Creation Justice
Mission statement:
To embody our faith in our relationships with God’s creation
Goals:
- To educate and encourage congregational members to take concrete actions that express their stewardship of creation
- To strive for significant reductions in the church’s energy and water consumption and waste in order to offset our carbon footprint
- To advocate for policy change that will slow climate change and mitigate its impacts
Homeless
I-HELP AT COTP
One Year Anniversary. We first hosted I-HELP guest on October 28-29, 2019 on a Monday night. Within a few months we committed to a second night each week to provide the full 7 nights of coverage for our guests that we wanted. Since then we have held forth on Monday and Friday nights, asking our volunteers to step up their involvement. We have over 55 volunteers working with the program, including bus drivers, cooks, shoppers, monitors and laundry. Each time we host, our volunteers give 45-55 hours of time for 100 hours each week. What a tremendous gift in service to others. The ultimate measure of success is the number of guests that have found permanent housing. This is the work of the LSS staff and we celebrate the 24 guests that are now housed. This represents about half of the people that have been enrolled in the program. Despite the Covid 19 virus and the fact that our churches were closed we were able to provide full coverage for our guests, 7 nights each and every week. Testing each guest before enrolled, with disinfecting protocol in place, practicing social distancing and taking the temperature of volunteers and guests each time, we have been able to minimize the risk of infection. We have made our program more green by using plates, bowls and glasses that we run through the dishwasher and cloth napkins and rags that we wash with bedding in our washer/dryer.
I-HELP Guests First to use Shower Trailer. The new shower trailer of COTP will be here by mid-October, and once ready we will invite our I-HELP guest to be the first to use it. In time we plan to use the shower trailer around the NW Valley, offering showers to the homeless on regular schedules.
Palestinian-Israeli Issue
Beth Moore provided an update on what is happening with the Nassar’s farm. The last month has been very difficult with vandals damaging the property, a neighboring group calling for re-registration of the land and the ongoing court case related to land ownership. Ongoing prayers and support are needed.
Antiracism
The Social Justice Action Team adopted the action items recently approved by the Southwest Conference:
| Church of the Palms Awakening to Racial Injustice Action Steps |
| Learning with White friends and family about White privilege, White fragility, and White supremacy, |
| Regularly reading books, watching performing arts events, and drawing on theological resources featuring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to deepen understanding and appreciation of the history, contributions, and culture of these groups of people. |
| Learning with our children through children’s stories about racism in age-appropriate ways, |
| Centering the stories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and their rich and diverse heritage in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, |
| Forming partnerships with congregations of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, |
| Learning about and supporting organizations in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas that make it a mission to be Interrupters, [1] |
| Speaking up whenever you hear a comment or joke that marginalizes Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, |
| Writing op-eds or letters to the editor about issues of bigotry, White supremacy, or racism in your communities, |
| Making a public witness like putting a Black Lives Matter sign at your church or on your lawn and prepare yourselves to welcome Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who may come to our churches, and for conversations with people who demonstrate White fragility because you take this step. |
| Inviting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color into leadership roles and explore governance structures that reflect their experience. |
| Asking Black, Indigenous, and People of Color what their needs are. |
| Assessing your congregation’s racial diversity, equity and inclusion. Participate in the UCC’s racial diversity, equity, and inclusion assessment of the National setting of the United Church of Christ. |
| Including elements in worship services that reflect the needs and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color present in your congregation and in your community |
| Using your money to support businesses and ministries of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, |
| Inviting a Sacred Conversations to End Racism facilitator of the Southwest Conference to present a program in your congregation. The program could include many options from a selected movie with reflection to a programmed discussion or guest sermon. |
Criminal Justice Reform
Prosecutors have a significant role in Criminal Justice Reform. They can decide whether or not to prosecute minor offenses or possibly send the accused to a diversion program, especially for people with substance abuse issues. We have an opportunity to watch interviews with the candidates for Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the third largest such office in the US! You can view the interviews at:
Julie Gunnigle at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_UaG0jmfE
Allister Adel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2Kt4n5Jux0
Criminal Justice Reform Presentation from Grace Cathedral in San Francisco
Each year the cathedral chooses a theme for inspiration. In 2020 our theme is bridges. We are challenging ourselves to explore and reflect upon reconciliation in this very divisive time in our country. Join us to hear from San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who, in conversation with Dean Malcolm Clemens Young, will talk about his work building bridges that promote justice and safety in our community. About the guest Chesa Boudin is the recently elected District Attorney of San Francisco. Personally, impacted by parental incarceration and the failings of the criminal justice system, DA Boudin was inspired to become a public defender, and now, decarceral prosecutor. He is focused on reforming the criminal justice system and making our communities safer by developing data-driven policies to expand alternatives to incarceration and treat the root causes of crime. In his first few months in office, DA Boudin ended the office’s practice of asking for cash bail, eliminated status enhancements, implemented California’s first diversion program for primary caregivers, and ended the prosecution of charges resulting from racist pre-textual traffic stops. He has also implemented numerous police reforms, started an innovative Economic Crimes Against Workers Unit to protect workers from exploitation, and has succeeded in reducing the jail population in San Francisco even as crime rates declined. He remains committed to additional reforms that promote justice and protect public safety. Check out DA Boudin’s podcast, Chasing Justice: https://www.chasingjusticepodcast.com/