2009 Peace with Justice Grants Awarded to 4 SWTC Churches
It is an honor to report that the PwJ Grants committee reviewed all applications submitted by Nov. 1, 2009 and recommended four churches receive funds from the 2008 Peace with Justice Offering. A total of $3,500 will be awarded this year from 50% of the 2008 offering retained in the SWTC for PwJ ministries. Your congregation can still help others receive PwJ Grants in 2010 by donating to the PwJ Offering to the SWTC Treasurer by the end of 2009.
Grant Applications are still open for congregations interested in adding a Peace Pole to their landscape. Information can be found on the PwJ website: www.peacewithjustice-texas.org or email Wanda Holcombe, Peace with Justice Coordinator: wholcomb@umcswtx.org or give her a call at 512-619-3469:
First UMC Boerne - Kerrville District - Justice Ministry: Lifeline Ministry
Pastor: Rev. Kimberly Burke, Contact Person - Tory Hendry
First UMC Laredo - McAllen District - Justice Ministry: Brewing Justice, Eco Tree
Pastor: Rev. Peter Aguilar, Contact Person - Mary Webber
Simpson UMC - Austin District - Justice Ministry: The Journey Home - Change the Home, Change the Cycle
Pastor: Rev. Charles Stephens, Sr., Contact Person: Pamela McCullough
Bethany UMC - Austin District - Justice Ministry: Organic Community Garden Ministry
Pastor: Rev. Tom Deviney, Contact Person - Fiona McInally
Our call is to be advocates for peace with justice in our church, community and the world.
The Peace with Justice Program aims to make shalom visible and active in people’s lives and communities, and to encourage the church to “strengthen its capacity to act as a public policy advocate” in local communities, the state and throughout the world.
The 2004 Book of Discipline calls for a Peace with Justice coordinator to be assigned by every Annual Conference and act as primary coordinator of Peace with Justice resources, interpretation and advocacy.The coordinator links the local churches in the annual conference with the GBCS Peace with Justice Program. Peace with Justice Coordinators meet annually for spiritual growth, empowerment and program resourcing.
The Old Testament speaks of God’s sovereignty in terms of covenant, more particularly the “covenant of peace” with Israel, which binds that people of God’s shalom (Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 37:20). In the covenant of shalom, there is no contradiction between justice and peace or between peace and security or between love and justice (Jeremiah 29:7).
In Isaiah’s prophecy, when “the spirit is poured upon us from on high,” we will know that these laws of God are one and indivisible: “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:16-18, NRSV).
About Peace with Justice Sunday
Peace with Justice Sunday is one of the official churchwide Special Sundays when the Peace with Justice Special Offering is collected. Annual Conferences keep half of the offering to fund local projects while a portion goes to the GBCS Peace with Justice Program to fund U.S. and global work in social action and public policy education and advocacy.
The Peace with Justice Coordinator is responsible for administering the conference Peace with Justice Special Sunday Offering and for coordinating peace with justice ministries. (2008 Discipline ¶629.2)
From the 50% of the offering that stays in the Southwest Texas Conference, PwJ grants are given to local churches and other programs that promote peace with justice; training in conflict resolution or other education initiatives within the conference.
Free Resources for Peace with Justice Sunday CLICK HERE
Responsibilites of the Peace with Justice Coordinator
• Encourage understanding of the Biblical and theological foundations of Peace with Justice work. • Promote and equip Peace with Justice discussion, ministry, and advocacy training throughout the Southwest Texas Conference. • Promote and administer the annual Peace with Justice Special Sunday Offering. • Serve as liaison with The General Board of Church & Society, including participating in the annual Peace with Justice Coordinators’ Gathering. • Serve as Ex-officio member of the Conference Board of Church & Society. • Work with ecumenical, interfaith, and grassroots coalitions to promote peace with justice work. • Engage in other Peace with Justice work as is necessary within the conference
Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living “Do No Harm. Do Good. Stay in Love with God.” —Bishop Rueben P. Job
GBCS Istanbul Interfaith Pilgrimage November 10-22, 2008
TEAM REPORT By Wanda Holcombe
Team Purpose: To symbolize with our presence in Istanbul and upon returning to the United States, a passion for developing interfaith relations utilizing respectful dialogue methods of respect, tolerance, compassion and understanding as a team, and with ALL we met and worked with while in Istanbul. The pilgrimage was designed as an emmersion experience with the people of all faiths in Istanbul; and to explore how we can move beyond dialogue to caring for common concerns for justice in the world and in our local community. Istanbul was chosen because of it’s interfaith work there and relations with the US, as well as its potential for being a broker for peace in the middle east.
Accomplishments: • Met with major faith leaders and officials from the Presidency of Religious Affairs: Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Islamic, Jewish, Catholic and Protestant Denominations (UCC missionaries, Anglican, and International Union Church of Istanbul). • Attended worship services at various Greek Orthodox Churches, Christ Anglican Church, Union Church of Istanbul, several Catholic Churches, and a Sufi religious service. • Conducted Mission Outreach - Visited and participated in service projects at: *Istanbul Interparish Migrant Program (IIMP) – UMCOR Advance Special *Moms & Tots Medical Clinic for refugees *Christ (Crimean) Anglican Church Shelter for male refugees *Don Bosco School and Youth Center for Iraqi Refugees (they hosted a cultural performance for the team and a dinner; the team donated $1,000 for their mission program; and the team organized sports play for children and taught ESL to adults, youth and children. *Office of Caritas Turkey *Visited the Eyup Camii (mosque) complex to observe where poor are fed on a daily basis. • Participated in Team Training & Workshop Sessions (led by Christina Bache Fidan): *Interfaith, World Conflict and Peace Efforts *Conflict Resolution Methods *World Peace and Engaging in Interfaith Ministries Back Home in the US. • Met as a team daily for meditations and team reflections.
The Board of Church and Society Southwest Texas Conference UMC
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” and peace is greatly needed in the area of Israel and Palestine. Our call is to be peacemakers even when others are urging otherwise.
With the leadership of the United Methodist Women, we have made a start toward equipping ourselves for this difficult task, but more must be done to clarify and sharpen the perceptions we have concerning current conditions and future possibilities.
There have been some recent hopeful signs: The Annapolis conference in November reaffirmed a two-state solution and the Donors Conference in Paris in December pledged another $7.4 billion to peaceful development of the Palestinian economy. But good will is not enough.
The situation in the Holy Land is complex indeed. Lengthy and careful study is a prerequisite to bringing an effective resolution to this difficulty. Informed congregations are more empowered to help create peace.
Therefore, we are encouraging every congregation in the Southwest Texas Conference to participate in a special study of the issues related to Israel and Palestine. The Task Force is prepared to provide training packets, including a construct for such purpose.
For more information on where and how to obtain packets and a list of United Methodists that are prepared to conduct training please contact: Wanda Holcombe, IP Task Force member wandaholcomb@umc.swtx.org, 512-619-3469, Mary Beth Grimes, IP Task Force member, Mbg7401@sbcglobal.net, 210-877-0569; B.J. Lee, IP Task Force Member, Beej527@austin.rr.com, 512-453-0444; or Alberta Shelton, IP Task Force member, umaoma@sbcglobal.net, 512-926-8645.
From the Book of Resolutions 2004: We join with Palestinian Christians, as well as our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters, in feeling a deep sense of rooted-ness to the land where our three religious traditions were born. We celebrate the diversity of religious customs and traditions throughout the Middle East.
Wanda Holcombe
Peace with Justice Coordinator 14900 Yellowleaf Trail Austin, Texas 78728
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