RECOGNIZED MISSION PARTNERS

Transcription

1 SECTION H RECOGNIZED MISSION PARTNERS 1. CROSSROAD Child & Family Services 2. CUE SEMINARIES Chicago United Eden 3. DEFIANCE COLLEGE 4. EMMAUS HOMES 5. GRACE COMMUNITY CENTER 6. HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY 7. INSURANCE BOARD 8. OHIO COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 9. TOLEDO CAMPUS MINISTRY 10. UNITED CHURCH HOMES

2 2525 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana or Crossroad creates promising futures for children in difficult circumstances by providing therapy, education and family support services. We are creating promising futures whatever it takes! Greetings to our United Church of Christ family in the Northwest Ohio Association! We are grateful to all of you for your prayers, gifts, and volunteer work! You make a difference! Crossroad Child & Family Services celebrates 135 amazing years of service in 2018! We are proud of our history as an agency founded by one of the predecessor denominations to the United Church of Christ. We have served tens of thousands of children with your help! Today, we serve children with emotional and mental health issues. On any given day, we are serving about 250 children. We served more than 400 children in Children who are residents on our campus are as young as age six. They have very complicated and challenging diagnoses. Many are not just emotionally troubled. They may also be mentally retarded/developmentally disabled, or autistic, or medically fragile, or they may be impacted by brain trauma. Many are victims of abuse and neglect. We are seeing large increases in the numbers of children who are impacted by families with opioid addictions, and we are seeing greater numbers of children who have been trafficked. These kids - they are just kids! But, they are kids who have had a really tough start in life. And not always - but much too often - they are kids who have been hurt the worst by those who should have loved and protected them the most! Currently, we have very long waiting lists for our intense Psychiatric Residential services. We have experienced a 43% increase in demands for these services since Our residential services have long been the core of our work. Our mission has led us to accept children other treatment providers will not work with, but, our outcomes are extremely good. We are not just claiming we help kids, we are proving it! At our school, Crossroad Academy, we serve our own residents, about children from another organization s residential program, and children who have been expelled from or are in danger of being expelled from their school systems. Crossroad Academy, is the rare alternative education program specifically for children with mental health issues. And, we are very proud of our outcomes in education, once again they show we improve young lives! One year ago, we were asked by a juvenile court judge and leaders from both the Department of Probation and the Department of Child Services to open an Emergency Shelter Care program specifically for children with mental health issues. We opened that new program for girls on October 1, and opened the same program for boys on January 1, We continue to change and grow! Thank you! You can learn more about Crossroad Child & Family Services and how you can help at: or Kyle Zanker, Chief Development Officer, kzanker@crossroad-fwch.org x 2090 or

3 THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CUE SEMINARIES! Thank you, churches of the Northwest Ohio Association, for your support in 2017 for Chicago, United and Eden Seminaries: $27,999 from 31 churches. The Northwest Ohio Association is the highest-giving association in the CUE region. Thanks to your support, our United Church of Christ seminaries continue to offer vital gifts to the church: Preparing clergy and laity for leadership in churches and beyond Continuing education and renewal for the current leadership of our churches Resources and support for congregational growth and worship vitality Support of local lay theological education programs throughout the region Leadership at conference and association annual meetings Chicago, United and Eden Seminaries are grateful for the continued, faithful support of the Northwest Ohio Association. Thank you to the following churches for supporting CUE Seminaries in 2017: Saint Paul's UCC, Bellevue Congregational Community UCC, Monroeville Zion UCC - Fireside, Bellevue Saint Paul UCC, Oak Harbor Zion UCC, Bettsville Saint Jacob s UCC, Republic College Hill UCC, Bloomville United Church of Christ, Republic Saint John s UCC - Baseline, Bloomville Saint Paul's UCC, Saint Marys Emmanuel UCC, Bluffton First Congregational UCC, Sandusky Saint John s UCC, Bluffton First UCC, Shelby Saint John s UCC, Bucyrus Steuben Congregational Church, Steuben Saint John UCC, Defiance Sylvania United Church of Christ, Sylvania First UCC, Findlay Trinity UCC, Tiffin Grace UCC, Fostoria Park Congregational UCC, Toledo First UCC, Galion Point Place UCC, Toledo Saint John s UCC, Holgate Emanuel UCC, Upper Sandusky First UCC, Marion Trinity UCC, Upper Sandusky Trinity UCC, McCutchenville Peace Community UCC, Waldo 2

