Social Concerns Committee

Social Concerns Division provides information on social issues and cooperates with congregations who are acting on the implications of the Gospel for society.
Social Concerns   members are Rev. Heide Hackman, Rev. Aurelia Hale, Mary Holtshopple, Rev. Todd Smith Lippert, Vivian Meier, Mary Metz, Rev. Lisa Schoenwetter, Rev. John Schultz and Rev. Phil Shively.

The Division on Social Concerns
funded grants for the following mission programs in 2011

Middleton Community of Hope-Jail Chaplaincy, Dane Cty. 1,500
Madison Orchard Ridge-youth mission trip, Philadelphia 1,000
Fitchburg Memorial-Madison Area Urban Ministry 1,500
Verona Salem-mission trip Alamosa, Colorado 1,000
Brodhead Congregational-youth mission trip, Philadelphia 1,000
Middleton Community of Hope-youth mission trip N.Y.C. 500

For a total of $7,500

We encourage any church in the S/W conference to submit requests to the Division on Social Concerns for help in funding mission projects for the year 2012. Projects can be in your home community, national or international. They can involve youth and adults. Please submit your requests via email to Susan Taylor Communication and Outreach Support Specialist (staylor@wcucc.org)

During the summer the Division on Social Concerns received thank you letters from the following congregations. All expressed appreciation for the grants they received.

  1. Verona Salem- 21 youth and adults traveled to Alamosa, Co. in June, for a week of immersion in service alongside less-fortunate members of society. They spent time gardening, cooking, working on small construction projects, painting, helping in the thrift shop and at the PALS children’s program. The project was hard work, but they report every bit was worth it to see the people smile and know that someone cared.

  2. Brodhead Congregational- 5 youth and 3 adults traveled to Philadelphia in August. The grant allowed them to rent a van so that they could all travel together. The trip gave the young people an opportunity to grow in their discipleship by serving people in need. They worked at preparing and serving food for the homeless in the inner city. They also completed a painting project while there. They also had an opportunity to visit several historical sites.
    3. Madison Community of Hope- Youth mission trip to N.Y.C. All involved, experienced a rewarding and life changing experience working with and for the homeless people in the city. Time was spent working in food pantries, kitchens and conducted a very successful food drive.

To apply for a grant, your proposal must include:
1) What is the nature of the mission project and how will it be conducted?
2) What is the timeline for the project?
3) What are the anticipated outcomes?
4) What are the anticipated expenses?
5) What is the amount requested
6) What other sources of funding if any, are being pursued
7) Is this a one-time or an ongoing project?
 8) What does your local church contribute to the project?

Be Part of the new Social Concerns Network
The Social Concerns Committee is asking each clergy person in the Association to assist in the development of a Social Concerns Communication Network. After considering many issues and approaches, we have agreed that our main task is that of communication and support for those throughout the Association who wish to become actively involved in social concerns. To learn more about this new network, please download a full description of the network’s functions including the form for submitting names of interested individuals in your congregation.

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