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
Voting Does a Body Good
This week, election season started in earnest. The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is October 7, and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is...
Meeting with a Legislator
Even though the next Texas legislative session isn't until January, it's never too early to meet with Texas lawmakers! Use these upcoming months to prepare and share your...
Lights in the Darkness: Faith Leaders Launch GOTV Work Despite Grid Failures
On Tuesday, thirty-seven faith leaders representing 19 congregations convened to launch the Houston Faith Votes Civic Engagement Cohort, a new pilot project designed to take...
Mail Time! Tools to Help You Submit a Letter to the Editor
To paraphrase a trademarked slogan, "Neighbor, when's the last time you wrote a letter to the editor? Well, that's too long!" Summer is an ideal time to submit your...
“At Least Our Voices Were Heard:” Interim Hearings Are Underway
This week, interim hearings started in the Texas Senate. On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Higher Education met to hear testimony on three interim charges: “Monitor the Ban on...
International Religious Freedom: Fighting for the Common Good
Guest blog post by Rev. Mel Caraway and Rev. Phil DiekeWe had a great meeting today with a delegation from Tajikistan on "International Religious Freedom." Their visit was...