The Church and Society Ministry at our church addresses current social concerns, injustices and community problems with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. According to the United Methodist Book of Discipline, the Church and Society Committee "shall seek to bring the whole of human life, activities, possessions, use of resources, and community and world relationships into conformity with the will of God."

Jesus Christ brings a message of peace and justice, not only to the people in his day, but to our world today. Church and Society provides a forum for people at our church to explore the issues in our world that we read about on the front page of our newspapers and that often affect the lives of "the least of these".

This ministry's purpose is not to feed the hungry or bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Rather, Church and Society addresses systemic problems in our state, nation, and world, exploring how the Gospel of Christ calls us to be his bearer of peace and justice to those who need it most.

We currently have three primary focus areas which include a number of ongoing projects and upcoming programs.

• Focus area: Children in Poverty
  
  • Tutoring
  • Baldwin Center Summer Enrichment Camp Interns
  • Camp New Day
• Focus area: The Environment
  • Seminar: Biofuels
• Focus area: Peace and Justice
  
  • Fair Trade
  • Diversity Champion
  • World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation
  • Reconciliation
  • Self-sufficiency

Programs sponsored by Church & Society in 2007 included

• Interfaith Thanksgiving Services
• Class: Confronting the Controversies: What Does Your Church Teach About...
• Book study: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
• Book study: No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu
• Kid's College Summer Camp Interns for Bound Together
  
• Presentations: Global Warming: Evidence, Effects, Actions
• Experience the World 2007 (Lenten Dinner and Holy Week services with a focus on mission and outreach, initiated by and funded in part by Church and Society)
• Peace, Mission, and Justice in the Middle East
• Presentation: Blessed are the Merciful, Marietta Jaeger
• Book Extravaganza

Earlier programs sponsored by Church & Society have included

• Peace Pole
• Gift of the Heart school kits for the children of Afghanistan
• Women's University of Life workshops
• Programs celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Black History month

In addition to our own projects, we provide financial support for local organizations working for social justice in our area:

• Birmingham Area Senior Coordinating Council (BASCC)
• Birmingham Bloomfield Families in Action (BBFA)
• Birmingham Youth Assistance (BYA)
• HAVEN
• Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion
• NAACP
• Triangle Foundation
• Young Leaders Initiative

The Church and Society Ministry is always looking for exciting new program ideas and individuals with a passion for social justice.

If you are interested in serving on the Church and Society Ministry or would simply like to offer an idea, please contact Barbara or Roger Timm (ChurchAndSociety@fumcbirmingham.org) or Jeff Nelson (248-646-6407 x 3129 or jnelson1@fumcbirmingham.org).