Indianapolis nonprofit, Black Women of Faith, Inc. (BWF) is a faith-based organization with a central focus on Black women, community and justice.
Founded on Aug. 3, 2023, BWF represents Black women who serve as the backbone of their families, communities and congregations. Recognizing the historical contribution of Black women to democracy, BWF strives to develop Black women as leaders and organizers in Indianapolis.
BWF has partnered with the Indianapolis Urban Pastors Coalition (IUPC), a local pastoral clergy group, to launch the “My Church Votes” campaign. The My Church Votes campaign launched on Aug. 4, 2024. The goal of the campaign is to help IUPC churches meet their goal of having 100% of their active members registered to vote and participate in the upcoming November election.
BWF has continued to encourage churches to take direct action in meeting the socio-political needs of their congregations.
Historically, the Black church has served as an epicenter for political organizing for the Black community. During the Civil Rights Era, the Black church dedicated their resources to the preservation of voting rights for Black people. Whereas many people see political involvement and faith as separate entities, the historical function of the Black church highlights the responsibility of faith-based institutions to advocate on behalf of their members. BWF and IUPC are encouraging their congregations to put their faith to work through the act of voting.
In order to create a more informed voting population, BWF has circulated nonpartisan ballot education tools to IUPC member churches.
The goal is for voters to understand who is on the ballot, and what issues are at the center of each candidate’s campaign. BWF has organized voter registration tables, phone banking nights and neighborhood canvassing days for each participant of the My Church Votes campaign. With the conclusion of voter registration in Indiana as of Oct. 7, 2024, BWF has shifted its focus to early voting. BWF ensured that local community members know the early voting days, location sites and methods of voting. BWF has also partnered with Pathway Resource Center to provide early voting transportation to the polls for IUPC members and their congregations.
It is a standard practice for local politicians to visit churches around election time and give a speech about why they should earn your vote. BWF hopes that by promoting ballot education and the understanding of political policies that congregants are able to voice their concerns and the needs of their communities to elected officials. This provides congregations an opportunity to create their own political framework by encouraging IUPC member churches to participate in the voting process.
To support the My Church Votes campaign, visit our website and donate at https://www.bwof.net/donate/.
