Young Adult Engagement Report

Washington Report to Presbyterians, Spring 2015

The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness this month is releasing a new “Young Adult Engagement Report, 2012-2015,” in which we review the fruits of the last three years of ministry to and with youth and young adults. We made this commitment in 2012 as a result of the (then) new Mission Work Plan commitment to ministry to and with young adults. Through three projects, the OPW reports having engaged with over 5,000 youth and young adults in the three-year period. These programs are: 

1. A Justice Model for Service Learning
2. Seminars to Build Advocates for Justice
3. Conferences and Outreach

The overwhelming conclusion is that the is ministry is a blessing to the work of the OPW, which will renew its commitment to providing educational and experiential learning opportunities for youth and young adults. 

The full Report is available online at http://bit.ly/YAReport.

Washington Report to Presbyterians August 2014

The Summer 2014 Washington Report to Presbyterians went into the mail at the end of August!  

Click here to view or download the complete Washington Report to Presbyterians (PDF document).

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE PC(USA) OFFICE OF PUBLIC WITNESS INCLUDES:

Reverend J. Herbert Nelson Joins Workers and Faith Leaders in Demanding Better Jobs for Low-Wage Workers

On Tuesday, July 29, 2014, the Reverend J. Herbert Nelson, II, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Director for Public Witness, joined with workers and other leaders in the faith community… in an action of nonviolent civil disobedience to urge President Obama to improve jobs for millions of workers. Read more.

Advocacy Training Weekend: Save the Dates April 17-20, 2015 – “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration & Systems of Exploitation”

Come to Washington, DC, April 17-20, 2015, for the 13^th annual National Gathering of Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice titled, “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation.” …The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is proud to sponsor and collaborate in planning this conference that seeks to build a movement to shake the foundations of systems of human exploitation (Acts 16). We further invite you to arrive early and attend “Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day,” an opportunity for Presbyterians to gather, reflect, educate, network, fellowship, and be in prayer together. Together we can build a movement to Break the Chains!  Read More.

The Office of Public Witness at the 221^st General Assembly

The staff members of the Office of Public Witness were busy at the General Assembly (GA), which took place June 14-21, 2014, in Detroit, MI… It was a busy week for us. Even as we supported the commissioners, advisory delegates and corresponding members with our prayers and expertise, J. Herbert Nelson also made five speaking appearances. We all had a great time connecting with old allies and new partners for justice all over the place – from the Exhibit Hall to the committee rooms to the Plenary floor. Here are just a few highlights…

Meet our 2014 Summer Fellows: A Celebration of Service Learning

Kyle Cristofalo, Anne Fyffe, Alissa Rashid, and David Clifford. Click here.

Welcoming PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteers

Jenny Hyde and AmyBeth Willis. Click here.

Click here to view or download the complete Washington Report to Presbyterians (PDF document).

Summer Fellows 2014

Meet our 2014 Summer Fellows

The Office of Public Witness believes that the formation of servant leaders and advocates is vital to the public policy ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

2014 Summer Fellows (left to right) Anne Fyffe, David Clifford,
Alissa Rashid, and Kyle Cristofalo wait in Georgetown to hear
President Obama speak.

Kyle Cristofalo recently received his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He spent his last semester participating in Wesley Theological Seminary’s National Capital Semester and interning with us in the Office of Public Witness. Upon graduation, Kyle stayed on as a Summer Fellow. With a M.Div. concentration in Justice, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation, he has spent much of his time thinking through how religious communities can engage in creative practices of peacemaking that work to overcome systems of injustice. Kyle hopes to serve the church through work in the non-profit or private sector in organizations committed to peace and justice issues. Of his time with us, Kyle said, “I am beyond grateful for my six months of service to the Office of Public Witness. From my start in January until finishing my service, I had the chance each day to be immersed in the world of faith-based justice and political advocacy--work that is at the heart of our Reformed faith. As I embark on the next part of my journey, I am confident that my time at the OPW has equipped me with the skills and resilience to serve the church and all of God's creation. I am honored to be a member of a denomination so committed to bringing God's justice and wholeness to our society and the world.”

Anne Fyffe hails from Dayton, OH, and finished her OPW Summer Fellowship just in time to return home and graduate from The Ohio State University with a degree in Public Affairs, with a specialization in Community Organization and Civic Engagement. Anne’s Summer Fellowship was the capstone project for her Public Affairs major. She plans to spend the coming year working and traveling before beginning seminary in 2015. Anne is particularly interested in issues surrounding poverty and inequality, including hunger, housing and homelessness, incarceration and recidivism, and education. During her time in the office, she worked primarily on domestic policy issues with a special focus on childhood hunger. She says, “I am thrilled to have had this experience to combine my faith and my passion for public policy. I have so enjoyed learning more about how the faith community advocates for change in Washington, DC, and how the PC(USA) is part of that.” This summer has also been an opportunity to discern further God's call on her life.

