Presbyterians train in local advocacy

ATLANTA — With the start of a new presidential administration, Presbyterians have been raising their voices on social media sites and elsewhere wondering what the church can do to address issues and how to exercise moral action in an increasingly polarized political climate. Presbyteries, synods and seminaries are hosting several upcoming events designed around advocacy training.

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At 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Presbyterians for a Better Georgia, a partnership of churches and individual Presbyterians within the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, is hosting its annual online advocacy training. Attendees can register at this website to receive a Zoom link.

The event begins with a short presentation about how to communicate effectively and develop relationships with elected officials. These tips can be used in many contexts, both in local municipalities and at the state level. Focused on best practices and feedback from elected officials themselves, they are not restricted to the state of Georgia. Later, Elizabeth Appley, Presbyterians for a Better Georgia’s policy advocate, will discuss proposed legislation related to PBG’s core concerns: homelessness, affordable housing and accessible health care. PBG also hosts an annual event at the state capitol to give Presbyterians a chance to meet with their elected officials in person.

Since 1999, Presbyterians for a Better Georgia has been an “issue-based, non-partisan organization” working across the aisle and with churches all along the political and theological spectrum following the call of Matthew 25 to speak on behalf of the health, shelter and protection of their neighbors. While the focus is on policy specific to Georgia, PBG’s advocacy training can inform others eager to organize churches and people of faith in learning how to influence local and state laws.

“The best way to make change at the state level is through long-term, committed advocacy on specific issues,” the Rev. David Lewicki, a PBG board member and the pastor of North Decatur Presbyterian Church, who described PBG’s approach to “creating small legislative victories that begin to change public policy over time.”

Lewicki highlighted the importance of “getting deep inside specific issues like housing or health care,” which can “allow the advocates to create meaningful victories that change people’s lives.” In addition to PBG’s Online Advocacy Training on Tuesday and Lobby Day on March 11, he will also be presenting on affordable housing for a national advocacy training conference being held at Columbia Theological Seminary in early March.

From March 5-6, CTS’s event, “Call to Justice: Advocacy Days of Training,” will focus on equipping people of faith and engaged citizens in the art of effective advocacy. The event features expert advocates from the PC(USA)’s national Office of Public Witness, Presbyterians for a Better Georgia, Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center, the Hosanna Preaching Project, and Georgia Interfaith Power and Light.

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, the PC(USA)’s director of advocacy, will open the conference on March 5 with a talk entitled, “Why Do Public Witness?” The rest of that afternoon, speakers and organizations like the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People program will address specific issue-based advocacy on topics such as immigration, poverty, affordable housing, environmental justice and reproductive justice, and international concerns like the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

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"Connection to Transformation: Creating a Partnership Culture in Faith Communities" is an innovative and intentionally interfaith and ecumenical conference hosted by the Synod of the Northeast at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica in New York City. The conference will focus on community transformation through interfaith and civic partnerships, collaborative and sustainable funding models, accessing state resources and navigating public policies, and promoting equity in access to community services.

The Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley, the synod’s transitional leader, said, “This gathering will bring together faith leaders, community organizers, and interfaith partners to explore the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change and deepening collective impact across communities.”

By bringing together experienced advocates across issues, cities, and regions, leaders in presbyteries, synods, seminaries and the national office are finding ways to equip Presbyterians to create change that positively impacts the well-being of their neighbors.