Greetings from the Director's Office
April 2012
Greetings, Sisters and Brothers in Christ!
There are times when the words of the prophets echo across the generations of our faith and call God’s people to the hard work of doing justice, working for peace, and sharing compassion. The prophet Isaiah, in the 58th chapter, asks the people of God to reconsider what it means to fast in a manner that is pleasing to God. In verse 6 the prophet asks, “Is not this the fast that I choose?”
The prophet goes on to answer the question, reminding the people that feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked, and breaking the chains of injustice is the appropriate fast. If the fast is followed, the prophet says, “You shall be called repairers of the breach, restorers of streets to live in.” The ministries of Compassion, Peace and Justice (CPJ) are committed to inspire, equip and connect the church as it responds to this call of the prophet.
CPJ ministries’ initiative receives international award
The West Africa Initiative (WAI) of Liberia, led by Self-Development of People, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, andPresbyterian Hunger Program, received the prestigious Equator Initiative Award from the United Nations Development Program.Learn more →
Presbyterians gather in the nation’s capital
Close to 200 Presbyterians gathered in Washington, D.C. to join the Office of Public Witness and all the ministries of Compassion, Peace and Justice for a day of practical, church-based training and exploration of the role Christians must play in today’s changing society, particularly on issues of economic justice.
Advocates call for a faithful federal budget
The yearly debate over the federal budget is—at its heart—a struggle for our nation’s moral conscience. Visit the Ecumenical Advocacy Days website to watch recordings of the presentations.
What’s compassion got to do with it?
Learn how one community in southwest Detroit is using the sport of boxing as a way to address the multiple economic and social challenges facing their neighborhood.
Congregations collaborate to make a difference
For ten years, Presbyterians across the nation have been working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a Florida farmworker organization, to dramatically improve pay and working conditions for tomato harvesters. Learn more about this successful, collaborative endeavor among congregations, presbyteries and the General Assembly with our mission partner, the CIW.
People not profit: Presbyterians form Criminal Justice Network
Presbyterians all across the country hand-delivered letters to their governors, saying no to private prisons. Forty-eight governors in total received letters. It was the first act of the newly formed Presbyterian Criminal Justice Network, based squarely on General Assembly policy.
PDA responds to flood and tornado devastation
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance volunteer teams are urgently needed at this time in Minot, North Dakota, where Presbyterian volunteers have been specifically requested to help recovery efforts from the recent floods. Outside volunteer teams are not yet needed in states struck by tornadoes that tore across the Midwest and southern United States Feb 28 and March 3 and that struck the Dallas-Fort Worth area on April 3.
Find resources to address the situation of children in armed conflict
Learn about Presbyterian efforts to end the use of children in situations of armed conflict. Find additional resources about the Ugandan conflict and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), including suggested actions and a prayer for children in situations of armed conflict.
Looking Ahead
Join us for the 2012 Peacemaking Conference,“Restorers of Streets to Live in,” July 11-15, 2012
Invite an International Peacemaker from September 21 – October 15, 2012
Sign up for 2013 Travel Study Seminars:
Northern Ireland: Peacemaking and Reconciliation in the Celtic Context, April 1-12, 2013
