SUN LAKES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 

CHURCH & SOCIETY COMMITTEE

 

                                        April, 2009

 

MEMBERS:  Jay McIntyre, Chairman - Carol McIntyre - Sue Cowles - 

                    Betty Joseph - Dorris Newville - Ed Mouchette - Jeannine

Reynolds - Patti Deck - Mary VandeBerg - Fred Fiske -

Hal Lynn - Pastor Steve Holec - Rev. Jim O’Neal

 

PURPOSE:  To relate the gospel of Jesus Christ to Church members and their communities by bringing the whole of human life, activities, possessions, use of resources, community and world relationships into conformity with the will of God. Members of Church and society shall see that the reconciliation God effected through Christ involves personal, social and civic righteousness.   

 

OBJECTIVES: 

1.  Challenge our Church members to work through ecumenical channels and society toward personal, social and civic righteousness.

 

2.  Assist the Church with resources directed toward personal, social and civic righteousness.

 

3.  Analyze the issues that confront persons, communities, nations and the world.

 

4.  Encourage Christian lines of action that assist humankind to move toward a world where peace and justice are achieved.

 

RECENT ACTIVITIES:

 

May 3, 2009.    NAMI educational session `In Our Own Voice’ was presented Sunday morning at 10:30 am after coffee and cookies.  It was a combination of video and two individuals who are in recovery from Serious Mental Illness presenting their individual stories of their illness and recovery.  It was an

excellent program and could be used in a number of other settings to inform

and educate members regarding serious mental illness and recovery.

         

 

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

 

Support NAMI’S WALK for the MIND of AMERICA.  This effort raises awareness and funding to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and their exemplary work for families impacted by serious mental illnesses.   All NAMI education, support groups, advocacy, and research efforts are provided free-of-charge to affected families.  We have received over $1000 in donations for our Walk Team.  We thank you for helping make the NAMI Walk a success.  You may continue to support the walk with donations on line at: www.nami.org/namiwalks09/arz/sunlakeswalkers , send to team captain Jay McIntyre or leave at the church office until May 28th.

 

Jay McIntyre, Carol McIntyre, and Jeannine Reynolds attended the Desert Southwest Conference Church and Society Leadership Conference May 30, 2009.  

 

Peace and Justice Sunday was June 7th.  A Peace and Justice Bulletin insert was put in the Sunday bulletin and an associated donation was requested.

 

The Church and Society Committee hosted a TNT meeting during the summer.

The speaker was a young Native American woman who spoke on growing up

on the reservation.

 

A letter was sent to the Board of Trustees asking them to revisit the decision

not to install solar panels on the south facing roof of the education building

based on the social principles of the United Methodist Church to support

protection of the environment and conservation of energy.

 

Fall, 2009:

 

Immigration:  A United Methodist Perspective  will be presented by members

of Bishop Carcano’s staff on Dec 2 at 3:30-5:30 pm.  The program will include

an opening segment of facts and figures,  a power point presentation on the

United Methodist Perspective, and close with small group discussions.  The

goals of the conference are to clarify our own positions and feelings about

immigration, better understand the United Methodist Church’s position, and

provide a basis for our response to this issue as a people of God.