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SC Christian Action Council Newsletter CHRISTIAN ACTION
October 2006
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As the only statewide ecumenical agency in South Carolina, SC Christian Action Council respresents a partnership of 17 denominations and 21 regional judicatories, including 4,500 congregations.

The Council serves as a catalyst for:

  • Social justice through public policy advocacy;
  • Christian Unity and inter-religious dialogue through relationships, collaborations and events;
  • Racial and cultural healing by building bridges of trust and understanding.

In this issue:
  • Across My Desk...
  • Ginny Barr Kicks Off First Brown-Bag Lunch
  • 2006 TEAM ornaments
  • Community News and Events
  • Comings and Goings

  • Ginny Barr Kicks Off First Brown-Bag Lunch

    "Balanced and Restorative Justice is not a program, but rather a response to crime that allows for active participation of victim, community, and offender in the justice process. It is a values framwork which recognizes that justice is best achieved by building, or rebuilding, relationships between crime victimes, community and offenders."

    Ginny Barr, Restorative Justice Coordinator for the Department of Juvenile Justice, offered a compelling vision of Restorative Justice at the Council's first Brown-Bag Lunch Series at Shandon Presbyterian Church on September 19th. She explained what Balanced and Restorative Justice is, told us how South Carolina compares with other states on our use (and benefits) of BARJ and described on-going programs with which we might get involved.

    South Carolina is one of 5 national demonstrations sites for BARJ. These sites seek to measure whether or not BARJ works. Even more impressive, South Carolina is one of only two states that publishes a report card--thus ensuring accountability. You can find the 2004 and 2005 report cards here. The 2006 report card will be published in January. Other fact sheets are available at this same site.

    Some examples of restorative practices that have been supported by SC Department of Juvenile Justice include: Restitution programs, Community service projects, Victim impact classes and panels, Offender apologies to victims, Offender re-entry initiatives, Victim satisfaction surveys, Teen after school centers, Mentoring projects and Victim notification initiatives.

    The longest standing and one of the most successful restorative justice efforts DJJ has supported are Community Juvenile Arbitration Programs. In these programs, trained citizen volunteers sit down with an offender and his/her parent(s), the victim, and the arresting officer to develop common-sense solutions to divert at-risk youths from the juvenile justice system.

    There are many ways to get involved with this successful practice of Restorative Justice. Clic k here to find ways to volunteer, including mentoring, tutoring and being a spiritual advisor. You can make a difference in the life of a child, and help to put that child on a path of good citizenship.

    For more information about how you and/or your congregation can get involved, contact Ginny Barr at 803-896-9766 or via email: [email protected].

    AND--Join us on October 17th for the next Brown Bag Luncheon. The topic is Immigration. See the calendar, below, for more information.


    2006 TEAM ornaments

    SC Christian Action Council is pleased to offer the 2006 TEAM (The Ecumenical AIDS Ministry) Christmas ornament.

    This year’s stunning design features a brilliantly glowing candle within a lantern, a light to dispel darkness, adorned with red ribbon. The actual size is 2.25 x 3.2 inches, and is packaged in an attractive commemorative box.

    Please contact Doris at 803.786.7115 or [email protected] to reserve and purchase your ornaments. We have a limited number this year, so order soon!

    1-5 ornaments, $14.95 each.
    6-10 ornaments, $12.95 each.
    11+ ornaments, $10.95 each.
    Contact Doris for shipping and handling charges.


    Community News and Events

    October: AME conferences. Piedmont and Central Conferences will host their annual meetings during October. Click here for more information.

    October 4: An Inconvenient Truth. 6:30 showing at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Columbia. Open to the public.

    October 6-8: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Regional Conference. First Christian Church, Agape Christian Church. Click here for schedule and registration information.

    October 10: Presbytery of New Harmony, Stated Meeting. Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, North Myrtle Beach.

    October 17: Brown Bag Issues Forum. 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia. Sponsored by the Advocacy Work Group of SC Christian Action Council. Topic is Immigration, facilitated by Mark Cerniglia, Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas. Bring a lunch and join in the discussion!

    October 19: Trinity Presbytery--Stated Fall Meeting. Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington.

    October 20-21: 84th Diocesan Convention--Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. Church of the Advent, Spartanburg. Click here for registration and schedule.

