Justice Corner
Justice Corner
Justice Corner is an opportunity for us to periodically share the latest activities and updates for the Justice Ministries of Pittsburgh Presbytery. For more information on those programs, please visit our Justice Ministries page. If you would like to get involved, please contact Elder Ralph Lowe, Director of Justice Ministries.
Citizens’ Right to Vote: A Call to Action
Dear Presbytery Sisters and Brothers,
At our regular meeting on May 19, 2022, Pittsburgh Presbytery adopted the attached Call to Action regarding preserving and strengthening voter access to the ballot box. This is an issue of deep moral concern driven by our Christian faith, rooted in the teachings of Jesus and ancient Hebrew prophets.
Providing for equal access to the ballot box for all eligible voters is a faith concern for people who believe that every human being is made equally in God’s image. Jesus rebukes his disciples for preventing “the little ones” from gaining access to him, thus teaching that everyone great and small is equally privileged in God’s kingdom (Matthew 19:13-15). In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus equates the welcome we give to the poor and vulnerable with welcoming him personally.
We have prepared a bulletin insert to introduce this to your congregation. Please circulate this call to your church members.
Sincerely yours,
Sheldon W. Sorge
General Minister
Juneteenth Parade
The annual Pittsburgh Juneteenth Parade is approaching, and members of Presbyterian churches are requested to participate in the celebration in honor of Rev. Henry Highland Garnet. In 1870, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Equal Rights League hosted the Grand Jubilee of Freedmen-Juneteenth Parade here in Pittsburgh. This parade commemorated the day in 1865 when the news of freedom of the enslaved was made known in Galveston, Texas (two + years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed) and the passage of the 15th Amendment. Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, a Presbyterian minister and abolitionist, was one of the founding members of the league that organized the parade in Pittsburgh. On Saturday, June 18, 2022 a re-enactment of this historic event will occur with the parade and other celebratory events.The Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus (NBPC) will be traveling in the parade via Molly’s Trolleys.If interested, you are invited to participate in this procession. A fee of $15.00 per person is requested to cover the expense of the trolley. Interested individuals are asked to send payment to NBPC, Pittsburgh, c/o Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1000 Bryn Mawr Rd., Pgh., PA 15219. Please indicate “Molly’s Trolley” in the memo of the check.
The trolley will be filled on a first come-first served basis. If there are questions, contact Milea Perry at 412-651-6191. Please share the information with those you think may be interested.
The next episode of “The Struggle is Real” webinar series will take place on Thursday, March 10, from 2-3:30pm. The series explores how the church can listen, engage, and form relationships with communities to eradicate poverty. This next episode will focus on rural poverty. You can register for the eventhere.
Grand Challenges to Youth Engagement
The Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus is presenting the Third Annual Rich Heritage of African Americans in the Presbyterian Church: “Grand Challenges to Youth Engagement.” The Zoom event will take place on February 19, 2022 from 11:00am – 3:00 pm. Hear from young adults about their experiences with the church. Identify barriers for youth to engage and be sparked into action. Register today at tinyurl.com/219BlackCaucus.
The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) will host a virtual discussion next month with New Mexico Women’s Global Pathways and a host of community leaders and clergy from around the country to help churches build authentic relationships to fight poverty. Registration is open now for “The Struggle is Real! How the Church Can Understand Ways to Listen, Engage and Form Relationships with Communities to Eradicate Poverty.” The forum and dialogue session will take place via Zoom from 4 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Oct. 29.
Listening Forum & Dialogue 10 29 21 Flyer
Panelist Biographies
It is not too late for you to STILL APPLY for a Self-Development of People Grant. At the local level we fund groups with a minimum of five or more (minimum of ten individuals need at Synod/National level). The September 10th Application Deadline has been extended until NOON, Monday September 27, 2021. Please REVIEW the SDOP Powerpoint; DOWNLOAD the Application; and SUBMIT Immediately to SDOP@PGHPresbytery.org.
Announcing the 2021 Coleman-Patrick Scholarship Recipient
The recipient of this year’s Coleman-Patrick Scholarship is Ms. Kiara Rockymore of East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Members of the Pittsburgh NBPC wish to express our sincere THANK YOU to all who contributed to the Scholarship Fund. This ministry emphasizes the importance of post-secondary education and encourages the youth in our communities.
Become a Lazarus Fund Church
The Lazarus Fund equips congregations in Pittsburgh Presbytery to provide direct financial support to their neighbors to help them avoid the disruption of eviction. Distributing this direct aid can be a significant ministry for congregations who feel called to serve people who are poor, and especially those churches who are committed to the Matthew 25 Initiative principle of eradicating systemic poverty. The Lazarus Fund leadership team is hoping that new churches will join the program for the summer to address the coming eviction crisis.