Up for vote by the congregation March 25 and Palm Sunday, April 1

1. Glad Tidings MARCH 2012
Outreach
Outreach Topics Up for Vote
Pete Crow
The Outreach Committee has settled on four possible topics for this year’s overarching out-
reach theme. The final choice from among the four will be decided by a vote of the congrega-
tion on two Sundays—March 25 and April 1. All four are included among the eight UN Mil-
lennium Development Goals (also a major initiative of the national Episcopal Church). All
four are local, national, and international in scope. Issues related to each of these themes are
embedded in all four of them. So whichever theme is chosen leaves plenty of space for bring-
ing in elements of the others.
The four topics are:
Hunger and Poverty Social Justice
Giving to the poor is foundational to all the major relig- The connection of justice to love is one of the hallmarks
ions of the world, and Wake County’s most effective of Jesus’ teaching. Justice issues abound in our commu-
food distribution program is rooted in the history of nity, from determining what kinds of social programs to
COTN. fund, to debating how we should treat undocumented
farmworkers, to deciding priorities for our school system.
♦ Would making this our theme enable us to build
on strengths we already have to become even ♦ Would making this our theme help us become
more effective during these difficult times in this more “radically welcoming,” a major theme of
important outreach? our diocese?
When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does
the lame and the blind. And you will be blessed, because the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love
they cannot repay you. Luke 14:13+. kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.
Natural Resource Stewardship Lifelong Human Development
Of the four theme options before us, this one historically Continuing development and learning are essential to a
has received the least attention in the Christian church. It satisfying, responsible life. The people of COTN consti-
simply hasn’t been an important issue until the last half tute an impressive community resource for development
century. And it hasn’t been widely seen as an appropriate and learning—physical, intellectual, and spiritual.
issue for the church until very recently. COTN has been a
leading voice in promoting this message. ♦ Would making this our theme enable us to realize
potential in COTN that currently exists too much
♦ Does critical timing and urgency of some environ- at the edges?
mental issues make this a compelling choice for
our first theme? Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my
God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was whole life long. Psalm 23:6.
very good. Genesis 1:31.
Thanks to all who have suggested a theme or taken part in the discussion of them. And thanks to Harlan Hagge for
tracking down the Biblical quotations.
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