Having looked at the various levels of awareness for approaching any issue in the congregation, we'd like to present four specific points:

1. Use the resources of your own denomination. If a statement has been made by some group within your denomination, it is always appropriate to say, "Well, we may not agree with these people but we ought to find out what they have to say because they are our folks." Further, if you can find historical precedents in the actions or statements of your denomination, it's even better. The principle is "We _______ have always. . ." The early Abolitionists were turned to the past, reviving the motto on the great cracked bell in Philadelphia to say, "We Americans have always been a people called To Proclaim Liberty to All the Land." It was from them that it got the name "The Liberty Bell."
   
   
2. Build small groups. People need face-to-face interaction; small groups can best support the expression of feelings about the issues; various different small groups can meet the needs and interests of a variety of people; and small groups can offer "anti-burnout" support to those engaged in long-term issues and ministries. We need to balance between the inward and outward journeys as we deal with issues. Materials on peacemaking in the community of faith from the Fellowship of Reconciliation are particularly useful because of that organization's long history, ecumenical scope, and global connections. The "peace fellowships" within your own denominations may be able to provide linkages and personal support beyond the local congregation.
   
   
3. Give people something concrete to do. The "social issue" that people are most involved in is probably hunger—in part because working in a soup kitchen, bringing canned goods to church, or walking to raise money for famine relief are tangible things that people can do. One source of inspiration and handouts is the Christophers, who offer stories and suggestions built on the theme that "it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."
   
   
4. Act within the system. Those who are called to make a prophetic or radical witness are probably already doing so. Almost by definition, the great majority of people (of us) are going to be conventional. Those of us who are conventional tend to support the system, we respect credentialed authority, and we're proud to be Americans. Thus "mainline" and "mainstream" resources work best—such as materials from the Center for Defense Information with its staff of former career military officers, and the public policy networks run by the Washington-based staff of the mainline denominations.