Justice & Reconciliation
The Church of the Resurrection's Justice & Reconciliation team is dedicated to helping our congregation recognize and fulfill God’s will in addressing the root causes of racial division, poverty, and social injustices in the Kansas City area. We seek to educate our church on these issues, break down cultural barriers, and create opportunities to serve by doing justice and reconciling our community.
You can learn more about how to get involved with this mission ministry by viewing the events and opportunities to the right, or reading more about the teams below:
- St. James UMC Alliance
- Martin Luther King Observance Team
St. James UMC Alliance
Following our joint worship service on Unity Sunday at Starlight Theater, Resurrection members have formed an alliance with members of St. James United Methodist Church to bridge racial divisions by serving together to improve education of poor children in Kansas City.
Serving Together
In 2008, we will begin by partnering with the Kansas City, MO School District to bless Troost Elementary School. We hope to also continue this work in the future by identifying a school to bless in the Kansas City, KS School District.
Through the "Bless the School 2008" project we will:
- Repair, paint, clean, and improve the school facilities
- Provide tutoring for students
- Offer encouragement and resources for parents
- Provide training and supplies for teachers/staff
- Provide uniforms and winter clothing for students
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Troost Elementary, visit the Bless the School page.
Building Bridges
We also hope to build a strong relationship with St. James UMC to bring hope and build trust to our community, while expanding our efforts to reconcile our community and reduce racial tension in Kansas City. If you'd like to learn more about being a part of the Justice and Reconciliation team to help build this relationship with St. James, you can contact Jim Oliver at the information to the right.
MLK Observance Team
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The purpose of observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Church of the Resurrection is to increase our congregation’s understanding of the issues underlying the racial divide in our community and to build bridges across that divide through relationships and acts of Christian service.
Consistent with its purpose and with the congregation’s head, heart and hands approach, the MLK Jr. Day Observance Team:
- Develops methods to help our congregation identify and understand divisive issues such as race, poverty, etc.
- Seeks partners in the community with whom to serve the Kansas City metro area
- Identifies and organizes MLK Jr. Day celebrations and service opportunities in which members of our congregation may participate
A Day On, Not Just A Day Off
In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday & Service Act, designating the third Sunday in January as a national day of service in commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy. The Church of the Resurrection has traditionally responded to this call by participating in local celebrations, hosting relevant guest speakers and providing community service opportunities. This year, nearly 350 people volunteered their time in 19 area projects on the holiday alone, with hundreds more attending or serving in related events over the course of the weekend.
Far beyond the civic aspect, Church of the Resurrection views the King Holiday as a key initial opportunity toward fulfilling the Vision of community transformation put forth in one of the congregation’s strategic objectives for 2008:
“We will work against the causes of poverty and racial division within our community by directly involving at least 2,000 congregation members to serve along with partners in the urban core.”
Although this year’s King Holiday is past, we are already in the process of organizing further opportunities (e.g. partnerships with St. James and Grand Avenue Temple United Methodist Churches) to fulfill this vision throughout the year and beyond.
Please contact us at the information listed on the right if you would like to learn more about how to get involved.
Additional Resources
Learn more about Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice:
- Resurrection's Social Justice Committee Poverty Report (pdf file)
- Resurrection's Racial Reconciliation Position Paper (pdf file)
- Martin Luther King's Speeches - www.mlkonline.net (web page)
- For Children: “The Sneetches and Other Stories” by Dr. Seuss (A delightful collection of stories with subtly-planted lessons on tolerance, compromise, individuality & unfounded fear.)