Children and Poverty

Building on a vision expressed in The Bishops’ Initiative on Children and Poverty, the Conference Committee on Children and Poverty will encourage and challenge congregations to be in ministry with children and the poor.

In addition to other funds the Committee shall administer the Estelle D. Wyman Memorial Children’s Fund for ministries with children and the pursuit of justice, safety and health for all children.

CCCP Membership will consist of nine members in three triennial classes, brought by the Conference Nominating Committee. In addition, the Committee itself may add up to six additional members who may be helpful in our work. Officers will consist of a chair, vice-chair, financial secretary and recording secretary.

Lisa Klein and Rob Jennings-Teats, Co-chairs

LINKS:

Congregations Recognized for Walking with the Children and the Poor

RESOURCES:

Godly Play
The Godly Play Foundation is a non-profit educational organization whose purpose is to provide research, teacher training and quality consulting while nourishing the spiritual and moral development of children aged two to twelve.

Executive Director of The Godly Play Foundation, Rebecca McClain explains, “Godly Play teaches children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. Deeply spiritual and highly creative, Godly Play is also used in schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, and retirement centers.”

More about Godly Play from its creator, Jerome W. Berryman: “The educational theory of Godly Play is rooted in the pre-history of our species with respect to the use of ritual, story, and the creative process. Unfortunately, postmodern children are losing their ability to be active participants in narrative and ritual, which impairs their use of their own natural creativity (imago dei). The use of Montessori’s approach to education has been adapted to Godly Play in order to stimulate children’s active participation in story and ritual and to awaken their creativity for the learning of the language, sacred stories, parables, liturgical action and silence of the Christian tradition. This is the most appropriate kind of language to cope with the existential limits to our being and knowing.”

For more information about The Godly Play Foundation, visit their website at: www.godlyplay.org (copy and paste the address into your browser)

PICO National "Unlocking the Power of People!"
PICO is a national network of more than 1,000 faith-based community organizations who are working together at a grassroots level, to create innovative solutions to problems facing urban, suburban and rural communities. Representing one million families in 150 cities and in 17 states, PICO has successfully increased access to health care, improved public schools, built affordable housing and much more.

According to Dr. Andrew Young, Civil Rights Leader and Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, “PICO is mobilizing deeds of love and mercy to make our communities and our nation more like the Kingdom of God."

Through PICO, congregations from different denominations, cultures and races are finding ways to translate their faith values into action by developing the talents of lay leaders, strengthening social ministry, weaving stronger relationships among members, reaching out to neighbors and speaking a stronger faith voice in the community.

“PICO brings people of faith together to strengthen families and revitalize communities.”

For more information on PICO visit their website at: http://piconetwork.org
(copy and paste the address into your browser)