At Foothills, our dedication to justice and social change is more than just a mission—it’s a way of life. We believe that by standing together and taking action, we can create a more equitable and compassionate world. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new advocacy process designed to empower our community and amplify our collective impact.
Individuals and justice-serving teams may identify opportunities to:
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Support specific legislative actions.
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Oppose certain occurrences in our community.
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Join coalitions seeking change or action at the city or state level.
These actions are collectively referred to as Advocacy.
Our Philosophy of Non-Partisan Advocacy
It’s important to note that our advocacy remains strictly non-partisan. While we actively support legislative actions and oppose harmful occurrences, we do not endorse or support any political party or candidate. Our focus is on issues that align with our mission and values, promoting justice and compassion without partisan bias.
Levels of Advocacy
Our advocacy efforts operate at two levels:
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Team-Level
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Ministerial or Church-Wide Support
Authorized Teams have the authority to endorse advocacy, based on their Shared Ministry Covenant commitments, Foothills’ overall mission and vision, and UUA Statement of Conscience. Each team will determine their internal process of determining endorsements. See Appendix 1 Authorized Justice and Social Change Teams
Ministerial or Church-Wide Support is dependent on whether the church has made an explicit statement (in vision, a congregational meeting, UUA statements, etc.) that aligns with the request, as determined by the Senior Minister or designated Ministry Lead and if multiple justice teams have endorsed the action. If the Senior Minister cannot sign on behalf of the church, they may choose to sign as an individual faith leader at their discretion.
Introducing the Foothills Advocacy Coordination (FAC) Form
To streamline our efforts and enhance collaboration, we’ve developed the Foothills Advocacy Coordination Form, or FAC Form. This form serves as a central hub for all advocacy coordination initiatives within our church community.
Why a New Advocacy Process?
With so many passionate individuals and teams working on various justice issues, coordination can sometimes be a challenge. The FAC Form addresses this by:
- Centralizing Our Efforts: All advocacy actions and endorsements are recorded in one accessible place, reducing confusion and ensuring everyone stays informed.
- Enhancing Communication: Streamlined requests and updates help minimize overlapping initiatives and promote cohesive action.
- Strengthening Collaboration: Teams can easily see what others are working on, fostering opportunities to join forces on shared causes.
- Facilitating Broader Support: When appropriate, advocacy efforts can be elevated for ministerial or church-wide endorsement, amplifying our collective voice.
How Does the FAC Form Work?
Using the FAC Form is straightforward:
- Access the Form: Visit https://foothillsuu.org/advocacyform/ to get started.
- Submit an Advocacy Proposal: Whether you’re an individual or part of a justice team, you can propose an advocacy action by filling out the form with details such as:
- A description of the proposed action (e.g., supporting a bill, attending a rally).
- How it aligns with Foothills’ mission and vision.
- Any relevant deadlines or urgency.
- Supporting documents or background information.
- Review and Coordination: Relevant teams and leaders will be notified of your submission. This ensures that all stakeholders are aware and can coordinate efforts efficiently.
- Decision and Endorsement: Teams can discuss and decide whether to endorse the proposal. Decisions are then recorded in the FAC Form, maintaining transparency and a clear record of actions.
- Requesting Broader Endorsement: If your advocacy aligns with church-wide commitments, you can request ministerial or church-wide support through the form. This step allows for greater support and visibility.
The Impact on Our Community
By adopting this new process, we’re taking significant steps to:
- Empower Our Members: Providing a clear pathway for advocacy encourages more members to participate actively.
- Increase Our Effectiveness: Coordinated efforts mean we’re more strategic and impactful in our actions.
- Build Stronger Connections: Collaboration across teams strengthens our community bonds and shared purpose.
- Amplify Our Voice: Unified actions have a greater chance of bringing about meaningful change.
Join Us in Making a Difference
We invite all members of the Foothills community to engage with this new advocacy process. Your passion, ideas, and actions are what drive our mission forward. Together, we can continue to make a real difference in our community and beyond.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the FAC Form, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s embrace this new era of advocacy with enthusiasm and unity.
With gratitude for all that you do,
Rev. Sean
Rev. Sean is Foothills Acting Senior Minister while Rev. Gretchen is on Sabbatical.
Responsible for Worship, Justice Ministries, Faith Formation Strategies and sits on Foothills Executive Leadership Team with Director of Finances and Operations Katie Watkins.
Sean was born on Treaty 7 land in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and comes to Foothills after four years in New England where he completed seminary at Harvard Divinity School where he studied alongside future imams, rabbis, justice activists, and other Unitarian Universalists. Sean is a self-proclaimed nerd — particularly about history, current politics, science, and Star Wars. Outside of ministry you will find Sean hiking or cooking up a storm with his partner Charles, watching his son’s basketball games, all under the watchful eye of their dog Dollie.
