Happy Birthday FAN! You/we are 10 years old today! For ten years, we’ve been learning, advocating, convening, and lifting up faith voices for justice. We have so much to be thankful for! Our Spring Appeal to keep FAN strong for 10 more years invites you to help celebrate all we’ve accomplished and show your support for the future as we move faithfully forward! If you haven’t already, please donate at our website today–FANWA.org. And enjoy some birthday cake today…

FAN Celebrates its 10th Birthday!

Dear friend of FAN,

Ten years! We celebrate this season our tenth anniversary, as we continue to live into our big vision. Since June 11, 2011, Faith Action Network has grown from an infant born after long labor to a still-growing, multifaith body of communities and individuals – Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Quaker, and Unitarian – from Pullman to Port Angeles. Together we have successfully advocated for public policy that upholds justice and compassion. We have stood together in public witness with those whose rights and safety have been under assault. We have lived into our calling to be “a partnership for the common good.” Now, we ask for your financial support as we begin our second decade.

FAN is in a year of transition, as we give thanks for the leadership and tireless effort of our founding Co-Director, Rev. Paul Benz, who will retire at the end of 2021. We are thankful for what has been and we have big dreams for our future. We are continuing to expand FAN’s regional organizing with new technologies, increasing our capacity to involve more people of faith and conscience in the work of advocacy. We are deepening our understanding of the ways white supremacy has shaped our lives and how we must change our organization and culture to increasingly center voices that have been on the margins. We are excited for the next ten years – faithfully forward!

Your partnership is essential to propel this movement forward! We begin with gratitude in our annual report for how you helped make change happen during this challenging year. Please help continue the momentum and expand the vision in the following ways:

  • Make a gift online in honor of our anniversary, June 11. Visit FANWA.org and use the orange DONATE button. Think multiples of ten to celebrate our 10th birthday!
  • Join the Honor Roll for Paul! Indicate that your gift (check or online) is in honor of Paul and you will join a list of faithful friends to be revealed at our November Annual Dinner.
  • Matching gifts met! We’re happy to report that we have met our $5,000 match already and have raised $10,000, with gratitude for the first 10 years. Ten leadership gifts in honor of Paul made this matching pool possible, thanks to: FAN board members Aneelah Afzali, Rev. Jim CastroLang, Jonis Davis, Rev. Carol Jensen, Rev. Ken Jones, Carolyn Stevens, Rabbi Ruth Zlotnick, and interfaith leaders ELCA Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee, Abbot Genjo Marinello, and Rev. Marcia Patton. Help us raise another $10,000 for all that is to come!

We are celebrating the successes of one of the most progressive state legislative sessions, even as all proceedings and advocacy were accomplished remotely. Please see the highlights in our annual report, or on our website at fanwa.org/advocacy/legislative-agenda.

Your support has enabled us to build on previous victories and take significant steps toward equity and justice for hundreds of thousands of people. Changes like these are tangible—they improve peoples’ lives and increase economic justice, racial equity, immigrant rights, affordable housing, environmental justice, healthcare access, and more. Changes like those we worked on for this session invest in the well-being of people and communities across Washington. Your support of FAN makes social change happen!

As FAN celebrates the work of retiring Co-Director Rev. Paul Benz and enters its second decade, FAN’s board has been dreaming and strategizing for our future. Our growing statewide, multi-faith network gives us unique opportunities to increase our impact. We are boldly planning to expand our staffing to strengthen the partnerships that are core to FAN. Your input, continuing advocacy and financial support for our shared work is valued and essential.

We give thanks for you as we move together, faithfully forward!
With gratitude on behalf of Faith Action Network Governing Board and staff,
Rev. Carol Jensen
Chair, FAN Governing Board

Spring Summits Recap

We had great May and June Summits with over 150 participants! Advocates joined us virtually from across the state to talk about legislative wins and imagine our future work together in issue breakout groups. Stay tuned for a link to view those events, and for opportunities to meet with your legislators during the interim.

Promote Vaccines in June

FAN is committed to promoting COVID-19 vaccine awareness and equitable distribution so that our communities can be protected and safe. One way you can help is to commit to a Vaccine Awareness Event Weekend during the month of June. This can include preaching during a service, hosting an education hour or resource table, making a vaccine breakout group for discussion on Zoom, hosting a mobile vaccine clinic or the new vaccine Care-A-Van, sharing a video, hosting a youth event, or other creative ideas you have for spreading awareness!

A big shout-out to Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Islamic Center of Tri-Cities, and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seattle who hosted vaccine clinics this week!

Events & Opportunities

Engage with WA State Tax Structure Work Group as they reimagine our upside-down tax code, and with the WA State Redistricting Commission as they consider how our districts are mapped.

Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience of Eastern WA and North ID is hosting a short story contest entitled “Brilliant Blunders that Left a Mark”. Entries must be received by September 3 – email FLLConscience@gmail.com for rules.