RAISE YOUR VOICE
FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Seven Ways to Incorporate Advocacy Into Your Church's Ministry:

1. Organize a "peace and justice" day at your church.

Pick an advocacy issue and invite your congregation to write letters for collection on a designated Sunday. Collect the letters in a handmade basket from Africa, or set up a table with a cloth from South America as your backdrop.

2. Invite your senator or representative to speak at an adult forum.

If s/he cannot attend, a staff member can. Have him or her discuss the most pressing concerns in public policy and share yours.

3. Develop a bulletin board to display materials related to advocacy.

Post newspaper articles, sample letters and addresses for your elected officials in a place where everyone can see them.

You can also include advocacy inserts in your Sunday bulletin. Contact LWR for copies.

4. Form a letter-writing group.

Encourage circles, youth groups, adult forums and congregational council members to learn more about advocacy as part of their witness.

5. Receive regular updates on advocacy issues.

Email advocacy@lwr.org to receive email updates from LWR.

ELCA members can contact the ELCA Washington Office at 202.783.7507 or visit washingtonoffice@elca.org to learn more about ELCA advocacy.

LCMS members can contact LCMS/Board for Human Care Ministries at 800.248.1930, ext. 1380 or visit humancare.lcms.org/resorc.html to get more information on government and human care issues.

6. Invite an LWR speaker to come to your church.

Include a time for discussing how advocacy plays a role in addressing the issues the speaker talks about. Contact LWR to find out what current advocacy action is needed that relates to the speaker's topic.

7. Purchase Fair Trade goods from around the world.

Encourage your church to participate in the LWR Coffee Project, LWR Handcraft Project and LWR Chocolate Project. Contact Kattie Somerfeld, ksomerfeld@lwr.org for more information.