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NC Council of Churches

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Legislative Advocacy

Legislative advocacy is a vital part of the Council’s work because we recognize that much of our state’s legislation has been shaped by a legacy of racism. Guided by the principles of advocating with compassion, we center the voices of marginalized communities and engage with decision-makers with empathy, respect, and care. Through this approach, we work to advance just and compassionate policies in North Carolina that help all people flourish, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Advocating with compassion means approaching public engagement with empathy, respect, and relationship‑building at the center of your work. It means listening to others’ stories and what they love before discussing the issues you care about, seeking to understand different beliefs and values, and honoring the humanity of both the people you’re advocating for and those you’re engaging with. Compassionate advocacy includes everyone—there’s no “us vs. them”—and remains grounded in love and justice, even when conversations are challenging. It also recognizes the importance of caring for yourself in the process so you can sustain long‑term involvement

  • Ask others what they love. Ask what their positive hopeful vision for NC before you discuss the issues you care about.
  • Learn how and why others do what they do. Try to understand their beliefs and values.
  • Love our enemies/neighbors.
  • Include everyone.  It’s not about us against them.
  • Love ourselves through the process. If you are becoming overcome with anger and bitterness it is time for a break
  • If we are practicing creation then as a part of that we are caring for ourselves.

What is the difference between advocating and lobbying?

The simplest explanation is lobbying happens when you ask an elected official to vote a certain way on legislation. Advocating is when you are educating officials on specific issues, expressing your opinion on issues, and/or asking for their opinion on a problem.

How do I talk about my faith and advocate?

Lawmakers, from legislators to county commissioners, have communicated with the Council time and time again that they want to hear what the faith community has to say about issues they care about in our state. Policymakers do not expect people of faith to speak “as experts” in a particular field but rather look to the faith community for guidance on the morality concerning these issues.  Lay and ordained faith leaders from around the state have voiced theologically-based support for many issues including immigrant rights, creation care, economic justice, reproductive rights, public education, and more.

There are many different actions you could take which are a vital part of the work the Council does. By taking action online or offline you help to educate your community, your elected officials, and raise the importance of an issue. This helps lay the ground work for advocacy organizations, like us, to have in depth and more technical conversations with our decision makers.

You can be involved in several different ways:

  • Personal Choices — decisions you can make every day that have an impact. These are also important stories you can tell when talking with your elected officials.
  • Advocacy — describes a way of engaging in the public policy process that helps build public awareness, adds the people’s voice to problems, & gets elected officials attention.
  • Lobbying – a form of advocacy more narrowly defined as asking an elected official to take a certain position on a specific piece of legislation.

Build Relationships with Decision Makers

  • Develop a personal connection with your elected officials.
  • Request a meeting to discuss an issue you care about.
  • Call or email your representatives to share your perspective.
  • Write letters, emails, or even postcards to communicate your views.
  • Provide thoughtful, accurate information on issues affecting your community.
  • Participate in statewide or local advocacy campaigns.
  • Help get people registered to vote and encourage civic participation.
  • Support the work of advocacy organizations through donations or volunteer time.
  • Attend town halls, community forums, or public hearings to make your voice heard.
  • Organize or join a group of advocates to amplify your impact.

Stay Informed

  • Join one of the Council’s newsletters.
  • Attend local government meetings, or consider applying for a seat on a board or commission.

Use the Power of the Written Word

  • Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper.
  • Contribute articles to your church bulletin, blog, or newsletter.
  • Write to your elected officials using both email and handwritten letters.

Raise Your Voice

  • Speak to your church, neighborhood association, or community group.
  • Attend public hearings or committee meetings of elected bodies.
  • Participate in City Council or County Commissioner meetings.
  • Meet face-to-face with elected officials to share your perspective.

Get Together and Take Action

  • Circulate a petition in your community or church.
  • Host an event—screen a relevant documentary, collect signatures, or a letter-writing campaign.

