advocacy .

idEnTiTYWe all want to be part of real, active change for a better world . Tap into that desire!

CallEdStudies show that being asked is a key motivator of action . Do others a favour — ask them to join you in advocacy!

No time: Integrate advocacy into what you already do . Don’t over-complicate it . Keep it simple and enjoyable!

No idea how: If you’ve ever stood up for a friend, you’ve been an advocate . Use the tips in this booklet as a starting point .

No confidence: You don’t need to be an expert to be an advocate . Start small and build . Genuine advocacy from the heart is more effective than any fill-in-the-blanks approach .

addrEssing CoMMon adVoCaCY ExCUsEs

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

Advocacy grows best from the soil of authentic relationships — with the vulnerable around you and also with those in power. Cultivating these relationships is the first step in effective advocacy.

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Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 9

Nehemiah must have had a plan . He definitely put one foot in front of the other in faith . Nehemiah went from being a cup-bearer to the King, to an advocate for his people and a rebuilder of Jerusalem . He is famous for being a biblical mover and shaker .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Just start doing more. How do you speak with integrity without first being engaged? Some of the strongest advocacy grows out of action. You earn your place.” — Cornelius Buller, member of Winnipeg Centre Church and anti-poverty activist

iMpaCT on ThE ChUrCh

Members of Winnipeg Centre Vineyard Church participate in a Grandmothers’ Walk, raising awareness about the abuse and exploitation of children.

Besides making a difference for others, well-planned advocacy can also bless your church:

• Advocacy brings church members together for a common purpose.

• It requires knowledge of one’s community, and often national and global issues. This knowledge can, in turn, seep into everything a church does .

• It demonstrates to the community that the church is alive and well and cares deeply about the world around it .

• It appeals to youth who are natural advocates and want the church to be involved in real issues that impact real people .

• It builds the capacity of your members — skills they will use elsewhere.

• It brings the promise of blessings for the church (Isaiah 58:6-11).

in Your Church

8

You’ve discovered where your passion and a real need intersect . Now you need a plan . It can be as simple as back-of-a-napkin scribbling or as detailed as a full-out spreadsheet — do what works for you . Here are four basic parts to an effective advocacy plan .

Make a plan — Move from passion To action

Make your goals SMART: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. A simple and effective guide on SMART goals can be found under the Wikipedia entry “SMART criteria.”

Unless you are standing up and speaking out a lot, you are not at risk of losing your charitable status! Charities (including churches) may take part in political activities if they are non-partisan, part of the charity’s purposes and no more than 10% of their budget . The definition of political activities can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency Website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca, search “charities political activity .”

State it: Put your vision into a single statement . Use action verbs to describe your goal: “Kids freely and safely playing in our community park .” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Analyze it: Do a quick analysis of your target audience and your allies (see next section) . The few minutes you spend on this will pay off later . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Action it: This is the fun part . Use the ideas in sections 4 through 7 to spark your creativity . Brainstorm (head) and heartstorm (“gut”) . Involve your whole group . What they come up with now they will own later . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Record it: Note milestones along the way and when they will be reached . These help you remain focused and will help with reporting on and celebrating successes later — key to keeping motivation strong .

poliTiCal aCTiViTY and ThE Cra

a siMplE plan

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Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 11

WhEn adVoCaCY is diffiCUlT

Joseph was a biblical leader who practiced constructive advocacy . He realized it was better to stay in the Egyptian system and work for good with the government of the day . He used his skills and wisdom to the benefit of both the Egyptians and his family in the longer term .

World Vision Canada’s advocacy principles include the expected terms of “non-partisan” and “honest, transparent, and accountable .” They also include:

• Constructive: a positive approach, constructively critical when appropriate

• Christian: faith guides our approach — servant-hearts, open, constructive

“In the city there was one pastor who was going to city hall to speak. There wasn’t a lot of really good information. He ended up saying to the police, ‘How can we work together on this?’ and we ended up finding out the police chief was not our enemy. We meet every month or two.” — Gil Klassen, Cornerstone Church, Saskatoon, and member of Saskatoon ACTS, on their work to

combat sex trafficking in the city

When you engage in advocacy as a church, you may fear sounding critical, or not look forward to difficult conversations with those with whom you fundamentally disagree . How do you disagree well?

