#DOCjustsummer: Disciples Center for Public Witness & Disciples Justice Action Network | |
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
I’ve always found it strange the way that one word can have two very different meanings, especially when the meanings seem almost antithetical. For example, I can dust a shelf to remove dust or dust a cake with sugar to add it; I can impose sanctions to penalize another or sanction an action to signal our approval; I can run fast to move quickly or hold fast to stand still. They’re called auto-antonyms, among other things. Similarly, I can bear witness by actively observing, and I can bear witness by speaking up. The Disciples Center for Public Witness and the Disciples Justice Action Network embody the dual nature of the word “witness.”
The Disciples Justice Action Network (DJAN) is a collaboration of Disciples who witness primarily in the first sense. DJAN witnesses to the way the Disciples of Christ operate as a whole, and to speak out on the ways justice is overlooked or ignored by the denomination at large. In more recent years, as the denomination has grown more justice oriented, DJAN has been able to participate in bringing to life the denomination’s justice goals.
Where DJAN speaks mainly to the church, the Disciples Center for Public Witness (DC4PW) speaks mainly to the state, advocating in the public realm, especially in the area of public policy. The DC4PW board consists primarily of the leaders of a diverse set of African-American and multi-racial congregations, and witnesses primarily in the second sense of the word, speaking up and speaking out on behalf of the oppressed, advocating for racial and economic justice, and working to enact policy changes that support this effort. | | News from North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD)
We are excited to introduce New Light Christian Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Nadine Schrodt), Buffalo, NY, which newly joined NAPAD, and thankful that God’s spirit is still at work in the church amid the pandemic. We look forward to sharing beautiful stories together. This photo is from a Pentecost service. The message below is from New Light Christian Church.
New Light Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) began in homes on the West Side of Buffalo, New York, in January of 2012. Our congregation is mainly Karen with a small percentage of Anglo. When we began, many in our congregation had only been in the United States for a short time, and we were welcoming newly arrived Karen refugees. Our ministry centered around helping them in the resettlement process and offering them a church family to walk beside them. Now, although we do not have any newly arriving Karen refugees, our ministry to meet the various needs of the Karen community continues. | | | | Grow your compassion A global pandemic means that people are in need close to home and around the world. Disciples want to know how to help.
Through Week of Compassion, your congregation can support local and global ministries that are meeting needs and changing lives. Read more about Week of Compassion's COVID-19 Response. We invite you to "Grow Your Compassion," as we receive a designated offering for COVID-19 relief. The gifts that your church shares through this response will extend your mission capacity far beyond the church building, and even beyond your local community. On our website, you will find videos, mission moments, worship resources, children’s activities, sample social media posts and more. During this time when worship has been modified, we’ve made these resources easy to “plug and play” for your remote gatherings. We’re also using a new mobile giving platform that will allow members to easily text their gifts from their phone in just a few clicks. You can create your own "fundraiser page," or even create a team page for a congregation with customizable goals, unique text codes, and more. The needs of our neighbors are great right now, but we are disciples, and our compassion is even greater. Join us as we share the love of Christ--close to home, and around the world. | | | | Chalice Press offers new devotional book
You don't need to wait until Jan. 1 to start a new devotional book! Here is the latest from Chalice Press. This new work by Rev. Sandhya Jha is discussed in an interview posted on the Chalice Press blog.
And coming soon: new book, A House Divided: Engaging the Issues through a Politics of Compassion (Sept 8). Pastor Mark Feldmeir, pastor of a 3,500-person, politically diverse congregation, explores eight of the most divisive issues for Christians through "a politics of compassion" to help us find common ground to have the hard conversations and work toward healing and solutions. This is a fabulous book for small group study this fall as we endure another contentious election season. Feldmeir is creating a free video curriculum series for the book to help jumpstart small group discussions. It will be available on the website on pub date. | | | | Help get out the vote!
On Aug. 13, Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner did a Disciple-specific webinar to support efforts for TurnOut Sunday. The National African American Clergy Network and Lawyers and Collars teamed up to provide the resources.
| | | | You count!
Future planning by governments, nonprofits and others is directly affected by the numbers from the census, so in spite of the pandemic and because of the inequities in how communities are resourced, General Minister and President Rev. Teresa Hord Owens reminds us that 2020 is a census year in the United States. Fill out the quick form at 2020census.gov to make a difference for your community for the next 10 years!
| | | | | | Other News
The Office of Disciples Men will release their third new men’s study by the end of August 2020. This will provide congregational leaders over sixty sessions of study material for the men of their congregations. Information on these materials can be found at www.jesuswaymen.net.
