ROOTS 12 Advocacy toolkit Toolkit www tearfund orgadvocacytoolkit

ROOTS 1+2 Advocacy toolkit Toolkit www. tearfund. org/advocacy_toolkit

Section B 3 The WHY of advocacy The biblical basis for advocacy

Section B 3: Why should Christians be involved in advocacy? • • • Using strategic influence Speaking out against injustice & idolatry Modelling an alternative society Praying for God to intervene Bringing peace & reconciliation Seeking social & economic justice

Section B 3: What is the role of the church in advocacy? • • • Local influence Empowering citizens Gathering information locally Sharing information at a local level Acting as a mediator and peacemaker Prayer

Section B 3: What are the potential problems for the church in advocacy? • Church leaders can be politically compromised • Churches can abuse their power • Churches do not always have a legitimate mandate to speak • Churches can lack specialist knowledge • Churches can fail to teach & implement learning on social justice • Churches can be vulnerable to state persecution

Section B 3: How is advocacy part of integral mission? • Integral mission is about restoring relationships through reconciliation – with God, self, the environment, people close to us and people we do not know • The process of restoring relationships happens through the interaction of three groups in society – governments, businesses and civil society, with the church playing a unique role within civil society

Section B 3: What are biblical motivations for advocacy? • • • Compassion Equality of all people before God Social and economic justice Reconciliation and peace within communities Love and active responsibility to others Wise stewardship of resources etc…

Section B 3: The fullness of salvation • Salvation is about ‘putting things right’ and reversing the effects of sin, bringing healing at all levels – individual, societal and political • The fullness of salvation is the good news of the kingdom of God coming, wherever God reigns – in people’s hearts, relationships, systems and structures • The good news includes reconciliation with God, freedom from oppression, blessing from God and hope for the poor

Section B 3: God’s justice and compassion • All human beings are made in God’s image, have equal value and should have equal respect • God loves all people and has a special concern for the poor, marginalised and oppressed • Old Testament God liberates his people from oppression in Egypt… • New Testament Jesus teaches us to love God and love our neighbour, eg the Good Samaritan…

Section B 3: Which Bible characters were advocates and why? • • Nehemiah Moses and Aaron Esther and Mordecai Abraham Samuel Joseph Paul etc…

Section B 3: What can we learn from Jesus about being an advocate? • He modelled servant leadership • He gave dignity and value to those who were despised and marginalised • He challenged corruption, hypocrisy and injustice • He encouraged others to fulfil their responsibility • He obeyed the law of the land • He taught love for enemies