Spread the Word

There are several different ways to go about meeting your elected officials. You can:

  1. Meet one-on-one.
  2. Get 2 or 3 friends together and setup a time to meet with your elected official.
  3. Request a district meeting- This is a meeting to be held while they are at home in their district. For state legislators this is a very effective way to deliver your message because they are not distracted by the hustle and bustle in Raleigh.

Click here to find your members’ contact information and request a meeting or make a phone call today!

Guidelines for effective conversations

  • If it is a meeting, make an appointment.
  • Know who they are.
    • Look up their campaign website and their profile on ncleg.net. See what types of bills they sponsor to get a sense of what they are interested in.
    • If possible identify their faith tradition, house of worship, and learn if there is policy or precedent from a faith perspective on the issue of interest.
  • Be respectful of their time: keep it short and to the point.
  • Say where you live in their district and that you vote.
  • Tell your official why you are talking with them and be able to make your “ask” within the first minute or two after the greetings.
  • Be politely persuasive.
  • Never lie.
  • Listen to what they say.
  • Focus on one issue.
    • Ask them what they think about the issue and how their policy solution would solve the problem.
    • Be ready to politely express alternative point of view if it is different – stressing your faith as the primary motivator, briefly telling your personal story
  • If they are supportive of your issue:
    • Thank them.
    • Be a resource – they can’t be experts on everything.
  • If they oppose you:
    • Thank them for their time and move on to officials who are more likely support you.
    • Stay cordial and friendly. Even if you disagree now you want to keep the door open for other issues.
  • Undecided or Non-committal:
    • Try to understand their reservations and continue to communicate with them.
    • Provide additional information in a timely manner in a form which is most useful to the official.
    • Never threaten, whine, misrepresent facts, or burn bridges.
    • Leave your contact information.
    • Follow-up with a brief e-mail, thanking them for your time.
  • Follow-up – If you are asked a question you don’t know the answer to, say so but be sure to follow up later with the answer as agreed upon with the official (e-mail, letter, phone call, another meeting, contacting staffer). If you aren’t sure where to find the answer feel free to email us for help.
  • Say thank you

Important Note: Often when you call during the legislative session you will speak to the Legislative Assistant and not your elected official. This is still an important conversation and you should still tell your story and make your ask. Also be sure to state whether or not you want your elected official to return your phone call.

  • Keep It Short & Simple (KISS)
  • Be personal – tell a story – stress faith motivations. If you have questions about how to talk about your faith and advocate, email us.
  • DO NOT USE ALL CAPS.
  • Avoid over punctuating!!!!!!!!!!
  • Basic writing etiquette applies.
  • Be sure to state why you are writing, what you are asking for and thank them for reading your note.
  • Sharing your personal thoughts or experiences and expressing your motivation from your faith is never wrong. It makes your email more interesting to read and listen too. With very little time to read officials find it refreshing to read something more than a form letter.

Send your elected official a letter now!

Issue Statements

Ways to Take Action

Spread Love and Advocacy This Valentine’s Day!

We invite you to participate in our Valentine Card Campaign as a part of our Advocating with Compassion work! This initiative focuses on building relationships with our elected officials and fostering stronger community connections.

Write Valentine cards to your state and congressional representatives and share messages of care, hope, and justice. You can find sample messages here with addresses for the Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd. You will need to look up the physical addresses for your NC House, State House, and US House Representatives using the Find Your Legislators link.

Shop local for cards or make your own. This is a fun project for all ages—a great way to involve your children or grandchildren in advocacy!

Let’s turn love into action and build relationships that make a difference.

Attend a committee meeting

Once a bill is introduced in either the House or Senate, it is assigned to a committee for discussion, debate, study, and recommendation.

Committees typically hold meetings that are open to the public. These meetings are generally conducted to obtain and analyze information and opinions about proposed legislation. Often these committee meetings give members of the public a chance to comment on the legislation being considered. Occasionally a committee will schedule a special public hearing on a bill.

We urge people of faith to attend committee meetings and public hearings as a way of increasing their understanding of pending bills and the legislative process. Speaking out at meetings and hearings is another way of making your voice heard and demonstrating the strength of your opinion on a bill.