CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Free, fair elections, including the right of every citizen to cast a ballot that is duly counted, form the bedrock of American democracy. Voting rights are referred to as “the right preservative of all others,” since only through voting can the people of a community peaceably remove leaders who seek to oppress them. The world’s faith traditions collectively affirm voting as a responsibility both civic and spiritual: through voting, we express our preferences for the circumstances our neighbors will live in.
INDIVIDUAL ACTION
Individual civic participation is the primary building block of our democracy, like cells are the primary building blocks of our bodies. Individual actions—like voting and speaking out on issues—may seem small or insignificant, but collectively they drive our policies and our future.
COLLECTIVE ACTION
Congregations and other faith groups can help their members fulfill their civic engagement responsibilities. They also can serve the wider community by opening doors to civic participation.
ADVOCACY 101
Advocacy means using your voice to advance something you care about. In public policy, advocacy means expressing your views in a way that influences policymakers.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Events
NEWS + UPDATES
Weekly Witness Ep.506 Faithful Witness in Rural Texas with Rev. Trent Ormsbee-Hale
This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Trent Ormsbee-Hale, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Weatherford, TX. For long-time listeners, that congregation might be familiar,...
Weekly Witness Ep.505 “Are You With Us?” with Robert Rivera
This season on Weekly Witness, we are highlighting faith leaders who advocate for justice and equity. Our conversation this week is a great reminder that “faith leader” does not...
Weekly Witness Ep.504 Organizing in Texas with Rabbi Josh Fixler
This week, Scott welcomes Rabbi Josh Fixler, associate rabbi at Congregation Emanu El in Houston to the conversation. Josh is a friend of the program—so much so, in fact that we...
Weekly Witness Ep.503 Showing Up with Rev. Mara Bim
This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Mara Bim for a conversation about her faith journey and work in the immigration space. She is familiar to many in the Texas Impact audience as...
Weekly Witness Ep. 464: Year-End Policy Wrap-Up
We have finally made it to the end of 2025, or, at least the end of the 2025 Weekly Witness recording calendar. And, what a year it has been-from regular and special sessions...
Ep. 459 Cotton Candy for Dinner: The November Election and What’s Next
The election is over, and even though there weren't big statewide or federal races on the ballot, local elections and good public policy matter, and so we are excited to welcome...