Our Christian Action Committee also leads us in our justice efforts. In addition to our financial support, we are also involved in advocacy through letter-writing campaigns and informing our members and friends about local opportunities to speak out for justice. We have a monthly offering of canned goods for homeless people, we participate in the CROP Walk, and we host an annual Alternative Gift Market.

Peace Pole Dedicated July 1

At the close of the service Sunday, the congregation processed out the door and assembled on the front lawn to participate in the dedication of a new Peace Pole which is placed in the front yard by the Christian Action Committee. Co-chair DeeDee Allan led a dedication litany and Pastor Joe Hoffman led the congregation in a prayer of dedication. CAC co-chair Doug Wingeier offered an explanation of the history and purpose of the Peace Pole, which can be downloaded by clicking here.

2008 Christian Action Financial Support

These are the agencies and programs receiving financial support from our church in 2008.

I. ONE IMPACT GRANT

Western Carolinians for Criminal Justice - Works to create a community that embraces the principles of restorative justice. Promotes sentencing alternatives that require offenders to take responsibility for their actions, including victim and community restitution, treatment to deter future criminal behavior, and community involvement in the criminal justice system. Our grant will bolter the Women at Risk program and help get the Men's Program up and running.

II. SEVEN STAKEHOLDER GRANTS -- one in each of our seven areas of emphasis

1. UCC Denomination--UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns Provides support and sanctuary to our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers, their families and friends. Advocates for their full inclusion in church and society. Brings Christ's affirming message of love and justice for all people.

2. Children/Youth/Elderly--Pisgah Legal Services. Seeks to promote access to justice regardless of income, to strengthen communities, to fight discrimination, and to effect systemic change through representation, advocacy, and community education. Provides legal services to low-income individuals, including immigrants, and to help meet basic needs such as housing, medical care,and domestic safety.

3. Health--Manna Food Bank. Serves as a storehouse of food for multiple needs. Seeks to provide adequate, nutritional food resources for 348 partner agencies in Western North Carolina that serve our neighbors in need.

4. Environment--Southern Appalachian Diversity Project. Aims to protect the environment, primarily through advocacy and systemic change. Uses grassroots orgaqnizing, public education and legal advocacy to empower citizens to appreciate, defend and restore native biodiversity in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia. Works to enforce the Endangered Species Act and the National Forest Management Act in Southern Appalachia.

5. Housing/Shelter--Homeward Bound (formerly Hospitality House. Provides shelter, transitional housing, meals, showers, and related services to homeless individuals. Leads housing policy advocacy statewide. Seeks to move chronically homeless persons into service-enriched permanent housing, while at the same time serving and supporting those who are passing through a period of homelessness, and collaborating with others in the community working to prevent its occurrence.

6. Peace/Social Justice--Zacchaeus House. A Christian discipleship community living Jesus' way: loving people who are hungry, homeless, imprisoned, and outcast; sharing bread and home; seeking justice together. Brings people who are separated/segregated from one another into meaningful, healthy relationships through faith, shared meals, and joint work for social change. Serves Sunday breakfasts in Pritchard Park and delivers fresh produce gleaned from local fields door-to-door and on the streets. Makes pastoral visits in hospitals and local jails and offers trial accompaniment in the courts.

7. Racial Reconciliation -- Christians for a United Community -- Aims to help our churches and community unite to dismantle the root causes of racism and disparity, first by addressing the divisions, wounds, and injustices within our own faith communities, while also working to create a just, sustainable and united commnity for all in Buncombe County. Seeks to achieve these goals through systemic change and advocacy work. Offers anti-racism training and a workshop on immigration issues, and spearheads the campaign for a Living Wage Ordinance.

III. FIVE SOLIDARITY GRANTS-A

1. Health -- Partnership for Pastoral Counseling --Serves as the first referral source for physicians and pastors in Western North Carolina who are seeking pastoral counseling assistance for uninsured persons of faith. Subsidizes pastoral counseling for individuals and families who have no other means by which to receive counseling help.

2. Peace/Social Justice - Mountain BizWorks (formerly Mountain Microenterprise Fund) Builds economic opportunities through business development and capital. Helps low and moderate income individuals, especially minorities and women, start or expand local small businesses, thereby creating jobs and enriching community diversity. Provides technical assistance and training in business development.

3. Racial Reconciliation -- Western North Carolina Citizens for an End to Institutional Bigotry. Serves as a quick-response organizaton, in educating the public on diversity issues, working with victims of hate activity, monitoring white supremacy and bigotry, and nudging instituions toward intentionality on labor, justice, equality, self-determination, and diversity issues. Works to eliminate Indian sports mascots in public schools, reduce the chance of violence over abortion, expose activities of white supremacist groups, respond to hate incidents, support targeted groups based on race and sexual orientation, and ensure diversity at Mission Hospitals.