Alissa Rashid is originally from Neenah, WI, and is entering in her third year at Vanderbilt University. She is pursuing a major in Cognitive Studies. At school, Alissa is very involved in campus life serving on UKIRK council (Presbyterian campus ministry), Alternative Winter and Spring Breaks, Alternative Gift Fair, and is looking forward to serving as Head Resident of a first-year residence house beginning in August. Alissa was led to OPW thanks to the encouragement of Alan Bancroft, her UKIRK campus minister at Vanderbilt. During her Summer Fellowship, Alissa primarily worked on environmental and immigration issues while continuing to learn about the magnitude of work and issues the OPW covers. Alissa is extremely grateful for this opportunity to work and learn alongside the OPW staff this summer and for opening her eyes to honestly speaking truth in love to power.

A native of Louisville, KY, David Clifford is entering in his third year at Maryville College in Maryville, TN. He is a Political Science major with a History minor. David also plays baseball for Maryville and is a Bonner Scholar, a service-based scholarship. David met OPW Director Reverend J. Herbert Nelson when he came to speak at Maryville, inspiring him to pursue a Summer Fellowship with the OPW. Service in the OPW helped him fulfill commitments to his Bonner Scholarship and provided the financial support for him to serve. While at the Office of Public Witness, David worked on the issues of disability, labor rights, campaign finance reform, and immigration, gaining valuable experience as well as exposure to everything that the OPW does to advocate on behalf of the PC(USA) and speak truth in love to power.

For more information on Service Learning Opportunities at the Office of Public Witness, or to learn how to apply, please visit www.pcusa.org/washington/internship or email opw (dot) intern (dot) info @ pcusa (dot) org.

Our fundraising efforts for service learning are ongoing. YAV Placements contribute a portion of Volunteers’ living expenses to the Presbytery. In addition, each Summer Fellow receive a modest stipend to help defray the cost of living expenses, which are considerable in DC. We need your help to continuing offering these opportunities! Your gift could make the difference between a vocational dream and a lived reality. Please give generously to support our YAVs, Interns, and Summer Fellows. Give online here.

OPW at GA

The Office of Public Witness at the 221st General Assembly

OPW Staff and Summer Fellows in the GA Exhibit Hall

The staff members of the Office of Public Witness were busy at the General Assembly (GA), which took place June 14-21, 2014, in Detroit, MI. While Director for Public Witness J. Herbert Nelson and Representatives Catherine Gordon and Leslie Woods attended the GA as resource people for various committees (5 committees amongst us), our Summer Fellows served the Assembly as Student Assistants. Three of them were assigned as committee assistants, so if you visited or served on the committees on Middle East, Marriage, or Mission Coordination, you probably met them! And our recent seminary intern, Sabrina Slater, represented Princeton Seminary as a Theological Student Advisory Delegate.

It was a busy week for us. Even as we supported the commissioners, advisory delegates and corresponding members with our prayers and expertise, J. Herbert Nelson also made five speaking appearances. We had a great time connecting with old allies and new partners for justice all over the place – from the Exhibit Hall to the committee room to the Plenary floor. Here are just a few highlights:

GA Plenary

The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson addressed the General Assembly during the Friday afternoon plenary. In his address, he reminded us of the long Presbyterian tradition of engaging in public life, from John Calvin’s advocacy with the leaders of 16^th century Geneva, to John Witherspoon who signed the Declaration of Independence, to Stated Clerk Eugene Carson Blake who marched with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. He quoted current Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons who wrote in 2009 “So, on one hand, it would appear that those of the Reformed tradition have been defenders of the role of government, and on the other hand, disturbers of governments.” Rev. Nelson remarked, “this paradoxical call places us in a significant position to love our nation while possess a willingness to make it better.” Nelson concluded his remarks to the GA by saying, “We cannot remain silent in these troubling times. The world needs the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to stand up and be the Church. Join me in making a difference in this sin sick world. We can do it together.  Thank you and God Bless!”

New Education Initiative

J. Herbert Nelson and Frank Dimmock

Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry, together with World Mission, announced a new “Educate a Child, Change the World” initiative that seeks to provide quality education to one million children worldwide by the year 2020. This joint partnership was approved the General Assembly and launched at a lunch event where Frank Dimmock, World Mission’s catalyst for poverty issues, and J. Herbert Nelson, each discussed the critical issues of education as a tool to create equality. Education transforms lives,” Dimmock said, “empowering girls and women particularly … for leadership … for economic opportunity … for better health.” The children who be reached by the education initiative “are children of God and our children,” Dimmock continued, “providing them a quality education is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.” Both speakers emphasized the fundamental truth that “every child can learn.”

CPJ Meal and the Reverend William Barber

The Reverend Dr. William Barber

At the Thursday evening meal, Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry welcomed the Reverend William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP and leader of the growing Moral Monday movement. Barber, whose presence is powerful and inspiring, challenged us to take the on the special interests that use private money to create public power. He said, “Never before have we seen so much money spent to oppose equality.” He went on to profoundly disturb us with the observation that “we live in an age when corporations are treated like people and people are treated like things.” Barber challenged the church, at large: “if we claim to believe in the triune God, then we have to oppose the triune evils of racism, classism, and militarism… how can we oppose Rome when we have become Rome?” We left the evening feeling energized, but convinced of just how much work there is still to do in the cause of God’s justice in our public places. “Never forget,” Barber said, “when you pray ‘God bless America,’ that God is not the property of just one nation.”

