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Click here
to forward this newsletter to other interested friends!
As the
only statewide ecumenical agency in South Carolina, SC Christian Action
Council respresents a partnership of 16 denominations and 21 regional
judicatories, including 4,500 congregations.
The
Council serves as a catalyst for:
- Social justice through
public policy advocacy;
- Christian Unity and
inter-religious dialogue through relationships, collaborations and
events;
- Racial and cultural
healing by building bridges of trust and understanding.
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Invest in the Common Table--donate today!
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The
financial support of individuals just like you sustains the
Council's common table of ministry and makes possible the important work
of Christian Unity, Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation. These
individuals along with you are the Council.
It is our
prayer that YOU will make a contribution to the Council in
the immediate future. This mid-year offering will relieve the financial
stress on your Council's budget and permit us together to continue and
expand the ministries that you associate with your ecumenical
partnership.
As you
have noted in recent e-newsletters our recent work areas include
Christian Unity, Education Funding Equity, Predatory Lending, Death
Penalty and Immigration.
We have
hosted a workshop on Advocacy and training on Congregational Preparation
for Pandemic. We have mourned the death of a beloved Bishop, celebrated
the service of Board members and volunteers, attended annual business
sessions of member judicatories, and continued to nurture the
relationships which maintain the common table of Christ that is the South
Carolina Christian Action Council.
One of
our most exciting new events is a brown-bag lunch issue series sponsored
by your Advocacy Work Group. Join us at Shandon Presbyterian Church in
Columbia on the third Tuesdays of September, October and November from
12:00-1:00 p.m. Issues will include restorative justice and immigration.
We also
need your financial support. Won’t you consider a special contribution?
It is an investment in the common table, the reunion ground, the ministry
of Christian Unity.
Please
send your check today payable to SC Christian Action Council, PO Box
3248, Columbia, SC 29230-3248.
Yours
in Christ,
Fred
Sheheen, Chair, Financial Development Committee
John Harmon, Board Treasurer
Debbie Dantzler, Board President
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Two special opportunities: September Brown Bag Series and
"But What About Us" Exhibit
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September
19: The Advocacy Work Group of SC Christian Action Council is
pleased to kick off its Autumn Brown-Bag Lunch Series.
The
Council is continually reviewing the issues facing South Carolina to
discern how we, as the state-wide, collective Christian voice can weigh
in on matters of faith, prophetic witness and social justice.
Please
join us at Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street, Columbia. We
will begin promptly at noon and adjourn at 1:00 p.m.
September
19: Restorative Justice, facilitated by Virginia Barr, SC
Department of Juvenile Justice. Put on your thinking cap, bring a lunch
and a friend, and join us for stimulating conversation.
August
20-27: Also, don't miss seeing the But What About Us? Student
photographs from the Corridor of Shame exhibit at Trenholm Road
United Methodist Church.
Trenholm
Road UMC has graciously offered to open their facility for any group
that is interested in hosting a meeting the week August 20-27 in the
location of the exhibit.
If your
group is interested in hosting a meeting during this week, there is no
charge for using the facility and they will set it up with chairs/tables
either classroom or auditorium style.
This is
such a wonderful opportunity to have more people see this exhibit. We
hope to encourage as many groups as possible to meet in this space during
the week of Aug 20-27.
For
more information, contact Geah Pressgrove, 803.771.6106.
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Community News and Events
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August
Town Hall meetings with Representative Joe Wilson on Immigration Reform.
August 9: West Columbia. 6:00 pm Brookland Baptist Church
Community Center.
August 11: Hardeeville. 6:00 pm Palmetto Electric
Cooperative New River Location.
August 14: Barnwell. 5:00 pm Barnwell County Courthouse.
For more information, contact Kim Olive, 202.225.2452. Read Rep. Wilson's
opinion in the State
newspaper, then join him at one of the meetings to voice your
opinion.
August
15: SC Presbyteries Disaster Response Planning Event.
Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington. 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.
August
22- October 15: 7th Episcopal District, AME annual conferences.
Click here
for a full schedule of upcoming annual conferences.
September
15: Faith-Based Healthcare to Reduce Health Disparities
Conference, Madren Conference Center, Clemson. The purpose of this
conference is to enhance understanding of relationships among health
services research, faith- based organizations, spirituality, and health
outcomes. For more information call 864-656-0779.
September
16: Special Convention to Elect New Bishop, Episcopal
Diocese of South Carolina. St. Philip's Church, Charleston, beginning
with eucharist at 9:30 am. Click here to view the announcement
of nominees and their biographies.
September
16: Greenwood Wellness Celebration. 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Greenwood Mall. This event seeks to promote all aspects of wellness
including Healthcare, Economic, Family/Spiritual and ommunity. For more
information contact Toni Draper, 864.223.8431.
October
20-22: 2006 National Observance of Children's Sabbath. For
information and to order manual email: ssnyder@children'sdefense.org or
visit
www.childrensdefense.org.
October
20-22: 2006 National Weekend of Faith and Action on the Death
Penalty. NWFA is an opportunity for faith communities, interfaith
groups, human rights activists, and others to examine the death penalty
from a faith-based or values-based perspective. Register
on-line or request more information from khoule@aiusa.org.
Have
other South Carolina community news? Let us know at sccac@bellsouth.net.
We
include information on community events as space and time allow; and,
only in accordance with the mission and policies of SC Christian Action
Council. We do not accept unsolicited articles.
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Comings and Goings
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Here's
a sampling of April activities for the staff of SC Christian Action
Council.
August
10: Strategic Planning Meeting, Greenville. (Brenda)
August
15: Interfaith Restorative Justice Network. (Brenda)
August
17: Advocacy Work Group. (Brenda, Julia)
August
17: Development Committee. (Brenda, Julia)
August
29-30: State Minority Issues Conference. (Brenda)
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Across My
Desk...
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Picture
it: Ballons, gifts, flowers, candles and cake. You guessed it: a birthday
party.
Today
in a very real sense I'm announcing the birth of a new Council.
The
South Carolina Christian Action Council is YOU: its supporters,
its member bodies, its volunteers. By adding another partner to your
common table, your Council is reborn. Put away are the old alliances and
working paradigms for such an addition brings a new day with additional
resources and insights and the potential for even greater alliances.
In May,
your Board unanimously welcomed into the Council the United Church of
Christ. Initially, the UCC will be represented by two congregations
acting in chorus to share the rights and responsibilities of membership.
The two congregations are the Garden of Grace UCC, Columbia and the
Circular Church, Charleston (dually aligned PC-USA and UCC). They will
provide the volunteers for Board membership and workgroups as well as the
Fair Share of Support expected from member bodies. Click here to find out
more about the United
Church of Christ family.
Your
Council will continue to hold to its mission working for the common
good. We will continue to listen to one another. We will
continue to seek to understand each other. We will continue to be
enriched by the strengths of each other. We will continue to pray and cry
for each other. We will continue to accept and affirm differences. We
will continue to celebrate reunion ground even as we forge it. When your
Council's table grows, so do its resources of Spirit, insight, and
action.
Other
news to note: also in May, Council partner, the Baptist Education and
Missionary Convention of SC launched is website.
We celebrate the results of the investment of time and resources made by
Baptist E & M Convention and wish them God's blessing on this and
other endeavors.
Aren't
birthdays fun?
...and
that's the view across my desk.
Brenda
Lynn Kneece Executive Minister
(Respond to Brenda here: bkneece@sccouncil.net.)
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