RM Special Offering Promotional Resources Why Have A Reconciliation Ministry Offering? Facts And Information About The RM Offering Sermon Resource: Continuing The Witness 5 Tips To Help Promote RM Offering

2007 Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering

Suggested Offering Dates: Sept. 30 and Oct. 7

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31, especially 25-27

Purpose

Your witness and support of this shared ministry for racial justice and reconciliation enables the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to live out the call of one of the core components of our 2020 Vision to be an anti-racism/pro-reconciliation faith community. The Reconciliation Ministry Offering provides the primary support of Disciples’ efforts to advocate for, educate about and organize to dismantle systemic racism and structural oppression within our ministries and institutions, as well as the communities and cultures that we serve.

Recipients

At least 50 cents of every dollar from this offering remains in the Disciples region where it is received to fund local initiatives aimed at eradicating racism from its roots, as well as to support the work of regional teams. The remainder supports the ministry of our General Reconciliation Mission across the life of our church primarily through the "Many Members, One Table: Anti-Racism, Pro-Reconciliation Initiative, and the Reconciliation Mission Commission." Traditionally, Reconciliation Ministry receives no allocation from the Disciples Mission Fund and depends on this offering and other generous gifts for its support.

Call to Purpose

Jesus' message seems harsh in Luke. However, the story is told to a living audience of Jesus' time that had the chance for reconciliation before death — the chance to face off and oppose oppression. We, like those forebears of the faith have a similar opportunity, to do all we can to participate in God's justice:

• To recall the people who dreamed to bring people together in mutual respect and love;
• To remember those who endured unmerited suffering so that others may be free;
• To engrave on our hearts the good news Jesus proclaimed that through the power of the Creator will build bridges of accountability and understanding;
• To be filled with their spirit and to know the strength of their love in the face of inequity.