Preparing Your Community for Spiritually Motivated Social Action

Points to be covered: 1.What is “spiritually motivated social action”? 2.If your congregation has done nothing in this area, how do you ease into it and get buy-in? 3.How do you align “social action” with Unity principles? How do you speak about it without getting “political”? 4.What are the benefits to the local congregation? 5.Where and how do you begin?

A question that haunts me is… Why is the Voice and Practice of New Thought so silent and so invisible when it comes to solving the problems we face in the world today?

Defining our terms: Spiritually motivated social action: Is the intersection of 1) the broad range of (social) work we do in the world related to the well-being of all sentient beings, 2) the personal motivation (consciousness) for that work and 3) how that work is actually carried out in the world.

An intersection of three elements The social work we do in the world (what) How that work is Carried out in the world (how) Our personal motivation (consciousness) for that work (why)

So…for example How we work on the issues together becomes as important as what the issues are We recognize and use our power to co-create the world we envision We are for something and against nothing We fully utilize our spiritual tools and practices in the “work” without trying to convert others to our philosophy

If a congregation has done nothing in this arena, how do you ease into it? How do you get buy-in? Preparing the “field” is critical!

Actions that help prepare the field: Always link what you’re doing with a core spiritual value or practice Keep reassuring people who disagree with you that they don’t have to participate just because the church is getting involved Be clear on how you will language things Keep painting a bigger picture and invite people to step into it Recognize and sieze the many teachable moments Be patient

How do you align “social action” with Unity principles? How do you speak about it without getting too “political”?

Outreach/involvement in the world is a natural extension of who we are as spiritual beings; not something separate from our teaching at all.

Where and how to begin? What about the small church?

A possible process… 1.Start introducing the idea of social action in your Sunday messages—speak about what’s moving in you and how it is a natural evolution/extension of our teaching 2.Get board/leadership buy-in of the broad field of “activism,” not just approval for a specific project

3.Select an issue/area/project in the social arena that speaks to you –Where is your passion or interest? –Is there an issue/theme that seems to be bubbling up in your spiritual community or your geographical area? –Consider joining some already successful models/opportunities like those offered by the Association for Global New Thought (AGNT)

4.Do your homework—due diligence 5.Search for quality leadership for the project; it will be much more important than quantity 6.And keep teaching to the idea that “what we work on” is only part of the picture; equal to it is who we are together as we do social work in the world. Ongoing education and open dialogue to this end is very important.

What are the benefits to the local congregation?

1.Increases your congregation’s self- esteem 2.Greater visibility in the community 3.Possibility of attracting a more sophisticated, mature and capable group of people 4.Retaining those who are looking for greater meaning, purpose and involvement in their lives 5.Giving your people a place to grow into 6.Fun!

Additional benefits... You tend to attract people with higher leadership skills and greater emotional maturity It’s also a powerful way to match passion, interest, knowledge and skills with service opportunities

There are distinct advantages that spiritual communities can offer.. We have “stable” communities/networks We have shared purpose/language We have established relationships We are a natural “delivery system” We have tremendous untapped “power” in our members

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead