Special Offering 2021

The Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering will be received in congregations this year on September 26th and October 3rd. Our theme is “Revealing God’s Justice: “The Time is Always Ripe to Do What is Right.” Now, in the wake of the death of George Floyd, violence against Asian and Pacific Islanders, and the deadly inequities of the Coronavirus Pandemic, is the time for our Church to strengthen its commitment to actively seek God’s justice. As followers of Christ, we believe every life is precious and valued in God’s beloved community.

Reconciliation Ministry is the church wide mission fund which supports programs and program partners that enable full human flourishing for everyone in every community. Your generosity has supported our ability to provide grant awards to Bethany College’s Equity Community Guide and Diversity Audit, the Region of Greater Kansas City’s Becoming Beloved Community Program, as well as, national and local racial and social justice educational events such as Facing Brokenness and the Scarritt Bennett Center’s White Co-Conspirators conference).

We believe that the Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) is uniquely equipped to impact racial equity and justice in the communities where we worship and serve because of our 25+ year commitment to racial justice and reconciliation. Your gifts to Reconciliation Ministry promote our mission of creating a just and loving society.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God’s salvation is for ALL of us. The scripture in Isaiah 56:1 reads, “This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.”

We all have a role in revealing God’s justice. As the community of faith, the body of believers, and members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)It this is our call.  Your gifts promote our ability to reveal God’s love and justice in such a time as this!

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Testimonies.

 

 

Media Files:
Revealing God’s Justice PowerPoint Slide
Revealing God’s Justice (JPG)
Reconciliation Special Offering Video

Moment for Mission
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About the Special Offering

The Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering is used to fund our Church’s mission imperative to become a pro-reconciling and anti-racist church.  We accomplish this identity through experiential education, inclusive worship, and creating opportunities for intentional dialogue. Our efforts to promote healing, relationship, and restoration in the whole family of God are supported by funds from this Offering. Through it we are able to provide programs for leadership development, anti-oppression/anti-racism educational events, and opportunities for transformative dialogue within the Church and our communities.

Recent events have reignited the conversation about human brokenness embedded in our institutional structures and systems. We recognize that racism is more than personal prejudice.  Your generous giving to Reconciliation Ministry is strengthening Christ’s witness in the world empowering Disciples in every community to disrupt forms of racial oppression revealed in through disparities in policies and practices that serve as barriers to full human flourishing.

Donations on behalf of emergency grants to support impacted communities and congregations toward healing of racial unrest can be directed to the Reconciliation Annual Fund/Racial Justice Response.

Why Have a Special Offering?

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a history dating from the 1960s of sharing our resources to address the racism of our society and the racism within our own church. We have called this process the Reconciliation Ministry.

We receive this offering in the fall and use the funds throughout the year to give grants to the pro-reconciliation/anti-racism initiative to organize to dismantle systems and structures that perpetuate this sin of division within the Church.

The 2020 Vision adopted by our church in 1997 names this work as one of the four imperatives of our mission as a whole church. This voluntary annual offering is the primary source of funding for Reconciliation Ministry.

As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) lives into its identity as a “movement for wholeness in a fragmented world” contributions to this offering facilitate leadership development opportunities at each expression of the Church, as well as programs for dialogue across difference that promote anti-oppression communities where Disciples worship and serve.

 

Special Offering 2020

The Rocks Are Crying Out: Show Up; Speak Up; Stand Up

In Luke 19:39 to 40 we read that some of the Pharisees in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher rebuke your disciples.” “I tell you,” he replied “If they keep quiet the stones will cry out.” Though we know that God’s spirit will cause the stones to cry out if we remain silent, when it comes to being an anti-racist, pro-reconciling church, silence is not an option.

Your gifts to Reconciliation Ministry allow your communities and your congregations to ensure the human dignity of every child, to ensure all have access to Christ’s abundance, to fully flourish in education, and financial stability, and friendships across God’s human diversity. Won’t you join the chorus in shouting out Hosana, Hosana blessed are we who come in the name of the Lord. Thank you for your generosity.

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“So may our voices echo across the stones and across this land as we work toward the restoration of God’s beloved community.”
Rev. Brian Gerard, Sr. Pastor FCC Louisville, KY

“To show up is more than a selfie at a protest, or a social media post… showing up means to cry with me, and to let the pain of my people’s tears move you to fight WITH those of us who are pushed to the sides because of the color of our skin, the thickness of our accents, or the documents we hold.”
Yesenia Caldwell, lay leader, Iglesia Hermandad, Indianapolis, IN

“I tell you, if you were to keep silent the stones would cry out. Silence is the absence of sound. To speak is to convey a feeling or opinion.  This is not the time to be the absence of sound but to convey the injustice of those feeling the weight of racism and oppression. This the time to speak up and convey the truth of God’s love and equality for us all.”
Matthew Tippell, musician, Allisonville Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

“I choose to stand up for people of color because racism seems unbeatable. But if God can make the rocks cry out, then just imagine what He can do with people whom God has intentionally created with the capacity to love one another.”
Chris Kozak, Central Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN.

About the Special Offering

The Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering is used to fund our Church’s mission imperative to become a pro-reconciling and anti-racist church utilizing experiential education, inclusive worship, and intentional dialogue. Our efforts to promote healing, relationship, and restoration in the whole family of God are enlivened by funds from this offering. Through it we are able to provide programs for leadership development, curriculum for dialogue and learning, and partnerships within the Church and our communities.

Recent events have reignited the conversation about human brokenness evidenced in the sin of racism and perpetuated in our institutional structures and systems. Your generous giving to Reconciliation Ministry is transforming lives and strengthening Christ’s witness in the world showing that we love one another, even as Christ continues to love us!

Donations on behalf of emergency grants to support impacted communities and congregations toward healing of racial unrest can be directed to the Reconciliation Annual Fund/Racial Justice Response.

Why Have a Special Offering?

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a history dating from the 1960s of sharing our resources to address the racism of our society and the racism within our own church. We have called this process the Reconciliation Ministry.

We receive this offering in the fall and use the funds throughout the year to give grants to the pro-reconciliation/anti-racism initiative to organize to dismantle systems and structures that perpetuate this sin of division within the Church.

The 2020 Vision adopted by our church names this work as one of the four priorities of our mission together as a whole church. This voluntary annual offering is the only source of funding for this ministry.

As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) lives into its identity as a “movement for wholeness in a fragmented world” contributions to this offering facilitate camp and conference and leadership development opportunities as well as programs for dialogue across difference that promotes life-giving community within our beloved church and among the whole family of God.