January 11, 2007 Meeting - Peace & Justice Planning Committee
On January 11, 2007, the following members of the Peace and Justice (P&J) steering committee met at the home
of Margy Harrell: Rev. Kate Lewis, Hal Hurst, Margy Harrell, Mary Mumford, Dan Wilson, Patricia Terry, Susan Tucker, Audrey
Wing, Charles Gessler, and Laura Geisel. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to share leadership, set priorities,
and plan future activities. We discussed the following topics which are summarized below: (1) restructuring; (2) what are
we passionate about; (3) congregational outreach; (4) our calendar for the next 6 months.
(1) Restructuring
The following recommendations
are made to restructure P&J.
· We need someone to serve as our chaplain.
Their primary responsibility will be to plan for the opening and closing of all P&J meetings with prayer by the group
or an individual.
· A Secretary/Treasurer is needed to send out meeting summaries etc.
· Two assistant leaders are needed to help Margy plan and lead the meetings as well as oversee
long-range planning etc.
· A committee to plan the Congregational Forums.
· Project leaders will be identified for each P&J project.
· A Youth liaison.
We hope members will consider both
their interests and their gifts and then contact Margy to volunteer their help. We'll see where we are at our P&J meeting
on Jan. 28th. The new structure will be reevaluated every 6 months, beginning in June 2007.
A Book Committee (Mary, Patricia, Charles, and Edwin) was formed to select a book for the book study. A decision
must be made soon because the best time to do the study seems to be the winter and spring. One book we are considering is
A Generous Orthodoxy, by Brian D. McLaren, a senior leader in the emerging church movement. At our recent convention Phyllis
Tickle highly recommended it and has called it "our 95 thesis."
(2) What Are
We Passionate About?
Cheryl Proval, who missed the meeting because of a broken ankle, suggested we might individually
question the following items to consider what we are truly passionate about. This focus might help us clarify our goals and
prioritize our activities for the coming months.
· Education
· Global Outreach
· Local Outreach
· Peace
· Justice
· Fun
· Spirituality
· Community
Building
· Stewards of God's creation
(3) Congregational
Outreach
We had a great deal of discussion on how P&J can expand the ways we promote peace and work for justice in our
ministry throughout our community. Some we are considering are:
· Sponsor parish-wide
fund raiser to buy a new sign for St. Thomas
· Continue the P&J Forums
· Identify projects we can do with other St. Cross ministries
· Assist the St. Cross youth and clergy in sponsoring a U2charist
· Update the
Bulletin Board at least monthly by sharing the responsibility among various group members.
· Feed the hungry (including supporting the existing St. Cross ministries)
· Integrate spirituality with our ministry of peace and justice
· Sponsor a
Thomas Mass (ecumenical/inclusive)
· Write Crossroads articles
· Sponsor parish Earth Day Event using the "Happy Feet" film or some other.
· Get a link on the St. Cross website or an independent website
· Work with the Corazon project
· Compile a booklet of favorite prayers and meditations
for our P&J group.
· Create a film group.
· Have periodic
evening potlucks.
(4) P&J Calendar
for the Next Six Months
· Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras (contact: Cameron Johnson) - February 20th
· St. Thomas Hurricane Relief - church sign (contact: Susan Tucker)
· Book Study - Some time this Winter and early Spring
· Sunday Forums
- April 29th, July 29th, September 30th (not December 30th)
· CROPWalk/Family
theme? Food? (contacts: Amy Hanrahan & Cheryl Proval) - May
· Corazon Committee/Fund
Raising ? (contacts: Richard Lawrence and Hal Hurst) June 16th
· Labyrinth
on Summer Solstice - June 21, 2007
