On Sunday, June 7, you have the opportunity to support peace with justice through the Peace with Justice Offering. Now more than ever, your support will make a difference. As funding for missions is moving more towards local church support and away from apportionments, this offering becomes the primary means of support for your Board of Church and Society. If you value work to live out the United Methodist Social Principles, please provide a generous gift.
How does the Board of Church and Society use this money?
First, the money directly funds scholarships we award to high school juniors and seniors each year. The annual Peace with Justice Scholarships are awarded based on an essay contest, and winners are recognized at Annual Conference.
During each summer, the Board of Church and Society sends the children of prison inmates to Camp Hope, a partnership program with our United Methodist Camps. Funds from the Peace with Justice Offering support this special opportunity inmates with children can give their kids.
The Board of Church and Society also offers grants to churches, groups and individuals working for peace and justice. Over the years, such grants have supported Social Principles, restorative justice and climate justice training, sent clergy to national conferences, and funded local initiatives to alleviate hunger, battle inequality and provide access to health care.
Finally, as part of our call to be a voice for the voiceless, the Board of Church and Society supports your Iowa Annual Conference Legislative Advocacy Team. Currently, this group of volunteer laity and clergy work at the Capitol during the legislative session with the help of a part-time consultant. Many of these volunteers travel weekly from their homes to share our United Methodist values and priorities with our legislators. Funds from this offering help cover their meals and travel expenses, in addition to the training and support of the consultant.
Thank you for spreading the Good News and social holiness by taking the Peace with Justice Sunday Special Offering. Read about this and all our Special Offering Sundays at umcgiving.org.
