Neighbor to Neighbor

Associated Ministries’ Neighbor to Neighbor Program is a community-based support group that works with individuals and families who have a set of goals they are working towards. Our support group provides encouragement, friendship, and guidance, so that individuals will be empowered to achieve their goals in the present, as well as in the future. While sharing advice, ideas, and resources, members will be exposed to diverse perspectives and experiences, thus becoming inspired through awareness.

The program seeks volunteer mentor teams of 2-5 people to offer advice, resources, and support to help families in need to achieve their goals. Volunteer teams, alternate weekly contact with the family to which they are matched, either by phone or in person. The time commitment is for one year (with a six month check in), and averages an hour every other week per person. Volunteers receive initial training and ongoing monthly support. The training provided includes: strength based assessments, active listening skills, healthy and unhealthy boundaries, and conflict resolution.

Form a mentor team from your church members, with friends, family or neighbors, or help coordinate the recruitment of a team. Invite Associated Ministries staff to speak at your church or organization, circulate information in your newsletter, make an announcement during service, post a flyer on the bulletin board, and speak to your friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors about becoming a mentor for a family in need. Volunteers are welcome to apply as individuals or in teams.

For further information, please contact:

Associated Ministries Volunteer Coordinator, Camilia Bennett-Fuller at:

(253) 383-3056 ext. 122 or camiliab@associatedministries.org.

Up to $10,000 will be awarded to 4 Pierce County Faith Communities

Seattle University, founded in 1891, is dedicated to its mission: To educate the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world. One of the University’s foundational values, at the core of its Jesuit identity, is a faith that does justice. Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry (STM) represents over 17 religious traditions, including partnerships with Reformed, Protestant, Anglican, Unitarian, Roman Catholic and Evangelical faith communities, as well as Jewish and Muslim. Out of these partnerships and a trusted reputation as educator and leader in interreligious conversations, STM is committed to developing and administering leadership in social justice advocacy and collaborations, including that of the Faith & Family Homelessness Project.

The Faith & Family Homelessness Project of Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry (STM) is a concentrated two-year effort to inspire increased advocacy and care around the issue of family homelessness in the greater Puget Sound faith community.

Over a 16 month period, twelve faith communities in the King, Snohomish and Pierce counties commit to use their social and political will as a force for changing cultural and societal attitudes, behaviors and policies that surround the crisis of family homelessness. Selected communities will receive tailored support to increase their understanding of the issue, while learning to effectively advocate for public policy changes needed to reduce family homelessness in the region. STM will provide trainings and events about the causes of family homelessness and effective measures to address the issue.

STM will work with Associated Ministries to identify 4 faith communities in Pierce County. Selected applicants will receive financial resources and tailored support to increase their response to family homelessness while learning to effectively advocate for the public policy changes needed to reduce family homelessness in the region. STM will award up to $10,000 per faith community to pay for trainings and events designed to educate their membership about the causes of family homelessness and effective measures to address the issue.

Upon selection, faith communities will work with Associated Ministries and FFH Project staff to create a project plan and related budget. Project plans will reflect and build upon the shared spiritual beliefs and values of the faith community. Each plan will cover a one-year period, with clearly defined activities and outcomes.

Ideal communities will exhibit the desire to use their social and political will as a force for changing cultural and societal attitudes, behaviors and policies around family homelessness.

Application materials can be accessed at http://faithandfamilyhomelessness.com/ Applications must be received no later than February 29, 2012. Questions can be directed to Chris Morton, Executive Director at chrism@associatedministries.org or 253-426-1502.

Lisa Gustaveson - Project Manager, Faith and Family Homelessness Project at Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry email: gustavel@seattleu.edu or 206.296.2657.

Urban Leacture Series February 24-25

For Immediate Release

January 23, 2012

Contact for general information: Jennifer Dean, jdean@urbangracetacoma.org, 253-272-2184 x101

Contact for interviews: Kris Rocke, krocke@ctmnet.org, 253-988-1934 or Steve Lantry, slantry@stleoparish.org, 509-995-7483

Over 25 years of local Advocacy: The Tacoma Ministerial Alliance

Rev. Dr. Charles Horne

The Tacoma Ministerial Alliance was established during the mid 80’s by a coalition of pastors, lay ministers and community leaders as a not for profit, faith based organization.  The organization works collaboratively with many other community and faith-based organizations by advocating for issues; such as: freedom of worship expression, social and economic equality through academics, and raising the social conscious of underrepresented populations in our community. TMA also provides more than 20 scholarships annually, to aid students in their quest for academic excellence.

Faith Perspectives on Advocacy

By Rev. Kim Laterell

For several decades, I’ve served moderately well-off congregations who are quite adept at giving and committed to doing charitable acts. More than a tithe of congregational giving is expended each month in support of both local community and larger church needs apart from ourselves. In fact, my current congregation has a strong (albeit quiet) reputation for its willingness to consistently put significant dollars into feeding, housing and serving those in need through food banks, Sumner Family Service and a host of other support groups.  We help build houses through Habitat for Humanity, send adult and youth groups on annual national and international mission and work trips, and do the seasonal food baskets and clothing drives. However, like many faith communities, we are quicker with our wallets for charitable giving than with personal time and commitment to address and change systemic challenges that keep the poor desperate and trapped.  While charity can be an immediate response, justice demands so much more when our intention is to truly make a lasting difference for more than just those who stand before us.

Future Directions for Associated Ministries: Relationships & Communications

At the heart of Associated Ministries is our ability to communicate effectively with people of faith: both those who are affiliated with congregations and people of faith who do not affiliate with congregations.

For the past two years, Associated Ministries has invested in our ability to communicate, both through the printed media like The Channel, and through electronic media.  Many of you complimented us for the new look of The Channel when we brought a complete overhaul to it back in early 2010.  Many people have also complimented us on the new look to our web site. 

Redeeming The Prophetic Vision - Jan. 15 from 2:30 to 4:30pm

 IN CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTHDAY and prophetic, civil rights legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a special interfaith service will be held at Urban Grace Church on Sunday, Jan. 15 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, with a reception to follow. “Redeeming the Prophetic Vision 2012” is free and open to the general public. A message and voice from different faith traditions will be represented. Keynote speaker, Dr. Dexter Gordon, will address the audience about his vision for real racial, educational, and economic justice in the United States. An awards ceremony for civil and human rights leadership, will present five local people with acknowledgement for their contributions. Throughout the event, local musicians, dancers, theatrical and spoken word performances will be featured, along with complimentary food. Social justice organizations will provide information and share ideas on the lower level of the church.

Faith Perspective on Advocacy

By. Rev. Tad Monroe

It could be argued theologically that a primary lens for reading the scripture would be through the lens of hospitality. The message of the Christian gospel is a message of radical hospitality. We are called to recognize in and through Jesus Christ that God's relationship to us is radically and relentlessly invitational and hospitable. In turn we are called to embody that same (or at least an imperfect version of it) radical and relentless invitation and hospitality to others; that is the spaces we are called to great and inhabit as Christ followers.

How Associated Ministries Engages in Advocacy

By Rev. Christopher Morton

You often hear people of faith ask, “Can the religious community advocate for public policies?  Isn’t that an abridgement of church-state relations?”

From another perspective, people of faith say, “Advocating for justice is at the core of what it means to be a person of faith!  Jesus stood in a long line of prophetic voices that said and did things that tilted against the governments of their time.”