1. JUST PRACTICES Our Faith Our Vote 2014 June 5, 2014

2. The vision of Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ is of a more just, peaceful and compassionate world that honors all of God’s creation. Leaders are needed throughout our churches and communities to help share, pursue and achieve this vision. Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing (Justice LED) is a program that offers training, leadership skills and support to local churches and UCC members who seek tangible ways to move our world towards this vision. ucc.org/training

3. What is politics? Politics - the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

4. “There is an old saying that religion and politics don’t mix. Probably it was first said by Pharaoh when he turned down Moses’s pleas to let my people go: Generally what it means is your religion doesn’t mix with my politics.”

5. “If religion is where it all comes together – the microcosm and the macrocosm, intimate relationships and public policy – if Christians are called to live so that in everything God may be glorified then religion and politics do mix and to claim otherwise is really to understand neither.” - William Sloane Coffin

6. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

7. OUR FAITH OUR VOTE Witnessing for Justice through Civic Participation ucc.org/ourfaithourvote

8. Pillars of Our Faith Our Vote Voter Registration Issue Education Voter Mobilization Voter Empowerment ucc.org/ourfaithourvote

9. Our Faith, Our Vote History Our Faith, Our Vote started with the 2004 election and has been active ever since! We hope to encourage people of faith to use their votes as witnesses for justice to our nation’s leadership Our Faith Our Vote also promotes civil dialogue in these times that are defined by partisanship ucc.org/ourfaithourvote

10. Why Our Faith Our Vote? As people of faith, we are called to witness to justice for all members of our society. It is our duty to ensure a just world for all people! In a world that is lacking in civility, it is important to be a voice calling for thoughtful and respectful dialogue during an election season * ucc.org/ourfaithourvote

11. Resources The Our Faith Our Vote website has a number of important resources for congregations and individuals! We have: Tips for congregations Issue briefs on election hot topics and how these topics relate to the UCC Information on important ballot initiatives this election Worship planning materials for creating an Our Faith Our Vote worship service Ideas for mobilizing students on college campuses Helpful guides for involving youth in the election cycle Guides to monitoring the election on the media ucc.org/ourfaithourvote

12. What can you do? Sign up on the Our Faith Our Vote website (www.ourfaithourvote.org) to get frequent updates on the campaign. Organize an OFOV committee for your congregation to head up the efforts Sign every member of your congregation up for the Justice & Peace Action network! Hold issue forums in your congregation that emphasize open, respectful dialogue about the hot-button campaign topics ucc.org/ourfaithourvote

13. Aquene Freechild Senior Organizer, Constitutional Amendment Campaign Public Citizen Introducing our Presenters Ellen Buchman Vice President Field Operations Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Question & Answer Q&A will take place at the end of the presentations. Sandy Sorensen will moderate our discussion. Please send your questions to her via the chat function.

14. Thank you! Rev. Peter Wells United Church of Christ wellsp@ucc.org 413.244.6079 ucc.org/justice/training Rev. Lizette Merchán Pinilla United Church of Christ merchanl@ucc.org 216.736.2117 ucc.org/justice/training Sandy Sorensen United Church of Christ sorenses@ucc.org 202.543.1517 ucc.org/ourfaithourvote Ellen Buchman Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights buchman@civilrights.org 202.466.3311 civilrights.org Aquene Freechild Public Citizen afreechild@citizen.org 202-588-1000 DemocracyIsForPeople.org