25 Years Chicago HQ Affiliates in 18 US states, South Africa, Great Britain Leadership training Congregational development Leadership tables of clergy, lay leaders and allies Issue Campaigns Professional organizers

 LOCAL/REGIONAL/STATE ISSUES Affordable housing Education Health Care Transportation Treatment Instead of Prison Work force development Tax reform  NATIONAL ISSUES Voting Rights Act re-authorization Civil Rights of Immigrants Health Care Education

I. Build our collective power II. Strengthen faith communities III. Heal our democracy THREE YEAR STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN THREE OVERALL GOALS

“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivocation and pretence; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical. Are we still of any use?” Where are we now?

Attitude I The work of the church is in matters of life and death – what could be more important? What do we do to undermine our importance?

Attitude II Our ministries should have an urgent relevance to the daily lives of people Are our ministries resulting in a stronger congregation or are we just “managing?”

PEW: 20% OF AMERICANS ARE NOW ATHEIST, AGNOSTIC OR UNAFFILIATED WITH A RELIGION

“The unaffiliated are less trusting of churches and religious organizations than the general public overall. “In particular, they claim that these groups are “too concerned with money and power, too focused on rules, and too involved in politics.” “That being said, a majority believe that faith and religion can be a positive force in society and that religious organizations bring people together and help strengthen community bonds.”

Attitude III Congregations must build power to be relevant Who instilled the spirit of timidity in us?

Power Ability to act Two components Organized people Organized money

Attitude IV Relationships based on an understanding of self-interests are the key to building powerful congregations How can we love one another if we do not know one another? What stands in the way of knowing our neighbors?

Discipline I Intentional relationship-building: fostering natural but uncommon exchanges A. Build trust B. Understand self-interest C. Gain/offer clarity D. Gather information

Discipline II Meetings that respect people. A. Have a point - action B. Follow an agenda – prepared in advance C. Begin and end on time – this is business D. Ratify decisions that have already been made

Discipline III Build a culture of integrity and accountability 1. Specific, measurable plans 2. We say what we’ll do and we do what we say 3. Evaluation: Did we meet our goals? How did people grow? How is this building the congregation?

Discipline IV Building a public life for our faith communities “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spike into the wheel itself.”

Discipline V Ongoing leadership training and development 1. All leaders are grooming their replacements 2. No one is expected to “sink or swim” 3. Everyone moving toward the center of congregational life

AttitudesDisciplines 1.The work of the church is a matter of life and death 2.Our ministries must be relevant 3.To be relevant we must build power 4.Relationships are the key 1.Intentional relationship- building 2.Effective meetings 3.Culture of integrity and accountability 4.Life in public arena 5.Ongoing development of leaders

GAMALIEL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING

National Leadership Training (7 Day): Jul 14-20: Mundelein, IL Nov 11-17: Sacramento, CA Other Important Dates National Clergy/Team Training April 24-26: St. Mary’s, Mundelein, IL Advanced Leader/Strategic Campaign Training June 10-14: Gallaudet University, Washington DC International Leadership Assembly December 3-5, Washington, DC

Most Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America “My own experience of Gamaliel leadership training gave me a deep sense that churches were not simply being used for some narrow political agenda, but that there is a real respect for the faith-based nature of our work. I also appreciated the emphasis on the individual and their call to leadership in the church as well as the community. I believe we can use this methodology to integrate the attitudes and disciplines of community organizing even more deeply with our church revitalization efforts, using it as a principal tool in developing churches and their leaders as powerfully relevant to the daily concerns of our people.”