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 four 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. 

Homelessness + Housing

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

Plowshares Book Group

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

Equity in Education

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

Climate Change

Our newest subcommittee seeks to foster faithful responses to the challenges of climate change. It is currently identifying goals and priorities for the coming year.

Anti-Racism

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

Faith in Housing

This panel discussion featured Rev. Dr. Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter; Mark Ethridge, Partner, Ascent Housing; Julie Porter, President, DreamKey Partners; Judy Seldin-Cohen, Community Advocate + Author; Liz Ward, Founder, Give Impact.

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

Article

If Only There Were a Viral Video of Our Jim Crow Education System

Equity in Education, Anti-Racism

This article is part of a special section on George Floyd and America, a year after his death.

Less than 5 minutes

Book

What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anit-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church

Anti-Racism

William Yoo demonstrates that to understand how Presbyterian Christians can promote racial justice today, they must first understand and acknowledge how deeply racial injustice is embedded in their history and identity as a denomination.

60+ minutes

Article

The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math and Reading

Equity in Education

Test results show the pandemic’s effect on U.S. students: The math and reading scores of 9-year-olds dropped steeply, erasing two decades of progress.

5-10 minutes

Article

COVID has taken an emotional toll on children. NC lacks the resources to support them.

Equity in Education

A combination of chronic staffing shortages and unprecedented needs has created what some are calling a “second pandemic” of mental health crises, particularly among children and adolescents.

Less than 5 minutes

Article

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing & Homelessness Data Fact Sheet (2021)

Housing + Homelessness

A document detailing critical facts about Homelessness and Housing Instability in Charlotte.

5-10 minutes

Article

Up in the Air: Climate Change Puts the Most Vulnerable at Risk

Climate Change

Environmental risks disproportionally affect marginalized communities.

Less than 5 minutes

Showing 1-6 of 138 results

Load More

News

Updates and information directly from the Advocacy Committee.  

Urgent Volunteer Needs

Listed below are our most urgent volunteer opportunities. Additional needs and ways to be involved are available on the subcommittee pages.

Roof Above

Homelessness + Housing

Make and fill soup cups and assemble lunch bags to be picked up by visitors at their College Street campus.

Tutor a Child

Equity + Education

The following programs partner with the school, providing curriculum, training, and coordinators to support volunteers. Sign up on these pages: Heart Math Tutoring, Read Charlotte, Augustine Literacy Project.

Food Pantry Support

Equity + Education

Provide for the pantry at Westerly Hills Academy on a monthly basis or serve on the team that delivers food to the school.

Have Questions?

We’d love to answer them for you.

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