We begin with an allusion to the popular game show, Jeopardy. The category is things with “One” in them. The answer is “The ONE Campaign.” The right question would be “What do Bono, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Bread for the World, and possibly you have in common?”

The ONE Campaign is a coalition of 2 million people and over 70 non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations including Bread for the World as one of the founding organizations and ELCA as a supporting partner. The purpose of the campaign is to unite the voices of Americans - one by one - against poverty.

A major part of this initiative is to help bring about the implementation of the Millennium Goals (MDGs) (see below) for all of the people of the world. These goals, developed by the UN, are intended, along with other things, to end hunger, improve health care, and provide education for the poorest in the world. The way to achieve these goals is to encourage governments to increase their financial commitments to these goals by one percent of their budgets each year. This one percent would dramatically increase the investment in people rather than weapons and warfare that appears to be the case today.

The ELCA has partnered with Bread for the World on many occasions and has done so again with the ONE Lutheran Campaign, which encourages individual members of the church to band together in a grass roots community effort to create policies that reflect the values that the Scriptures profess.

Bono and other celebrities of all walks of life have also become involved in this global effort. Many, like Bono, have committed time and efforts beyond financial contributions to bring this message to the forefront of human awareness. Their efforts have put a face to the needs throughout the world as well as presenting viable ways in which individuals and communities can work together to end the ravages of hunger and other modern plagues throughout the world.

The last part of the question has to do with you. Too often we think that as individuals there is not much that we can do nor impact that we can have upon public policy. The ONE Campaign would say that each one added to another soon forms a community to be reckoned with. A community that must be heard and a community of involved individuals that can, in fact, change the world. Many can be seen throughout the church and the larger community wearing white bracelets with ONE on them. The bracelets become a visible sign of common cause and commitment to make a difference in the lives of those who have been voiceless for much too long.

If you’re ready to take the step and get involved, start by going to www.elca.org/advocacy/one. There you can learn more about the campaign and find information about signing the declaration. From there you can also tell a friend (via email, you can always tell someone by word of mouth too!) and you can order the white ONE bracelets.

Congregations can also become involved together by becoming a “ONE Congregation.” ONE Congregations are included to designate one week a ONE Sunday and achieve three of the four following goals:

• Feature the MDGs in a sermon.

• Use ONE resources in Christian education classes for youth and adults

• Collect an offering for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal

• Meet with federal legislators to advocate for the MDGs.

Page 5 - Communication in the Congregation
By Rev. Glen Bickford

A frequent concern of churches I pastor as interim is communication. Below are some principles of communication in a church setting.

1) Different people in the church get information in different ways. If a message is important, use many methods of communicating (newsletter, Sunday bulletin, announcements, bulletin board/kiosk, and special calls/mailings). It is nearly impossible to get the message out too much. It might seem that way to church leadership, but often “overcoverage” is just enough to get the news through to the fringes of the church.

2) Never depend on word of mouth (a.k.a. the grapevine) for spreading information. My experience is that if you don’t try to use the grapevine, it often works well (sometimes too well!). If, however, you seriously try to use the grapevine to convey a message, it will disappoint you every time in terms of people reached and content.

3) For a message or announcement, always assign a contact person for questions or further information. Without a single contact, much time can be spent tracking down its source to learn details.

4) Anonymous letters, phone calls, etc. of a negative sort are best handled by not responding or reacting (throw away or delete). Given credence, such messages tend to multiply, causing much difficulty in the church. Signed messages can be addressed in private with the individual, or publicly, if the message warrants such attention.

5) Be wary of conveying messages. Never convey an anonymous message from someone to a third party, even under the aegis of confidentiality. Ask the person to convey his or her own message, especially criticisms. In exceptional circumstances, ask to convey the critical message in that person’s name. If the person refuses both avenues, either make the message your own and convey as yours without mentioning the source, or decline to convey the message. Conveying a message (especially an anonymous one) can leave the messenger wide open to criticism by the recipient (the “shoot the messenger” principle) or by the source (“You conveyed my message wrong!”). See Peter Steinke’s book listed below for more information on “triangulation” (getting caught in the middle).

6) Never pass on a rumor in gossip. Many times, the message is distorted or blatantly untrue. Instead, encourage the source to talk directly to the person or organization criticized. On the other hand, ask to be allowed to pass on all compliments as freely and as accurately as possible, including their source.

7) When communicating, use “I” language expressing opinions i.e. “I feel bad because…”, or “I think this is important because…” rather than bold declarations about what is or isn’t so. When listening, be prepared to restate what you have heard in your own words. This helps the speaker know you are listening and understanding. Most interpersonal communication is body language and tone; a relatively small percentage is the actual words used. Be respectful in tone and body language as you speak and listen.

8) If communication begins to break down, consider mediation. Time is of essence: address the breakdown as soon as possible before situations deteriorate further. Either find a person in the church skilled at facilitation or hire a professional mediator. Resolution is simple at the early stages of a conflict, but often impossible even with a mediator as a conflict escalates.

Additional Resources

• Friedman, Edwin H. Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue. Guilford Press, 1985.
  

• Steinke, Peter. How Your Church Family Works. Alban Institute, 1993, esp. pp.44-52.

Glen Bickford is a qualified neutral (mediator) for the state of MN. He currently serves as Interim Associate Pastor at First Lutheran, Red Wing, MN.