Board of Missions and Social Justice
Dorothy Streutker, October 7, 2024
BMSJ was active over the summer. A Just Faith class began in July and ended in August, offered in conjunction with the Faith Formation board. It was attended by 10 people, including the two co-facilitators, and two women who were not ACC members. It was a serious subject, and everyone completed the assigned readings, and the discussion was good and meaningful. We discussed whether another course should be scheduled, but we tabled that subject for another time.
The BMSJ also screened a film, "The Letter," about a timely encyclical from the Pope. He called for greater attention to the role of steward of the Creation. It was a meaningful, well-produced documentary, and was well attended. Another film, "The Strike," was suggested as a follow-up, though it is about prison conditions, quite different from "The Letter,"
The BWB fund continues to grow and provide down payment assistance to Bay Area homebuyers. We got an accounting at our September meeting:
Total Funds Raised to Date: $712,717.56
Total Funds Expended: $487,000.00
Administrative Fees and Loan Costs: $30,598.98
Fund Balance: $195,118.58
The idea of the BWB fund has sparked different groups to propose variations. A good idea grows!
We're still working on a covenant to declare that we are a BWB congregation. Barry is carrying this load.
In August, we got the congregation to assist in making "Blessing Bags," zip lock bags filled with socks, soap, toothpaste and brush, and other items of use to homeless people. Church members were encouraged to take the bags in their cars, and hand them out when they see someone who looks like they could use a blessing. Some leftover ones were distributed at the Souper Supper.
Speaking of the Souper Supper, this congregation continues to support the service, making sandwiches at church and some people going to the center to serve in person.
The UCC sent us a number of Voter Pledge cards, to have people commit to vote with stewardship of creation in mind. They have not gone quickly, but names and e-mails of those that have been turned in have been forwarded to Cleveland.
The BMSJ has undertaken the task of writing a covenant statement of our commitment to the environment. Three contenders were under consideration. The Board agreed that the following would be presented to the Council, and eventually to the congregation.
God calls us to be stewards of Creation, to recognize our
connection to the planet and to the life on the planet. As we
grow in awareness of the suffering caused by our abuses of
our Earth, we see that factors such a race, social class,
poverty, and geographic differences cause some to suffer
more than others. We affirm the divine gifts of Creation and
our connection to God, to each other, and to the life of the
planet. We covenant to continue to learn and to practice
ways to heal and prevent further damage to the planet, and to
heal and prevent oppression and social injustice.
The usual November call for donations for the Senior and Community Christmas fun will go forward. The Christmas Fund, for retired clergy, will be taken in January.
Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy Streutker, Chair
October 7, 2024
