Seeds for Justice

Seeds for Justice

United Methodist churches are remarkable for their charity – giving their money to missions, their food to the hungry, their time to tutoring, listening, caring, visiting. But many of God’s children who require our charity are not able to be independent because they lack justice. They are caught in systems or unfair life circumstances which keep them pinned down. Justice tries to correct the causes of the problems, while charity must deal with the consequences.

You can find examples of injustice in your own community. A single mother may be trying to raise three children on the unfair wage offered by the only employer in town. A new immigrant may be met with suspicion and prejudice instead of being caught up in Christian love. Community schools may be so poor that children cannot compete either for a place in college or the job market when they graduate – if they graduate. Families may be so torn apart by conflict caused by one member that every member suffers.

The Shalom Center for Justice and Peace, a United Methodist ministry located in the Lansing District, offers opportunities for education, action and spiritual fellowship concerning justice and peace at all levels: the person, church, community, nation and globe. We are “people of faith seeking peace through justice.”

We are offering six competitive mini-grants of up to $250 to local churches to develop projects to further the causes of justice and peace at the local level. Whether it’s lobbying the school board for textbooks for each child, conducting a community seminar on the war in Iraq, or educating your congregation on the United Methodist Social Principles, there are many things that can be done by a Christ-centered church at the local level to make a big difference. These grants are to help you get started.

The Shalom Center can help you in other ways too, by identifying speakers, keeping you informed of local educational and advocacy opportunities, alerting you to district, conference and national peace and justice programs, etc. Just call us at (517) 214-8736 or email us at peacemaker@shalomlansing.org

Just complete and return the simple application attached (or submit it on-line at http://shalomlansing.org/). We’ll review each application and respond within 30 days. We’ll fund as many worthy projects as we can, though we may not be able to support all requests. Because we’d like to celebrate your projects publicly, all work on them will need to be completed within a year from receiving the grant, and we will be asking you to submit a simple, short report and photos.

May God bless you for your faithful Christian service. We hope that we’ll find more opportunities to work with you for peace and justice in your church and community.

Individual or group (e.g., Church and Society, UMW, UMM, UMYF, choir, church school class) applying

Phone: ___________________________________   Email: _________________________

In fewer than 500 words, please answer the following questions.

1. What is the need for justice or peace you would like to address?
2. What is your plan to address it? (Who, what, where, when, why and how!)
3. What barriers or opportunities might you encounter?
4. How much funding would you need (up to $250)? How would you use it?
5. Which of the United Methodist Social Principles does your project address? See http://shalomlansing.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=36605&PID=413305

______ We would like more information about the Shalom Center for Justice and Peace.

______ We would like a presentation on peace and justice issues.

Please send your application to: Pat Grauer, 11442 East River Drive, DeWitt, Michigan, 48820-9728, or complete it on-line at http://shalomlansing.org/  (If submitting electronically, ask your pastor to show his/her support by sending an email to patgrauer@gmail.com.) We will review the proposals and respond within 30 days. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Pat at the email address above or call (517) 214-8736.