|
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.
|
Help the Council Earn $5,000 Challenge
|
|
|
|
 SC Christian
Action Council is pleased to announce that several generous Council
supporters have offered to match--dollar for dollar--all new and
increased gifts to SC Christian Action Council through December 31, 2005!
Your
tax-deductible donations mean even more this year. The Council will
receive up to $5,000 in matching money for every new or increased gift!
Here's
more good news:
The
Katrina Emergency Relief Act of 2005, signed into law Sept. 23, provides
the opportunity for a taxpayer to claim, as an income tax deduction,
qualified charitable contributions of cash made from Aug. 28, 2005, to
Dec. 31, 2005, up to 100 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.
This
law even applies to gifts made to most non- Katrina-related charitable
organizations, such as SC Christian Action Council. For more about this
new law, please contact your legal or tax advisor.
Although
the Council did not receive additional funding for ministry to evacuees,
the Council helped to coordinate pastoral care for thousands of people
who fled the Gulf Coast in the wake of the hurricanes.
According
to Senate Finance Committee chair Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), the bill
was intended to increase donations, particularly for organizations not
involved in disaster relief. "My hope in passing this
provision," said Grassley, "is that Americans' generosity for
those harmed by Hurricane Katrina won't mean a trade-off for other
important charitable work in this country."
To make
a gift of stock or securities, or to discuss deferred giving options,
please contact Julia Sibley-Jones at 803.931.0105 or
jsibley@sccouncil.net.
Thank
you for supporting the work and ministry of South Carolina Christian
Action Council. You help to proclaim Christian Unity in South Carolina.
|
|
A Case for Clemency--Shawn Humphries and the 1000th
Execution in America
|
|
|
|
We
regret that the timing of our newsletter releases and the necessity of
quick event planning did not allow us to advertise these events sooner.
Read
Brenda Kneece's Case
for Clemency in the State newspaper.
Please
visit www.SCEJA.org
to learn about the case of Shawn Humphries, scheduled for execution in
South Carolina on December 2, 2005. Please use the information at
www.SCEJA.org to CONTACT GOVERNOR SANFORD IMMEDIATELY. Please ask others
to take this action, and if you have a web page or a blog, please link to
www.SCEJA.org.
As the
United States approaches its 1000th execution since the resumption of
executions in 1977, more and more people understand that the death
penalty makes mistakes, disproportionately affects the poor and people of
color, doesn't deter crime, and is expensive, arbitrary, and immoral.
For
more information and ways to get involved, please visit 1000
Executions.
ALSO:
In conjunction with the anticipated execution of Humphries and the 1000th
execution in the US since 1977, the Center for Capital Litigation is
sponsoring the "Voices of Experience" Tour, featuring:
Death
Row Survivor Shujaa Graham; Murder Victim Family Member SueZann
Bosler; Death Penalty Juror Kathleen Hawk Norman; Death
Penalty Attorney Teresa Norris.
For
information on each speaker and schedule of the tour, please visit Voices
of Experience. Events will be held in Columbia, Charleston and
Greenville.
|
|
Community News and Events
|
|
|
|
 The
following two events are part of the annual international day of action
on HIV and AIDS which takes place every year on December 1st. The aim of
World AIDS Day is to bring to people's attention the challenges and
consequences of HIV/AIDS in order to create change.
December
1: 6:00 World AIDS Day, Coker College, Hartsville. Hosted by Care
Innovations, featuring author Brenda Stone Browder. For more information,
call 843.857.0111.
December
8: 7:00 Service for the Healing of HIV/AIDS in our Community
and the World, Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul, Charleston. Featuring the
Rev. Joseph Darby, the Rt. Rev. William Skilton and Dr. Trevor Weston
with a reception following. Please contact chlime@bellsouth.net for more
information.
December
1: 6:30 Prayer Vigil, St. Thomas Moore Chapel, USC.If
his death sentence is not commuted to life without parole, there will be
a vigil for Shawn Humphries. Immediately following will be a candlelight
vigil at the Governor's mansion.
December
2: 4:30 Silent Vigil, Broad River Correctional Facility,
Columbia. The execution is scheduled for 6:00. Please join us at the
prison for this witness.
December
19 - January 2: Host Soldiers During the Holidays. Soldiers in
training at Fort Jackson may go home during this Block Leave, though many
remain in Columbia. Churches interested in hosting a soldier for a day,
please contact Chaplain Roger Heath, (803) 429-5088 or
Roger.heath@us.army.mil.
Have
other South Carolina community news? Let us know at sccac@bellsouth.net.
|
|
TEAM ornaments available
|
|
|
|
 Here's
a way you can support The Ecumenical AIDS Ministry (TEAM) of SC Christian
Action Council and brighten your Christmas tree at the same time.
Purchase
TEAM ornaments for friends and family.
Only
24 ornaments left! $14.95 each, with discounts for 5 or more.
You can
pick up ornaments at our offices, or we can post them to you for a small
shipping cost. Call Doris for more information: 803.786.7115. Thank you
for supporting this vital ministry.
|
|
|
Across My
Desk...
|
|
|
|
Some
days I just want to crawl under my desk.
The
knee and foot space under the desk look . . . Quiet. Undemanding. Sort-of
dark and comforting. Protected. Safe.
On top
of the desk are mounds of journals and newsletters, correspondences and
notes, a computer waiting to flash hundreds of emails and a ringing
telephone, and, always, the inexhaustible "to do" list. The top
of the desk looks anything but safe or comforting.
Yet,
the top of the desk represents the work that remains. Where light strives
to overcome darkness. Where sacrifice is expected. Where I'm reminded
that servanthood is a Christian's comfortable place--not personal
comfort, but sacrificial servanthood.
Instead
of crawling under the desk or retreating to personal comfort zones, many
people of faith find courage to confront that which demeans, dehumanizes,
and destroys ourselves, neighbors and fellow world citizens. They have
learned that all people are literally in the same boat and that which
harms one harms all. However, there are not nearly enough social justice
Advocates in the face of the injustice that surrounds us.
In SC
this Friday, December 2nd, an execution is scheduled. Read the
information in the responding and hyperlinked articles. Please pray for
Dickie Smith's family and the pain and grief they have known since his
death. Pray for the family of Shawn Humphries and the pain and grief they
have known and will know in his death. Pray personally for Holy Spirit's
guidance. Then make a personal request to Gov. Sanford that he grant
clemency for Shawn Humphries. Act quickly for time is short.
No time
to spend under the desk now...too much work yet remains.
...and
that’s the view across my desk.
Brenda
Kneece Executive Minister
|
|
