POLICY BRIEFINGS
FOR PASTORS AND FAITH LEADERS
designed to equip faith leaders to educate and advocate for faith-based communities.
Download RESOURCE information here:
THIS MONTH'S FOCUS ISSUE:
Civic Engagement Guide for Faith Leaders
The Good News in Bad Times is a bi-weekly policy briefing explicitly crafted for faith leaders on advocacy and ministry's front lines.
This month, we are focused on WHY BLACK COMMUNITIES CAN’T LOSE THEIR VOICE.
For more than four centuries, African Americans have fought not simply for the right to vote, but for the right to be heard. The Black Church has stood at the center of that struggle. From slavery to segregation, from Selma to today, pastors and congregations have helped defend the promise that every voice matters. Now, the Black Church is once again called to defend the principle that every community deserves a meaningful voice. The time for observation has passed. The time for action has come. The question before us is not whether this moment matters. The question is whether the Church will meet the moment.
PAST ISSUES
CALL TO ACTION TOOLS: Sample Letter to Congress
Below is a draft letter you can put on your letterhead. Sending a letter to Congress about issues is public education and advocacy, allowed by IRS laws (Revenue Ruling 2007-41). Please share a copy of your letter with us at info@skinnerleaders.org
Your Full Name]
[Your Title / Church / Organization]
[Your Address]
[Email Address] • [Phone Number]
[Date]
The Honorable [First and Last Name]
[U.S. House of Representatives / U.S. Senate]
[Washington, D.C. 20515 / 20510]
Re: [TOPIC]
Dear [Senator/Representative Last Name],
As a faith leader and your constituent, I urge you to protect the most vulnerable in our communities based on Jesus Christ's teachings, which remind us that we must take care of “the least of these.”
I am deeply concerned about (INSERT YOUR CONCERN HERE). These decisions disproportionately harm Americans of ALL backgrounds, including low-income and aging populations.
Now more than ever, we need moral courage in public policy. As a person of faith, I ask you to lead with justice, mercy, and compassion.
Thank you for your service. I am praying for your leadership.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Church or Organization]