“Deliberately,” according to Tim Dearborn, formerly with World Vision International: “We don’t advocate against governments or those in power but for them . Our message to governments and those in power is the same as our message to the poor and the powerless and to ourselves: be all that God created you to be .”

in Your Church

ChrisTian ConsTrUCTiVE adVoCaCY

10

Advocacy works to change something . It follows then, that someone, or some group, must change their position or behaviour in order to accomplish your goal .

be strategic — know Your Target, know Your allies

Generate a list of who might be an ally in your advocacy. Be bold and ask them to join you! Consider joining an existing campaign that already has momentum and built-in expertise and diversity. Add your skills to the group.

If we are serious about addressing system change, it is healthy to examine our own place in the system . What are our perceptions and biases? What are the gaps in our knowledge or experiences? Where do we need to change our practices?

Canadian policy activist Amanda Sussman, in her handbook The Art of the Possible, outlines an effective way to engage decision-makers:

1. Identify common goals — find the win-win with your interests2. Offer constructive and specific critiques — show you’ve done your homework3. Explore options — often there are solutions that have worked elsewhere,

proving your point4. Understand their constraints — jurisdiction, timelines, and the viewpoints they

need to balance5. Present your solution — be practical and genuinely listen to their response

Advocates are stronger when they work together to:

» Have influence politically and as consumers; get momentum through national and global movements .

» Combine their expertise to fill knowledge gaps; engage a diversity of voices and influences on the issue .

» Expand their community and have more fun!

parTnEr for iMpaCT

a ConsTrUCTiVE approaCh

adVoCaTE, knoW ThYsElf

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Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 13

“Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice …” (Jesus, the persistent widow story, Luke 18:5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“We had real concerns, along with our community partners, with the potential of a local school closing down. We believed the school was crucial to the community. A community group led a very visible campaign around it. I wrote a letter on behalf of the pastors and deacons that was sent to the people in charge.” — John Knight, Main Street Baptist, Saint John, NB — the school stayed open

a dEMoCraTiC righT and a ChrisTian rEsponsibiliTY

a diffErEnT kind of offEring

For Mike Hogeterp, Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue, it is all about building relationships . “When citizens demonstrate a deep commitment to an issue, they are that much more likely to receive the ear of a parliamentarian . Be positive and persistent . Don’t just sign off on the petition, but follow it up in a letter or a phone call to the constituency office .”

Elly Vandenberg, World Vision Canada Policy and Advocacy, says Members of Parliament want to hear from us: “MPs have said to me that the church gets it wrong when their members don’t get involved in being the salt and light of the politics of the day . They want real engagement from the Christian community .”

“… learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow .“ (Isaiah 1:17)

Bread for the World, a Christian organization working to address poverty in the U .S . and globally, calls their highly successful annual campaign an Offering of Letters. The organization asks churches to set aside one Sunday to write letters petitioning for change on a targeted issue .

Consider taking this on as a church or denomination . Perhaps all the churches in your town or city could take on the campaign . Make it a regular event that people begin to look forward to .

in Your Church

12

Write, call, email, post, text … Advocacy is about making your voice heard above the din that surrounds decision-makers . Writing a letter gets heard . Follow these basic rules for impact from Results Canada (www.results-resultats.ca), a volunteer network of advocates .

god gave You a Voice — Use it!

Communications must be simple according to Chris Rose, long time UK campaigner: “All issues are complex but your campaign must not be.” He goes on to advise [paraphrased]: “Don’t communicate the issue. Communicate your campaign — the problem, the solution, the action needed now — and only that.”

EffECTiVE lETTErs

Use the EPIC model:

Engage As a mother of two small children, I was shocked to learn that 70 million primary school-aged children are not in school worldwide …

Problem Often, the thing standing between these children and access to a brighter future is school fees as little as $50 a year …

Inform re: a Solution When school fees were dropped in Kenya over 1 .2 million new children showed up for school …

Call to Action Can I count on you, as my MP, to use Canada’s influence in the World Bank to stop making school fees mandatory when providing funding to developing countries?

