There is sure to be renewed focus on Israeli-Palestinian issues this August recess and your elected officials need to hear from Christian advocates with a message that is grounded in justice, practiced with love, committed to peace and aimed toward reconciliation.

During this spring, advocates from across the country have come to Washington DC to talk with their elected officials and their staff. CMEP greatly appreciates these advocates and reminds them to maintain those relationships with calls, letters and emails that are certain to be timely and relevant when guided by CMEP’s action alerts.

Most people are not able to come to Washington DC for congressional meetings, and don’t need to. Actually, advocacy meetings with Representatives and Senators when they are home are very effective. You are more likely to be able to talk with the Member of Congress in a district or state meeting and their staff are often very well informed, especially in Senator’s state offices. The “Summer District Work Period” is August 6- September 3.  Pull together a small group from your church, your synod or diocese, or your community. Contact CMEP for guidance on talking points. 

Instructions for Holding a meeting at a Representative or Senator's local office

If more than one person is participating in the meeting, check schedules with each other before. Only one person should then contact the office.

Here are step-by-step instructions for how to set up the meeting:

1. After finding the information for the local offices of your Representative and/or Senators, call the office and find out the fax number for the office and the name of the person who schedules appointments for the member.

2. Fax a brief letter to the scheduler's attention requesting an appointment. If possible, put the letter on church letterhead. It could read something like the following:

"On behalf of several local church leaders and Churches for Middle East Peace, I write to request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience. At this meeting we would like to discuss present opportunities for US leadership and Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking and the significance of Jerusalem’s status for a two-state solution to the conflict. Besides myself, the persons who would like to discuss this with you are (names, titles and church affiliations or other credentials.) I will be in touch in the next few days to see what time might work best. If you or your scheduler have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. My colleagues and I look forward to meeting with you on this very timely issue."

3. Follow up a day later by calling and asking to speak with the scheduler. Tell him or her who you are, your affiliation and that you are calling to follow up on the request you faxed the previous day for meeting with Sen./Rep. Xxxxx.

4. If after your attempts, the scheduler states that the member will be unable to meet with you, request that a senior staff person in the office meet with your delegation.

5. Plan your meeting, prepare talking points (based on guidance from CMEP action alerts and newsletters) and assign points to specific members of the delegation.

6. Write a thank you note, report to CMEP on your meeting, and build an on-going relationship with the Member and their staff.