#PublicWitness Holy Week and
Easter Campaign
Building national faith organizing and mobilizing capacity locally
As Christians around the world commemorate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ this Lent, faith leaders across the country are taking action to uphold the teachings of Jesus, and his special focus on care for the poorest and most vulnerable.
We believe that all are made in the image of God and that it is our call as Christ followers to take the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 seriously and prioritize and care for the most vulnerable among us including our immigrant neighbors, the hungry, and vulnerable children.
This is why we are standing up against unjust and dehumanizing policies that target immigrants, in addition to the proposed cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and foreign aid that disproportionately harm low-income families, marginalized communities, and vulnerable populations while benefiting the wealthiest. These cuts contradict core gospel values of justice, compassion, and care for the poor.
Congress is in recess during Holy Week so House and Senate members will be back in their home states/districts. Given this, we want to encourage local clergy and lay-people to sign on to our statement of values and then organize local public witness events and/or organize meetings with their members of Congress.
Our hope is that these efforts, building over time, will:
- Push Congress to reject the proposed budget cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and foreign assistance, preserving these critical programs for those in need.
- (Maybe add something about protecting vulnerable communities including immigrants and children in poverty? )
- Establish faith leaders and communities as a moral force for justice, strengthening long-term advocacy for policies that uphold human dignity and the common good
- Build stronger local and national networks and relationships with which to build upon in the future for the years ahead.
While these efforts will start in the midst of Holy Week and the season of Easter, we will continue to build and strengthen relationships between national and local faith communities and organizations and continue to equip local faith leaders with trainings, resources, and tools for them to be leaders for justice. Sign on to the letter to take the first step of joining our efforts!
Connect with other organizers
We encourage you to connect with other existing local networks such as local clergy,
ecumenical, or interfaith groups; connect with your state council of churches group; or just
connect with other like-minded clergy or lay-leaders in your community. We also encourage
you to connect with other groups that have been organizing mobilizing and advocacy efforts
in your local community.
If you need help connecting with those in your state and community that are participating, fill
out this form.
Organize a Public Event
Stations of the Cross
On Good Friday, many Churches already organize Stations of the Cross events– often
ecumenically. If you already do this, consider adding in elements about vulnerable and
marginalized communities and how policy unfairly impacts them. Public pilgrimages to sites that
represent these places of decision making around your cities and towns can be selectively
chosen to uplift the teachings of Jesus. If you have never done this, please consider organizing
as a powerful public Christian witness to the harm and hurt caused by unjust decisions and
systems.
RESOURCE: Planning a Stations of the Cross Event
Ecumenical or Interfaith Prayer Vigil
We encourage you to reach out to other local faith leaders that you know, that are part of your
denomination or tradition, or that are a part of local or state-wide ecumenical groups. This could
take place either in a house of worship or outside of congressional offices.
RESOURCE: Organizing a Prayer Vigil
Teach/Preach In
Connected to any of these other events or on its own, a Teach/Preach In offers the chance for
people to come together in community to learn and grow- spiritually and strategically. You could
offer trainings or small group studies on non-violence, host a series of faith leaders to preach on
injustice and nonviolence or other topics relevant to your community or this moment. Please let
us know if we can help connect you with training resources.
RESOURCE: Organizing a Teach/Preach In
Meeting with your members of Congress
In District Meetings
Congress is in recess the weeks of April 14th and 21st– which means you can meet with your
members in the state/district. We encourage you to coordinate with other faith leaders and
schedule a meeting to speak with all of your members of Congress on these (and other)
important issues.
RESOURCE: How to Schedule an In-District Lobby Visit
If you have never met with your member of Congress here are some resources for how to
conduct the meeting.
RESOURCE: Congressional Meeting Roadmap
Sign the Clergy State Letters
We invite local clergy to sign on to this individual state sign on letter that you can deliver to your
member of Congress when you meet with them in-person and which will be sent in full to their DC
office.
A major goal of this initiative is to raise awareness of how faith communities are leading moral
voices in their communities.
If you are organizing something, please let us know here so we can help promote, connect you with
media, and share future resources and trainings to continue to build capacity and momentum.
As you are organizing events and Congressional meetings, be sure to reach out to local media to
raise awareness.
As you promote out on social media, use this hashtag so we can amplify and connect activities
happening across the country: #PublicWitness
RESOURCE: Press Release Template
Raise Awareness
If you are organizing something, please let us know here so we can help promote,
connect you with media, and share future resources and trainings to continue to
build capacity and momentum.