RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP- PART I FW #4 (01/24/99)BE AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN1) Know the names, addresses and phone numbers of your elected officials -- local, state and national. Contact your County Clerk and/or Election Board and request that information. 2) Make a commitment to pray daily for your elected officials. Pray specifically when they are debating and voting on critical legislation. 3) Communicate with your elected officials on a regular basis. See guidelines below. 4) Subscribe to pro-family publications so that you will be informed about the critical issues affecting your family and the moral climate of our country. Seek the truth even if it is distressing, and pray about these issues. 5) Volunteer to help and/or contribute financially to the pro-family organizations that are "standing in the gap" for our families. Pray for wisdom, protection and guidance for each organization. 6) Organize a "moral issues committee" at your church so that your congregation will be informed and in prayer about the many issues being debated by our officials. 7) Register to vote. Be familiar with the party platform of the party you have chosen to affiliate with. 8) Get involved in the election process. Be willing to sacrifice the time, effort and finances to support the moral and religious individuals who are willing to take a stand and run for public office. 9) Establish a "quiet time" with the Lord. Know the Word so that your moral convictions are based on Biblical principles. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR OFFICIALS1) LETTER WRITING:A well-written, individual letter is the most powerful means of communicating with your legislator. Less than 20% of the population writes to their legislators; consequently, your ONE letter (on the state level) actually represents 100 letters, because your legislator believes that for every ONE letter sent to him, at least 100 people felt the same way about the issue, but didn't take the time to write. [Jane Chastain, I'd Speak Out On The Issues If I Only Knew What To Say, (California:Regal Books, 1987)) , p 18 ] Sending a letter, via e-mail, can also be very effective. Use the guidelines below when writing your elected officials.a) Be Informed: Know the issue, read the newspaper and other educational materials. Use newspaper articles and/or educational materials to educate your legislator about the issue. b) Be Specific: Address only one issue at a time; identify the bill by topic and number whenever possible. Be specific about how you would like your legislator to vote. c) Be Personal: Let your legislator know how this issue affects your family. Avoid form letters. d) Be Timely: Follow the issues and keep up with day-to-day developments. Write when you first hear about the issue and then write a follow-up letter -- your second letter will have twice the impact of your first letter. e) Be Courteous: Do not threaten or use offensive or disrespectful language. f) Be Brief: A one-page letter is best. A lengthy letter will be skimmed and the main points are often lost. g) Be Supportive: Communicate your appreciation for your legislator's commitment to serve. Send a note of thanks for a positive vote and a note of concern for a negative vote, but stay positive and polite. h) Be Tenacious: Ask for a reply and request more than a "yes" or "no" response. You are entitled to know your legislator's views on the issues and how he/she plans to vote. 2) TELEPHONE CALLS:a) A telephone call is the fastest way to express your opinion about an upcoming issue when there is not enough time to write a letter.b) A call to your legislator's local office is usually as effective as calling Washington, D.C. It is extremely important for constituents to develop a working relationship with their legislator's staff and aides, locally and nationally. c) When calling your legislator, ask for the legislative aide who is working on the issue of concern to you. d) The total number of calls going into your legislator's office CAN make a difference; so encourage, but don't badger, your friends and family to call. e) Be sure to call about only one issue; state the bill number; know your facts about the issue. f) Request information about how your legislator is planning to vote on this issue and then follow the vote. g) Use “letter writing” guidelines for calling. 3) PERSONAL VISITS:a) Your legislators represent YOU -- and he/she does appreciate hearing from you. Visit with your local, state, and federal legislators, either at their local offices, state offices or in Washington D.C.b) Call the local office of your legislator to schedule your visit. Be prompt for your appointment. Be brief and courteous. c) Your visit provides a great opportunity to build a relationship with your legislators and to inform and educate them about the issues of concern to you. Don't use this time to argue differences or discuss party politics. The bridges you build during this visit will be vital when an important vote is pending. Write a note of thanks after your visit. d) Attend Town Hall meetings in your area. "Civil Responsibility is a gift from God; and ... is a responsibility toward God; ..." [Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries] NEXT WEEK – FW #5 RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP – Part II Addresses & Phone Numbers for Elected Officials . |