July Fellowship Meeting
This month we focused on the topic of Advocacy. John Townsend, board member of the Downtown Fellowship, presented about some of the hows and whys of advocating. John and a variety of those who were also in attendance shared stories of successful mediation and advocacy with the city council and other San Diego organizations.
A shortened version of John's notes follows below:
Advocacy
How we can make a difference together
Part of the Mission of the San Diego Downtown Fellowship of Churches & Ministries
The Downtown Fellowship is a collaboration of churches and ministries and individuals. We have been working together for seven years.
What have we learned?
What are some of the things we are currently doing?
How can we make an even greater difference together in the future?
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9
PATH Connections Housing
Advocated with City Council for the need for a City Shelter, with with the need to continue the temporary shelter (The Tent)
City Council stipulated that DF be “involved” in CH
Part of neighborhood oversight council
A partner providing spiritual programs
Doing It Better Together
Initiated through a community meeting at EVCC
Has brought together major HOSPs
Has maintained advocacy to keep street services
Based on surveys of our member churches and ministries (their representatives):
Homelessness
At-rick youth
Trafficking
DIBT Project
DF Care Guide Project
Connections Housing (PATH)
Alpha Square (recent)
Develop a focus (or target issues).
Research issues (determine truth).
Develo a position
Determine community leverage points
Find spokespeople willing to advocate
Empower our advocates
Engage
Monitor
Record results
Is expanded by ad hoc opportunities when people are well prepared/informed
Is limited by resources, especially volunteers
representatives at or with leverage point organizations
able to dedicate the time
good listeners
effective communicators
Information gatherers
(occasionally providing facilities, funds, etc for implementation)
What to Do
We can increase our capacity for advocacy?
we have many topics and places, but lack resources
we need to create better opportunities to advocate
how can we communicate better internally in order to increase our ability to do ad hoc advocacy?
How can we improve our advocacy effectiveness?
Build relationships, coordinate resources, and empower each other! (and the rest of our Mission)
When Speaking:
We need to speak with Biblical principles:
Truthfully (1 Sam 12:24, Prov 4:24, Eph 4:25, i Pet 3:8-10)
Provable & Trustworthily (Matt 5:37, 2 Cor13:8)
Redemptive purpose (Col 4:5-6)
For Edification (Heb 10:24-25, Eph 4:14-16, 29)
So we need to know the facts
We need to communicate well with each other as well as within the community
Development (ABCD)
ABCD training was given to us early in our history
each of us belongs to multiple communities
God has a purpose for placing each person into each community
Each person has a valuable contribution to make, given the opportunity
Community Collaborations are good vehicles for building better communities, solving problems, unifying diverse groups, etc.
-Dr. Samuel R. Fergusson said, “We all should live in community. It is our task as Christians to bring Christ into each and every community in which we participate. Personal testimony is not an option.”
-St. Augustine said, “We each must loudly proclaim our testimony of Christ; occasionally, we must use words.” (loose translation)
-(Much, if not most of this testimony is through serving others.)