• Handwritten letters are most effective• Use your perspective — make a personal connection to the issue• Be brief, keep your letter to one page, two maximum• Email or fax your letter and send it regular post for greatest impact• You can write federal Members of Parliament postage-free c/o House of

Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 • Include your contact information so you can get a response• When you get a response, write again; develop a dialogue and build

a relationship

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Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 15

Elijah was on the run when God communicated with him: not through wind, earthquake or fire, but through a still small voice . The message could not have been clearer: “What are you doing here Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13)

Decide as a church to communicate in the 1 King style: leaving the fireworks behind, but embracing the quiet authority of someone who knows they have a right to speak, and a question to ask .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Advocacy is about building authentic relationships and seeing what emerges naturally. If an issue emerges, you have to find a way of actually having a conversation with all the players, especially the ones at the grassroots whose voices won’t get up the ladder.” — Helena Houldcroft, Flemingdon Park Ministries, Anglican Diocese, Toronto

rE-appropriaTing “EVangElisTs”

People who work on social media campaigns often use the Christian term “evangelists” to describe their networks of spokespeople . “Who are your evangelists?” they ask, seeking the passionate voices that will help spread the campaign .

Equip church members to be evangelists of the cause: • Ask members to post links to their social media accounts.• Have someone take and post photos that others can share.• Provide talking points to inspire posts and tweets.• Do a media blitz, using the sheer numbers in your congregation to get

media attention .

The Flemingdon Park STAR project (Skills Training to Access Resources) trains community members to become self-advocates and community advocates.

in Your Church

14

Advocacy campaigners work hard to get media because it can greatly amplify their voice .

build Your base — Make it Work for You

soCial MEdia

Petitions raise awareness of your issue and show decision-makers there is a constituency of concern. You can still go door to door with a piece of paper, but you can go around the world in a second if petitioning online. Check out: www.change.org or www.ipetitions.com.

Work WiTh MEdia

1 . Create a ready list of local media contacts who cover your issues .

2 . Contact reporters prior to 3:00 pm, before they get on deadlines .

3 . Find a “hook .” Look for a local story angle . Or connect your issue to something in the news, even a current controversy . Grab some of the attention by linking to what you want to say .

Watch for your issue in the paper and respond immediately . Remember to watch for any online discussions . Letters should be: short (200 words or less); to the point; clearly written; not inflammatory; and signed (include email and phone number) .Editors like creative, concise, and insightful commentary . Ensure your letter ends with a call for action .Check your paper’s website for how to submit .

facebook and Twitter. Brainstorm a list of posts and tweets early so you can keep the conversation active . Follow others on your issue, even those with a different take — you’ll be better informed and better at responding .

YouTube. Create and post a video . Interview people impacted by the issue . They are the true spokespeople for the cause . Spread the word to get views .

blog. Use your own blog or better yet, convince bloggers you follow to pick up your issue . The multiplier effect can be amazing .

lETTErs To ThE EdiTor

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Stand Up — Speak Out Empower Your Church. Engage Your World. 17

Beyond what is good and pleasing in God’s sight, there are very few limits on what a creative church can do . Be inspired by these examples of creative advocacy .

Jesus advocated for the children by placing them in the midst of the group and challenging the grown-ups around to become like children .

King’s University College and the Micah Centre in Edmonton hosted the “JUST Worship” conference, asking: “What does worship become when there is no justice? Is justice sustainable without worship? Can doing justice be a form of worship?”

“Churches Doing Good Stuff” is the creative name of an annual ecumenical forum led by KAIROS Calgary, with speakers and action on issues such as homelessness and corporate social responsibility .

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Ottawa showed their support for Make Poverty History in 2005 with a 20-foot white banner in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Note the piper at the end!

Youth participating in a World Vision leadership event in Winnipeg sent a child health message to parliamentarians before the 2010 G8 summit.

CrEaTiVE ChrisTian adVoCaCY

in Your Church

16

Advocacy is serious work . But it can also be fun! Unleash the creative power of your group . It’s great for getting attention for your cause and for keeping the motivation strong .

Unleash Your Creativity — be an attention-getter!

Social media is a great place to engage others and generate creative ideas. Companies are constantly using Facebook and Twitter to tap into the creativity of their customers and audiences.

ACT:S is a campus-based advocacy group in the U .S . that gets attention disproportionate to their size . They do this with high-visibility stunts . “Do You See Orange?” has students wearing bright orange t-shirts on campus for one day . Shirts have “orphan” emblazoned on the front and a Website address on the back . The idea is to start a conversation by visually representing on campus that one in twenty sub-Saharan African children is orphaned as a result of AIDS .

Tap into the artistic talents of your group — whether it’s music, painting, sculpture, knitting, whatever, and come up with creative ways to put them to good work!

Use your physical space — hang a banner in a public spot, host a meeting, or mount creative lawn art with a message .

Use public spaces — use town squares, malls, landmarks . Be sure to get permission first where appropriate .

