SC Christian Action Council's 2006 Annual Meeting will be a time of worship, fellowship and learning together for the entire Christian community in South Carolina. Our theme this year is preparing for pandemic.

Do you know what it means to your congregation, your community, your family that the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has already hosted at least one state-wide meeting to share information about the possibility of the Asian Bird Flu arriving in the United States?

As with DHEC, the Council’s event will inform—not incite—clergy, congregational leaders, and community members to the challenges that face us.

We are delighted to be hosted by St. Luke Lutheran Church in Florence, South Carolina. The address is 1201 Cherokee Road, and directions are posted on the Council's website.

We will begin with an ecumenical worship service held in the beautiful new sanctuary at St. Luke. Following worship we will hear from a panel of medical professionals, disaster preparedness personnel, and congregational leaders. They will discuss the dimensions of potential pandemic (worldwide) illnesses: when we could expect them and how we should prepare before such an event reaches our communities.

Please contact the Council offices to register. The entire day including lunch is $35, with discounts for students.

Would you help us publicize this event? Click here for a flyer. The flyer has a registration form on it. Print, fill out and mail back to the Council with your check for the registration fee made payable to SCCAC.

We look forward to seeing you in Florence!

Since 1999, John P. Harmon has served as Director of Seminary Advancement at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, a post which includes responsibility for the Annual Fund Appeal and Alumni/ae Relations.

Before coming to the Seminary, John served as Assistant to the Treasurer of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

And this position was a grand leap from his previous employment with SC Electric and Gas Company, where he held various positions including Commercial Sales Engineer, Assistant to the Vice president of Marketing and Area Development, Manager of Marketing and Assistant to the Vice President Northern Division Operations.

John holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree as well as the Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Carolina.

In 2001, John was appointed the Synod's Judicatory Representative on the Board of SC Christian Action Council. He has represented that body well and currently serves as the Council's Treasurer.

We asked John why he volunteers with the Council: "Over the years," he said, "I have gained a broader understanding of the mission of the Council and continue to be proud of the work it does on behalf of the ecumenical partnership represented. I was honored to be elected by fellow board members to serve as Treasurer and look forward to serving in any way I can."

In addition to his many volunteer services for the Synodical and regional bodies of the ELCA--including membership on every conceivable committee--John has held leadership positions in many civic organizations. He has served as President of both the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Lexington.

John and Jeanette Kyzer Harmon have been married for more than 40 years and they are the proud parents of Kelly Harmon Roberts, Tara Harmon Severance, John Clay Harmon.

Thanks, John, for your service to SC Christian Action Council!

April 10: March: Immigrants United for a Better America. March in support of a comprehensive immigration reform and to oppose the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005" (H.R. 4437). For more information: Columbia march--Irma Santana at 803-429-8742; Greenville march--Wilfredo Leon, Latino Newspaper 864-787-5622; Hilton Head march-- Luis Bell, Latin American Council 843-682-4599. Sponsored by the Coalition for New South Carolinians with the support of Acercamiento Hispano, Hispanic Leadership Council and Agil Staff, Inc.

April 18-20: "After Innocence" showing at the Nickelodeon Theater, Columbia with special viewing at 6:00 followed by discussion on April 20. After Innocence tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated - innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. The film focuses on the gripping story of seven men and their emotional journey back into society and efforts to rebuild their lives. Included are a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father sent to prison and even death row for decades for crimes they did not commit. For more information about the discussion event, contact Julia Sibley- Jones at jsibley@sccouncil.net. More information about the film and the Nickelodeon Theater may be found here.

April 23: 2006 Earth Day Sunday. Thanking and praising God for the beauty of God's creation is an essential part of our ongoing faith journey and worship experience and each year we dedicate one Sunday for creation stewardship and the Earth Day celebration. The emphasis for 2006 is on our connection to all of God's creation and our call for justice and right relationships. Click here for more information and a copy of the resource Through the Eye of a Hurricane: Rebuilding Just Communities.

Here's a sampling of April activities for the staff of SC Christian Action Council.

April 4: Coker College, Hartsville, (Brenda)

April 5: Columbia College Chapel, Columbia. (Brenda)

April 6: Executive Committee, Columbia. (Brenda)

April 11: SC Death Penalty Organizing Group, Columbia. (Julia)

April 21-25: Dealing with Change, Black Mountain, NC. (Brenda)

April 27: Advocacy Work Group meeting, Council offices (Julia); Advanced Special Ministries of UMC, Columbia (Doris, Brenda).

April 28-29: 2006 General Assembly, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of SC, Spartanburg. (Brenda)