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Social Concerns Committee provides information on social issues and cooperates with congregations who are acting on the implications of the Gospel for society.
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Mary Nack is the chairperson of the Social Concerns Committee. Committee members are Rev. Charles Brizius, Todd Smith Lippert, Rev. John Klindt, Ervin Pauly, Rev. John Schultz, Rev. Margaret Shepherd, Rev. Philip Shively and Kathleen Sulzer.
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Iraqi Medical Relief Effort Raises Over $30,000!
The Social Concerns Committee wanted to make it possible for congregations to give direct aid to suffering civilians in war-torn Iraq. They have been working on an Association-wide campaign to raise money to enable the International Red Cross Committee (in Cooperation with the Red Crescent) to provide medical relief for injured Iraqi civilians by purchasing a mobile medical clinic. Thanks to the generosity of our churches and church friends, they have collected $33,000 to put towards a unit! The money is being sent off now but they will continue to collect funds through the end of the year. You can still contribute by sending your funds earmarked for this effort to the Association offices. The cost of a complete unit is $43,750 and we came very close to making this goal. Maybe we still will by the end of the year!
See the letter to pastors, talking points for congregations and fundraising ideas for more information on how your congregation can participate in this effort.
An Invitation from the Social Concerns Committee
In past years, the Social Concerns Committee has funded grants for the following mission programs:
- Plymouth UCC/Madison: Parish Nurse Program
- First Congregational UCC/Madison: Second Chance Housing Project
- Lake Edge UCC/Madison: Second Chance Housing Project
- First Congregational UCC/Janesville: Cambodian Language Project
- The Crossing Ecumenical Campus Ministry
- Habitat Project-Orchard Ridge UCC, sponsor
- Fort Benning Demonstration-Community of Hope, sponsor
- Sabeel Conference in Jerusalem and Ramallah, Israel
"Challenging Zionism-Theology, Politics and the Palestine-Israel Conflict"
- Community of Hope UCC/Madison: Harvest of Hope-small farming operations in need of fuel, seed,etc.
- McFarland UCC: Habitat for Humanity Project
- Fitchburg Memorial UCC: Impact membership (inter-faith legislative network)
Additional information regarding these projects may be obtained from the sponsoring churches.
Your church can submit its request for a grant by using these guidelines to prepare a description of your project(s) by the Social Concerns Committee:
- What is the nature of the mission project and how will it be conducted?
- What is the timeline for the project?
- What are the anticipated outcomes?
- What are the anticipated expenses?
- What is the amount requested?
- What other sources of funding, if any, are being pursued?
- Is this a one-time or on-going project?
- What does your local church contribute to the project?
Send proposals to the Social Concerns Committee in care of the Association Office at 2401 Atwood
Avenue, Madison, WI 53704. Requests are to be in writing and to come from local church leadership.
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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