DIOCESAN NEWS
01/22/10
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Congregations for Children wants focus on children
By Ben Russell
      JACKSON — Congregations for Children (CFC) is an ecumenical children’s advocacy program sponsored by the United Methodist Conference and Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson.
      The program was started as a project of Moore Community House, which is a Mission Institution of the Mississippi Annual Methodist Conference and the General Board of Global Ministries. It existed as a program of Moore Community House in the 1990s and was discontinued due to loss of funding. In 2004 it was resumed with a grant from the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church.
      In 2005, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (United Methodist Church of Mississippi), Bishop Duncan Gray III (Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi) and Bishop Joseph Latino (Catholic Diocese of Jackson) joined together to re-create Congregations for Children as an ecumenical partnership. 
      The three churches work together to host advocacy workshops and bring public attention to the issues affecting Mississippi’s children.
      In short, Congregations for Children is a group of congregations seeking change to current conditions in Mississippi (like high child poverty rates, high drop out rates, high teen pregnancy rates, etc.) through the democratic process available to every voting age citizen. CFC does not utilize expensive lobbying like fancy corporations or wealthy special interest groups. Instead, CFC’s lobbying muscle rests in the number of times that its members communicate with their elected representatives.
      CFC depends upon the work and dedication of local congregations to shift our political priority in Mississippi to focus on our youngest citizens who can’t yet vote.

What is expected?
      There are no fees or annual dues to belong to Congregations for Children. CFC does hold affiliated congregations to three areas of participation in order to be involved. These include:
      1. Become trained in children’s advocacy
      2. Participate in the Annual Children’s Sabbath
      3. Identify social justice issues and begin action.
      These three areas of participation are crucial to the process of change sought by the individual sponsors of Congregations for Children as well as the organization as a whole.

Be trained in advocacy
      Congregations participating in CFC are expected to engage in ongoing advocacy training. Opportunities for training include the annual statewide training event hosted in Jackson as well as other training events offered in individual congregations and/or within designated geographical regions of the state.
      Advocacy training includes education for parishioners and congregations on what issues are most crucial in Mississippi as well as specific advocacy techniques.
      Trainings are geared at making individuals and congregations proficient in understanding social justice issues as related to children and providing them the means of effective communication and advocacy action. The power to affect positive change lies not in the administrative actions of Congregations for Children but in the advocacy efforts of constituents from across Mississippi.

Participate in Sabbath
      Congregations are asked to participate in the Annual Children’s Sabbath held the third weekend of October. This special Sabbath is sponsored by Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) and offers faith traditions ranging from Christianity (Protestant/Catholic), Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Baha’i, etc. to participate in liturgy specifically tailored to focus on children and children’s needs.
      Children’s Sabbath manuals are available for purchase every year from CDF. Congregations are strongly advised to make use of these manuals but may use variations on social justice liturgies if desired.
      Congregations within a larger geographical area are also encouraged to participate in a larger Children’s Sabbath event in one central location within the specified area. Such Sabbaths may consist of food and entertainment as well as activities for children and advocacy information for parents.
      Individuals and congregations may also choose to participate in the annual Children’s Sabbath Celebration on the lawn of the state capitol building in Jackson. This celebration features music and other entertainment as well as food, fun, and educational opportunities for all.

Identify issues
      All congregations are asked to identify the needs of children and begin action concerning those needs. This action may take place on the community, town, county, state and/or national level.
      Individuals within congregations are expected to become knowledgeable of basic Mississippi facts and statistics regarding children’s issues and engage in one form of advocacy as listed below.
      Community Organizing – Rallying communities to join children’s causes. May involve the following: working with local educators on problems in the school systems, working with community, town, and/or county leaders on child safety programs specific to needs, working within communities and neighborhoods to provide appropriate children’s resources and activities etc.
      Advocacy Support – Working with those who are actively involved with community organizing and/or lobbying to ensure proper support is maintained. May involve the following: hosting prayer groups dedicated to social justice issues for children, providing materials needed for any direct services or outreach, assisting in creation and distribution of resource lists and advocacy materials, etc.
      Legislative Action – Talking with local and state authorities and lawmakers about children’s issues. May involve the following: mailing letters to state and/or national legislators and/or local officials concerning children’s issues and current legislation, calling local, state, and/or federal officials/lawmakers to address current children’s issues and legislation, visiting with local, state, and/or federal officials / lawmakers to discuss children’s needs and current legislation, etc.
      (Ben Russell is a specialist with Catholic Charities Office of Parish Social Ministry and project coordinator of Congregations for Children).

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