Involving Congregations in Advocacy Now (ICAN) Introduction My Faith and Advocacy The How-tos of Advocacy How to bring advocacy to my congregation Resources Miscellaneous Activities and Handouts

Involving Congregations in Advocacy Now

• How to Start an Advocacy Ministry
• Advocacy Ministry in Your Congregation
• Advocacy Ideas that Work
• Lutheran Office of Public Policy: Action Center
• Building a Network in Your Congregation
• Creating A Network
• Network Tags
• How to Develop an Internet Action Alert
• Using the Public Policy Interest Survey
• Public Policy Interest Survey
• How to Choose Issues
• A Model of What to do if we do not Agree
• Changing the World through Advocacy
• The Open Space Process
• Problem Participants
• Answers to Address Problem Participants

How to Choose Issues

The key is narrowing down to one issue.

You cannot afford to be so overwhelmed by all the issues that need your group’s attention that you throw up your hands and do nothing. Nor can you jump head first into every issue that comes along. Hopefully, by spending a little time thinking about which issues make the most sense for your group, you will enter into the ministry of advocacy with a deep commitment and ability to make a difference.

In deciding which issue to pursue, some local groups have created two or three tiers: issues to which they make a major commitment; those issues to monitor and make their voices heard when needed; and those issues where they will simply show their support.

Use the following questions to begin your issue search:

1. What activities are our congregation/synod heavily involved in at this time?
2. How many people in our state/synod geographic area/community are affected by these issues?
3. Do our members have direct experience with these issues?
4. Can we make a difference if we get involved?
5. Can we make new friends? (i.e. Who else is working on this issue, whom we can join?)
6. What are the Biblical mandates/Social Statement concerning this issue?
7. What messages can we communicate?

Remember a good issue:

• Affects an organization and its constituency in a tangible way.
• Offers the opportunity to let many people be involved.
• Should be specific and winnable*.
• Should encourage your organization to enter into a new level of commitment.

*winnable – an issue that is vital may not be completely “winnable” but there are ways to set
realistic goals, such as keeping the budget the same or only 25 percent cuts.