Good Shepherd Social Ministry Advocacy Survey

From bringing weekly meals to a family affected by cancer to helping build a Habitat for Humanity home, Good Shepherd members of all ages are generous with their time, talents and resources. Good Shepherd members have shown they are committed to serving their neighbors in need, personally and directly - and that they're really good at it!

But while direct service projects are essential for meeting people’s immediate needs where they are, they can’t address the underlying issues that create social problems in the first place. So, if you’ve ever cared enough to donate food to the local food shelf, or brought toys to church for Adopt-a-Family, Good Shepherd's Social Ministry Chair, Julie Anderson-Smith, encourages you to expand your reach and strengthen your impact on others in need by becoming an advocate. An advocate is “one that pleads the cause of another,” and political advocacy—at local, state, national, or global levels—addresses injustices and other underlying causes of social problems in our community, nation, and world.

Today, Julie is asking for your input regarding the kind of advocacy you would like to do, and what issues you are most interested in addressing. Be assured that any political advocacy activity encouraged by Good Shepherd’s Social Ministry program will be non-partisan, and members of our congregation will not be told what candidates to vote for during elections. The purpose of advocacy is to raise awareness about issues, to encourage people of faith to support decisions that are consistent with what our Christian faith teaches us about justice and loving our neighbors, and to engage people in helping to shape public policies that are consistent with those values.

Thank you for completing the survey!

1. I am interested in doing advocacy work on issues at the (check all that apply):

I am interested in doing advocacy work on issues at the (check all that apply): Local/state level

National level

International level

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2. I would be interested in learning more about and/or becoming an advocate for (check all that apply):

I would be interested in learning more about and/or becoming an advocate for (check all that apply): Ending homelessness People living in poverty/ending poverty

Environmental issues

Victims of domestic violence

Children living in poverty

Affordable health care

Food justice/Ending hunger

Ending child abuse and neglect

Transportation issues Immigration policies/new immigrants

Ending racism/promoting religious tolerance

Ending torture

Other (please share in space below):

Other (please specify)

3. I would be interested in (check all that apply):

I would be interested in (check all that apply): Inviting a local legislator or other office holder to Good Shepherd for a Q & A session

Writing e-mails or letters to my local, state, and national legislators, or calling their offices

Having speakers from organizations such as ISAIAH, the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, etc. come to talk about peace and justice issues during a Sunday service or another scheduled time

Attending Day on the Hill, the annual day at the Capitol in St. Paul for faith-based advocates, organized by the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) for the purpose of meeting and talking with your legislator (sponsored, in part, by the Minnesota Council of Churches)

Participating in demonstrations, protests, rallies, etc., at the Capitol or other venue

Being part of an e-mail tree to receive e-alerts that update me about pending legislative decisions, and actions I can take (E-mails could come from JRLC, the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota, A Minnesota without Poverty, the Ecumenical Advocacy Network, etc.)

Other idea not included here (please share in the comment field below)

Other (please specify)

4. I would be interested in joining a social justice group that would meet monthly or every other month to talk about justice issues and, possibly, engage in some activity or activism. Discussions could be based on readings, such as Jim Wallis's "God's Politics," etc. (If you have an idea for a book, a film, a video, etc., that would be relevant for this group, please share it in the comment field below.)

I would be interested in joining a social justice group that would meet monthly or every other month to talk about justice issues and, possibly, engage in some activity or activism. Discussions could be based on readings, such as Jim Wallis's "God's Politics," etc. (If you have an idea for a book, a film, a video, etc., that would be relevant for this group, please share it in the comment field below.) Yes

Suggested readings, movies, etc. about justice issues

5. I would be interested in joining other church members in purchasing/sharing cost of "shares" of locally grown produce from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm during the 2011 growing season. Local CSA farms currently include: Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista; Riverbend Farms,Delano; Prairie Sun Farm, Watertown.

CSA is a practice that supports local economies and sustainable farming practices. CSA is good for people and good for the earth! Learn more at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html)

I would be interested in joining other church members in purchasing/sharing cost of "shares" of locally grown produce from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm during the 2011 growing season. Local CSA farms currently include: Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista; Riverbend Farms,Delano; Prairie Sun Farm, Watertown. CSA is a practice that supports local economies and sustainable farming practices. CSA is good for people and good for the earth! Learn more at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html) Yes

6. I have experience as an advocate for the issue named below, and I would be willing to share my expertise and information about the issue with others:

I have experience as an advocate for the issue named below, and I would be willing to share my expertise and information about the issue with others:

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7. Please provide the Social Ministry Chair with the following contact information:

Please provide the Social Ministry Chair with the following contact information: Name:
Email Address:
Phone Number:

Good Shepherd Social Ministry Advocacy Survey
Exit this survey

1. Be an Advocate!

1. I am interested in doing advocacy work on issues at the (check all that apply):

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2. I would be interested in learning more about and/or becoming an advocate for (check all that apply):

3. I would be interested in (check all that apply):

6. I have experience as an advocate for the issue named below, and I would be willing to share my expertise and information about the issue with others:

*
7. Please provide the Social Ministry Chair with the following contact information:

Good Shepherd Social Ministry Advocacy SurveyExit this survey

1. Be an Advocate!

1. I am interested in doing advocacy work on issues at the (check all that apply):

*2. I would be interested in learning more about and/or becoming an advocate for (check all that apply):

3. I would be interested in (check all that apply):

6. I have experience as an advocate for the issue named below, and I would be willing to share my expertise and information about the issue with others:

*7. Please provide the Social Ministry Chair with the following contact information:

Good Shepherd Social Ministry Advocacy Survey
Exit this survey

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2. I would be interested in learning more about and/or becoming an advocate for (check all that apply):

*
7. Please provide the Social Ministry Chair with the following contact information: