Weekly News - May 22, 2020

Flooding in Mid-Michigan

Recent flooding in the Sanford and Midland areas has caused damage to congregation buildings in Sanford, Tawas City, Twining, and West Branch. No damage to the Sanford Campground facility has been reported so far. Local leaders are in contact with World Church leaders to coordinate insurance claims and restoration work when access to property is possible.

Several church members and friends were forced to evacuate from homes in the Sanford and Midland areas due to flooding. Others around the state have experienced flooding damage to homes.  Assistance from the oblation fund is available to Community of Christ families needing funds for essential items such as housing. Contact should be made with the local congregation financial officer to request aid.

Contributions to Worldwide Mission Tithes allow the oblation fund to provide aid in disasters around the world. Contributions can be sent in offering envelopes to the local CFO, made online through eTithing at CofChrist.org/give, or by sending a check with oblation in the memo line to Presiding Bishopric, 1001 W Walnut, Independence, MO 64050.

Looking for Holy Spirit? Join in and hear the stories of others in a small group setting. No sermons, no judgment.

Interested? Contact Dianna Vanderkarr by May 1 at cdthankyou@gmail.com for more information. Hope to see you on-line soon.

Empower: Improving Our Collective Response
May 28 & 29, 2020 - 10 AM to 1 PM

Michigan Abolitionist Project’s Empower conference goes virtual in 2020!

Attend our first-ever two-day Webinar Series from the convenience of your home!

We are excited to invite experts from around the country to share best practices, research, and innovative ways to impact the anti-trafficking movement in Michigan and beyond!

SPEAKER LINE-UP & TOPICS:
Buying and Selling Women – A Human Rights Violation
Taina Bien-Aimé – Coalition Against Trafficking in Women

The Demand Side of Prostitution
Alisa Bernard – Organization for Prostitution Survivors
Pete Holmes – Seattle, WA City Attorney

Understanding & Identifying Familial/Gang Trafficking
Alice Jay – Author, Founder of Sister Survivor Support Network

Online Predators and Grooming Tactics
Alicia Kozak – Internet Safety Expert & Survivor
Carol Ryan – Co-founder of Connections Counseling and Consulting

Bringing Anti-Trafficking Advocates Together: Connection,
Skill-Building, and Empowerment
Celia Williamson – Professor University of Toledo

Register her for $10 including both days:
www.michiganabolitionistproject.org/event/empower2020/2020-05-28/

Empower is an annual MAP event that addresses high-level challenges and opportunities pertaining to human trafficking in Michigan. Empower is designed to equip and train experts and experienced community advocates who are working towards collaborative solutions.

MAP is growing the movement of people and organizations
working to prevent and end human trafficking in Michigan and beyond. www.michiganabolitionistproject.org/

Lift Your Voice With the 2020 Virtual Advocacy Summit

Inspire Change in a Time of Social Distancing

You’re invited to attend Bread for the World’s 2020 Virtual Advocacy Summit: Our Faith, Our Future on June 8 and 9. The summit will include both pre-recorded and live sessions.

These are difficult times, but social distancing doesn’t have to leave us sitting on the sidelines. COVID-19 is a hunger crisis and we need your voice to ensure that the most vulnerable here in the United States and abroad receive the nutrition they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

During these two days, Bread members from around the country will gather online to worship, participate in advocacy-focused workshops, learn up-to-date legislative priorities, and virtually lobby Congress on hunger and poverty.

Register Today! www.bread.org/advocacy-summit

Other highlights of the 2020 Virtual Advocacy Summit include:
Latino Leaders Convening
Pan African Consultation
A screening of Rick Steves’ “Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala” followed by a Q&A session with Rick.

Visit our website for more information about the Advocacy Summit, which will be updated periodically. We hope you will mark your calendars and register today!

In gratitude,
Virtual Advocacy Summit Team
Bread for the World

Cancellation of Summer Camps

Following guidance from the First Presidency, all Michigan Mission Center camps and gatherings in June, July, and August have been cancelled. This decision has been made to limit exposure to and spread of the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Mission center leaders will continue to monitor guidance from state and national officials to determine if gatherings of any kind may be possible at campground properties this summer.

Contributions are needed to pay for insurance, utilities, maintenance, and essential repairs of campground properties while they are not in use. Those able to support campgrounds are encouraged to make contributions through offering envelopes or through the Michigan Mission Center eTithing campus at CofChrist.org/give.

A listing agreement with Michigan Whitetail Properties, LLC remains in place through June 21, 2020. The realtor has reported on marketing efforts and inquiries about the listing. Visits to the property have been limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. No offers for purchase of the property have been received. Effective May 21, 2020 the list price will be reduced from $1,250,000 to $995,000 . Ongoing dialogue and exploration will continue to determine how to best market and price the property to accomplish a sale if no offers are received in the next month.

Additional information about the campground sales process and previous updates can be found online at CofChristMI.org/campground-sales.

5/22/2020
The First Presidency has continued to monitor the progression of COVID-19 and the recommendations from professional health organizations and local governments. While health organizations continue to express caution, local governments are beginning to relax stay-at-home orders and make provisions for businesses and churches to reopen with modified in-person gatherings. The Presidency has been prayerful in how to guide the church in this next phase.

After consulting the World Church Leadership Council, which provides a global perspective, we are offering these reccomendations: 
www.cofchrist.org/Common/Cms/21May-ENG-COVID-update.pdf

Members of the World Church Finance Board approved the Fiscal Year 2019 Audit on 30 April. It is now available online. www.cofchrist.org/common/cms/resources/Documents/FY19-CofC-Audit-Report.pdf