Missouri Union Presbytery

  Cover Letter Explaining the Results of the Survey-2012 (66.6 KiB, 3 hits)

  Survey Results-2012 (48.0 KiB, 3 hits)

  Missouri State Budget Proposals for 2012 (74.3 KiB, 2 hits)

9/20/10

Letter from the Moderator

Thanks for visiting the Church & Society Mission Team webpage! The purpose of the Church & Society Mission Team within Missouri Union Presbytery is to identify and report to Presbyterians regarding critical ethical issues confronting Missourians, particularly those issues related to our Christian faith and state government.  The Church & Society Mission Team strives to provide timely information that recipients can use to develop input and recommendations to their elected and appointed officials.

The Mission Team has been working now for more than 5 years to monitor important social issues in Missouri and our state government’s response to these challenges.  The Mission Team has also been in contact with the Missouri Presbyteries in St. Louis, Springfield and Kansas City to discuss a united effort with other Presbyterians throughout our state as we track on current issues impacting Missouri citizens.  As a result of our travels to the other Missouri Presbyteries, there have been 3 joint meetings held in Jefferson City during 2010 with representatives of the 4 Presbyteries.  Rich discussion occurred in all 3 meetings and Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II (from our national Presbyterian office in Washington) was a highlight at the September meeting.  Rev. Nelson is the new Director of Public Witness, Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry for the Presbyterian Church USA and he brought many helpful ideas for the Missouri teams for effective communication and education regarding the issues of interest statewide.   The Church & Society Mission Team also conducted a seminar at First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson City in April in order for Presbyterian pastors and lay leaders to learn more about how our state government works.  The seminar included a state budget review, a presentation about the legislative process and effective advocacy, as well as a visit to the Capitol.

It is our hope that many Presbyterians will educate themselves and respond to important legislative issues and public policies in our state that impact the less fortunate in our society.  The Church & Society Mission Team has been tracking on issues related to: health care for Missouri’s working poor; financial impediments to state support for vital social services; cost of college in Missouri; and environmental stewardship.  The Team encourages questions about the issues we are currently tracking and hopes that our fellow Presbyterians will let their faith lead them to appropriate actions.

Members of the Mission Team are available to present information to Sessions, Boards of Deacons, and congregations.   Please let us know if your church would like information about the work of our Team.  If you would like to join the work of the Mission Team and/or be added to our email alert list click here.  Regular updates, meetings schedules, and alerts will be provided via this website as well, so please check back frequently.

Debby Howland

Deuteronomy 15: 10-11

• The Mission
• Pastoral Letters
• Sponsors and Members
• Special Focus: Missouri Budget Q & A
• Special Focus: Federal Health Insurance Reform
• Issues: Education Funding
• Issues: Financial Impediments to State Support For Vital Services
• Issues: Health Care Insurance for the Poor and Children
• Issues: Cost Of A College Education