CSCO MILESTONES 2001
2002 CSCO ANNUAL MEETING AND COLLOQUIUM SET FOR MAY 19 –
21 AT THE WALKER CENTER IN THE BOSTON AREA. INTERESTED? CALL OR CONTACT US ON
E-MAIL.
Christians
Supporting Community Organizing ("CSCO") joyfully reports on
synergistic milestones
achieved in 2001toward our mission.
More members, former members and their congregations are becoming active in
local and regional organizing projects --
serving on committees and boards and officers – from Worcester, MA to the Los
Angeles area. Church planter Wally Tilleman is incorporating organizing as a way
of doing ministry into the mission groups he is mentoring.
Members and friends are publishing articles and making presentations in
their denominations and professional associations related to their experience
in organizing. See our web site
for reprints on a "Coalition for Jobs", on "the Use of
Power", on "How Community Development and Community Organizing are
Different from one Another", and more. Watch for new postings.
Bible study and theological materials have been greatly expanded on the CSCO
website. Over
most of the last century, Evangelical, Pentecostal and Holiness traditions have
devoted relatively little energy to justice, power, economics and other aspects
of the gospel that provide biblical underpinnings for the work of organizing.
Studies on these and related subjects are given special attention on the
website. In the next year we hope to adapt many of them specifically for
reflection in faith based organizing contexts.
The first CSCO Colloquium was partnered with Partners in Urban
Transformation in L.A. in
May 2001. Presentations
and discussions were led by CSCO members Stephen Mott ("A Theological
Examination of Power"), Tim Tseng ("The Church Engaged With the World:
Abandoning or Reclaiming Our Heritage"), Helen Slessarev-Jamir
("Looking at Urban Ministry through the Lens of Social Justice and
Empowerment") and Bob Linthicum ("Public Theology of Paul"). A
listserve promoting lively discussion related to organizing also got underway.
CSCO members Janet Furness, Bob Linthicum, Helen Slessarev-Jamir and Marilyn
Stranske participated in national meetings of organizers and denominational
leaders brought together by Interfaith Funders to discuss their research
report on the state of faith based community organizing in 2001.
Major national strategies and
educational materials are being generated as a result of the study and the
meetings.
Janet Furness is conducting a study, funded by Roberts Wesleyan College, to
increase understanding on the
spiritual nature of activity in church based community organizing. CSCO
members are among the participants, interacting on the meaning they derive from
their involvement in organizing.
The video series, "Building a People of Power", as well as other
curriculum materials developed by members, is now being studied in
Evangelical, Pentecostal and Holiness universities, seminaries and churches
around the country, exposing
our people to the biblical basis for organizing and to introduce them to this
important work of ministry and community building.
INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE?
Visit our website at: http://members.aol.com/cscoweb.
Consider purchase of a sample video for $15 "Building a People of
Power" or purchase of the 27
hour series for $495 package (plus S&H), available through CSCO, includes 14
tapes, student workbook, text book and facilitator’s workbook.
- Contact Interfaith Funders for their new introductory booklets,
"Faith-based Community Organizing, Building Democracy for the New
Millennium"
and Faith-Based
Community Organizing in Action, Five Stories of Community Change". Phone
or fax: 516-364-8922; e-mail: [email protected].
DID YOU KNOW:
BUILDING
A PEOPLE OF POWER
In the next year at least 8,000 Christians world-wide will view all or parts
of "Building A People of Power", the just-released major video series
introducing faith-based organizing and its biblical foundations.
As one of
the production's prime movers, CSCO partnered with major international and
national organizations to bring the project to fruition. Other producers
include: Partners in Urban Transformation (executive producer), ORGANIZE
Training Center (OTC), Youth With A Mission (YWAM), World Vision International (WIV)
for its creation. Sponsors are Eastern College, Roberts Wesleyan College,
Vanguard University, the Southern Ca. District of the Assemblies of God and the
Needmor Fund. Serving as fiscal agent, CSCO is now a distributor of the series.
The 27-hour course:
- Introduces congregation based community organizing and its biblical
foundations to Evangelicals and Pentecostals around the world, although many
other groups also find the curriculum helpful.
- Adapts in whole or part to many uses: classrooms, small groups,
distance-learning, local churches and community organizations
- Interviews Evangelical and Pentecostal leaders about their interest in
organizing, along with other faith-based community leaders and organizers.
- Shows in action faith-based organizing projects from a variety of
denominations, ethnicities and locations. Clips from two PBS documentaries
and from "Matthew, the Visual Bible" provide insights and
interest.
-
The $495 package (plus S&H), available through CSCO, includes 14 tapes,
student workbook, text book and facilitator’s workbook. For more information:
call or visit our website. YOU MAY PLACE A VIDEO ORDER ON THE REPLY FORM IN THIS
MAILING
CSCO
WEBSITE
http://members.aol.com/cscoweb
CSCO’s web site is up and running. Thanks largely to
CSCO member Rev. Dick Righter, web master, the site posts key CSCO documents and
activities and markets the "Building a People of Power". Bible studies
and reflections are being added to help individuals and organizing committees
better integrate their faith with organizing. Articles and information on
congregation based community organizing (c.b.c.o.)are in planning stages. CSCO’s
accomplishments and our Proclamation and Call to Churches can be found in the
"About Us" on the site.
MAJOR PROGRAM
THRUSTS
CSCO Reflects:
continuing to
develop a conceptual base for churches, especially those from our faith
perspectives, to become involved in faith based c.b.c.o.s.
On-the-Ground:
continuing to be a resource for those from our
perspectives now involved in organizing;
Asian American Recruitment:
developing strategies to recruit Asian
American churches to c.b.c.o., the passion of Asian American CSCO members.
Christians Supporting Community Organizing
,
P.O.Box 8766, Denver,CO 80201
303/573-1055;Fax 303/860-1914;
cscoemail @ aol.com;
http://members.aol.com/cscoweb
Leadership Team:
Dr. Stephen Mott
Dr.
Dick Righter Mrs.
Marilyn Stranske Dr.
Timothy Tseng
PURPOSE
The purpose of Christians Supporting Community Organizing (CSCO) is to work
for the shalom of our society (Jeremiah 29:7) and of our churches by engaging
Evangelical, Holiness and Pentecostal churches in congregation-based community
organizations. To work for the shalom is to work for systemic/ structural
justice within our communities and churches. By engaging in this work, we are
seeking to bring all of life under the Lordship of Christ.
MISSION
The mission of CSCO is to motivate, enable and support churches and pastors
of Evangelical, Holiness and Pentecostal traditions to become active members
of regionally- and nationally-networked congregation-based community
organizations in
their city.
CSCO IS AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION