CPC 1998 Annual Report:
Social Action Committee

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The mission of the Social Action Committee is to understand and proclaim Christ's compassion for all people, by awareness and involvement in social issues and through intentional outreach to the community. The committee seeks to educate, challenge, encourage, and provide opportunities for the congregation to demonstrate Christ's response to social needs and injustices, thus moving people toward Christ.

In 1998 the SAC helped you, Central's members and friends, fulfill this mission through financial support to seventeen organizations providing holistic ministry locally, nationally and around the world. It is exciting to know that Centralites are providing volunteer and/or staff help to most of these ministries, as well as many others not listed in our budget. In 1998 we added the Helping Up Mission, Love & Action, Opportunity International, the Women's Opportunity Fund, and The Center for Public Justice to our budget on an ongoing basis. In addition, we used discretionary funds to assist and mentor several needy families in our area, provide a scholarship for a student at the Baltimore Christian School, partner with Urban Bible Fellowship to help a member of their congregation realize her dream of going off welfare by opening an in-home daycare business, and aid victims of Hurricane Mitch through local churches in Central America.

The SAC was privileged to involve many other groups and individuals at Central in providing groceries to be distributed by the Assistance Center of Towson Churches in March, September and at Thanksgiving. The congregation filled 125 gift bags for AIDS patients at Christmas. Love & Action reports these bags opened a way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with many lonely, despairing individuals. The committee was active in assisting two families through the Baltimore County Department of Social Services in 1998. We hope to train and encourage others in the congregation to take on a mentoring role with needy families in 1999.

We are grateful for the commitment of our pastors to racial reconciliation through their attendance at the monthly meeting of Project Justice pastors. The relationships developed through Project Justice over the past several years led to a group of women from First Baptist Church of Pimlico providing a wonderful program for Central children at the All-Church Retreat this year, to our partnership with Urban Bible Fellowship mentioned above, and our involvement with the Baltimore Christian School. The SAC sponsored a summer potpourri class on diversity in the body of Christ and is currently leading an adult education elective on racial reconciliation. A significant challenge in 1999 will be responding to the Session's request for some ideas to help Central move closer to its core value of being "a diverse, loving community".

Finally, we have been considering how to use $40,000 in Beyond These Walls funds targeted by the Session to partner with an urban church or ministry to address needs related to welfare reform. Early in 1999 we will select a partner with a welfare-to-work ministry that addresses both spiritual and physical needs. We anticipate a partnership that will allow Central members to grow in their understanding of Christ's compassion to those in need with active use of their time and talents as well as the funds you have so generously given to the Lord. Beyond These Walls funds have also been given to Sandtown Habitat for Humanity and Genesis Jobs.