4 Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. We are always pleased to have visits from prospective students and their families. In addition, the college hosts summer camps and conferences and we would love to hear from you if you have summer needs. The college website is In October 2017, Defiance College was thrilled to announce a $1 million gift from the Charles K. and Esther C. Krieger Foundation to endow a Visiting Scholars program to bring in religious experts each year in the fields of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Dr. Wendy F. Soltz has been named the inaugural Visiting Scholar at the college. Dr. Soltz holds a Ph.D. in Modern Jewish History from The Ohio State University. She earned a master of arts in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, a master of arts in Anthropology and Museum Studies from George Washington University, and a bachelor of arts in Anthropology from Indiana University. She was a graduate student in the Hebrew program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and earned a certificate in Jewish Studies and Biblical Studies from Neve Yerushalayim in Israel. On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. the Defiance College Chamber Singers will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This performing group is both Defiance College students and community singers. The music they will perform are selections from W. A. Mozart, Franz Schubert, and Dan Forrest. Dr. James Watson is the director. We would love to have our UCC friends join us for the performance. Tickets and details are available at or you may call Molly at or info@piptix.com for further information. We continue to enhance music programs choral and instrumental - and offer music minors to enhance a student s major course of study. For incoming students who wish to continue high school activities they loved, in fall 2018, we will have added Men s Wrestling as well as Cheer and Dance. We are also launching esports! Dr. Agnes Caldwell joined the senior leadership team in June She is actively leading innovative academic changes and updates. The college has updated Mission and Vision statements: COLLEGE MISSION Defiance College graduates students to lead distinctive lives in their chosen professions through a spirit of service by preparing them To Know, To Understand, To Lead, and To Serve. DEFIANCE COLLEGE VISION STATEMENT Defiance College will be the college of choice for students who aspire to enrich the lives of others through their professional endeavors. Through our engaged and dedicated faculty and staff, Defiance College will be recognized for its distinctive academic programs, transformative student learning, servant leadership and vibrant campus experiences. The McMaster School for Advancing Humanity continues to conduct undergraduate research, service learning, and not-for-profit initiatives through Project 701. The biennial journal of the McMaster School is due for publication in Please contact the college should you wish to receive a copy. With its strong 168 year history, Defiance College continues to serve its region, northwest Ohio, and the country as we make our way to our 175 th birthday in A phrase that guides our work is the African proverb our President uses regularly: If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. 3

5 Celebrating 125 Years of Service ( ) Emmaus Homes was founded in 1893 in Marthasville, Mo., when a group of pastors and lay people from the surrounding churches of the Evangelical Synod of the West decided to use their vacated seminary building to serve individuals with epilepsy and developmental disabilities. As a reflection of their Christian faith, the founders attempted to care for those in need, while recognizing each person s worth and unique qualities. In 1901, Emmaus expanded and opened a campus in St. Charles to meet the vast need for services to people with developmental disabilities closer to St. Louis. In 1985, Emmaus opened its first group home in the community for six women. The home was to be in the parsonage of the St. Marcus UCC in St. Louis. This was the first-time Emmaus provided services to clients off either campus. Over the years, Emmaus continued to open more homes in the community and began using the Individualized Supported Living (ISL) model for their community homes. The ISL model is a coordinated system of supports designed around the person rather than trying to fit the person into an existing facility. Additionally, Emmaus began transforming the way they provided service on their campuses. All homes now had kitchen facilities and staff and clients were encouraged to prepare their own meals. Additionally, Emmaus changed their recreation department and clients began attending activities and classes in the community. In 2011, Emmaus began the process of transitioning clients off the St. Charles campus and into homes in the community of their choice. By 2014 the transition was completed and more than 70 clients were successfully transitioned into their new homes. The administrative offices were moved off campus and into a separate location/facility and the 90-acre campus was sold to Payne Family Homes. The money from the sale of the property provided an increase in our wage structure for our frontline staff who work with our clients daily, allowed them to pay the remaining balance on the new corporate office, and finally, added to investments. In 2014, the Emmaus Board of Directors along with the State of Missouri, made the decision to transition clients off the Marthasville campus and into homes in the community of their choice. This decision was based on 3 tenets of our strategic plan; best practice, good stewardship and financial stability. This transition will be complete by Today, Emmaus serves more than 275 adults with developmental disabilities in more than 80 homes throughout the St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren, Lincoln and Franklin counties. Emmaus works with each client to help them live as independently as possible. For nearly 125 years, Emmaus has been providing high-quality services to adults with developmental disabilities. As we continue to expand our services into the community, our mission remains clear; to provide the highest quality services with a continued focus on our faith-based tradition. We are committed to preserving our mission for many generations to come. 4

