The following offers some guidance for congregations wanting to engage their members in a specific political climate action to reach out to elected officials. The guidance is only that; it is not prescriptive. We believe a concrete example will be helpful to understanding the steps shown below:
The Example
We documented these steps following a session at Shalom Mennonite Congregation, initiated by one of its pastors. It was preceded by an Earth Day/Month celebration plan. That plan included a service devoted to a focus on earth stewardship. The service was multi-generational and included stories and presentations for all ages. Congregants were invited to stay after the service, enjoy some pizza, and participate in a hands-on “action” activity. In preparation, Shalom’s pastor worked with volunteers from two local non-profit organizations, Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) and Shenandoah Valley Faith and Climate (SVFC).
Together, these individuals researched and planned the event, identifying issues specific to the city and county in which Shalom’s congregants live and work. The pastor handled most of the logistics and the CAAV and SVFC volunteers developed the session agenda and the materials to be used. The materials included scripts for voice mails left for a local delegate and the Virginia Governor during the session; suggested language for use in postcards and letters to elected city and county officials; background information about the specific issues; and contact information for the officials.
There were approximately 50 individuals, including children and adults, who attended the session, which was planned for 1 ½ hours, including a pizza lunch. The session lasted just over the planned time. During the session, participants made phone calls and wrote postcards and letters. Some of the latter were given to the pastor for mailing; some participants chose to take their postcard or letter home to send directly.
The Model
- Step 1 – Plan a “working session” of congregants interested in climate action, sustainability, or resilience.
- Could be part of a series or a one-off.
- Could be an initial effort to inspire specific action or greater focus/participation among congregants.
- Could be family oriented or adults only.
- Consider timing around – e.g., specific season, Earth Day, congregational celebration, annual or long-range planning, upcoming event such as local elections
- Consider timing as to day of week, time of day, and connection to specific sermon or theme.
- Consider appropriate length of session(s).
- Determine availability of resources – e.g., space, amenities, seating, funding for food/drink/childcare (if necessary), and technology.
- Create invitation list and develop timetable for alerting and reminding congregants.
- Identify logistical support requirements and find volunteers to serve.
- Create and provide a schedule of session and assignments for all support personnel.
- Identify specific issues of local interest or importance.
- Prioritize issues.
- Decide on most appropriate issue(s) and desired outcome(s).
- Pull together, review, and develop an approach to providing relevant background information.
- Find subject matter experts within or outside congregation who can assist with materials development and be available during session to assist attendees.
- Determine attendee groupings
- Step 2 – Create the session agenda and materials.
- Consider the complexity of the issue and attendees to decide on presentation of both issue and background.
- Decide on proposed action item(s).
- Develop handouts and scripts, vetting with subject-matter experts and making enough copies for anticipated attendees.
- Obtain supplies for attendees’ use – e.g., pens, paper, postcards, and/or stamps, address/contact information for any recipients of action requests (e.g., public officials).
- Allow adequate time for attendee questions and responses to them.
- Identify a moderator and enough session monitors to ensure attendees’ needs/questions are monitored, identified timely, and addresses.
- Incorporate adequate time for initial socializing, food and drink, and additional break period(s).
- Develop a proposed follow-up plan for outreach to attendees and with any recipients of action requests from attendees (e.g., public officials), for review of effectiveness of action, and for next session(s) if appropriate.
- Step 3 – Conduct session.
- Try to stick to the agenda and schedule.
- Cover amenities early – e.g., food/drink, restrooms.
- Moderator should oversee to ensure attendee and volunteer needs are met.
- Attempt to gather from attendees prior to end of session their reactions and suggestions.
- Announce next steps, if any.
- Step 4 – Evaluate session.
- Follow-up with attendees about their experience and ask for their views on what worked well and not-so-well.
- Ask the volunteers for their assessments and recommendations for improvements/changes.
- Seek the views of the experts and presenters and ask for specific suggestions for improvements/changes.
- Revise steps 1 to 3 to address the responses.
- Incorporate the lessons learned into future session planning and events.
- Follow-up with attendees about their experience and ask for their views on what worked well and not-so-well.
For more information and advice on setting up this kind of Congregational Political Action event you can contact Joy Loving at: jal_1998@yahoo.com
Shenandoah Valley Faith and Climate 