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From across
my desk . . .
Sometimes I wish the Council was a direct-service
oriented
ministry instead of a systems-focused ministry.
Why? Because then we could use an appeal that
works. We could appeal to the compassion and generosity of our
state's citizens with heart-softening and pocketbook-opening stories
about touching at-risk children or feeding hungry families or
sheltering homeless souls. Those who thus solicit with integrity
and serve with impartiality have both my professional and personal
respect, deep appreciation. . . and, in many cases, my opened
pocketbook.
However, the ministries of the South Carolina Christian
Action Council are focused in the non-glamorous arena of
systems change. Yet, our playing field is no less important than
that of direct service. While many respond to the hurting at the bottom
of the cliff, we seek to have built guard-rails at the
top.
For example: in fostering Christian Unity, the Council
seeks to hear and value the lyric and melody of each member in the
grand orchestra of the Body of Christ. Some play woodwinds and
others brasses, some strings and others percussion. Some
provide the great diversity of keyboards. And then, then, there are the
voices--ah, the voices.
God has given to the Body of Christ a melody
that blesses all the nations when we are in the same
key (love) and everyone is tuned to a standard tone (justice and
peace-making). Then the diverse melodies and layered lyrics sound forth
so that even the rocks and the hills join in. At least, our
belief tells us so and the Council's vision encompasses the
fulfillment of this ideal.
However, it is difficult to find a
specific compelling human-interest story which we can
claim to tweak your heart much less your wallet.
See what I mean? You have to believe
that Jesus meant his prayer that his followers would be one as he
and God were one (John 15) to support the ministry of
the Council.
Given that individual congregations are positioned for
service locally and globally, we can't expect them to take on the work
of Christian unity. Regional judicatories and denominations exist to
serve their congregations and are similarly ill-equipped to take the
lead in Christian unity.
According to work in the 90s of pollster George Barna,
there are a couple of million in our state affiliated with
Christian congregations who should know Jesus well enough to
know he meant the prayers he prayed. Imagine: just
$0.10--that's 10 cents--from each Christian would provide $200,000
for the Christian work of Unity, Justice, and Peace-making. Wouldn't
our Lord be pleased that we invested such a resource in this battle?
The Council's table is open to denominations,
congregations and individuals who share our mission and
vision. The Council gives YOU the opportunity to be in the
justice-business and we need you.
Will you join with others to support and keep
vital YOUR Council's presence? Yes, the Council needs YOUR
financial resources, and your resources of prayer and self. Your can
volunteer to serve on a work-group (public policy advocacy and
Christian unity are currently active), or on a task force (support for
our military and their families), or in the office (receptionist and
secretarial duties).
Email today: let Your Council hear from You!
. . . that's the view from across my desk!
Brenda
The Reverend Kneece
Executive Minister
PS 1: Click here to read the Council's
mission and vision statements.
PS 2: For a chart comparing charity and justice click here.
PS 3: Read more in the article which follows about
supporting Your Council.
PS 4: To donate now click here. |
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Support Christian
Unity and Faithful Justice Work.
Your Council needs your
support to continue its historical presence in South Carolina. Since
1933, the Council from a faith perspective has addressed the social and
moral issues affecting our citizens.
Gifts of
$15,000 makes possible in-depth
research, Board, and staff response on a vital social
justice issue with events around the state on that issue.
$12,000 makes possible
the Core work of the Council for one month.
$9,000 makes possible a graduate
student position for one year.
$6,000 makes possible an issues
focused event with a well-known Christian presenter.
$3,000 makes
possible print, assembly and postage for one issue of Christian
Action, the Council's paper newsletter.
$1,000 makes possible five advocacy
presentations at the Statehouse.
$500 makes possible research and
committee work on two issues.
$255 provides office
space for one month.
$69.25 provides one hour
of Council staff and overhead.
$20 covers long-distance
charges for work on one major issue which requires
communicating with judicatories and congregations via fax.
Why not make your
Council's justice and Christian Unity ministries reach a little farther?
Use your VISA or MasterCard to DONATE NOW by clicking
here. |
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Call to
Help Newly Arriving Refugees!
By the end of this year, over
100 persons living in refugee camps in Asia and
Africa will be given clearance to come to South Carolina in order to
start rebuilding their lives free from fear of persecution.
These individuals who have
already left so much will leave friends and family behind.
In our effort to address
their basic needs of housing, food, and language support, Lutheran
Family Services in the Carolinas (LFS Carolinas) asks area
congregations to again work together for the resettlement of these who
will soon be our neighbors.
Needs include: congregation
co-sponsorship, employment opportunities, furniture, household items,
transportation, volunteers as language partners, friendly visitors,
etc.
Contact: Bedrija Jazic, Area
Manager for Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services: (803) 750-9917,
ext. 137 or bedrija.jazic@lfscarolinas.org. |
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Home Works
of America
Volunteers Repair What Owners Can't
Youth and Adults of all
faiths and races working side-by-side to make better that which is
broken down.
