Disciple: Advocacy Day 2024
This year’s event includes an invitation to add your voice
By Christine McTaggart
In March 2023, members of several diocesan advocacy teams and committees took part in the first-ever diocesan Advocacy Day at the North Carolina General Assembly (Disciple, Spring 2023). The goal of the day was to have conversations with those in government, during which our faith values would be shared and the foundations of relationships laid. The result of the day was more than 60 visits with legislators by 30-plus advocates, including Bishop Sam Rodman and Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, with each meeting reflecting a commitment that it would be an act of formation and a ministry of presence.
[Image: The “Give Up Your Silence” postcard]
Work on Advocacy Day 2024 is in the early stages, with this year’s event scheduled in May. As with the initial Advocacy Day, the planning and on-site team consists of representatives from various diocesan advocacy ministries and committees, including gun violence prevention, creation care, affordable housing and more. Once again, meetings will be held without an expectation that advocates will impose religious beliefs on elected officials or ask officials to make decisions that prioritize one religion over another. Instead, the focus will be on advocacy issues as witness to deeply held faith values within the Episcopal tradition and our own diocesan priorities, and building relationships with those who might hold different priorities.
While the first Advocacy Day was kept intentionally low-key as a learning opportunity for the planners, Advocacy Day 2024 includes an invitation to every member of the Diocese of North Carolina. Ministry leaders want to take your voices with them!
“GIVE UP YOUR SILENCE:” THE POSTCARDS
At the start of the Lenten season, you were invited to take part in the “discern and learn” portion of “Give Up Your Silence." Intended as a reflective space, it invited you to discern ways you might give up your silence and lend your voice to uphold the values consistent with the teachings and example of Jesus. You were invited not into direct action but into a time to learn and think. How might you give up your silence to ensure the dignity of every human being? Because the answer to this question can take many forms, it was recognized that before action can be taken, every individual has to know why it matters to them.
Advocacy Day is an opportunity for action, and the planning team is offering every person who wishes to share a message with elected representatives the chance to do so via the “Give Up Your Silence” postcard campaign. You are welcome to participate as an individual or a congregation.
How it works:
- Individuals or churches can take part. Churches were invited to order blank postcards in bulk earlier in Lent to have them on hand for a postcard-writing event or offering after Easter. Perhaps you’ve already heard of plans to write postcards during a post-service coffee hour one Sunday in Easter!
- If your church is not taking part as a congregation, individuals can visit the diocesan website and download postcards for your own use.
- Share your message with your elected representatives about your issues of concern. Sample suggestions can also be found on the diocesan website.
- Return the postcards to Diocesan House no later than May 10.
- The Advocacy Day planning team will take your messages with them to the General Assembly on Advocacy Day!
We hope you will give up your silence and add your voice to those attending in person on Advocacy Day. Find everything you need to add your voice.
Christine McTaggart is the communications director of the Diocese of North Carolina.
