Justice Ministry
Biblical inspiration for Justice Ministry
Micah 6:8 says, “And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus chastises the Pharisees for not following Micah 6:8.
Nehemiah the prophet provides a model for building the power needed to affect powerful systems when he gathers a Great Assembly to hold public officials accountable for the promises that had previously been made to the oppressed Jews in their community. He built power with people.
Vineyard Justice Ministry Efforts
To build power we join with ~25 other congregations under the banner of IMPACT, and together, by turning out thousands of people at an annual assembly called the Nehemiah Action, we exercise that power to bring justice to the Charlottesville area.
As one example of the results of our efforts, IMPACT has been successful getting the City of Charlottesville to put $3MM a year (for several years in a row now) into an affordable housing trust fund. By 2025, the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Trust Fund will have funded the construction or renovation of affordable homes for over 3,500 families in Charlottesville.
Vision 52/1
Our congregation wants to turn out our Average Worship Attendance of 85 people at least once a year for justice. We want the 85 who attend 52 worship services each year to attend the annual Nehemiah Action!
Justice Ministry Cycle
The process of working for justice wins each year starts with building a Vineyard Justice Ministry Network.
• A formal network of relationships – organized through households – that engages the entire congregation in doing justice. We have a 3-part annual cycle:
1. It starts with listening in the fall via house meetings where we listen to each others’ stories of how injustice personally affects us.
2. In the winter and spring, we research and take action. Within IMPACT, we vote on the issues we will focus on, and we learn how they affect our communities.
3. In the summer, we celebrate our wins and start fundraising for the next cycle.
If you have any questions, reach out to the Vineyard Justice Ministry Team Members, Carissa Phillips, Crystal Seek or Jessica Leathers.
UPDATES
Dec 22: Ragged Mountain Running Day of Giving for IMPACT
IMPACT is grateful to have Ragged Mountain Running as one of our local corporate supporters. Ragged Mountain Running is a locally owned running shop that has been a part of the Charlottesville community since 1981.
This year, as part of their 12 days of Giving, 10% of all sales, both online and in-person, on Dec 22nd will go to IMPACT.
Please share this with your congregations and visit Ragged Mountain Running on Dec 22nd to support IMPACT. You can also shop their store online at: https://ragged-mountain-running-shop.myshopify.com/
New Roanoke Justice Ministry is Hiring
We’re excited to share that a new justice ministry organization has formed in Roanoke, VA and they are now looking to hire their first lead organizer!
We encourage all candidates passionate about justice and eager to fight for change to apply. The position is full-time and does require relocating to Roanoke, you can read the full job post and apply with the button link below
IMPACT Investment Drive Update:
$91K raised towards our goal of $100K
IMPACT’s individual investment drive is our largest and most important source of annual funding. Every year, our investment drive ensures that YOU as network members and congregations control our organization as we work together for justice in Charlottesville.
Your investments support our staff salaries, allow us to fund sending community members to grassroots leadership trainings, and support IMPACT’s general operating expenses.
We ask all network members to prayerfully consider investing $200 or an amount meaningful to you into our justice ministry. Thank you to those who have already invested and we hope that you will consider IMPACT as you make your end of year giving.
You can send a check to our office at 1901 Thomson Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 or give online via the button below
Issue Campaign Meetings in January
While we are taking a short break for the holidays, our issue campaigns will all continue their work in the new year.
The next IMPACT Issue Committee night will be on January 13 at 6:30pm at Charlottesville FUMC (101 E Jefferson St).
We also have several meetings with public officials scheduled in January and February, you can see the dates and sign up to attend those meetings with the google form in the button below