For applications for
homeowner assistance and information on volunteering, contact: Jennifer Stalford or
(803) 781-4536. Check them out on the web: www.HomeWorksOfAmerica.org. |
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Congregations and ministries in South
Carolina are coming together to provide a copy of Rick Warren's
best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, to every prisoner in
our state's correctional system.
Purchasing the books is only
the beginning, with books in hand, Changing the Way and Prison
Fellowship volunteers will lead Bible studies based on the
book.
To join this effort, contact
Greg Barr, St. Andrews Baptist Church, Columbia. Telephone number is
(803) 798-7325.
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August 25, 2007
SC Health Ministry & Faith Community Nurses
Conference: Celebrating a Decade of Progress, Passion, and Praise
10 AM - 3 PM
Northeast Presbyterian
Church, 601 Polo Rd., Columbia, SC
For nurses, clergy,
congregational health promoters, health professionals, health agencies,
and all interested in health ministry and Faith Community
Nursing.
For more information contact Joyce Winkler or
(803) 898-7655
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August 30,
2007
Statewide Hispanic/Latino
Issues Conference,
SC Commission for Minority Affairs
Radisson Hotel &
Conference Center, Columbia, SC
Session topics include:
health, education, immigration, public safety, employment, and more.
Invited speakers include Janet Marginal, president, National Council of
La Raze; Jane Degrade, National Alliance for Hispanic Health; and U.S.
Senator Lindsay Graham.
For more information contact:
Lisa Lopez-Snyder |
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Youth Violence Prevention
Coalition Building Team Training
South
Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Coalition (YVPC) is sponsoring a
coalition development training, facilitated by Hampton and
Associates, on Thursday, August 30 from 10-4 in Columbia.
Training will focus on community collaborations and
partnerships.
The training is open to statewide local teams of 3-5
people interested in working together to prevent youth violence, such
as Physical Violence, Sexual Violence, Bullying, or Gang Activity.
Space is limited.
Consideration
will be given to early applicants. However, to be considered for
participation, all applications must be received by deadline. There
will be no registration fee to attend the conference.
Morning
refreshments and lunch will be provided at no cost to team members.
Questions
and registration form: Contact:
Melissa
Craft: 803.898.8636 or mlc75@scdmh.org
Lucy
Gibson: 803.898.1580 or gibsonlh@dhec.sc.gov
Meggan
Newman: 864.688.2243 or man82@scdmh.org |
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South
Carolina United as One Voice.
Save Darfur.
"I was taken away by the attackers. We were
beaten and the Janjawid told us: 'you, the black women, we will
exterminate you . . . ' They told us: 'next time we come, we will exterminate
you all, we will not even leave a child alive."
-20 year old
female survivor from the Dasa Village in Darfur-
One
Mission.
For the
first time in U.S. history, there is a crisis labeled as a
"genocide" while it is still occurring. This deliberate and
systematic extermination of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims
cannot continue. On October 6, 2007 the Darfur Action Group of South
Carolina will host a rally in support of the victims of the genocidal
policies of the government of Sudan.
One Goal.
The
Darfur Action Group of South Carolina is dedicated to ending the
destruction in Darfur. Our goal is simple--bring attention to the
continuing slaughter during "Global Day for Darfur" and put
an end to the lawless carnage and senseless ruin in Western Sudan.
One Event.
South Carolina Responds to Genocide
Sunday, October 6, 2007, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
South Carolina State House
One
Word.
Peace.
phone:
803.233.2410 fax: 803.252.2016
1411
Gervais Street, Fifth Floor, Columbia, SC 29201
http://www.dagsc.org |
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Kids Count
Databook Release
Ranking all 50 states
according to Child Well-Being
Highlights:
- South Carolina Ranks
46th out of the 50 states (1 being the best, 50 being
the worst).
- South Carolina Ranks
in the bottom ten in four out of ten categories nationally.
- Economic Indicators
worsen for South Carolina
South
Carolina Kids Count Features:
- 2007 Kids Count State
Essay
- 2007 Kids Count Highs
and Lows
- 2007 Kids Count County
Data
- 2007 Kids Count State
Data
- 2007 Kids Count
Indicators -- Ranking Counties -- US Ration
To
access SC documents please click here.
For National Data please click here.
Kelly Graham
Director
of Communications
Voices
for South Carolina's Children
803-256-4670
ext. 227
www.scchildren.org
"If you can't hold children in your arms, please
hold them in your heart." - Mother Clara Hale
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The mission
of the South Carolina Christian Action Council is: to promote
and facilitate dialogue among diverse Christian traditions on matters
of belief and practice; and to work in partnership to: advocate for
social justice, promote peace-making, and foster racial and cultural
healing and reconciliation.
Together
we make a difference! |
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The Reverend Ms. Brenda Lynn
Kneece
Executive Minister
SC Christian Action Council |
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