Organizing engages this work through two areas:

Training and Leadership Development

Partnership Development and Strategic Coordination across the United Methodist Connection

The entry point to our work often begins at an organizing training (Church and Society/PWJ Chair or AC training) or in relationship with a Partner where actions are already happening and UM have been engaged but seek technical assistance to deepen their work.

Organizing starts through relationships with UMs who are at the frontline seeking to create systemic change on an issue(RRT), through organizing I seek to build the capacity and ability of the UMs through teams, partners and the connectional umc to understand how to build strategic power to influence systemic change. The power to to influence change then informs how the advocate on legislations, that includes the communities that they are building with to share with their decisionmaker that they have the influence and relationship to create change.

• Connector

• Traffic controller

• GBCS Hype Woman

• Information Hub

• Shepherd for Church and Society Chairs/Conference mission and advocacy staff

The ultimate goal is to equip conference leaders with the skills and resources needed for them to pursue advocacy and justice issues with purpose and intentionality without GBCS needing to hold their hand or give precise instructions on what to do and when to do it.

• Provide resources for PWJ coordinators: Advocacy resources and policy updates, focused on how we at GBCS define "peace with justice" (i.e. peacebuilding/disarmament/nonproliferation)

• Traffic controller/connector (to use Amber's terms): Direct PWJ coordinators toward the right people at GBCS or within the connection

overlap with advocacy: inviting advocacy staff to speak on issues

overlap with organizing: inviting organizing staff to provide organizing trainings

Create Educational guides for local communities to use in their context (Pages for Progress, Resources on the Social Principles, Youth Curriculum)

Other Introductory Points with overlap:

with Engagement: Provide introduction to the work of GBCS and the Social Principles to Young Adult Clergy.

with Engagement and PwJ: Provide Church and Society Chairs and Peace with Justice Coordinators to gather in-person to gain tools and foster relationships.

desired end goal: connect groups and people to organizing or advocacy depending on where they are on their journey

UNIA has a unique organizational reach in the countries where UMs outside the US are located. Therefore, UNIA has become a programming venue for global work that GBCS must do. (Think Central/Regional Conferences)

Engagement is often a first point of contact for new and emerging leaders. Folks are referred to me based on their desire to work on local advocacy and don't know where to get started.

Engagement works closely with PWJ and organizing. I'll occasionally pass specific issue questions on to advocacy staff. Education staff is also utilized for Social Principles and similar educational opportunities.