6 Greetings! In my role as Chair of the Grace Community Center Board, this last year, I have found myself at the center of what s been happening to, for, and through this amazing organization. There is so much to report about what s happening today, and so much to look forward to in the coming year. Since last April, we have grown in many ways. Here are the highlights: 1. Hosted a massive Jr. High Afro Ball (May 2017). How massive? 947 seventh and eighth graders, representing 80 area schools, all in a room at the Seagate Convention Center, dressed to the 9 s, celebrating their passage from childhood to young adulthood, and recognizing the Ball s theme of 34 years: The Future Belongs to Those Who Prepare. From the Afro Ball has stemmed the Principal s Choice Youth Program. Last year, our Executive Director, Elaine Page inaugurated this program by having the principals of each school choose a boy and a girl who exemplify the theme of the Ball. The students tickets were comped. They got V.I.P. treatment at the Ball AND They were honored at a special reception for them and their parents held at Scott High School the week before the Ball. 52 youth and their parents showed up for that. We are continuing the Principal s Choice Youth Program as part of this year s Ball, and building upon it by matching these special youth with mentors who will support and encourage them as they blossom into leaders of their high schools and beyond. 2. Augmented our EduCamp program with learn-to-swim classes (July-Aug 2017). 13 kids, in 2 classes (one for big kids and one for little kids), were taught at a pool located just blocks away from the Center. It was led by 2 YMCA instructors, with help from GCC staff. The kids flourished! All 13 of them are now able to float in the deep end of the pool and half are able to swim the 25 width of the pool. These are great results coming from 6 one-hour lessons over 6 weeks, with lots of 1-1 nurturing from teachers. This year, we will continue to expand that program. 3. Created a 10,000 square foot, raised bed garden on the Center grounds (June-Oct 2017). We got an excellent crop of cabbages, broccoli, collard greens, kale, tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplant out of it. This year, we will start planting earlier, get 3 crops of certain vegetables out of it, and supply fresh vegetables, at highly affordable prices to 75 families all of whom will be members of the new GCC Cooperative Garden. We ll also be using the garden as an education resource for our EduCampers, as well as for neighborhood grade schools (starting with Sherman School). Curricula like Math in the Garden will serve as a key resource there. 4. Initiated a community wide planning process to address the social determinants of health and well-being in our neighborhood. The purpose of this effort is to engage and activate the community in order to produce positive change in the physical and mental health of the residents through employment, recreation, eldercare, education, community pride, and more. A permanent outcome of this planning process will be the creation of a comprehensive community advisory board. They will monitor progress on the goals that come out of the community plan, and in future years, will keep ideas coming for how best to keep the neighborhood gaining ground in its effort to become a place where residents thrive, rather than merely survive. Thank you for all the various ways you strengthen this incredibly important UCC mission! We continue to serve Christ and his purpose only because of your collective support of this inner-city ministry! Sincerely, Bryce Harbaugh GCC Board of Directors, Chairman 5

7 Located on 110 beautiful acres in northwest Tiffin, Ohio, Heidelberg University combines a challenging liberal-arts curriculum with practical career preparation. Our welcoming, enthusiastic community includes over 1,000 undergraduate and 300 graduate students from all over the world, working closely with caring, insightful faculty members and staff. Heidelberg offers intellectually rigorous, hands-on courses in a wide range of majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs. Our energetic campus overflows with activities, including sports, clubs, musical performances, and Greek life. This year the school is developing a Four- Year Graduation Guarantee. Heidelberg was founded in 1850 by the Ohio Conference of the German Reformed Church (now United Church of Christ). The school continues to offer scholarships to members of the United Church of Christ, children of UCC clergy, and students considering ordained ministry. The school supports a vital religious life with Berg UCC, the Catholic Newman Club, CRU, the Cultural and Spiritual Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Alternative Breaks include student coordinated trips to international and domestic destinations that include Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS and Outreach 360 in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Over 50 students have participated in these experiences each of the past two years. Civic Engagement is a key component of student life on the campus. The HYPE Program began in the fall of 2016 featuring six high-impact speakers each academic year, followed by smaller sessions with experts in the areas of values, work styles, job search skills, communication, collaboration and conflict management. Our speakers for the academic year are Terry Crews, Actor; Immaculee Ilibagiza, Survivor of the Rwanda genocide; Scott Dikkers, Founder of the Onion.com; Jen Welter, first female NFL Coach; Tarana Burke, #MeToo Movement Founder; and Kevin Hines, Wellness Advocate. Student Affairs is developing a stronger new Student Orientation Program for fall freshmen as well as four new highly needed student policies: a new Service Animal Policy, a new Emotional Support Animal Policy, a Dissent and Assembly Policy, and a Gender Neutral Housing Policy. Our joint $1 million funding proposal to the state of Ohio with Terra State Community College and Tiffin University was approved. We are excited about the Ohio Partnership for Water, Industrial and Cyber Security (OPWICS) and the National Center for Water Quality Research s integral role and leadership in the program. Finally, everyone is invited to visit our campus. Stop by and take a tour through the Admissions Office or have a meal at the Berg Bistro All alumni are invited to return to campus June 2018 for our annual Alumni Weekend. 6

