Advocacy Ministry

The Advocacy Committee seeks to help First Presbyterian learn about the challenges facing our neighbors in Charlotte and to inform the congregation about opportunities for addressing those challenges, both individually and as a church.

Our six main areas of advocacy are listed below. You can click into each topic page to learn more about each. We also have a searchable resources section for you to learn on your own time. 

Mission + Objectives
Questions or Join a Subcommittee

Sign up for our Newsletter

Sent on the second Friday of the month. This newsletter focuses on the outreach and advocacy work of First Presbyterian. 

Newsletter Archive

Sign up

Homelessness + Housing

Housing stability is a crucial part of upward mobility. What are the challenges in Charlotte, and how can we address them?

More info

Plowshares Book Group

Through discussions of challenging books, we hope to learn more about the needs in our community while deepening our relationships.

More info

Equity in Education

Quality education provides opportunities to move out of poverty. What are the barriers to equitable access and how can we remove them?

More info

Climate Change

Climate Change is among the largest challenges ever faced by humanity. We must mitigate its effects by addressing the root cause.

More info

Anti-Racism

Anti-racism is the active endorsement of policies and ideas, by individuals and institutions that lead to racial equity.  

More info

Gun Violence Prevention

As followers of Christ, we can support initiatives to reduce gun violence and lessen its impact on our neighbors in Charlotte.

More info

Resources

We want to understand challenges, amplify voices, explore opportunities, and take action within our community. Below is a list of resources to help you learn and grow.

Topic

Type of Resource

Time Requirement

Reset

Podcast/Audio File

Faith Unfiltered: A Conversation About Gun Violence

Gun Violence Prevention

Did you know that gun violence is the leading cause of death among American children and teens? An estimated 4.6 million children live in a home where a gun is loaded and unlocked. Every day, more than 300 people are directly impacted by gun violence in the United States. Gun Violence Awareness Month was created to draw attention to this tragic reality and demand life-saving change. Listen to Rev. Pen Peery and Director of Formation Garrell Keesler discuss this topic on our podcast.

10-30 minutes

Listen

Book

The First Ladies

Anti-Racism

"A novel about the extraordinary partnership between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune—an unlikely friendship that changed the world, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian."

60+ minutes

Learn More

Podcast/Audio File

She made civil rights history in Selma. Now, she guides visitors through its past

Anti-Racism

Meet the "bossy grandmother," a civil rights foot soldier who was 11 when she crossed the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma in 1963.

10-30 minutes

Listen

Article

Being Antiracist

Anti-Racism

A comprehensive article with strategies about why and how to strive to be antiracist. From the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.

10-30 minutes

Read More

Podcast/Audio File

What Will Stop Gun Violence with Ryan Busse

Gun Violence Prevention

This week we spoke with Ryan Busse, former top-performing firearms executive and author of the book, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America. Ryan talks with us about why he left the gun industry after 25 years and the reality of what it will take to change the culture around guns.

30-60 minutes

Listen

Podcast/Audio File

Treating Gun Violence as a Serious Public Health Threat

Gun Violence Prevention

For decades, gun violence research received no federal funding. That's in large part because of pressure from the NRA. Once again, the United States is investing in a public health approach to stemming gun violence. Dr. Mark Rosenberg, founding director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, explains what this means

10-30 minutes

Listen

Showing 1-6 of 17 results

News

Updates and information directly from the Advocacy Committee.  

Advocacy Focus: Civil Rights Trip

Have you ever walked across a bridge that played a major role in our history? Or witnessed the anguish still present today in a person who was brutally attacked by police and firemen when they were young? Have you ever thought about what those four young girls were...
Read More

A Beacon of Hope

Make a Home a Reality this Easter updated April 29, 2024 Homeownership is one of the best ways to create family stability and generational wealth, yet it’s out of reach for most Charlotteans. Today, teachers and social service providers like nurses, police officers,...
Read More

Advocacy Ministry Focus: Anti-Racism

First Presbyterian’s history dates back to 1821, when the small town of Charlotte (yes, Charlotte was once considered a small town!) set aside a plot of land for the creation of a town church. The church’s 203 years spanned a number of racial periods: from the Civil...
Read More

Lack of Affordable Housing is Uprooting Teachers and Families at Westerly Hills

In March of 2023, the Session created an Affordable Housing Strategy Team with the goal of bringing a recommendation to help our church address one of our city’s most pressing needs—the lack of affordable housing in our city.  Housing cost increases have outpaced...
Read More

Triptych

Use the links below to navigate to a triptych topic. Repentance and Resurrection Statement Artist's Statement     Repentance and Resurrection Statement Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?  Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your...
Read More

FPC Senior Pastors

• Robert Hall Morrison • Abner Johnson Leavenworth • Cyrus Johnston • Arnold DeWelles Miller • Alexander Sinclair • John Alexander Preston • James Robert Howerton • William Morris Kincaid • David Hopkins Rolston • Albert Sidney Johnson • William Addison Alexander, Jr....
Read More

Mixed Income Developments Panel

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live in a mixed income housing development? Are you curious as to how developers make the financials work, particularly in areas like Uptown where land costs are high? This panel discussion answers these questions and more...
Read More

A Culture of Care

Nov. 2020 marked the 20 year anniversary of our partnership with Westerly Hills Academy. To honor this milestone, we established a food pantry at the school. The project was recently featured in the CMS Foundation yearbook.

Read More

Have Questions?

We’d love to answer them for you.

Please reach out to the Advocacy Committee through the button below.

How Can We Help?