________________________ACTIONET Call to Action

Legislative

Advocacy Challenge!

Call to Action - great advocacy ministry opportunity! The LAMPa Legislative Advocacy Challenge is for you (or a group--see related info below) to meet with your State Representative and/or State Senator in their district office.  (Please see the related action plan below.)

This is a new era in Commonwealth government.  The General Assembly that convened in Harrisburg on January 2, 2007 to kickoff the 2007-2008 state legislative session included 55 new members.  In addition to the 55 new legislators, the General Assembly leadership has almost entirely changed as a result of the 2006 elections.  This environment creates significant opportunities for faithful public engagement and advocacy ministry.

It’s time to meet your legislators and share information about LAMPa and our 2007-2008 Public Policy Advocacy Agenda.  If you already know your legislators, then you can share the public policy priorities and spend time focusing on an issue(s) important to you.

During LAMPa’s annual Lutheran Day at the Capitol event in Harrisburg on May 9, a panel of government relations experts affirmed that one of the most important principles for advocacy is relationships with public policy leaders.  The bottom line:  As “location, location, location” is a mantra for business; “relationship, relationship, relationship” is important for advocacy.

Basic advocacy is not difficult.  You don’t have to be an expert, and you don’t have to do it on your own.  LAMPa will provide resources for your meeting(s) in your legislators’ district offices, including guidance (i.e. an outline for the conversation) for the session.

Furthermore, you don’t have to do it alone.  Advocacy is often easier, and frequently more fun, if you are part of a group.  (Being part of a group helps boost your courage and bolster morale.)  You may wish to go along with someone more experienced the first few times.  The encounter won’t seem so intimidating, and having someone else do the talking helps a lot.  LAMPa will help you organize a group to visit your legislator(s).

As members of the body of Christ, we are empowered to serve and walk with people who are hungry, forgotten, oppressed, and despised.  As Lutheran Christians, we have an opportunity every day to exercise our baptismal calling “to strive for justice and peace in all the earth” by being wise and active citizens.   

Thanks be to God and you for your partnership in advocacy ministry with and on behalf of people in poverty, the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, and on behalf of all God’s creation!