8 Insurance Board 700 Prospect Avenue * Cleveland, Ohio IB Annual Report The Insurance Board (IB) has been serving churches for more than 30 years. In 1979 a local church trustee and entrepreneur in northern California believed churches could improve insurance coverage, costs and services if they were to unite and buy as a group. In 1981, a Program was established in California and shortly after that the IB was formed by the UCC Conferences. Today, the Program is available to all UCC churches across the Country. The Program also serves churches and ministries in three ecumenical partners: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Alliance of Baptists and the Presbyterian Church (USA). MISSION To support and protect churches and church ministries by offering superior property and casualty risk and insurance management services. VALUE Choosing to be bound together in mutual care and concern we will maintain: Integrity Excellence Exceptional Customer Service Open Communication Inclusiveness VISION Become the insurance program of choice for the denominations we serve. There are currently 4200 church entities participating in the program, with more than $16 billion in total insured values, making the IB one of the largest denominational programs in the Country. A primary purpose of the Insurance Board is to help churches manage the risks that are inherent in their operations. We have developed, and continue to develop, risk management resources and programs to assist ALL UCC churches (not just those in the IB Program) in their loss prevention initiatives, resources are on our website at To find out more about the Program or to get a proposal for your church, please contact Ben Rupp of the Rupp Agency at , x3. 7

9 6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 100, Columbus, OH Facebook 27 regions representing about 4,500 congregations, 2 million members The year for 2017 Mission Statement The mission of the Ohio Council of Churches is to make visible the unity of Christ's church, provide a Christian voice on public issues, and engage in worship, education and service. so that they may be one, as we are one John 17:22b We are the Body of Christ. Our Biblical mandate is to work towards oneness. We gift one another with our traditions and history. Opportunities are before us each day for us to be an instrument for living and demonstrating oneness. How do we do that? Building relationships: There are always new bishops and executive leaders to meet, and we pray especially for members going through difficult times. A NW Ohio leaders groups meets twice a year. We were present at a Roman Catholic and ELCA worship commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, taught about ecumenism, and serve on the board of the Bishop Vinton R Anderson Ecumenical Institute at Payne Theological Seminary. Joining the Jain community, we spoke of how we work towards peace. The Roman Catholic Dioceses decided to withdraw their membership, and so. building a relationship with the Ohio Catholic Conference will continue. Witnessing to our Faith: A Legislative Brief goes out monthly with information about current legislative concerns. The Public Policy director often gives testimony and follows issues. Some of the issues addressed were: redistricting, medicaid expansion, the State budget, tax cuts, and the opiate epidemic. We hosted a prayer vigil following the killings in Charlottesville. Networking and Partnering: We have co-sponsored events with the Hunger Network in Ohio, State of Appalachia Conference, and Faith in Public Life. We have participated on a panel for the Council on American Islamic relations, and brought greetings to member bodies. Staff serves on the Global Leadership Team for Ohio. A civil discourse group has been working on connecting with congregations to resource them on how to have a civil conversation. The National Institute for Civil Discourse counts Ohio as a key state and has worked with us. CareWorks (our managed care organization) and CareWorksComp (worker s compensation) provide lower rates for 650 churches connected with the Council. Thanks be to God for life together as the Body of Christ known as the Ohio Council of Churches! Officers: The Rev. Marvin Thomas President, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Second Episcopal District; the Rev. Vanessa Clark, VicePresident, Episcopal Church, Diocese of Ohio; the Rev. Deb Oskin, Church of the Brethren, Southern Ohio District; the Rev. Tim Philabaum, Treasurer, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, NW Ohio Synod; Rev. Deb Oskin, Chair for Foundation, Board of Trustees; immediate PastPresident, The Rev. Raafat Zaki, Synod of the Covenant, Presbyterian Church (USA); The Rev. Rebecca J. Tollefson, Executive Director. 8