4. Peace/Social Justice -- Center for Participatory Change -- Helps people come together, recognize their power, and transform their own communities. Strengthens grassroots groups working for racial and economic justice (e.g., groups led by people of color, workers' rights groups, and collective entrepreneurship groups). Helps build alliances that strengthen the web of grassroots groups working for racial, economic, and social justice across Western North Carolina.

5. Children/Youth/Elderly -- Helpmate -- a domestic violence agency working to eliminate abuse and fear. Provides shelter, a crisis line, counseling, court advocacy, and preventive education to women and children who are victims of domestic abuse, and the professionals and community leaders who work with them.

IV. TEN SOLIDARITY GRANTS-B

1. UCC Denomination -- Catawba College -- a UCC institution of higher education located in Salisbury, NC. Our grant will support their campus ministry program, specifically student retreats designed to enrich spiritual life and develop leadership and faith-sharing skills.

2. Environment -- Dogwood Alliance -- Protects Southern forests by building broad-based, diverse support for ending unsustainable industrial forestry practices, and promoting production of environmentally-responsible paper in the marketplace.

3. Housing/Shelter -- Habitat for Humanity --Constructs simple, decent, affordable houses for low-income families, utilizing community volunteers in partnership with qualified families currently livig in inadequate housing.

4. Environment -- Clean Water for North Carolina -- Promotes clean, safe water and environments, and empowered, just communities, through organizing, education, advocacy, and technical assistance. Researches environmental problems and analyzes public policy with an emphasis on environmental justice issues.

5. Housing/Shelter -- Asheville Homeless Network -- A coalition of homeless and formerly homeless people and their allies coming together for the purpose of identifying and sharing information on services in the areas of housing, food, medical care, and other needs. Shares collective resources and knowledge. advocates on local homeless issues, and provides mutual support in time of need.

6. Peace/Social Justice -- People of Faith Against the Death Penalty -- Educates and mobilizes North Carolina faith communities to advocate for systemic change of the death penalty system, and to act to abolish the death penalty.

7. UCC Denomination -- Chicago Theological Seminary -- A UCC seminary stressing education for "ministry in the real world." Intentionally addresses issues of global justice, ethnic and gender inclusivity, and sexuality and ordination

8. Housing/Shelter -- Affordable Housing Coalition -- Promotes a wide range of affordable housing options which lead to thriving, safe neighborhoods, and individual and family self-sufficiency. Offers transitional shelter, counseling and support services for women and children made homeless by domestic violence, counseling and advice to first-time homebuyers, and education to low-income residents on home ownership, rental rights, and improving credit. Is the lead agency to implement the city and county's 10-year Plan to End Homelessness.

9. Children/Youth/Elderly -- Consumer Credit Counseling -- Assists people in managing their money and credit through individual counseling, debt repayment plans, and education programs. Aims to help people reach financial independence by moving from crisis to stability, self-sufficiency, and finally to asset building.

10. Peace/Social Justice -- The Ministry of Hope of the Black Mountain Correctional Center for Women Chaplaincy Committee -- Offers spiritual nurturing, counseling and guidance for incarcerated women. Seeks to provide hope, improved self-esteem and confidence in the women as they prepare to re-enter society. Our grant will help expand the chaplaincy program to cover the needs of 80 additional inmates.

V. UCC AND FIRST CONGREGATIONAL PROGRAMS

1. Our Church's Wider Mission -- Support for the nation-wide and world-wide ministries and operations of the United Church of Christ.

2. Western North Carolina Association -- of the UCC's Southern Conference -- Supports staffing and regional programs of the UCC.

3. La Iglesia de Unida-- Helps support our Hispanic UCC sister church in Chapel Hill, NC.

4. La Obra program in Lastenia, Tucuman, Argentina -- Begun by the Stockwell-Goering missionary family. Focuses on formation of leaders, particularly young women and girls. In a societal climate of fear and distrust, offers safe space and programs in which persons can talk about personal and communty needs in relation to faith issues, and develop skills to become self-supporting.

5. Room in the Inn organization -- Provides staffing for coordination and screening services of a church-based women's shelter.

6. Room in the Inn, FCUCC expenses-- covers expenses for our two weeks of hosting the shelter.

7. Alternative Gifts Market -- Covers local expenses for our annual market of world-wide giving and sale of products created by persons in the developing world

8. New Iberia Mission Trip -- Helps pay expenses for a group of FCUCC members going to New Iberia, LA, to help rebuild Katrina-destroyed houses for families unable to afford rebuilding on their own.

9. Senior High Mission Trip -- Helps pay expenses for a mission trip to be undertaken this year by our youth.

10. CAC Discretionary Fund -- covers unanticipated and emergency expenses of the Christian Action Committee.

11. Pastor's Discretionary Fund -- Provides funds to be dispensed confidentally by our pastor to meet needs of transients and others in the community.

Note: Budgeted amounts are available from the church office on request