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In 2004, Res Publica sought to counter dangerous long term developments in American politics and foreign policy by catalyzing a resurgence of the prophetic, and progressive religious voice in America. Many Americans had come to believe that God was pro-rich, pro-war and pro-American. We believed the nation lacked a voice of wise moral leadership. In response, we helped the once powerful progressive and liberal religious community to re-unify itself and speak once again, as they had done in the struggles for abolition and civil rights, to the profoundly peaceful, loving, tolerant and justice-oriented messages at the heart of their traditions.

Read what our partners had to say about our work

Our work with the Progressive Religious Community focused on the following projects:

1) Progressive Faith Media - we established a PR firm and resource center (including a website) for journalists on the progressive faith community. We had over 25 top progressive faith leaders as our clients, and offered free strategic advice and media outreach to a large number of progressive religious organizations and campaigns. A team of 4 staff and 5 volunteers constantly engaged national, state, and local media with the progressive religious message.

Progressive Faith Media also played a significant movement building role through encouraging common message development among faith leaders. PFM held messaging sessions comprising many of the leading progressive religious groups, provided media training to top communicators, and tested messages with advanced polling techniques.

2) Setting Up and Coordinating 'FaithfulAmerica.org', an initiative supported by the National Council of Churches, that seeks to be an online wing of a resurgent progressive faith movement. FaithfulAmerica.org is using the internet to connect up faith communities and individuals and enable a 'viral' form of activism that allows ideas and actions to spread rapidly. Within its first six weeks, 'FaithfulAmerica.org' had attracted over 100,000 members. In its first 6 months, it raised over $400,000 for progressive religious campaigns. It continues to be a highly active and effective online organisation.

3) Advising the National Outreach of the Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr., one of the best preachers in the world and a powerful, genuine voice calling attention to the need for America to recover her spiritual, moral and democratic values. Dr. Forbes has a voice and a message that crosses every boundary. Res Publica also served as founding advisors to the 'Mobilization 2004' campaign at Dr. Forbes' historic Riverside Church. We facilitated Dr. Forbes' role as a movement builder in the progressive faith community, an emissary to the secular establishment, and a bridge builder to the religious right. Dr. Forbes was the only faith leader to speak at the Democratic National Convention.

4) Supporting, developing and fundraising for several ad campaigns such as Sojourners' highly successful 'God is not a Republican or a Democrat' campaign, Pax Christi's 'Life Does not End at Birth' campaign, an ad on Al Jazeera apologizing for US torture at Abu Ghraib (read coverage on the BBC and in the Washington Post) and the Iraq War "Dove Ad Appeal" of Church Folks for a Better America.

5) Catalyzing the 'Vote ALL Your Values' Coalition and Campaign. We brought together over 20 leading progressive religious groups in the first nationally coordinated progressive 'religious get out the vote' campaign. Progressive religious groups helped register an astounding 2 million new young, low income, and minority voters for the election on November 2nd, most of them in swing states. We also set up a brand new technology that allows any member of the public to call these voters from their own home and encourage them to vote. More than 17,000 activists made over 70,000 calls in the run up to election day using the Vote ALL Your Values website, and its sister site, VoterCall.org. The latter also enjoyed significant media coverage.

6) Advocating with Political Leaders and Party Conventions to take note of and mainstream the progressive faith voice in their messaging and policy visions. We encouraged faith leaders to speak at previously secular gatherings, helped secular leaders to become more familiar and comfortable with faith language, and developed the presence of the faith community as a profoundly moral voice for ethical foreign and domestic policy in the politics of the nation.