Are you interested in working to make government laws and policies more just? How can a faith perspective inform and make advocacy efforts more powerful?  Alicia McBride of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) addressed these questions and more in her workshop titled Interfaith Advocacy 101, the most recent installment of The Spirit in Action series. She gave some background on Quaker approaches to advocacy, (which led Friends to found FCNL as the first registered religious lobby in Washington, DC almost 80 years ago), discussed where lobbying fits into the social justice ecosystem, and shared stories on the impact of engaging members of Congress from a faith perspective.  

The way Quakers worship and express their beliefs varies widely. Yet Quakers are connected by a belief in the ability of every person to directly connect with God. Quakers believe that there is a divine spark, sometimes called an inner light, within each person. Values of peace, simplicity, equality, and integrity flow out of this core belief. While Quakers’ personal relationship to God impacts their spirituality, this sense of continuing divine revelation also affects their actions. 

The Friends Committee on National Legislation works to embody this connection between faith and action, between the prophetic and the pragmatic. FCNL is a non-partisan organization, willing to converse with offices that hold an array of policy stances, because of that belief that everyone has God within and that sense of the divine can be spoken to. While this approach arises from Friends’ faith experience, it connects with people from many traditions and backgrounds. FCNL works closely in inter-faith coalitions, lobbying, organizing, and sharing information around the common goal of advancing more just and equitable federal laws. 

FCNL’s style of lobbying centers around listening, staying in relationship for the long haul, and finding points of connection. Their lobby visits focus on storytelling and relationship-building. The power of constituents telling their elected representative their story about why an issue matters to them is unmatched. In addition, FCNL never starts a lobby visit without finding something, however small, to thank the member of Congress for. This helps build relationships, sets a positive tone, and makes space to connect over stories, faith, and the issue at hand. 

For more information on Alicia’s workshop, FCNL’s work, or faith-based lobbying, contact quakers@fcnl.org 

During a time when social justice issues and activism can feel very polarizing, it’s sometimes hard to imagine how we can be diverse, inclusive, and take a stance all at the same time. Alicia shared some additional resources that touch on utilizing moral reframing and moral foundations as techniques that are helpful both when lobbying and when talking with others who do not see an issue the same way you do.

Moral reframing involves considering the moral foundations (“five primary areas of concern—five moral foundations—that form the basis of our moral judgments” as human beings), figuring out which values you have in common, and then basically speaking the language of the person who holds viewpoints different than yours. An important mind(and heart)set in being able to successfully connect with others who seem to be on the other side of an issue is focusing on “that of God” present in everyone, a fundamental component of Quaker theology.

Read F/friends in Unlikely Places: Engaging with Those Who Don't Agree with You to learn more about the Quaker way of lobbying and making a difference.

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war.

We seek a society with equity and justice for all.

We seek a community where every person’s potential may be fulfilled.

We seek an earth restored.

The World We Seek: Statement of Legislative Policy “This statement of policy embodies our convictions and provides the foundation for our work. It derives from careful discernment by Friends throughout the nation who have identified the fundamental vision that underlies our legislative actions.”

Session Three: Lobby Training & How to Engage Congress (led by the Friends Committee on National Legislation)

Monday March 28th, 7:30-9pm EST on Zoom

• Standard lobby training, how to engage your member of Congress
• A short briefing on a bipartisan piece of legislation, as an example

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3athwm9a
or contact Rev. Shada Sullivan at revshada@gmail.com

Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels

Just a note: the various viewpoints included in these newsletters (either by authors of content or the organizations they represent) do not necessarily represent the viewpoint or position of the Swedenborgian Church of North America (SCNA). The editors present them in the spirit of learning and reflection. 

(Editors: Rev. Shada Sullivan and Lori Gayheart)