Until recently, I had never considered the concept of the stewardship of citizenship. In the past I have thought about what it means to be a good steward of my financial resources, spiritual gifts, talents, time, and material resources, but I had not pondered what it meant to be a good steward of my citizenship until February 10, 2009. On that day, I was in Washington, D.C., on the Fellowship’s second annual Advocacy in Action trip. During this trip, participants learned about the work of Together for Hope, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, and Bread for the World. We also had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience being advocates on Capitol Hill for the poor.
As Bread for the World staffers prepped us for our visits in the offices of our respective representatives and senators, they helped us recognize the influence we can wield as citizens in a democracy. Our elected representatives really do listen when their constituents take the time to make their voices heard. A study conducted in 2005 by the Congressional Management Foundation found that 96% of the Capitol Hill staffers surveyed reported that if their member of Congress had not reached a firm decision about an issue, individualized letters from constituents influenced the member’s position. The study also confirmed that handwritten, mailed letters are the most effective way to communicate with members of Congress. Erin Tunney, Senior International Policy Analyst for Bread, shared a story about the time that a Capitol Hill staffer referenced the “flood” of letters his office had received about an issue. And just how many letters constituted a flood? Only thirteen!
If I’m going to be a good steward of my citizenship, then I need to do more than simply show up at the polls each time there’s an election (although that’s clearly an integral part of the stewardship of citizenship as well). If I’m going to be a good steward of my citizenship, I must take the time to raise my voice and keep poverty-related issues on the radar screens of my representative and senators.