Coming in weakness

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Anderson's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

For the past 20 years I have toiled in the vineyards of two state legislatures: in California for 12 years and now in Wisconsin for the past eight, along with occasional forays to the U.S. Congress. In these arenas I have represented the interests of state councils of churches, which are really the interests of those who don't have the time, money or wherewithal to advocate for themselves: children, impoverished families, working-class parents with low-paying jobs.

My vocation is less about issuing pronouncements and buttonholing legislators and more about educating local folks in congregations to be the true advocates with their state and federal legislators. The work takes patience, a knack for timing and the ability to orchestrate some subversive political theater. Legislative success is rare.