Include children! — this is more than being creative, it’s a must . Children and youth are natural advocates, instinctively knowing what is fair and what isn’t . Include them respectfully in your advocacy and be prepared to be amazed .

Use your connections — someone in your group may know a high-profile person: an athlete, artist, politician, etc . These people are generally looking for opportunities for more exposure and items to engage their followers with — invite them in!

sMall aCTions — big iMpaCT

CrEaTiVE sTarTing poinTs

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In the campaign to abolish slavery, William Wilberforce and the abolitionists used many of the elements of modern-day advocacy: organizing action groups, research, media relations, political influence, and consumer pressure (a boycott of slave-produced sugar) .

To abolish slavery would — in the minds of the powers of that time — destroy the economy . Wilberforce and his colleagues fought many long years to get their legislation passed .

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“We see ourselves as standing in the gap. The Bible calls on us to use our voice to defend the weak and raise our voice for the voiceless. It is uncomfortable to do that sometimes. You can be looked down upon by the rest of the church world or greater society as standing for unpopular causes. But we feel like it is something the Bible requires us to do. Ten years ago we would have filed complaints but been less likely to put our church’s neck on the line in the public arena. Now we do.” — Chris Randall, City Centre Church, Saskatoon

in for ThE long haUl

Advocacy can be fun and we can start with easy steps . But serious advocates must be prepared to be in for the long haul . Is this a contradiction? Not at all . Start small and grow deep . Remember, the same Jesus who advises his hearers to choose the narrow gate and hard road (Matthew 7:13,14) also asks us to take his yoke for it is easy and the burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30) . God is our help and our sustainer in this good work .

City Centre Church is involved in campaigns addressing homelessness and poverty in the inner city, and in supporting positive youth/police relations.

in Your Church

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An authentic and respectful approach is the path to effective advocacy . See your justice work as a great opportunity to bring your own lifestyle more in line with the values you hold dear .

Walk the Talk — live What You advocate

Prepare yourself for opposition by identifying who might directly oppose what you are doing or not welcome your efforts. Be ready to respond to opposition by identifying who might directly oppose what you are doing or not welcome your efforts.

ValUEs and praCTiCEs

bUY sMarT

The media loves no story more than to catch a person or an organization being inauthentic — the high-profile athlete who cheats, a crusading politician who transgresses moral codes . Try not to get attention for the wrong reasons:

If you wonder whether small acts of advocacy can make a difference, look at the growth of the FairTrade movement in Canada . From a fledgling cause picked up by a few faith-based groups and activists in Canada just over two decades ago, you can now find fairly-traded products in most major retailers . When we begin to speak up, decision-makers listen .

Today it is more possible than ever to ensure you are walking the talk as far as what you consume . Resources on ethical purchasing come on stream every day . Search “fair trade”, “ethical consumer” or “shop for change .” Put your money where your heart is, and show others it is possible to make good choices daily .

» Say what you mean and mean what you say: clear communications and staying on message will help stem potential discrepancies in your campaign .

» Check your procurement practices: are you buying and serving fair trade or ethically sourced products where possible?

» Consider your organizational or personal practices (hiring, decision-making, etc .): are they aligned with the values of your campaign?

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1. World Vision Church resources http://www.churches.worldvision.ca

• Under “resources” you will find a library of tools for your church’s journey, including Choose Justice, a DVD study on lifestyle choices and Jesus on Justice, by Don Posterski .

• The “Church advocacy” page expands on the current resource with ready-to-use tools for your church . You’ll also find the latest updates on campaigns like Abolitionist Sunday .

2. World Vision advocacy in action http://www.voices.worldvision.ca

• The main advocacy page of World Vision is geared to individuals wishing to become more involved in taking action . Features include the Help Wanted Campaign to End Child Slavery and resources on shopping ethically .

3. Your denominational Website

• Most denominations have resources and newsletters or blogs on justice issues important to them . Some have separate social action organizations that specifically focus on justice and missions .

• Your denomination might also be part of broader Christian justice initiatives like KAIROS or the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada .

4. resources for Choosing Justice http://www.churches.worldvison.ca/advocacy

• The number of Christian books, organizations and publications on advocacy and justice are too numerous to list here . World Vision has pulled some of the more relevant resources together in a small booklet entitled Resources for Choosing Justice .

resources

our Mission

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice . As followers of Jesus, we are motivated by God’s love to serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender .

www.worldvision.ca