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Christians Supporting Community Organizing (CSCO) is a bold national attempt to change the relationship between the theologically conservative parts of the Protestant church and community organizing.

from the report by USC's Center for Religion and Civic Culture (Fall, '99). For entire report see CSCO website in "About Us."

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.

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:

Mr. Andrew Kwong,

Dr. Stephen Mott,

Dr. Dick Righter,

Mrs. Marilyn Stranske,

Dr. Wally Tilleman,

Dr. Timothy Tseng

 Christians Supporting Community Organizing ("CSCO") joyfully reports milestones achieved toward our mission in 2000. Find the full story of all our accomplishments for the year by clicking "FULL STORY."

 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 $10 S&H), available through CSCO, includes 14 tapes, student workbook, text book and facilitator’s workbook. For information: click VIDEO OR CONTACT THE OFFICE.

CSCO WEBSITE

    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