wfn.org | Encounter with New Neighbors and Building Community Challenges

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99104 
25-June-1999 
                 Encounter with New Neighbors and 
                        Building Community 
           Challenges Church to New Facets of Ministry 
 
 
FORT WORTH-A resolution and a policy statement, both of which focus on 
strangers in our midst and new possibilities for ministry among and with 
them, were approved Thursday morning by the Assembly. The papers were 
recommended after study and editing by the Assembly Committee on Life in 
Global Community. 
     The resolution "Encounter with New Neighbors" is undergirded by Bible 
study (Acts 10 and 11) and confession of fears and insecurities that block 
us from seeking to enter into relationship with new neighbors. Particularly 
we are called to confess that we have often failed to receive hospitably 
those persons who come to the U.S. from countries where the Presbyterian 
church has been actively engaged in mission 
     The resolution calls the church to ministry with refugees, asylum 
seekers and immigrants, not only to ensure them of basic physical needs, 
but with public witness toward shaping government policy and through 
seeking justice, using the resources of individuals, congregations and 
governing bodies. The resolution will be distributed, with a study guide, 
in hard copy form to all middle governing bodies and to congregations in 
areas of significant immigrant populations. It is also available to all on 
the PC(USA) website. 
     The policy statement "Building Community Among Strangers" comes out of 
two years' work by a Task Force and  local focus groups in six metropolitan 
areas.  It urges suburban congregations to form ongoing interpersonal and 
intercongregational relationships around many and varied facets of 
contemporary life including but in no way limited to  taxes/schools, 
community policing, legal assistance, mental health isssues/funding; health 
care/clinics; tutoring/mentoring;  Habitat for Humanity;  Meals on Wheels; 
economic development, and entrepreneurship. 
     The intent of the policy is that the church,  the people of God,  seek 
out and correct injustices suffered by marginalized persons in contemporary 
society regardless of the basis of the injustice. 
Congregations are urged to recognize walls that separate and segregate 
humans from one another and God, to serve neighbors inside and outside the 
church, without limitation. Specifically, sessions are to spend at least 
one hour discussing, and more hours  sharing with the congregation, any 
strangers within the community and what steps the congregation has taken or 
will take  to address the strangers' needs  
     Another specific goal of the policy, through the National Ministries 
Division, is "to seek to birth in the next five years ten intentionally 
biracial new church developments with co-pastors representing the biaxial 
partnership."  
 
Midge Mack 

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