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Community Support for Human Needs – supports and liaisons with mission agencies throughout the Presbytery. The group will target funding for new programs by the following priorities: programs developed by local Presbyterian congregations to meet need in the neighborhoods and need of members, etc.; start up funding for new programs; established agencies developing new initiatives; response of established agencies to new or emergency needs.
Self-Development of People – receive training, research SDOP programs and provide support to programs (locally and nationally) that meet SDOP guidelines/criteria – development assistance regarding hunger-related development and empowerment of poor people and communities.
Global/National Missions Work Group – includes multiple mission work nationally and internationally including a current partnership with Kenya. This Work Group works closely with the Community Disaster Response Team in setting up mission teams within the USA to respond to disaster situations. In 2008, they, again, plan to set up two international mission trips to encourage involvement for international mission for individuals and groups within our congregations.
Advocacy & Justice for New Immigrants – this line item provides funding and support to the Latino Work Group for advocacy work for new immigrants, working closely with the Coordinator for Latino Ministries. Involvement from individuals and churches is crucial.
Hunger Action Work Group – resource for direct food relief involving agencies and coordination with other hunger programs within our Presbytery – 5 cents a meal; One Great Hour of Sharing; Gleaning; Fair Trade Coffee and other hunger projects. This committee also includes education and interpretation for the church community and public about hunger and its underlying causes and interpreting the church’s hunger-related mission. In 2008, the HAWG began a new program entitled Hearts for Hunger - as an outreach for hunger programs that POC churches may be involved with outside the bounds of the Presbytery - including domestic and international projects.
Justice Work Group – this committee addresses all justice and social issues – including assisting individuals, congregations, and the community to move toward more responsible and just personal and corporate lifestyles and also working toward influencing pubic policy by advocating for policy changes in political and economical systems. This group will provide written materials on a variety of justice issues for distribution to Presbytery; provide a link on the presbytery website, directing interested people to resources related to justice issues; develop relationships with other justice organizations in the community and the denomination. The focus for 2007 and 2008 is to be in ministry with gay, lesbian and transgender persons and justice issues related to the ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief as well as other efforts.
Community Disaster Response Team - this group works on local, economic and national disaster response teaming up with General Assembly Presbyterian Disaster Assistance when applicable. Currently this committee is extremely involved with Hurricane Katrina response by assisting with information for individuals and church groups to set up mission teams and support through various ministries to the Mississippi and Louisiana area working closely with other presbyteries and churches in the area. The committee is working on several levels to plan immediate and long term response in disaster situations as they may occur. This committee also works with ecumenical groups in our seven counties to provide faith based help to already stressed and overworked agencies.
One in Christ - this committee works primarily with race relations within our Presbytery of Charlotte – identifying areas where we can provide educational opportunities and improvement of race relations in our churches and in our communities. This committee utilizes various ministry ideas to involve our Presbytery. In 2007 OIC conducted their second "All Presbytery Reads" program, building and improving on the experience in 2006; developed a forum between African American and Latino Christians that will increase awareness and sensitivity to common interests and challenges; and participated in activities to inhance knowledge and capabilities to become better at educating churches and organizations in the presbytery.
Stewardship of Creation Mission Team - committee will provide information regarding environmental issues and will host speakers and events.
FAST (Faith and Schools Together) - will work to liaison volunteers primarily to work with students, parents, and families within our school systems (beginning with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) to provide family advocacy and support parent involvement within our high schools. They will encourage congregations to form teams to develop relationships and provide volunteers to the schools, and they will develop a training program as well as a FAST Friends mentor program for churches to use as a guideline for an adult-student program.
Prison Ministry Work Group - this is a new committee working with the prison system to encourage participation within individuals and groups within our churches and communities promoting awareness and support families of those imprisoned.
Alzheimer's Care Group - a new group meeting primarily to begin to address challenges for those with Alzheimer and dementia related disease and those that care for them - either family, friends, community and/or fellow church members and staff.
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Do you or anyone in your church have a passion for any of the above areas and would like to be a part of a sub-committee of the Mission & Justice Committee?
Please contact:
Debbie Wilkinson,
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