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The Body of Christ
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
in South Carolina
Guest writer: Ed Dyckman
 Vision
During the next decade the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, through its Department of Social Ministries, desires to work together with all Christian churches and Christ-centered social ministries, as members of the body of Christ, to use the Internet-based "Next Steps" database to combat one of society's greatest injustices-poverty-throughout South Carolina's inner cities and rural areas.
Poverty in South Carolina
Today hundreds of South Carolina inner city and rural churches and nonprofit social ministries try to help their communities' poor, yet the cycle of poverty continues to rage unchecked. Churches and nonprofits with limited resources become overwhelmed when they single-handedly and repeatedly try to meet the emergency needs of the poor.
Next Steps
"Next Steps" is a program, free to all churches and Christ-centered social ministries in South Carolina, linking them through an Internet-based information backbone. The Department of Social Ministries acquired use of the Next Steps database from Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington and its software developer Community Information Technology Innovators of Washington, DC, who spent 20 years perfecting the database for use in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. By September 2008, the Department will deploy 10 "instances," i.e., copies, of the Next Steps database, each instance will operate within a cluster of counties, and together they will cover all of South Carolina. Currently, there is one instance operating in the Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester County cluster, administered for the Department by The Charleston Expression.
Invitation
The Department of Social Ministries invites church and Christ-centered social ministry volunteers and employees to receive free training to learn to use Next Steps to: (a) share poverty resources and information online, (b) enhance their poverty ministries' efficiency and effectiveness, and (b) empower the poor in their communities to build bridges out of poverty.
Training sessions are scheduled monthly and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis on Wednesdays July 23, August 20, and September 24, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Agape Ministries of Charleston.
To reserve a spot, please contact Mr. Ed Dyckman, Chair, Department of Social Ministries at edward.dyckman@att.net or 843-367-5647. Once a person completes one 3-hour Next Steps training session, s/he will receive a training certificate, user ID, and a password to access the Next Steps training database at www.southcarolinaministries.org and the Next Steps database instance operating in her/his county.
For more information contact Ed: edward.dyckman@att.net.
About the writer: in addition to his leadership of the Department of Social Ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, Ed is the Diocesan Representative on the Board of the South Carolina Christian Action Council.
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GoodbyeMinimallyAdequate!
We just reached 10,000 signatures on our petition to put "high quality education" in South Carolina's Constitution! A big thank you to each of you.
Here is our challenge to you: help us reach our ultimate goal of 1,000,000 signatures. If everyone who has signed the petition gets 10 other people to sign today, we'll be at 100,000 signatures this week!
Click here to go to the home page then click on "Tell a Friend" and you can import contacts from your personal e-mail address book and social networking sites - easily sending a quick message to many people at once!
Please take a moment to ask 10 friends, colleagues, neighbors and family members in South Carolina to visit the site and sign the petition!
Thank you!
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GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER/MEDIATION
August 8, 2008
On August 8, 2008, centered in Glastonbury, England (near the ancient site of Glastonbury Tor) there will be a 24 hour focus on Peace and the healing of our planet. This event will give hope to peace builders and those who dream of peace everywhere.
You can participate in the historic event by creating or joining a peace circle in your area. For more information go to
Please join and let others know. Together we can make the conscious shift in our direction as a planet toward peace NOW.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Grants
The State of South Carolina Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board (Children's Trust Fund of South Carolina) announces the availability of grant funding for child abuse and neglect prevention programs for Program Year 2008-2009.
Eligible applicants for CTFSC grants are local or statewide public entities or private non-profit organizations meeting the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Funds will be used for prevention programs encompassing Parenting Eduation and Support, Home Visitation, School-Based, Non-School Based/After School, Community Awareness, Mentoring, Fatherhood, and Respite Care.
In compliance with federal statutes and recommendations, faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply. (Based on recommendations from various national federal and private faith-based technical assistance providers, CTFSC recommends that faith-based organizations applying for funds establish a separate 501(c)(3) entity to receive and maintain federal funds for programs.)
Grant applications must be received IN THE CTFSC OFFICE by 5:00 P.M. EST on Friday, August 29, 2008.
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National Summit on Torture: Religious Faith, Torture, and Our National Soul
September 11-12, 2008
Mercer University, Atlanta
Co-Sponsors Include:
The National Religious Coalition Against Torture
Mercer University
Evangelicals for Human Rights
The Center for Victims of Torture
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Evangelicals for Social Action
Faith and the City
Faith in Public Life
The Islamic Society of North America
Morehouse College
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
No2Torture
Rabbis for Human Rights
Sojourners
Third Way
Conference speakers will reflect a variety of faith perspectives. The conference is open to all. Registration fee is $150. Deadline for registering is August 15. Seating is limited. CLICK HERE for web site.
For more information, contact the Conference Coordinator:
Mary Head, Evangelicals for Human Rights
3001 Mercer University Drive, Day Hall 103
Atlanta, GA 30341
678-547-6457
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Opportunities to Note
July 20-25. SC School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies. Furman University, Greenville, SC. Registration materials available at www.daodas.state.sc.us.
October 17-19. " When Will We Hear" Martin Luther King's Call to Justice and Peace," is the theme for the 2008 National Observance of Children's Sabbath. Observance resources: CLICK HERE.
Nov. 6. The Faith Community is Next Best to Kin: Respite Solutions for Caregivers. Conference on Respite ministry for faith community members, Stephen ministers, Women's and Caring Committees, Missions leaders, Rabbis, Imams, youth leaders, and Pastors. Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington, SC. For more info CLICK HERE.
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E-newsletter Editor
South Carolina Christian Action Council | |
