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Religion

Religion is pivotal to many current national discussions and is at the forefront of heated debates on subjects such as sexual and reproductive rights, immigration, presidential elections and social justice. Religious pluralism abounds in the U.S. -- the most religiously diverse country in the world -- and a multiplicity of voices competes to advance different beliefs in relation to these issues. Douglas Gould and Company strives to ensure that progressive religious voices are heard and are not drowned out by far-right spokespeople who dominate the discourse.

We use the latest analytical tools to determine how the media is covering the issues and how best to change the debate.

Douglas Gould and Company worked on a multi-year project to insert the diverse voices of select grantees of the Ford Foundation's Religion and Culture: Meeting the Challenge of Pluralism initiative into public discussion on religion and society. Douglas Gould and Company carried out on-camera media and op-ed trainings for the grantees, undertook opinion research concerning the impact of new immigrants on religion and culture and their perception of pluralism in America, and media analyses on trends of coverage of religious topics. We obtained extensive media placements of their grantees using audio news conferences on a broad range of topics from religion and the presidential debate, to immigration, the Gospel of Judas, women’s activism, and Hurricane Katrina.

Our work with the Arcus Foundation focuses on providing technical assistance to grantees who are promoting the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people into major religious denominations. We have conducted extensive focus group research and a national message testing poll to gain insight into how best to present this information.

Douglas Gould and Company was hired by the American Friend's Service Committee (AFSC) to conduct a communications research project to strengthen the organization's effectiveness in recruiting and mobilizing advocates to more effectively speak out for peace. We also conducted a major analysis of poll data covering a wide range of subjects on which AFSC advocates.

Douglas Gould and Company helped the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) by overseeing a strategic communications planning process to clarify its objectives and outline a course of action to meet them. Striving to make RCRC more visible and more effective at reaching the people who share its convictions, we worked to position RCRC as a hub for religious denominations, communities and people of faith that seek to empower individuals to make their own reproductive decisions, especially those disproportionately affected by unjust public policies.

We provided spokesperson training in advance of the ordination of Eugene Robinson for the Episcopal Church USA. We also trained the Presiding Bishop and American delegates to the last Lambeth Conference.

We provided spokesperson training in advance of a new policy announcement by the United Church of Christ endorsing gay marriage.