Activity Report

Giving Voice: Civic Strategies for Religious Leaders

March 2004

Encouraging Faith Leaders' Civic Role

As disagreements between the food workers union and grocery store owners in the St. Louis region stretched into a third week of a strike/lockout in October 2003, something needed to be done to bring the two sides back to the bargaining table. Among the voices in the news calling for reopening the discussions: Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr., pastor of Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church, and Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation. A few days later, Governor Bob Holden intervened and a federal negotiation team was brought in. It seems likely that Rev. Nance and Rabbi Talve's urgings influenced the governor's actions. Local clergy, speaking on behalf of the community at large, have in many past instances, caused policymakers to change course or reconsider their roles.

However, in St. Louis, as in many communities, those clergy voicing community concerns tend to be the same individuals over and over. Rabbi Talve and Rev. Nance are laudable, vocal advocates for social justice causes, but I felt that their influence would be augmented if a broader group of faith leaders could become more visible in civic life. This led me to the question, How can the philanthropic community help pastors, rabbis, women religious, and others become spokespersons in civic, not just religious, life?

My question was the impetus for a collaboration of the Incarnate Word Foundation, the Deaconess Foundation, and the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis to develop the Giving Voice program for religious leaders. The following report outlines the program's approach, its first year's outcomes, and its next steps, including an ambitious plan to expand it to a national model. We are excited about the potential of Giving Voice and welcome your comments and suggestions to guide our efforts.

Bridget McDermott Flood
Executive Director
Incarnate Word Foundation

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