Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 25
Peace & Justice Committee:
RENEW:
The Peace & Justice Committee co-sponsored several local
ecumenical events, including the annual International Day of
Peace service (“Cultivating a Culture of Peace”), the “Paying
for War, Working for Peace” conference, annual Feast of the
Holy Innocents prayer service, and the annual Palm Sunday
Processional & Prayer Service for Peace (“Peace Knows No
Borders”). We also sponsored two Fellowship Forum presentations:
the first, on common-sense gun safety, and the second, on a
children’s summer camp at the Tent of Nations in the West Bank
of Israel, where children learn about the environment, being kind
to other people, improving self esteem, and striving for peace
RENEW (English tutoring) recruited several new tutors from
the congregation; welcomed new students to the program; and
established a working relationship with Trinity Las Americas
United Methodist Church.
Plymouth Justice Network (PJN):
PJN has sent more than 100 action alerts during the past year
on a variety of issues, including LGBTQIA+ rights, antiracism,
creation care, welcoming migrants, reproductive freedom, gun
laws, and human rights—allowing participants to easily contact
their representatives, attend meetings, and make their voices
heard. PJN arranged for Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald to
speak at Fellowship Forum on September 22, about recent voting
law changes. We also shared several Plymouth News articles
about the basic principles of faith-based advocacy and the UCC’s
Our Faith Our Vote campaign.
Transition from Prison Ministry:
Transition from Prison Ministry volunteers mentored 16 people
released from prison or still in prison. Last fall, committee
members assisted with planning for the annual statewide
“Beyond the Bars” conference and provided leadership for one
session. We also continued to publicize criminal justice reform
recommendations to both local leaders and state legislators,
including a presentation to an Iowa legislative subcommittee.
Welcoming Migrants Committee:
Welcoming Migrants Committee members helped establish the
Allied Congregations for Immigrant Support (ACIS), a network
of individuals from a dozen local congregations. ACIS volunteers
partnered together to sponsor a refugee family of eight—a single
mother and eight children ages 2 to 24—from South Sudan. In
addition to volunteer time and financial support for household
items, Plymouth also provided rent assistance while adult family
members searched for employment.
Rainbow Action Network (RAN):
Board of Christian Social Action's (BCSA) Liason:
RAN hosted a fellowship in January to connect with members
and explore ideas for future LGBTQIA+ programming. In
addition to planning more educational events in the coming
year, we will also be working with staff to establish a support
group for LGBTQIA+ families at Plymouth. As we continue
to support and strengthen Plymouth’s commitment as an Open
& Affirming (ONA) church, we look forward to sending
representatives to the UCC’s 2025 Open & Affirming National
Gathering in Kansas City, which takes place just prior to the
UCC General Synod in July.
Liaison at last! After multiple years of staffing changes and
vacancies, BCSA was thankful to welcome Pastor John as our
staff liaison. We look forward to growing opportunities for both
broad-based, intergenerational activities and deeper theological
exploration on social justice issues.
Board Members:
2024-2025
2023-2025
2023-2026
Holly Craiger
George Dorsey
Karen Barnhizer
Jen Jensen
Brian Leckrone
Emily Chafa
Scott Morrison
Virginia Traxler
Jean Stuit
Erin Riker
Marti West
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