The Work of the ABCNJ Public Mission Committee

Godis working redemptively in the world to establish justice, demonstrate compassion and foster wholeness, and calls each Christian to participate in that divine purpose.  The Committee on Public Mission seeks to search the complexity of social issues, guided and informed by the Scriptures, in order to encourage and enable ABCNJ churches to fulfill our common calling within public arenas.

The committee fulfills our mission statement through:

1. Issue identicication
2. Biblical interpretation
3. Education
4. Communication and Networking
5. Facilitating Response and Action

In 2007, the Public Mission Committee will focus on two primary areas of concern: Immigration and Poverty. 

In regards to immigration, ABCNJ is seeking a grant from the state of New Jersey to provide English as a Second Language in the Workplace classes throughout the state.  ABCNJ has also supported the work of La Casita in Trenton, which counsels immigrants.  Dr. Lois Spitzer will speak on "ESL and the Church" at the upcoming Public Mission pre-session workshop at the ABCNJ ANNUAL SESSION in Ocean City, on Friday, September 21, 2007.

In regards to poverty, in 2006 the Committee awarded 4 anti-poverty initiative grants to ABCNJ churches (Primera Iglesia Bautista de Trenton, First Baptist Church of South Plainfield, Hispanic Mission of Englewood, and Stelton Baptist Church, Edison).  The Committee is currently accepting 2007 Anti-Poverty Grant Proposals. 

The Chairperson for the Public Mission Committee is Rev. Kathleen Tice.  The Committee meetings are open to all interested people, and are announced on the Calendar Page.