Recommendations and Lobbying Principles shared from Friends Committee on National Legislation’s Spring Lobby Weekend

Call to Action: Join Us in the Path We Seek

As we work to create #SanctuaryEverywhere, we invite Friends from South Jersey and beyond to join us on this transformative journey of simplicity, truth, and peace. The path to peace is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Together, we can stand in solidarity with FCNL’s efforts to counter unchecked wars and the systems that perpetuate them. We invite all seekers and Friends, wherever they are on their journey, to come alongside us as we work to create a world where justice, peace, and love are the prevailing forces.

Upcoming events provide an opportunity to engage with others in this path. The FCNL Spring Lobby Weekend and the online advocacy training sessions offer concrete ways to take action, while the “Witness Wednesday” vigil and the “Witness Wednesday Silent Reflection” provide opportunities for prayer, reflection, and discernment. The invitation to stand together is not just a call to advocacy, but to build relationships, to listen to the Spirit, and to respond to the Light we are called to follow. FCNL’s vision statement guides can guide your work across administrations and amongst Congresses. They are organizing in order to remain committed “to our mission, core values, and to work for anti-racism, anti-bias, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.”

FCNL writes that they seek advocacy to be “grounded in the movement of Spirit. Our lobbying priorities are established through deep discernment with Friends, reflecting more than just one political moment. We continually take opportunities to gather in stillness and reflect as a community.”

As we are living into tumultuous times FCNL is a Lighthouse constantly producing a beacon of safety and hope; “pushing back against the current administration’s overreach in weekly Capitol Hill vigils” with faith partners. They offer Advocacy Teams and upcoming Spring Lobby Weekend and a new storytelling project which seeks to shift poisonous narratives around migration. Recognizing a depth of care in for community, they are lifting up resources on a range of civil rights issues that are outside of our legislative priorities this year.

Queries for Collective Discernment:

How do we embody active nonviolence in our daily life recognizing this as a powerful force for justice rather than passive inactivity?

How can our pursuit of peace include non-harmful presence of ‘accountability in justice’? Is it more than just absence of violence?

How do we live out our Truth ‘into the word’ understanding that peace is the Way?

How can we walk the walk each day care full and responsibly?

“In a dark age, against example, good;

Against allurement custom, and the world

Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn.

Or violence, be of their wicked ways

Shall them admonish, and before them set

The paths of righteousness, how much more safe,

And full of peace, denouncing wrath to some

On their impenitence; and shall return

Of them derided, but of God obsery’d.”