Gratitude for the General Assembly

The Office of Public Witness gives thanks for the work of the General Assembly, for the commitment of the Commissioners and Advisory Delegates who did the hard work of discerning the will of the Spirit, and for all the OGA event planners, student assistants, volunteers, and COLA folks without whom the Assembly would not have been possible. As the voice of Presbyterian public policy, tasked with representing the social witness policy of Presbyterian General Assemblies, the Office of Public Witness pays close attention to the GA. We have come home with a lot of new work to do! Join us in the struggle for compassion, peace, and justice in our public lives.

Summer Fellowship Orientation

We are delighted that we will welcome four Summer Fellows tomorrow! Here's a view of their week.

Office of Public Witness

2014 Summer Orientation

Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5, 2014

100 Maryland Avenue NW, Ste. 410, Washington, DC

Monday, June 3                OPW Orientation

                                           Leslie Woods, Rep. for Domestic Poverty & 

                                               Environmental Issues, coordinator of Summer

                                               Fellowship program

9:00-9:30am                        Gathering, Coffee, etc.

9:30-10:00am                      Introductions and Ice Breaker

10:00-10:30am                    Our Mission and Ministry

      PC(USA) 101

10:30-11:30am                    Conversation with OPW Staff J. Herbert Nelson,         

                                            Catherine Gordon, and Leslie Woods

                                            Social Witness Policy and how we work in community

11:30am-11:40am                Break

11:40am-12:10pm               Office Tour (copier, phone, kitchen, mail, etc.)

12:10-12:30pm                    Administrative matters and Office Paperwork

                                                Employment Forms

                                                Learning Contract

                                                Weekly Report

                                                How to Access Your Email

12:30-1:30pm                      Lunch (Senate Cafeteria)

1:30-5:00pm                        Capitol Hill Scavenger Hunt

      There is no need to return to the office after

      you’ve completed your tasks. Have fun!

PC(USA) Summer Fellowship

Briefing Days Agenda: June 3-5, 2014

Tuesday, June 3                Briefing Day 1

9:00-10:00am                      Environmental Issues

                                            Tricia Bruckbauer, Eco-Justice Fellow, 

                                            Creation Justice Ministries

10:00-11:00am                    Federal Budget 101

                                            Amelia Kegan, Policy Analyst, Bread for the World

11:00-11:15am                    Break

11:15am-12:15pm               Hunger and Nutrition Policy (Domestic)

                                            Christine Ashley, Policy Analyst, Bread for the World

12:15-1:30pm                      Lunch

1:30-2:30pm                        Worker Justice

                                            Thom Shellabarger, Interfaith Worker Justice

2:30-3:30pm                        Global drone warfare and the law that allows it

                                            Elizabeth Beavers, Legislative Associate

                                            Militarism & Civil Liberties

      Friends Committee on National Legislation

3:30-3:45pm                        Break

3:45-4:45pm                        Social Media as an Advocacy Tool, Best Practices

                                            Jessie Palatucci, Online Communications Specialist,

      United Church of Christ

Wednesday, June 4            Briefing Day 2

9:00-9:30am                        Gathering and Debrief

9:30-10:30am                      Immigration and Refugee Policies

                                            Jen Smyers, Associate Director

                                            Immigration & Refugee Policy

      Church World Service

10:30-11:30am                    Middle East Peace (Israel/Palestine)

                                            Catherine Gordon, Rep. for International Issues

      Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness

11:30-12:30pm                    Lunch (please bring your lunch)

                                            Note: UM Building Chapel downstairs 12:10-12:40

12:30-1:30pm                      Criminal Justice Reform and Mass Incarceration

      Bill Mefford and Kara Gotsch

      General Board of Church and Society

      United Methodist Church

1:30-2:30pm                        Cuba

                                            Emily Chow, Program Associate

                                            Latin America Working Group

2:30-2:45pm                        Break

2:45-3:45pm                        Addressing Global Poverty through Foreign Aid 

                                                and Food Aid Reform

                                            Marty Shupack, Advocacy Director

                                            Church World Service

3:45-4:45pm                        Campaign Finance and other Political Reforms

                                            Jason Miller, Director of Campaigns and Development

      Franciscan Action Network

Thursday, June 5               Briefing Day 3

9:00am                                 Start of the Work Day

9:30-11:00am                      Why and How the Church does Public Witness

                                            J. Herbert Nelson, Director for Public Witness,

      Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness

11:00-11:15am                    Break

11:15am-12:00pm               How a Bill Becomes a Law: Legislative Process

                                            Leslie Woods, Rep. for Domestic Poverty &  Environmental Issues

                                            Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness

Have a Great Summer!