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By Dorothy Gist, Liaison
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Mission
" The Committee
shall be responsible for identifying social and community issues
for consideration by the Association, providing educational opportunities
for clergy and laity on those issues, making the Association membership
aware of opportunities for involvement with them, and presenting
visible witness to them. It shall also review resolutions brought
to the Association meetings, provide supplemental materials to
those which the churches are already receiving on social issues
and help interpret the activities and priorities of the United
Church of Christ in the areas of social concerns ."
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
The King
Celebration was held in January at Bethany Congregational Church,
E. Rockaway, and Pastor Mark Lukens and the membership provided
for a rewarding afternoon. The theme: "Toward a Just Society:
Responsible Stewardship and Dr. King's Economic Vision" was highlighted
by the keynote speaker: Rev. Lucius Walker, Executive Director
and Founder, Inter-religious Foundation for Community Organization.
Several young adults from Bethany Church read excerpts from Dr.
King's speeches.
Rev. Ronald Wells and the membership of Grace Church, NYC, are
participating in an exchange program with Dr. Michele Rogers-Brigham
and the members and young adults of Federated Church , Orleans
, Massachusetts , and they joined us for the King Celebration.
Rev Geoffrey Black made the offering appeal for messages of hope,
money and prayers for the UCC South Central Conference for Katrina
Relief Efforts as they rebuild .we collected: $647.00. While the
January weather is always a challenge, the events of the day and
fellowship made for a successful King Celebration. Several suggestions
have been made relative to the '07 King Celebration.
ListServ
The ListServ was designed as a vehicle
through which to share information on social justice activities
with UCC churches. There are currently 73 ListServ members and
there is interest in having others to join us. Martha Gotwals is
our Administrator - mradg@aol.com -
why not join us in sharing social justice information?
2006 Budget
Based on the financial difficulties
faced by the Metro Association, our Committee voted to return half
of our 2006 budget - $1,500.00 - back
to the Association to offset expenditures.
Networks Refusal To Run UCC Ad
A meeting was
scheduled to discuss next steps relative to the decision of networks
not to run the God Is Still Speaking ads. Unfortunately the meeting
date - end of Lent and beginning of Easter - was
not convenient. Information has been shared through the ListServ,
Metro Website and Metro Newsletter to contact the networks and
the FCC in protest about the refusal to air the ads and around
discussions that could take place in churches around these issues.
Union Poverty Initiative, Union Seminary
One meeting
has been held with the Union Seminary to discuss their Poverty
Initiative. The Initiative "is part of a larger social
movement to end poverty. Its objective: to train and inspire future
religious leaders to join this growing response to the unacceptable
economic justice in the richest country in the world."
The following ideas have been discussed:
1. To provide ideas for future Pastor, Pew and Pulpit series
2. To explore a workshop together for our churches and other UCC
churches in Northern New Jersey and Southern Connecticut around
the Initiative.
Union Seminary has agreed to explore Continuing Education credits,
through Auburn Seminary, for pastors who attend the series. There
is on-going interest in both of these on the part of the Initiative,
but there has been difficulty in scheduling a follow-up meeting.
We'll keep you posted.
Blue Ribbon Committee
Based on their interest
in the future of the Metro Association, the following members have
agreed to serve on the Metro Blue Ribbon Committee: Martha Gotwals
and Freeman Palmer, Elice Higginbotham will serve in a consulting
role.
We're indebted to:
Rev. Freeman Palmer and Middle Collegiate Church, NYC, for hosting
our meetings
Committee membership for its dedication to social justice
efforts and high-energy
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