Outreach, Action, and Advocacy (OAA)
In Fall 2020, the Outreach and Advocacy Committee joined with our Service Committee to form the Outreach, Advocacy, and Action (OA&A) Committee. This move combined ongoing efforts on both committees and underscores the importance of actionable activities to support the issues we are advocating for.
If you are interested in joining one of OAA’s ministries or service activities, please reach out to Susan Bender, Shannon Snypp, or Shaw Brewer. Please also check out the SERVE page of the Messenger for additional details!
MINISTRIES
Racial Justice Ministry: BUMC’s Racial Justice Ministry was formed in Summer 2020 to help focus and organize a number of ongoing activities in support of racial justice. The Racial Justice Ministry holds weekly vigils, Sundays at 5 PM on Old Georgetown Road in front of BUMC, and we have organized efforts around a number of critical topics related to racial justice to both educate and develop advocacy plans. The Ministry is currently focusing on environmental justice.
Foster Care Ministry: The Foster Care Ministry was formed in Spring 2020 and during COVID we have been organizing to support three access avenues into MoCo’s Family and Children Welfare Services – foster families; youth transitioning out of the foster care system; and youth who are remaining in homes. Please see the Messenger for how you can support these efforts!
Hunger and Feeding Ministry: BUMC is building upon existing efforts to expand our support for the local community; the first Monday of every month provides opportunities to drop off sandwiches and trail mix for McKenna’s wagon as well as food items for Bethesda Help. During the pandemic, BUMC has provided thousands of food items to the community! Additionally, BUMC just consecrated our Little Food Pantry on Huntington Parkway, to provide food for those who need it directly from our church grounds.
Gun Violence Prevention Ministry: One of our longer-term ministries, the Gun Violence Prevention Ministry provides a number of opportunities to join passionate members of the congregation to educate members of our community on the topic, lobby local lawmakers to pass gun reform measures, and support organizations that aid victims of gun violence.
OAA FUNDING
OAA provides annual funding support to the following local organizations:
- Bethesda Cares
- Bethesda Help
- Interfaith Works
- Manna
- Project Transformation
- Reconciling Ministry Network
- Baltimore Washington Area Reconciling Methodists (BWARM)
- Jubilee Jobs
- Equal Justice Initiative
- UMCOR
- Habitat for Humanity
- 4Montgomery’s Kids
OAA SUPPORTS
In addition to the above, OAA seeks opportunities to support the following organizations. These organizations can also be found in our Alternative Gift Fair:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Martha’s Table
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund
- Project Transformation
- Opportunity International
- Adrienne Terry Housing Fund
In 2022, OAA funded a booth at the DC Pride Festival, and we will do so again in 2023. We are also funding a banner highlighting our status as a reconciling member of the United Methodist Church.
BUMC ACTS FUND
OAA is soliciting proposals for service or outreach efforts from ALL church members and will select several winners to provide grants and help make these proposals a reality. Do you have an idea for a service project that you’d love to see come to fruition? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to build a garden at BUMC and donate the food to local shelters? Help pay for a service trip for youth or a trip for church members to visit a civil rights museum in the south? Donate to a passion cause that serves the local community? OAA is welcoming proposals that encourage service or support to initiatives covered by our ministries: Racial Justice, Foster Care, Gun Violence Prevention, and Creation Care. We look forward to hearing from you about what you’re passionate about! Here are the details: Proposals will be accepted throughout the year. Your proposal should include what you would like to see happen with a grant and how this project will help you serve God in the community; why you have felt led to this project; and the amount that you are seeking. The first grant recipients will be announced by OAA during worship on May 30, 2021 and we will continue seeking applications throughout the 2021-2022 year.
