Resources to promote the 2017 Peace & Global Witness Offering now available

Offering helps fund peacemaking, reconciliation and, optionally, Freedom Rising initiative

by Pat Cole | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE – Congregational resources to promote the 2017 Peace & Global Witness Offering are now available for download, or they can be ordered through the Presbyterian Distribution Service (PDS) by calling 800-524-2612 or by emailing pds@pcusa.org.

“These resources will help congregations interpret how our denomination is involved in the ministry of peacemaking from communities in the United States to the ends of the earth,” said Bryce Wiebe, Presbyterian Mission’s director of Special Offerings. “We are grateful for congregations that are passionate about peacebuilding and support the Peace & Global Witness Offering as an essential part of their proclamation of Christ’s peace.”

Congregations with standing orders should already have their resources in hand, Wiebe said. He added congregations that wish to place new orders or check on the status of existing orders should contact PDS.

Items to help promote the offering include a leader’s guide, worship resources, sample sermon, poster, bulletin inserts, children’s curriculum and a video. Presbyterians can also discover and share stories, photos, and promotional ideas related to the offering and the ministries it supports via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A webinar to help congregational leaders build interest in the offering will be held Sept. 7 from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time. Click here to register.

Most congregations receive the offering on World Communion Sunday, which this year will be observed on Oct. 1. The receiving of the offering is the culmination of a four-week churchwide Season of Peace that begins Sunday, Sept. 3.

A Season of Peace is an opportunity for individuals, families, small groups and congregations to deepen their pursuit of peace. Resources available to help Presbyterians on this journey include a daily email of peace reflections, Peace Card discussion starters, instructions on how to hold a Peace Fair, children’s curriculum, an adult Bible study, a book study for adults and a children’s coloring poster.

The Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to promote peacemaking and reconciliation and addresses systems that perpetuate violence. Fifty percent of the offering goes to national church ministries, and the remaining 50 percent is split between each participating congregation and its mid councils for use in local and regional peacemaking initiatives.

Congregations and presbyteries have been invited by the 222nd General Assembly (2016) to devote their portion of offering receipts to the Freedom Rising initiative, a churchwide effort to address the worsening plight of African American men in our culture. These gifts will support pilot programs in five cities aimed at curbing persistent problems experienced by African American males such as high unemployment, mass incarceration and substance abuse.

The GA set a goal of $5 million for Freedom Rising ministries in Baltimore, Charlotte, Cleveland, New York and Pittsburgh. Downloadable bulletin inserts are available to promote Freedom Rising in congregations.