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As the only statewide ecumenical agency in South
Carolina, SC Christian Action Council represents a
partnership of 17 denominations and 22 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.
| ADVOCACY DAY 2007 |
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Theme: IMMIGRATION
Date: February 13, 2007
Place: Reinartz Hall, Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary, 4201 N. Main St., Columbia
Seminary number: (803) 786-5150 (directions or
emergency number only, please)
For a discussion of Immigration, to find out what is
happening in South Carolina and how we--the faith
community--can join the discussion, THIS is
the place to be on February 13, 2007!
Pre-registration is $15, including lunch.
Registration
must be received by February 6, 2007.
Registration
form available on line at www.sccouncil.net. Click here for form. Registration at the door:
$10—no lunch.
AGENDA
- 11:30 Registration/pick up materials/box
lunch
- 12:00 Welcome/opening prayer/lunch
- 12:05 Plenary: The State of Immigration in
SC
- 1:30 Short Break
- 1:45 Break-out Sessions (see below)
- 3:15 Plenary: Theological Reflections on the
day and "What are we called to do? Elizabeth
O'Donnell Gandolfo, Hispanic Ministries Program
Coordinator, St. Francis, Greenville
- 4:00 Adjourn
Break out Session Choices:
- Advocacy and Immigration
- The Face of South Carolina's Immigrants
- Exploding the Myths and Preparing to Help
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| Community News and Events |
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February 1: "Living Faithfully in the 21st
Century: The State of the Bible in North
America." Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary HEIN-FRY LECTURE SERIES XVI. Dr. Donal
A. Hagner, Professor of New Testament, Fuller
Theological Seminary, presenter. The Rev. Dr. Brian
K. Peterson, Associate Professor of New Testament,
responder. 9:30 am -2:30 pm, Stavros Lecture Hall,
Casey Education Center on the Seminary Campus.
Additional info: (803) 461-3256.
February 4, the SOUPER BOWL of
Caring. Do you know that SC ranks 1st in
the nation with families living with hunger? Asking
each member of every congregation for just $1 on
Feb. 4, helps put an end to hunger in SC. For more
information click here.
February 8: Artful Askers Worshop.
Technical assistance for capacity building, fund
development, and building relationships with funders
following the Biblical model. North Trenholm Baptist
CHurch, 6515 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia. Call Bill
Dieckman at (803) 252-0116, for registration details
and other info.
February 13, Advocacy Day. See
lead article for details.
February 16-17, 2007. Capacity Building
Leadership Institute. Health ministry
training offered to African American churches of all
denominations. For more information contact: Joyce
B. Winkler, RN, MPH, Faith and Health Consultant, SC
DHEC Office of Minority Health (803) 898-7655.
March 6, 13, 20, 27: Lay School
Religion. Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary. Choice of one of the following
courses: "The Making and Meaning of our Bible," Dr.
Charles Sigel, NT Prof. Emeritus, Southern
Seminary. "Icnography," Fr. Thomas Moore, Priest-in-
Charge, Holy Apostles Orthodox Church. "Personality
Type," Rev. Harvey Huntley, Jr. and Sandra Holland,
AIM, both on the staff of Region 9-ELCA. For more
information and downloadable registration form click
here.
March 10-11 Low Country Pow Wow and Cultural
Festival, New Location: Exit 33 off of I-95 Point
South/Yemassee, SC. Host Hotel is Knight’s Inn.–
843-726-8488. Signs will be posted. Contact Mike
Benton at 843-784-2866 work 843-784-2233
March 30-31 Edisto Pow Wow, Ladson, SC.
Fairgrounds. Contact Anthony Davidson at 843-534-
6132.
March 30, 31 and April First Spirit Creek American
Indian Heritage Association’s FIRST ANNUAL BENEFIT
POWWOW at the Wagon Wheel, 12831 Highway 278,
Barnwell, SC Contact info: Gary Five Crows 706-
560-1794.
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Have other South Carolina community news?
Let
us know at sccac@bellsouth.net.
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.
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| Comings and Goings |
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Here is a sampling of Council staff engagements this
month.
February 6-9. Churches Coming Together, Pasadena,
California (Brenda)
February 13. Advocacy Day, LTSS, Columbia (Doris
and Brenda)
February 21. Interfaith Restorative Justice Network,
Lutheran Family Services office, Columbia (Brenda)
February 23. Non-profit Leadership Institute, Francis
Marion University (Brenda)
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One Last Word |
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Last week, the Council acknowledged the giftedness
and 13 year ministry of Julia Sibley-Jones. Julia is
now serving through Friends National Conference.
Last Thursday, we feasted with her (vegetarian, no
less). Words of commendation and appreciation and
were offered. We gave her gifts to remember us by.
We laughed with her; and shed a few tears in the
face of her departure.
Then, one last time, Julia shared herself and her gifts
with us. Her response is worthy of re-reading and
sharing with you.
"South Carolina Christian Action Council is a more
than an organization. It is the common table where
people of faith meet, challenge and work with one
another. It is South Carolina’s primary Christian
witness to the vision we share of the world, or at
least the South Carolina, that could be.
"It is our commitment to the common good, our belief
in the unity of the entire Christian family, and our
confidence in the ability of people of all faiths:
"to work together for equity (but not without loss);
to work together for reconciliation (but not without
humility); to work together for love (but not without
vulnerability); to work together for justice (but not
without compassion); to work together for peace
(but not without accountability).
"Many of you . . . know that far from being the
utopia of similar behavior and world-views, religious
communities can exhibit shocking, flagrant episodes
of disagreement at best, outright rancor at worst.
"The Council is a place where—at least on our good
days—we remember that the goal of any given
meeting is not to ‘come to a decision at all costs’ or
to ‘get my way,’ but rather, to discern God’s will for
us in this time, in this place, and to ask for God’s
help in acting together on that area of discernment.
"One of my favorite parts of Quaker process is our
use of queries. Queries function as a tool to promote
meditation and internal honesty, not as a line in the
sand.
"This is the query that was read at the beginning of
Sunday’s Meeting for Worship for the Purpose of
Business (some of you may call that a congregational
meeting): Do all aspects of your life bear the
same witness? Do you center your life in the
awareness of the presence of God so that all things
take their rightful place?
"I did not answer yes! But this is a fundamental goal
of my life: seeking right order of all actions centered
on the awareness of the presence of God. . . .
"This striving for right order is also what drew
me . . . to the life and ministry of South Carolina
Christian Action Council. For where else in this state
can we find a common table where people gather to
envision and create a community where people of
faith unite to glorify God through worship, social
justice, peace, and mercy."
Where else, indeed?
P.S. Godspeed, Julia.
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