VT Faith Community's Online News - May 2007

Previous VECtor & Faith Common Articles

Faith Common is the email newsletter of the Vermont Ecumenical Council & Bible Society (VEC). PLEASE POST IT in your house of worship. To be added to this newsletter mailing list or to submit news, please send an email to the VEC office at info@vecbs.org.

CAMP AGAPE
The camp is for 7 – 10 year-old children who have an incarcerated parent and it will be held at Covenant Hills camp in Cabot. There will be two weeklong programs. The first runs from Aug. 12 – 17 and the second will be Aug. 19 – 24. The camp is free for the participants. Contributions to cover the costs of the camp are being sought from congregations and individuals. The camp is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church, and VT Conference United Church of Christ. They are looking for men to serve as counselors and role models. If you know a child this age with an incarcerated parent, please let the family know about this camp. Contact Debi Paterson at 658-6233 for more information, or email:bishopbooth@dioceseofvermont.org

HEALTHY CHILD CAMPAIGN
The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is calling upon people of faith and conscience to support their Healthy Child Campaign to provide comprehensive health and mental health coverage to every child in America. CDF supports the All Healthy Children Act (H.R. 1688) which Rep. Bobby Scott (VA) introduced. CDF’s Healthy Child Campaign calls on Congress to: ensure that all children and pregnant women have health coverage and access to timely health care; guarantee all children and pregnant women comprehensive and equal health benefits for all medically necessary services regardless of where they live; and simplify enrollment so it’s easy for all children to get and stay covered.

CDF asks people of faith to join them by:
-praying for hope and healing for all our children -encouraging their faith communities to publicly endorse CDF’s Healthy Child Campaign’s principles -contacting elected officials and encouraging them to only support legislation that guarantees ALL children health coverage with comprehensive and equal benefits and true automatic enrollment so that children get and keep health coverage regardless of where they live. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to sign on to this Campaign. For more information, go to: www.childrensdefense.org/healthychild or contact Matt Rosen- mrosen@childrensdefense.org

LEADERS CALL FOR COMPASSIONATE BUDGET
Leaders of five Christian denominations sent a letter to the U.S. Congress on May 10th calling for the budget to be just and compassionate. The letter was signed by the Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, General Assembly stated clerk, Presbyterian Church (USA); Bishop Beverly Shamana, president of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society; the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church; and the Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president, United Church of Christ.

The leaders expressed support for the congressional resolutions that make fiscal responsibility a priority while providing funding for children’s health insurance and nutrition programs. They also supported the Senate’s resolution that restored the $2.2 billion of funding for international assistance which had been cut from the president’s budget request. The church leaders urged the budget negotiators to retain funding for these programs as the final votes on the budget are held.

CHURCH LEADER TRAINING in MEDIATION SKILLS
This training for clergy and lay leaders is July 23 – 27 at the Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence, RI. It will be lead by Richard Blackburn of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center in Illinois. Those who have taken it say this training is not to be missed. Beginning at 9 am Monday, the program runs from 8:30 am – 5 pm the other days, ending at 4 pm on Friday. The cost for the training is $625 if registered by June 25th and $700 after this date. Participants are responsible for their own lodging and meals (except Monday & Friday lunch are included). Questions? Or to register, contact the Rev. Diane Christopherson at 401-331-9844 or email: dchristopherson@beneficentchurch.org

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE KITS
Many congregations have assembled and donated various kits, blankets, and tools for distribution by Church World Service to people in developing countries and this country who are in need. There has been a change in the list of items to include in Hygiene/Health Kits – do NOT include toothpaste (because of expiration dates) in these kits. The current need is for School Kits and Clean-up Buckets. To get a brochure with details about kits & tools, or for other questions, please contact Carol Bell: cbell@churchworldservice.org or call the toll free number 1-888-297-2767.