Discover the Power and Possibilities! Just Women will begin accepting pre-orders for the 2021 Just Women Bible Study on Sept. 1st! If you pre-order you will not be charged shipping, and your copy will be mailed as soon as it is printed in January 2021. Please be sure to check out Disciples Women Facebook page or website for more information about pre-ordering on or after September 1st. Pre-orders end December 1, 2020.
| | | | RIOT continues: Revolution with Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp
RIOT continues! As a part of June’s Pride worship service, we considered the ways God is inviting us to turn over every table of injustice — through revolution, with intention, taking advantage of all opportunity, opening ourselves to God’s transformation.
Once a month starting in August, we return to these four parts of RIOT. You are invited to join AllianceQ and Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp on Monday, August 24, for informal conversation around revolution and how we can continue turning over tables of injustice. Meet the proclaimer. Collaborate. Turn over tables of injustice. Register for this free event here. Full details including a link to Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp’s proclamation and the entire RIOT worship video on the AllianceQ website. | Next Ministries Across Generations Virtual Zoom Gatherings September 14 (2nd Monday due to Labor Day), October 5, November 2, and December 7
Linda Staats has a Masters degree in Human Development and the Family from the University of Nebraska, and minor degrees in Child Development and Gerontology, Linda brings a life-span approach to congregational ministry. She is known for the ability to combine research, resources, and theology and for connecting people’s own holy stories with God’s stories. The process of networking and facilitating groups, small or large, is life giving. My greatest joy is bringing people of all ages, 3-103, together for meaningful interaction. | | Additional resources and opportunities
Disciples Family Faith at Home We are giving you a chance to reorder the Faith at Home parables to use this fall with your families at home. Each story is $10. Extra printouts can be found here. Each story will include cut-outs, felt, and printouts for families to engage in story, scripture, prayer, wondering questions, and worship at home. If you are interested, please e-mail Wilma Shuffitt by Sept. 1st. (As you prepare for Advent, we will be offering at home faith stories too!) The Good Shepherd The Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep The Mustard Seed The Sower The Great Feast The Good Samaritan The Prodigal Son
| | | | Apply for a grant with the National Benevolent Association
The National Benevolent Association is currently running two grant programs. We invite disciples-affiliated organizations whose ministries have been detrimentally impacted by COVID-19 to apply for a COVID-19 NBA Response Grant. This grant was created to support new and changing projects created in service to those suffering because of the pandemic. Applications for this grant are rolling.
Additionally, the NBA invites congregations, programs, and ministries affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada to apply for a Mission & Ministry Grant. NBA’s Mission & Ministry Grants program utilizes purpose-restricted funds to provide grant funding for projects serving older adults and educating disenfranchised youth and young adults. The application deadline is Sept. 1. | | | | Explore the enneagram with eight hacks
The Enneagram, a theory that argues nine different personality types exist, has experienced a surge in popularity among Christians. It’s time to discover why the Enneagram is an effective tool to implement within organizations, ministries, and workplaces, and why using it within your church can improve the quality of communication among your team members.
- Apply the principles to your personal and spiritual growth
- Strengthen successful relationships at home, at church, and in the community
- Develop leaders, build teams, and enhance communication skills
- Integrate into your Bible studies, therapy sessions, retreats, and individual spiritual practice
Hosted by Terrell McTyer (Minister of New Church Strategies), New Church Hacks provides practical prompts for churches from start to restart. This free webinar series is jam-packed with clever solutions to tricky problems and empowers courageous leaders with the tools, tips and how-tos to start, sustain, and strengthen congregations. | | | | Meet our 2020 NBA SENT Seminar Speakers!
Each year, the National Benevolent Association’s Incubate initiative hosts the SENT Seminar. This seminar equips Social ENTrepreneurs with the tools they need to run successful nonprofit organizations and other social enterprises.
The NBA is grateful for our lineup of esteemed presenters who will share their knowledge with our SENT participants this year. Due to the global health crisis, our annual SENT Seminar will happen virtually. We invite Disciples-affiliated leaders and leadership teams who are starting new health and social services ministries to register for this powerful three-day event. | | | | COVID-19 resources available
The Office of the General Minister and President has compiled a collection of resources and statements from Church leadership in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are updating this page with more resources as available.
| | More opportunities to put ministry into action
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