Vote on those issues that call to question the ethical integrity of the congregation, and then only after an agreed upon and sufficient amount of discussion and study. Ethical investing is a good example. If, for example, a congregation is sponsoring community recycling and has invested in a company that produces plastics, its practice is incongruent with its stated objective. The decision to reinvest these funds must be made by the entire congregation, as the outcome has direct effect on the life of the congregation. Vote on those issues that you have studied and to which you wish to add the institutional power of the congregation.
Some congregations serve as the only voice of liberal religion in their community.
It is incumbent upon them to speak out on local issues such as police brutality, gang violence, racial or ethnic intimidation and other situations that violate the principle of dignity to which we, as a religious community, choose to ascribe. Additionally, there are congregations that have been discussing the impact of government policy on areas such as Latin America, the Middle East or the indigenous people of the Americas. In the event of an emergency, they may wish to add to power of their institutional voice. For example, a congregation which has long studied the INS policy toward Central American child refugees may decide to take a vote which would empower their minister, Board or other body to write letters to or meet with congressional representatives regarding pending legislation. Regardless of which of the circumstances above is behind the desired to take a vote, there are many important steps before taking the vote.