Minutes and Report to Council, 1/10/12 Church and Society Ministry Committee
Present: Ray Eckart, Leslie Johnson, Lucy Gould, Suellen Rowlison, Gary Estep
1. Homeless Project: We are ready to start the selection of a new client at the Jesus Center, but Julie Estep has found herself lacking time to do it all at this time. We need a team to assist with the next client and Julie will offer support training.
2. Native American Observance updates: Peter Crandall has the name of a representative of the Mechoopda Tribe. He is continuing the effort to see if there is something we could do with them relating to the observance of Native American Ministries Sunday - April 22, 2012
3. MLK Day: It was a great success! The candlelight walk had a lot of people of varying ages, the sanctuary was packed and Hadley Hall was elbow to elbow. Several outside agencies in addition to our Church and Society Committee (Love Chapmantown, A.C.L.U., Butte Health Care Coalition, Congregation Beth Israel, Human Relations Network) had informational tables set up and were well visited. We had quite a bit of food and beverage donations and it all went. We were on the front page of the Chico ER on Monday, January 16.
4. S.H.A.R.E.S.: We have had the cards available during Social Hour for a couple of Sundays and they are being used. We will continue this program.
5. ACLU petitions/Ban the Box: Leslie will continue working on this.
Grant proposal: Julie Estep has submitted a proposal for a Peace with Justice Grant to the California-Nevada Annual Conference Board of Church and Society requesting $1,500.
Homeless Partnership/Food Not Bombs. Through this cooperative Homeless Partnership/Food Not Bombs (HP/FNB) effort, we will share meals and fellowship with those in need, and also educate our parishioners and community about public policies that have dramatically cut aid to the poor and exacerbated homelessness and destitution in our area. TUMCs Homeless Partnership program directly responds to the injustice and alienation that surrounds involuntary homelessness. The Food Not Bombs component of the Homeless Partnership program (HP/FNB) additionally addresses justice issues surrounding both pervasive local food insecurity, and the excessive amounts of unnecessary waste at all levels in our food web. Worldwide and locally, FNB works to intercept safe, untouched, edible vegetarian food that would otherwise be thrown away--from farmers, grocery stores, catered events, cafeterias, restaurants and cafés--and distributes it to those in need.
Part of TUMCs HP/FNB contribution will be to provide a badly-needed commercial kitchen facility near the City Plaza, where FNB serves frequent hot meals to the homeless. The use of TUMCs kitchen would allow the several FNB volunteers to prepare hot and take-home meals together, and organize public education materials in a common setting. TUMCs Church & Society members will help to serve food, and will add to FNB literature and public discourse in ways that remind fellow Christians of our responsibility to those who suffer (Matthew 25:35), and will a) invite participation in TUMCs services and fellowship groups; b) promote local food sustainability endeavors like community gardens and farmers markets, and c) urge resistance to state, national and global austerity programs that place the needs of the poor last.
7. Fair Trade Sales: We will continue these when Michele Robbins goes away for school. Looking for a volunteer to run the program.
8. Heifer: Suellen Rowlison reports that PVHS is looking for a venue to sell student art work relating to the Heifer Project.
9. Empty Bowls, Thursday, March 8th at Chico High, Soup served at 5 or 6:15 pm in a bowl of your choice! $10 to benefit the Torres Shelter.
10. Next meeting, Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Note that we will be meeting on the third Tuesday rather than the second from now on.