Mission & Advocacy Committee
Mission & Advocacy is responsible for global and local mission of justice and peace, oversees support for campus ministries, elder care, support programs of direct service and advocacy. Meets 2nd Thursday 5pm @ Twelve Corners.
New Presbytery Disaster Readiness and Response Team ByBarbara and Bill Smith, Presbytery Disaster Readiness and Response Team (DRRT) Coordinators
Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast brought focus to volunteers helping with disaster relief. Our Presbyterian Church nationally provided opportunities for volunteers through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).
Many of us as church groups or as individuals have given of our time or resources to assist with the recovery efforts. Now the Mission and Advocacy Committee of our Presbytery is initiating a Disaster Readiness and Response Team (DRRT) to plan and prepare our church members for future events. Recent local tornadoes (like the one in Corfu), floods (like the one in Gonanda) and even the Swine flu outbreak are evidence that this an important task at this time.
We will begin by gathering information for a Presbytery web page that will enable churches to share what they have done to help in times of disaster.
Send us your stories and pictures of your efforts on the Gulf Coast (or elsewhere) to help clean up or rebuild homes or churches. There might be a story about a local storm where your church members found the need to help out neighbors. Please email materials to .
Meanwhile we are also actively recruiting members for the DRR Team to promote, develop, and organize readiness for and response to disasters.
The team will help individual churches explore how you can be prepared for disaster response within your own communities, and how you can participate in broader responses within our Presbytery, neighboring Presbyteries, or nationally. Did you know there are some wonderful resources available online?
Most importantly, please consider who in your congregation would be interested in joining the team. It might be
- someone from your mission or outreach committee;
- someone who has had experience in disaster response; or
- someone interested in learning more about this mission.
Team members will meet monthly for planning and will be asked to share information with local churches. Other avenues for service and involvement will be explored and encouraged. Any and all are welcome to participate. If you have names to suggest or questions about this work contact us directly at wsmith4@rochester.rr.com.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Happenings with other local organizations
Interfaith Alliance DVD
The Interfaith Alliance in partnership with Let Justice Roll is offering an enlightening presentation that focuses on the poverty issues that continue to affect the greater Rochester community.
This free program centers attention on a 28-minute DVD, “The Faces of Poverty: Not Just Faces, but Our Neighbors”
- featuring real people in Monroe County
- accompanied by power point presentation; a study guide is available on request
- conducted by well-informed discussion leaders
The presentations are designed to help educate the community about the realities of poverty in Monroe County.
The program raises questions such as:
- What if you had a sudden large unexpected expense next month? Would your funds cover your essential needs for housing, health care, transportation, child care, food, and clothing?
- If not, where would you turn?
- If not, which items would you choose to do without?
- What links are there between poverty and violence?
Handouts will be available, including a list of suggestions for volunteer involvement.
The time frame is usually 1 to 1½ hours, but could be adapted to the group’s needs.
For details contact Paul Brayer, 271-3479 or Ed Lemon, Jr., 410-0616
Water for Sudan
Water for Sudan, Inc. is a Rochester-based 501(C)(3) organization providing clean, safe drinking water to thousands in southern Sudan, Africa.
Our mission is to drill fresh-water wells for the people in the southern areas of Sudan, providing the foundation for stable, healthy communities.
Our goal for the next several years is to drill twenty-four (24) wells per year to service tens of thousands of villagers. Locations are selected by the local tribal leaders. Members of the village are chosen to be trained by Water for Sudan in the operation and maintenance of the wells.
Once operational, a well becomes the property and responsibility of the village, empowering the people in the development of their own stable and healthy community. Our goal is the transformation of lives—bringing life out of the desert.
Salva Dut, President and Operations Manager of Water For Sudan, Inc., will talk about his work and show slides of his work to any congregation that would like to hear him.
Telephone 585/377-9471.
Join the PC(USA) Presbyterian Peacemaking Listserv
The PC(USA) Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has created a read-only email list, which will be used to send announcements about events, resources, stories about peacemaking, and updates to the Peacemaking Program’s web site. There will also be periodic action alerts identifying advocacy opportunities concerning issues related to peacemaking. Subscribe to the list here.
Our Lobbyists in Washington
The Presbyterian Washington Office is the public policy information and advocacy office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its task is to advocate, and help the church to advocate, the social witness perspectives and policies of the Presbyterian General Assembly. The church has a long history of applying these biblically and theologically-based insights to issues that affect the public — maintaining a public policy ministry in the nation’s capital since 1946.
Ministries Supported by Presbytery through M&A
Ecumenical Ministries
|
Ecumenical Ministries (Cont.)
Campus Ministries
Related Organizations |
Documents
Mission & Advocacy owns and maintains the following documents