Resources

The Washington Office, along with other General Assembly agencies, produces a number of public advocacy materials. These resources equip congregations and presbyteries with the necessary tools to carry out their own public policy ministry. The following resources are available from the Presbyterian Washington Office. To request copies, call our office at (202) 543-1126, or send an email to the Washington Office. Some of the publications can be ordered through the Presbyterian Distribution Services by calling (800) 524-2612. PDS numbers are noted after these items.

How To Be an Effective Advocate … Making our voices heard!

Offers advice on communicating clearly and forcefully with public officials, making visits to Capitol Hill, and writing Letters to the Editor.

Free single downloads available:

Order multiple copies free:

PDS #7282206001

Speaking Truth to Power – the Washington Office brochure

Outlines the purpose and programs of the Presbyterian Washington Office.

PDS #7294201002

Christian and Citizen Election Packet

This resource was designed for congregational study and action in an election year. This edition features a booklet with sections on theology, current issues, General Assembly policies and a study guide. Also included are worship resources, bulletin inserts, voter registration information and a list of Internet election sites; as well as guidelines for Presbyterians.

Christian and Citizen Election Year Booklet

Designed for congregational group study, personal reflection and responsible citizenship in a biblical perspective during an election year. Features sections on theology, current issues and General Assembly policies.

Christian and Citizen bulletin insert

Use this bulletin insert for Christian and Citizen Sunday on November 2, 2008, to encourage your congregation to use Christian and Citizen.

Witness in Washington Weekly

Download and print recent issues of the weekly email update of legislation before Congress and the related Presbyterian policy.

Use this bulletin insert to encourage your congregation to sign up for regular legislative updates and to get involved with the Washington Office.

Second Tuesdays

The Washington Office offers assistance to Presbyterians who wish to visit their Members of Congress in Washington. A special program of issue briefings and congressional visits is offered to groups of Presbyterians on the second Tuesday of each month.

Download a bulletin insert on Second Tuesdays.

Jerusalem, City of Peace

This congregational resource packet contains worship and educational materials useful to your congregation in encouraging discussion, prayer and advocacy on the question of the future status of Jerusalem.

PDS #7294001001

Faith-Based Initiative and Charitable Choices

Resources for Presbyterians. This packet was produced by several General Assembly bodies in response to inquiries from Presbyterians about the implications of the federal government's emphasis on faith-based initiatives. The offices include the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, Constitutional Services, Legal Services, Hunger Program, Washington Office, Social Justice Ministries, and Urban Ministry.

PDS #7436001307

Federal Budget Primer for Presbyterians

This resource shows how the federal budget impacts social justice issues, and it brings together the guidance Presbyterians have given on how to shape the budget based on our values. Also included in the resource is a step-by-step guide to how the federal government creates its budget every year, ideas to help you get active in the budget process, and tools to help you use the resource to educate people in your congregation, network or community.

Affordable Housing Advocacy Resources

The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has developed an advocacy resource on affordable housing. "A Stranger and You Invited Me In: Affordable Housing Advocacy for Presbyterians" includes information on government housing programs as well as simple advocacy suggestions, and features ways that congregations are involved in affordable housing advocacy and the campaigns for a higher minimum wage.

Affordable Housing Sunday bulletin insert

Stewardship of Public Life Archive

This archive of issue alerts and articles from 1998 to 2006 are from the former Stewardship of Public Life program. Use them in researching the church's public policy advocacy work. The archive covers legislation by topic from the 105th-109th congressional sessions.

More recent information about public policy issues is available in the Washington Report to Presbyterians.

Social Witness Policy Compilation (SWPC)

This searchable database of the church's social policy statements covers most of the last 75 years.

Items marked with are Adobe Acrobat PDF documents. For best results, right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select "save target as" and save the document to your desktop for viewing and printing.