Quakers do not add value by being just another voice advocating for peace and justice or for all the other issues that we care about so deeply. Quakers have a unique contribution to make by virtue of being Quaker.
As Quakers, we believe there is that of God within everyone, and this defines our unique approach to advocacy. Our role as Quaker advocates is to speak to that of God within those we are seeking to influence, to reach into their hearts and to encourage them to do what they know in their heart is the right thing to do. “Encourage” means to give courage, and courage is a strength coming from the heart. So rather than seeking to persuade or convince, our Quaker approach to advocacy is about moral encouragement: helping people in positions of power and responsibility to see what their own heart is telling them to do.
This is long-term, subtle, challenging work. It is not easily measurable or even visible. It requires the slow and careful building of relationships, detailed research and monitoring of the statements and positions of those we seek to “encourage.” And it requires a constant search for opportunities to engage, challenge and contribute to the relevant conversations as they come up.
Of course, not all the people making the decisions we care about are easy to access. And some are more susceptible to moral encouragement than others. That is why we must seek out allies and intermediaries within the institutions who can do some of that work for us.
And if our work as Quakers is fundamentally about “moral encouragement,” then our closest partners in this work must be the other Churches and faith communities, who may be encouraged to take a similar approach. Building relations with key people in those communities and faith-based organisations is therefore another key priority.