Psalm 48
Joel 2:18-29
1 Corinthians 2:1-11

The United Church of Christ would like to give members around the country the tools to live their faith, love their community — through justice work. By training lay leaders to go into their neighborhoods and work toward fixing the problems that they see in their hometowns, congregation-based community organizing can make a difference.

The Rev. Kelly Jean Burd, Minister for Leadership Development in Justice and Witness Ministries, says churches can benefit from community organizing because it offers a way to engage in public work, while strengthening the life and mission of a congregation.

"I heard a church pastor say that offering community organizing training to his laity has equipped them with transferrable skills that benefit many aspects of his church’s life and increase his productivity as a pastor," she said. "A seminarian with community organizing experience reminded us that seminaries reflect the priorities of the church, and challenged us to consider the teaching of organizing skills as requisite ministry education."

Through congregation-based community organizing (CBCO) gatherings – one of which recently took place in Chicago – a group of people learn how to affect change.  For example, parents can identify problems in busing, school safety or education where they live. They can begin to address those types of issues with the leadership skills they learn, and then apply those skills to what would work best in their community. The recent gathering in Chicago convened seminary, church and organizing staff for discussions on widening seminarians to CBCO experiences and skills.