The Quick Steps to Starting Up

For clergy, houses of worship, clusters, organizations, and individuals

Clergy and Congregations

The backbone of faith250 is the belief that the neighborhood pastor, imam, rabbi, or other religious leader is part of an invisible civic scaffolding that helps hold America together.

1. The very first step is to create and/or solidify the group of clergy and congregations you will be “doing” faith250 with - we call these groups “clusters”. We suggest aiming for a group of four-six clergy. Click here to see if there’s already a cluster in your area! Click here to view sample text for an email to recruit clergy colleagues.

   1. If you are considering or need help forming a cluster to participate, let us know! Our Outreach Coordinator (cathyross@faith250.org) is here to help clusters form; please reach out to talk through any questions.

   2. A note: everything is free on this Substack and will stay that way. While we appreciate any paid subscriptions, you may bypass buttons that invite payment.

   3. You are free to download our materials and create something on your own without signing up a cluster - but we will be so much more effective if we build a community. We are trying to revive an old American tradition of citizen stewardship for the norms and culture of our democracy. We want to build civic chaplaincy into our professional portfolios. We want you to know about ideas from colleagues. We want to see how many people this program can touch. And, if you have a public civic ritual down the road, we want to help spread the word. That is why getting started involves being in touch with us.

2. Once you have a cluster, use the Cluster Sign-Up form to register your cluster. Letting us know about your cluster does three things: (1) inspires other individuals and groups in and around your community to find you to join your faith250 programs; (2) brings you into a network of participating faith leaders where we will share ideas, experiences, materials and approaches; and (3) helps us grow our network, chart our growth, and attract partner support.

3. Step-by-step guidance for each component of faith250 can be found here:

   1. Component 1: Relationships - Clergy Conversations

   2. Component 2: Fellowship - Congregational Gatherings

   3. Component 3: Ritual - Planning and Holding Your Public Civic Ritual

4. Finally, subscribe to this Substack to get occasional updates as we post them and to follow faith250 as it unfolds. This will be our primary way to communicate with the broader community of faith250 participants and followers. Everything is free. Subscribing helps us stay in touch, pool ideas, and grow community.

Please email our Outreach Coordinator (cathyross@faith250.org) with any questions or if we can support you.

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Individuals and Organizations

If you’re interested in supporting faith250 but are not clergy or a congregation, here’s how to help.

• Subscribe, repost, forward, and spread the word (everything is free and donations are cool). You likely have people in your personal network who are connected to one of America’s 370,000 congregations, so please encourage them to get involved.

• Find a congregation! You knew we’d say this, right? Go find some people, meet some clergy, and be a part of a meaningful community. Tell them about faith250. By the way - nobody asks at the door about your theology - everybody is welcome.

• In Spring 2026, the Local Clusters section of our website will list details about public rituals in your area. Find one and attend.

If you represent an organization or network that includes congregations and clergy, please contact rabbiholzman@faith250.org - and perhaps you will want to join Our Team of partners.