A United Ministries, Inc. Project

 

Interfaith Forum on Homelessness

“The churches have to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. But they also have to remember that the answer to homelessness is homes, not shelters. What the poor and downtrodden need is not piecemeal charity but wholesale justice.” –William Sloane Coffin

Who? Clergy of all faiths and homeless service providers. Laity, of course, are welcome but this is not a forum aimed at them.

What? An educational forum which will address practical as well as philosophical issues clergy met when interacting with people who are homeless. The second goal of this day is to form coalitions between houses of worship and service providers.

Location: Goucher College

Date: Tuesday, September 21 2010

Time: 9:00am-3:30pm

Why? To strive for a better way. To strive for wholesale justice. Because God is on the side of the poor and lowly, but the church isn’t. Faith communities need to step up. Besides, this could be a lot of fun.

 

Proposed Schedule

9:00 Opening & Prayer

9:15 Testimonials and Discussion- Facilitator Adam Schneider of HCH

We’re going to listen to three testimonies from folks who currently are homeless or who have experienced homelessness. We’re starting the day in this way because (1) we need to find a way to place the humanity first and foremost in each other’s minds. (2) We need to hear how homelessness is always caused by multiple causations. (3) This is a way to turn the crowd into a community, a safe way to address our fears, and perhaps throw some directed guidance into the mix early.

10:30  Break

10:45-12:30 Knock at the Door Skits

12:30-1:15 Healthy, simple lunch w/ time to stretch and time to visit the different stations of the service providers

1:15-2:00 Direct interaction between clergy/provider

 

2:00-3:00 Specialty Formbots (A formbot is a little forum within a larger forum.)

• The Widow and the Unjust Judge: Advocacy- James Crawford, Jr.

• Legion: Mental Health as a cause of homelessness

• Addictions & Homelessness (Models of Success)- Sheila Helgerson

• Hagar & Ishmael: There Aren’t Enough Beds (The dire problem of affordable housing)-

• Manna: homelessness = hunger

• Job Readiness: Income as Necessity and as Source of Dignity

• Recontextualizing the widow and the orphan: Preparing Congregations to Welcome the Poor and/or Preparing Congregations for Social Justice

3:15-3:30 Closing Music & Prayer

 

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New Friends!

May 13, 2010

In May, Bud Alexander, Campus Minister and students from the Wesley Foundation, a United Methodist campus ministry, at Tennessee Technological University joined us for an evening of music and fellowship.  The choir takes a tour each spring and this year they traveled to Baltimore. There were 22 people in the choir, all college students, and they try to sing in places that serve people who are poor or may be struggling. We were grateful for the visit and the fellowship that followed their performance!

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DINE FOR DOLLARS

The Mt. Washington Tavern

APRIL 21, 2010 - Thanks to all who participated!

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Sponsorship opportunities are available, please click here for more information.

 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2010 Resolution Run!