I am a founding steering committee member of a local, congregation-based justice initiated called H.E.L.P (Helping Empower Local People). A group of Lake Forest ministry partners have participated with me in the organizational startup of this new remarkable collection of diverse churches (see below) for the purpose of making a difference in our local communities.
You can help HELP help N. Mecklenburg county by attending our first public launch celebration this Thursday, 7-8:30 pm at Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church (exit 28, toward LKN, right onto Torrence Chapel Rd). Members of the various congregations will be present to worship together (led by AME Zion!). Members of local governments (the mayors of Hville, Cornelius and Davidson are all confirmed attendees) will also be present, including candidates for next week's election. We are celebrating this action-oriented partnership of congregations, while announcing our first concrete action - obtaining house weatherization for local low-income home owners, in order to reduce their energy costs. Myself and other steering committee members will address the gathering, as well as local people expressing needs in our community.
I make two promises to you if you attend:
1. you will be encouraged/energized/lifted up by worshipping and talking with members of diverse church about local needs - a great example of what we call 'being on the missio dei' with others
2. you will see democracy in action - pointed yes/no questions will be addressed to our mayoral candidates regarding issues we have identified over six months of listening to over 800 local residents; you will also add power to HELP's ability to influence resource allocation in our towns simply by being there. I hope you can attend!
Here's the invitation/explanation that was sent to area Mayors - it explains HELP more fully:
October 7, 2009
The Honorable ____, Mayor of Cornelius/Huntersville/Davidson, NC
Dear Mayor ___:
We are writing to you on behalf of the North Mecklenburg Sponsoring Committee of Helping Empower Local People (H.E.L.P.), a local non-partisan, broad-based organization of 48 member congregations and organizations, representing over 110,000 people in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Fifteen of our congregations make up the North Mecklenburg Sponsoring Committee. H.E.L.P. works to bring together, train and organize the communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg across all religious, racial, ethnic, class and neighborhood lines for the public good.
Our primary goal is to strengthen local congregations and institutions, develop local leadership and organize power to act on behalf of justice and the common good. We hold public and private power holders accountable for their public responsibilities, as well as to initiate actions and programs of our own to solve community and economic problems.
We are multi-issue. The issues we work on come from within our institutions, from the concerns of the people. We cross neighborhood, city, racial, religious, and class lines to find common ground and act on our faith and democratic values. Each year we organize large and participatory meetings of our delegates in order to discuss our vision, develop relationships, strengthen existing partnerships and celebrate public commitments. Our meetings are hosted by different member institutions throughout Mecklenburg County in an effort to increase ownership and participation.
On Thursday, October 29, 2009, The North Mecklenburg Sponsoring Committee will host its first Public Assembly from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Torrence Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (21517 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius, NC 28031). We expect 250-300 H.E.L.P. members to attend, and we would like for you to join us. We have invited the major candidates for mayors in from the towns of Huntersville and Davidson, and Town Commissioners and Candidates from the three towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson, NC.
In 2009, we are taking action to have resources for weatherization services released to our seniors, improve the placement of non-school hour activities for our middle-school and high school youth, job development for our members in transition, and to improve safety in traffic hot spots in our neighborhoods.
We want you to be with us on October 29, and we are willing to meet with you prior to the assembly to prepare you for the event and to clarify any questions you may have about the agenda for that day.
Please confirm your participation.
Sincerely,
The Rev. George Erwin
Senior Pastor, Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church, Cornelius,NC
And Members of the North Mecklenburg H.E.L.P. - Steering Committee Member,
The Rev. Dr. Mike Moses
Senior Pastor, Lake Forest Church, Huntersville Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Byron Davis
Senior Pastor, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Huntersville, NC
The Rev. Carl Yost
Senior Pastor, Community in Christ Lutheran Church, Cornelius, NC
The Rev. Dr. David Buck
Senior Pastor, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Davidson, NC
The Rev. Vernon Dodd
Senior Pastor, Huntersville Presbyterian Church, Huntersville, NC
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