10 TOLEDO CAMPUS MINISTRY 2086 Brookdale Road Toledo, Ohio Rev. David M. Montgomery, Executive Director Toledo Campus Ministry Fellowship (TCMF) has thrived under the leadership of Jaiondra Harvey, a junior, Bio-Med student. The leadership team developed a strong bond from the very beginning with a summer retreat up in Tecumseh where everyone was challenged with the group-building activities and thrilled on the Zip-Line! Hearing from a Student When I was in high school I never really had anything like this group, or somewhere where I felt like I fit it. When I got to UT, I didn't know anyone. I felt alone and sad a lot in the first couple weeks of school. No one was here to talk to me. I didn t really have any friends, but when I got to TCM everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming. What makes this group extremely special is they don't judge you for anything and will welcome you as you are. -Allison Miller, Student VP Highlights What a grand 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 23rd with over 80 students, alumni and community folks gathered under a tent with music, stories and refreshments. Pastor Dave and the students spoke in 27 different churches from 6 different denominations throughout the year. We are very pleased we now have a new relationship with Warren AME, Hope Lutheran and St. Stephen Lutheran. And we have a renewed relationship with Prism (the UT student organization that represents, advocates for, and creates Safe Places for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, same-genderloving, two-spirit, and straight ally community) Our Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Mission Trip involved 27 UT Students and Mentors with Black Mountain Children s Home in North Carolina. If you want a good story, just ask any who went about Kati dragging the kids on scooters around the gymnasium floor. Our Tuesday night Book Study has been studying Brian McLaren s new book, The Great Spiritual Migration: How the world s largest religion is seeking a better way to be Christian. We highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a way to learn practical skills of family love. We have begun working with an architect, on designs for a truly accessible restroom on the first floor of the Ark. Contractors have submitted bids of around $28,000. Due to a generous donor, we already have $9,000 towards that expense. 9

11 In 2017, United Church Homes continued its more than 100-year history of building A JUST WORLD FOR ALL through work with older adults throughout Ohio and the U.S. LOVE OF NEIGHBOR United Church Homes lives its vision by supporting people who are experiencing challenges related to aging. Through affordable housing and senior living health and support services in 2017, we provided more than $10 million in uncompensated and below-cost care. In October, we invited our peers to be rejuvenated by the expertise of Dr. Laura Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity at Stanford University, and expert panelists from Ohio at the second Symposium of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging. Plan to join us at the third Symposium Oct. 12 featuring Dr. Ira Byock, a leading palliative care physician, author and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. The Parker Center, which values the significant relationships with Ohio conference congregations and pastors, also launched a website (abundantaging.org) and the weekly Abundant Aging blog to connect spirituality, aging and faith. Additionally, UCH launched the five-year, $20 million Campaign for Abundant Life to provide capital funding for our residential campuses, healthcare communities and affordable housing; unrestricted annual support, charitable care and life enrichment; pastoral care; the Parker Center; and endowments. LOVE OF CHILDREN Intergenerational programming provides enrichment to the lives of the older adults who live in UCH communities. These programs foster relationships between older adults and youth, providing psychological benefits for elders who feel more optimistic about the future. Camp Ageless, a one-day, annual program at Patriot Ridge Community in Fairborn, is one example of a positive partnership. Another is Teen Impact, a one-on-one volunteer program at Fairhaven Community in Upper Sandusky. These programs prove that no matter a person s age, meaningful connections can prevent feelings of isolation and depression. LOVE OF CREATION A new partnership with Uplands Village in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, brings our work to this community in a lovely wooded setting of 500 acres atop the Cumberland Plateau. Uplands, a UCC-affiliated nonprofit organization, has a long tradition of health and environmental activism that started with founder Dr. May Cravath Wharton. Many Uplanders are change agents in the larger community, living out their own engaged lives to better the world for all. UCH entered a three-year management agreement with Uplands in Together, over 1,800 dedicated UCH staff continue the work of creating Abundant Life in Community for our more than 4,700 residents and communities in 14 states and two tribal nations in Minnesota and Nebraska. 10