    October 20-22: 2006 National Observance of Children's Sabbath. For information and to order manual email: ssnyder@children'sdefense.org or visit
    www.childrensdefense.org
    .

    October 20-22: 2006 National Weekend of Faith and Action on the Death Penalty. NWFA is an opportunity for faith communities, interfaith groups, human rights activists, and others to examine the death penalty from a faith-based or values-based perspective. Register on-line or request more information from [email protected].

    November 21: Brown Bag Issues Forum. 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia. Sponsored by the Advocacy Work Group of SC Christian Action Council. Topic is Death Penalty, facilitated by Catilla Everette, Equal Justice USA. Bring a lunch and join in the discussion!

    Have other South Carolina community news? Let us know at [email protected].

    We include information on community events as space and time allow; and, only in accordance with the mission and policies of SC Christian Action Council. We do not accept unsolicited articles.


    Comings and Goings

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

    October 2: Silent Witness on Domestic Violence, Columbia. (Brenda)

    October 6-7: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Regional Conference, Columbia. (Brenda)

    October 9: Death Penalty Meeting, Columbia. (Julia)

    October 12: Payday Lending Town Hall Meeting, The Citadel, Charleston. (Brenda)

    October 17: Brown Bag Lunch Series, Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia. (Brenda, Doris, Julia)

    October 26: UMC Advance Specials Meeting, Columbia. (Doris)

    October 27: CBF Pastor's Conference presentation. (Brenda)

    October 29: Columbia Friends Meeting presentation. (Brenda)

    October 31: Restorative Justice Interfaith Network. (Brenda)


    Across My Desk...
    Brenda

    . . . Sometimes I hear the voices of prophets.

    These bearers of God's message are often just a little different from those of us who have no sharp, revealing message to share. They are clergy and laity, professional and skilled labor, life-educated and academia-educated, high-churched and holy- churched and other-churched. Men and women utter their prophecies in vibrant tones of the song of life: sometimes in false-setto, or baritone, or the high soaring of a soprano's obligato.

    Some prophets claim to be the REAL one, the RIGHT one, even the ONLY one. I confess to being a bit leery of the one who sets him- or herself apart as a prophet. I'm more likely to trust the message of a someone who got pushed into the role, who did not seek the limelight, who is obviously gifted and passionate and knowledgeable and would just as soon be off somewhere sitting in the shade or fishing.

    Such a prophet was Ezekiel (see the Old Testament). I'm becoming more acquainted with Ezekiel because he speaks plainly a word every bit as sharp and revealing today as it was when he first uttered it thousands of years ago. Open your ears, here comes some good ol' prophecy:

    "Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right....He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.

    He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man."

    Ezekiel 18: 5, 7-8 (New International Version)

    In support of the efforts of SC Fair Share, SC AARP, and others the South Carolina Christian Action Council advocates for legislative and grassroots support for regulation of the Payday Loan industry to protect consumers. Payday lenders charge up to 15 cents for every dollar borrowed — amounting to an annual interest rate of 391 % — and loans are due in less than two weeks. More than $150 million in fees were collected on 4.3 million loans in South Carolina last year. AARP South Carolina along with its partners have hosted a series of town hall meetings this fall (upcoming: Charleston and Rock Hill). “The purpose of these meetings is to get legislative and grassroots support for our position and hear from consumers who have been victims of payday lending,” said Teresa Arnold, AARP South Carolina legislative director.

    This broad coalition supports efforts that would: allow no more than one loan at a time; create a 24- hour cooling-off period between loans; and create a real-time database to track loans being issued. To learn more about the town hall meetings, visit www.aarp.org/sc .

    Ezekiel's righteous person's contentment rests in doing what is right. For him or her it is more than refraining from doing wrong. The SCCAC believes that together we can build a society where neighbor cares for neighbor. We can build a society where hungry people are fed from their neighbor's pantry, people are clothed by the shirts off their neighbors' backs, cars that do not run are repaired by the skilled hands of a neighbor, mortgages are paid from the resources of a neighbor, medicines are bought, oppression is opposed, and everyone has the opportunity for meaningful work and personal dignity.

    "Pie in the sky," you say.

    I can't hear you. I'm listening to Ezekiel.

    ...and that's the view across my desk.

    Brenda Lynn Kneece Executive Minister

    (Respond to Brenda here: [email protected].)



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