By Leah Dail, Assistant Youth Missioner
When teaching advocacy to youth, there are four components to think about:
- grounding advocacy in scripture (the “why”),
- teaching the difference between activism and Christ-centered advocacy,
- creating safe dialogue spaces and
- equipping youth practically.
Foundation
The biblical foundations often used are Micah 6:8—do justice, love mercy, walk humbly; Proverbs 31:8–9—speak up for those who cannot speak; Matthew 25—serving “the least of these;” and James 2—faith without works is dead. When looking at any of these scriptures, ask your youth to wonder: What breaks God’s heart? Where do they see injustice in scripture? How does Jesus model advocacy?
Worldly Activism vs. Jesus-Centered Advocacy
It is important that youth understand that activism is often driven by outrage, seeks to win arguments, is often reactive, and is centered around a single cause. We want to show our youth that advocacy as seen in Jesus is driven by love, seeks restoration, is prayerful and thoughtful, and is centered around Jesus. That doesn’t mean there isn’t outrage or reaction in our advocacy work; perhaps that is what stirs us to advocacy action. In the long run, the model of Jesus loving bigger than his outrage is what we want to emulate.
Safe Spaces for Dialogue
Creating protected spaces for dialogue about issues is very important. Youth need a place to wrestle and understand the world around them. The world they view is antithetical to Jesus in many ways. Help them have space to learn about relevant issues. Perhaps you can have a debate night on topics of interest so they can learn more. Or perhaps arrange a panel discussion with experts, including someone to give theological and pastoral guidance. Safe spaces for dialogue are hard to find in today’s world, and many adults don’t model respect and dignity—tenets of our Baptismal Covenant. Let’s give our youth the tools to do that.
Practical Steps
Finally, help equip your youth practically. This means teaching them to:
- see issues through scripture,
- develop compassion,
- help them pray for God’s wisdom (and have the space to listen to it!) and
- know how to respond with love.
You can teach a series on biblical justice, create an advocacy workshop, or come up with a communication guide and time to practice talking points and responses.
Start Here
I would encourage you to ask your youth what they’d like to learn about, and what are the issues breaking their hearts? If their hearts are breaking over something, it’s probably breaking God’s, too.
One way to start is to participate in the 2026 Diocesan Advocacy Day. Our bishops and other diocesan leaders actually go to the legislature in Raleigh and meet with various elected officials to let them know about our Episcopal values and priorities. The diocese coordinates a postcard-writing campaign that we can all participate in. The postcards are delivered to the legislators. What a great opportunity for youth to thoughtfully express their views to their elected representatives! Information about the campaign and how to order postcards is here.
