Global Mission Partners
GLOBAL
UCC and PCUSA Seminaries and Retirement Homes: To support the strong educational imperative we appreciate in both denominations, we give money to both Chicago Theological Seminary (UCC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (PCUSA). We also support programs at retirement homes associate with our denominations that offer assistance to lower-income residents who wish to live at either Presbyterian Homes in Evanston or Plymouth Place (UCC) in LaGrange. More information can be found at: presbyterianhomes.org, and plymouthplace.org.
Organizations in Support of GLBT People: More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) are two groups within PC(USA) that advocate for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the life of the church. The UCC Coalition consists of several groups which advocate for the extravagant welcome of GLBT women and men. Oak Park PFLAG, or Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a local chapter of a national non-denominational group that meets monthly at our church and provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity as well as acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. More information can be found at: mlp.org, ucccoalition.org, tamfs.org, and pflag.org.
Agape House Campus Ministry: Agape House is an ecumenical campus ministry at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It focuses program priorities on worship, education, and service. It has a long history of social justice work, and seeks to live out a progressive Christian witness on campus. It is a place where many of the faiths on campus (and there are many) can find dialogue and common ground. It is also an open and affirming ministry, offering a specific welcome and support to members of the GLBTQ community. Reverend Richard Williams is the Campus Minister and more information can be found at agape-uic.org.
Latin America: Our work in Latin American is primarily through the Chicago Religious Leadership Network for Latin America (CRLN) and consists of support for refugees seeking sanctuary from death threats in Colombia, opportunities to protest the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, delegation trips, and US advocacy efforts. CRLN itself is an interfaith information and action network that mobilizes religious leaders and congregations in Illinois to advance peace, justice and human rights in our hemisphere. Through speakers, workshops, monthly membership updates, advocacy action initiatives, visits to Latin America, and meetings with U.S. policy-makers, CRLN engages religious leaders to speak out for more just U.S. policies in our hemisphere. More information can be found at crln.org.
Middle East: Work for peace and justice in the Middle East comes through a variety of groups including the Middle East Task Force of Chicago Presbytery (METF), the Arab Group for Christian and Muslim Dialogue, support for missionary Douglas Dicks, as well as other organizations.
The METF wishes to bring a greater awareness of the conflict in the Middle East (specifically Palestine/Israel and Iraq) through methods of personal witness - including non-violent methods of resistance - and present opportunities for support and action in accomplishing a just peace in the region.
The Arab Group for Christian and Muslim Dialogue brings together clergy and people in public life to try to diffuse sectarian tendencies and violence by the promotion of peaceful resolution through joint development action as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
Douglas Dicks is a Presbyterian mission worker who lives in Amman, Jordan. Due to diminishing financial support he must raise money to cover vital projects with which he is working in his position as regional liaison between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories. You can read more about Doug and his reflections on his work at the PCUSA website.
Kenya, Africa: Several of our members brought their talents to Kenya and shared in art projects for residents of a Nairobi refugee camp. Working with local artists, they presented workshops for children and youth during the summer of 2005. Other support has gone through the Sanja Women’s Group which is located in western Kenya. This group of widows cares for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. They have built wells, learned and taught public health to the community, and now are engaged in educating the children. The Ember Kenya Project offers similar support by purchasing goats for widows who are raising orphaned children to provide milk, meat, and income. All of these projects have the potential to grow with our support.
Protestants for the Common Good: PCG educates and mobilizes people of faith to participate in political democracy for the sake of social justice and the beloved community. PCG is both an education and advocacy organization which pursues educational activities, including the teaching of a Faith and Public Issues discussion series, public events such as forums and town meetings on issues with important moral dimensions, and the dissemination of written materials that prepare the reader to consider the direct moral consequences of public policy. The central focus of PCG is to assist people to examine their responsibilities as citizens in the light of their religious faith. For more information go to thecommongood.org.
Community Renewal Society: CRS is an community organizing agency formed out of the Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ). CRS empowers people to build just communities by working to eradicate racism and poverty. It does so by informing, organizing, training, and encouraging individuals and communities in sustained and strategic efforts to engender systemic change. Current initiatives include work with children of the incarcerated and Faith Leaders for Fiscal Integrity. For more information go to communityrenewalsociety.org.