Interpreting Advocacy Issues

1
Interpreting Advocacy Issues Global Advocacy
Education Team Ministries and Mission
Interpreters Training 2008
2
Workshop Goals

• Why Advocacy is important to Global Ministries
• Ideas for working on an issue important to you
• Hear about Global Ministries issues and campaigns

3
Why is Justice important to Global Ministries?

• We are people of faith called to do justice.
• The prophet says What does the Lord require of
  you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and
  to walk humbly with your God. Micah 68
• We are partners in Jesus ministry of justice.
• Jesus calls us to join him "The Spirit of the
  Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to
  preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
  proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
  of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Luke
  418-19
• We are a Church with a justice mission.
• We have a Mission Global Ministries Standing
  Rules say In such a world as this, we
  experience the interconnectedness of Gods
  world... a world desperately in need of healing.

4
What is Advocacy?

• To Create Change
• We seek to change conditions that threaten
  adequate health, education, security. (I came
  that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
  John 1010)
• To Accompany Others
• We seek ministries of acompañamiento (being
  there in various forms and modes of presence) to
  and with people in critical situations. (Speak
  up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for
  the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up
  and judge fairly defend the rights of the poor
  and needy. Proverbs 318-9)
• To Act (Take Risk) for Truth
• We must act when we see injustice. (How does
  Gods love abide in anyone who has the worlds
  goods and sees a brother or sister in need and
  yet refuses to help? Little children, let us
  love, not in word or speech, but in truth and
  action. 1 John 317-18)

5
Theological Commitments Guide our Global Advocacy

• A Commitment to the Integrity of Creation
• The earth is the Lords and all that is in it,
  the world and those who live in it. Psalm 241
• A Commitment to Peacebuilding
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
  called the children of God. Matthew 59
• A Commitment to Serve the Economy of God
• He has anointed me to bring Good News to the
  poorto proclaim the year of the Lords favor.
  Luke 418-19
• A Commitment to Strengthen Human Community
• In one member suffers, all suffer together with
  it if one member is honored, all rejoice
  together with it. I Corinthians 1226

6
What else guides Global Ministries Advocacy work?

• Global experience of international partners
• Cooperative witness of ecumenical allies
• Policies and positions of Common Global
  Ministries Board, United Church of Christ and
  Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

7
How to do effective global advocacy. 1. What
change do you seek

• Pray and Discern
• What is the change that needs to happen?
• Is your community called to act?
• A process of ethical discernment can help you
  focus on an issue. A common model is See,
  Judge, Act (available from Global Ministries)

8
Create a committed community

• See, Judge, Act
• What about the situation would scripture and
  faith have change?
• What response does your faith call you to?
• What Actions can help change the situation?

9
How to do effective global advocacy. 2. Prepare
for Advocacy

• Prepare. Effective advocacy requires preparation
  beforehand.
• Learn more about your issue. Go beyond the
  headlines. See www.globalministries.org for
  information and links.
• What are your targets for change? Focus on what
  will make the most change or where youll have
  most success. Church policies? Public attitudes?
  Government policies?
• Who are your allies? Other faith groups? Business
  or civic groups? The media?
• Are there Global Ministries programs or resources
  that can support your effort?

10
How to do effective global advocacy. 3. Plan an
Advocacy strategy

• Q Want to move the earth?
• You think you need a big Stick
• but its more important to determine the best
  Angle.
• Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on
  which to place it,
• and I shall move the world. Archimedes, d. 212
  BC
• A small force can have a greater outcome if you
  determine the right angle to push for change.

11
How to do effective global advocacy. 3. Plan an
Advocacy strategy

• What are your Strengths and Weaknesses?
• What outcome do you expect?
• How can your group be effective?

12
Planning a Strategy for Advocacy

• What Would Jesus Do? Be wise as serpents and as
  innocents as doves. Mt.1016

Overturn the Tables
Prophetic Revolution Other times he broke
conventions and protocols to eat with sinners and
minister on the Sabbath.
Pragmatic Reform Polite discourse with religious
and political authorities
Turn the Other Cheek
13
What are some Global Ministries Advocacy Projects?

• A Commitment to the Integrity of Creation
• Enough for All Global Warming and Poverty
• A Commitment to Peacebuilding
• Congo Week and Sudan Tents of Hope
• A Commitment to Serve the Economy of God
• One in Body and Spirit Fair Trade, the MDGs and
  ONE Campaign
• A Commitment to Strengthen Human Community
• Stop the Killing! in the Philippines

14
Are you doing any good?

• Remember each little step is an important part of
  the process, but its important to maintain your
  overall vision.
• A person walked up to a man placing one brick on
  another. She asked the man What are you doing?
  He replied Im laying bricks.
• She walked further and approached a second man
  placing brick upon brick. She asked this man
  What are you doing? This man, wiser than the
  first, replied Im constructing a sturdy wall.
• Finally she came upon a third man, like the
  others also placing one brick on another. She
  asked this man What are you doing? And this
  one, wisest of all, replied Im building a
  cathedral!

15
Dont forget, you may think youre simply
stacking bricks, but through our collective
advocacy we can build cathedrals. www.GlobalMinis
tries.org/advocacy