{"id":34029,"date":"2022-02-07T15:20:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T20:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=34029"},"modified":"2024-11-28T11:12:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T16:12:26","slug":"advocating-for-legal-public-policy-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2022\/02\/07\/advocating-for-legal-public-policy-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Advocating for Legal\/Public Policy Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Christian ministries are deeply involved in serving members of our society who need help. Their frontline service meets immediate needs, but they might also act as advocates to promote changes to public policy or the law that will alleviate the conditions that caused people to need help in the first place. The church has a long history of advocating for marginalized members of society and this post provides four advocacy option of escalating confrontation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to advocating on behalf of others, churches may need to deal with public policy or laws that directly affect the way they fulfill their mission as churches, such as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This post applies in this scenario as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Options for Advocacy <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The four options are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Comply<\/em> either because you agree with the law\/policy or want to show goodwill if you don’t.<\/li>
  2. Consult<\/em> with the appropriate authorities when they are agreeable to discussion.<\/li>
  3. Challenge<\/em> the authorities when they are not agreeable to discussion with either a protest or a legal challenge.<\/li>
  4. Disobey<\/em> the authorities when circumstances are so egregious and the authorities are so resistant that this is the only option.  <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Indicators for Compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The starting point should always be to comply with government laws and regulations, as the New Testament is clear that Christians are to obey their governments,\u00a0unless a particular government directive is deemed to be unjust. In that case, Christians can move directly to a more active step to change the law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Christian ministries could choose to comply while at the same time either consulting with or challenging the authorities. The principle is to start with Comply, then move to Consult, Challenge, and Disobey in that order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Indicators for Consultation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Consulting with people who have the power or the influence to bring about the change you want means that you are constructively working with them to problem-solve a solution that everyone can live with. This option is viable if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n