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Planting Seeds: Practice having compassionate conversations about government that are not party-specific
Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:
- Host a workshop on listening skills
- Host studies, forums, and round-table discussions on the role of faith in a democratic system of government. Pay particular attention to the principle of separation of church and state
- Provide opportunities for listening teams to discuss various principles of faith with scriptural grounding as they relate to issues our government addresses (emphasize respectful listening)
General Information Related to this Strategy:
- Advocate with Compassion, tools from NCIPL
- Talking points for discussing voting and climate change
- More Light, Less Heat: How Dialogues Can Transform Christian Conflicts Into Growth, book by Joseph Phelps
- On God’s Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn’t Learned about Serving the Common Good, book by Jim Wallis
- Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis, book by Jimmy Carter
- What to do (and what not to do) when having political conversations with faith communities
Available Resources in Western North Carolina:
Local Faith Communities Currently Utilizing this Strategy:
Nurturing Growth: Learn about election-related dates, vote your values, and coordinate efforts to help community members do the same
Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:
- Provide a study on democracy, voting rights, and electoral reform
- Ask your senior minister to have a worship service focused on “The Citizen on Election Day” on the Sunday before an election
- Invite a representative from your local Election Services office to speak to your community of faith about the registration requirements and procedures, as well a early voting dates and locations. Include any new voting requirements since the last large election.
- Host a voter registration event at your church or gathering. Continue to provide voter registration forms, instructions, and voting location/date/time information for several weeks prior to registration deadline.
- Encourage members to train for and conduct voter registration drives in your local community/town/city
- Ask volunteers to drive community members to voting sites (arrange a schedule to do this)
- Attend public meetings of your local Board of Elections
General Information Related to this Strategy:
- North Carolina voter resources
- Voter Registration Event Tool Kit
- Resources for engaging midterm elections
- PC(USA) Office of Public Witness
Available Resources in Western North Carolina:
- Buncombe County Election Services
- Henderson County Elections
- Haywood County Board of Elections
- Madison County Board of Elections
- Democracy North Carolina
Local Faith Communities Currently Utilizing this Strategy:
Deepening Roots: Join in interfaith and community efforts that support voting rights and access
Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:
- Post voter ID rules in your facility, and have sample ballots available for your community of faith
- Help community members attain the required voter ID documents
- Offer your worship facility as a voting location (contact local Election Services)
- Organize a group of members who will be available to drive fellow community members to the polls on election day, or join a community-sponsored group to drive people to the polls
- Organize interest groups from your community of faith to go to vote early. Follow up with a fellowship lunch or dinner
General Information Related to this Strategy:
- Checklist regarding giving rides to the polls on election day
- North Carolina voter resources
- Voter registration guides by state
- Election law guides by state
- Congregation based community organizing
Available Resources in Western North Carolina:
- NC Interfaith Power & Light: Advocacy Toolkit
Local Faith Communities Currently Utilizing this Strategy:
