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As the
only statewide ecumenical agency in South Carolina, SC Christian Action
Council represents a partnership of 17 denominations and 22 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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ADVOCACY DAY 2007
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Theme: IMMIGRATION
Date:
February 13, 2007
Place:
Reinartz Hall, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 4201 N. Main St.,
Columbia
Seminary
number: (803) 786-5150 (directions or emergency number only, please)
For a
discussion of Immigration, to find out what is happening in South
Carolina and how we--the faith community--can join the discussion, THIS
is the place to be on February 13, 2007!
Pre-registration
is $15, including lunch. Registration must be received by
February 6, 2007. Registration form available on line at
www.sccouncil.net. Click
here for form. Registration at the door: $10—no lunch.
AGENDA
- 11:30 Registration/pick
up materials/box lunch
- 12:00 Welcome/opening
prayer/lunch
- 12:05 Plenary: The
State of Immigration in SC
- 1:30 Short Break
- 1:45 Break-out Sessions
(see below)
- 3:15 Plenary:
Theological Reflections on the day and "What are we called to
do? Elizabeth O'Donnell Gandolfo, Hispanic Ministries Program
Coordinator, St. Francis, Greenville
- 4:00 Adjourn
Break
out Session Choices:
- Advocacy and
Immigration
- The Face of South
Carolina's Immigrants
- Exploding the Myths and
Preparing to Help
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Community News and Events
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February
1: "Living Faithfully in the 21st Century: The State of the
Bible in North America." Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary HEIN-FRY LECTURE SERIES XVI. Dr. Donal A. Hagner, Professor of
New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary, presenter. The Rev. Dr. Brian
K. Peterson, Associate Professor of New Testament, responder. 9:30 am
-2:30 pm, Stavros Lecture Hall, Casey Education Center on the Seminary
Campus. Additional info: (803) 461-3256.
February
4, the SOUPER BOWL of Caring. Do you know that SC ranks 1st
in the nation with families living with hunger? Asking each member of
every congregation for just $1 on Feb. 4, helps put an end to hunger in
SC. For more information click
here.
February
8: Artful Askers Worshop. Technical assistance for capacity
building, fund development, and building relationships with funders
following the Biblical model. North Trenholm Baptist CHurch, 6515 N.
Trenholm Road, Columbia. Call Bill Dieckman at (803) 252-0116, for
registration details and other info.
February
13, Advocacy Day. See lead article for details.
February
16-17, 2007. Capacity Building Leadership Institute. Health
ministry training offered to African American churches of all
denominations. For more information contact: Joyce B. Winkler, RN, MPH,
Faith and Health Consultant, SC DHEC Office of Minority Health (803)
898-7655.
March
6, 13, 20, 27: Lay School Religion. Lutheran Theological
Southern Seminary. Choice of one of the following courses: "The
Making and Meaning of our Bible," Dr. Charles Sigel, NT Prof.
Emeritus, Southern Seminary. "Icnography," Fr. Thomas Moore,
Priest-in- Charge, Holy Apostles Orthodox Church. "Personality
Type," Rev. Harvey Huntley, Jr. and Sandra Holland, AIM, both on the
staff of Region 9-ELCA. For more information and downloadable registration
form click here.
March
10-11 Low Country Pow Wow and Cultural Festival, New Location: Exit 33
off of I-95 Point South/Yemassee, SC. Host Hotel is Knight’s Inn.– 843-726-8488.
Signs will be posted. Contact Mike Benton at 843-784-2866 work
843-784-2233
March
30-31 Edisto Pow Wow, Ladson, SC. Fairgrounds. Contact Anthony Davidson
at 843-534- 6132.
March
30, 31 and April First Spirit Creek American Indian Heritage Association’s
FIRST ANNUAL BENEFIT POWWOW at the Wagon Wheel, 12831 Highway 278,
Barnwell, SC Contact info: Gary Five Crows 706- 560-1794.
_____________________________________________
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 is
a sampling of Council staff engagements this month.
February
6-9. Churches Coming Together, Pasadena, California (Brenda)
February
13. Advocacy Day, LTSS, Columbia (Doris and Brenda)
February
21. Interfaith Restorative Justice Network, Lutheran Family Services
office, Columbia (Brenda)
February
23. Non-profit Leadership Institute, Francis Marion University (Brenda)
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One Last Word
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Last
week, the Council acknowledged the giftedness and 13 year ministry of
Julia Sibley-Jones. Julia is now serving through Friends National
Conference.
Last
Thursday, we feasted with her (vegetarian, no less). Words of
commendation and appreciation and were offered. We gave her gifts to
remember us by. We laughed with her; and shed a few tears in the face of
her departure.
Then,
one last time, Julia shared herself and her gifts with us. Her response
is worthy of re-reading and sharing with you.
"South
Carolina Christian Action Council is a more than an organization. It is
the common table where people of faith meet, challenge and work with one
another. It is South Carolina’s primary Christian witness to the vision
we share of the world, or at least the South Carolina, that could be.
"It
is our commitment to the common good, our belief in the unity of the
entire Christian family, and our confidence in the ability of people of
all faiths:
"to
work together for equity (but not without loss); to work together for
reconciliation (but not without humility); to work together for love (but
not without vulnerability); to work together for justice (but not without
compassion); to work together for peace (but not without accountability).
"Many
of you . . . know that far from being the utopia of similar behavior and
world-views, religious communities can exhibit shocking, flagrant
episodes of disagreement at best, outright rancor at worst.
"The
Council is a place where—at least on our good days—we remember that the
goal of any given meeting is not to ‘come to a decision at all costs’ or
to ‘get my way,’ but rather, to discern God’s will for us in this time,
in this place, and to ask for God’s help in acting together on that area
of discernment.
"One
of my favorite parts of Quaker process is our use of queries. Queries
function as a tool to promote meditation and internal honesty, not as a line
in the sand.
"This
is the query that was read at the beginning of Sunday’s Meeting for
Worship for the Purpose of Business (some of you may call that a
congregational meeting): Do all aspects of your life bear the same
witness? Do you center your life in the awareness of the presence of God
so that all things take their rightful place?
"I
did not answer yes! But this is a fundamental goal of my life: seeking
right order of all actions centered on the awareness of the presence of
God. . . .
"This
striving for right order is also what drew me . . . to the life and
ministry of South Carolina Christian Action Council. For where else in
this state can we find a common table where people gather to envision and
create a community where people of faith unite to glorify God through
worship, social justice, peace, and mercy."
Where
else, indeed?
P.S.
Godspeed, Julia.
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