Engaging in This Election Season Without Losing Your Faith, Your Mind, or Your Neighbors

How do we speak truth in love when the political landscape feels like a battlefield? This all-day seminar, hosted by Vote Common Good, offers a practical, soul-deep curriculum designed to help you engage in open, honest political conversations with the people you care about most—without destroying your relationships or your peace of mind.

Led by Doug Pagitt of Vote Common Good, alongside Robb Ryerse, Rob Schenck, Jen Butler, and the Vote Common Good team, this day is split into two core rhythms: tending to our own inner convictions and equipping ourselves to engage across deep divides.

Session Schedule & Curriculum Outline

Module 1: The Inner Work – Caring for Your Own Beliefs and Statements

Before we can engage others, we must ground ourselves. This session focuses on clarity, integrity, and self-care.

• Owning Your Narrative: How to articulate your values and faith-driven political convictions clearly, calmly, and without apology.

• The Anatomy of a Statement: Learning the difference between a statement of deep conviction and a rhetorical attack.

• Protecting Your Peace: Practical spiritual disciplines to keep your hope intact and prevent political anxiety from hijacking your faith.

Module 2: The Intimate Work – Talking with Those You Love

The hardest conversations aren’t with strangers on the internet; they are across the dinner table.

• De-escalation Strategies: Recognizing the emotional triggers in loved ones and learning how to lower the temperature of a conversation.

• The Art of Holy Curiosity: Shifting from a mindset of “winning the argument” to understanding the fears and values driving the other person.

• Setting Holy Boundaries: Knowing when to lean into a tough conversation and when to hit pause to preserve the relationship.

Module 3: The Outward Work – Engaging Across the Divide

Building on the work of Vote Common Good, this module tackles the broader cultural and political forces at play.

• Unmasking Christian Nationalism: How to identify and gently but firmly challenge toxic political theology using scripture and common-good frameworks.

• Finding Common Ground: Practical exercises in identifying shared values (like neighborly love, justice, and community care) even when policy conclusions differ.

• Mobilizing with Grace: How to channel your conversations into constructive civic action that serves the local community.

What You Will Leave With:

• A Personalized Script: A framework for introducing tough topics to family and friends.

• De-escalation Toolkit: Phrases and somatic practices to use when a conversation turns volatile.

• A Network of Support: Connection with a community of faith voters committed to a better, kinder way forward.