Advocacy

Many of Charlotte’s neighbors don’t have stable housing because of poverty, historically discriminatory policies, and systems that haven’t kept up with the city’s growth. Charlotte has families struggling to make rent and individuals on the street after a lost job or unexpected illness. They are all neighbors, and they are all, in the words of Scripture, made in God’s image.

The Housing and Homelessness task force addresses the root causes of housing insecurity through education, advocacy, and shared action, not just immediate relief.

Our faith in Jesus Christ leads this congregation to address racism as a theological issue, not a political one. The Racial Justice task force has undertaken a deep self-study of First Presbyterian’s own history and continues to lead the congregation in ongoing anti-racism work. This means actively endorsing policies and ideas that lead to racial equity through education, advocacy, and shared action in Charlotte.

The History Hallway: First Presbyterian maintains a hallway dedicated to an honest reckoning with its own past. Photographs and brief biographies of each senior minister include both positive contributions and, truthfully, failings in the area of race. The Hallway also contains a Repentance and Resurrection statement and a work of art pointing toward hope and restoration.

Climate change is among the greatest challenges humanity has faced, and it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable people in Charlotte and around the world. The Climate Change task force provides understandable education and leads the congregation in prayerful, practical responses to address root causes.

Each quarter, the Climate Change task force shares information and action steps. The goal is a congregation that is informed, engaged, and equipped to respond faithfully to what’s happening to God’s creation.

Equitable education gives every student, regardless of race, income, family background, or ability, access to what they need to thrive. The Equity and Education task force focuses on three areas: expanding support for students and families in the 28208 zip code through Westerly Hills Academy, ensuring that educators and tutors understand trauma created by the pandemic, and advancing literacy programs from the earliest possible age.

Gun violence affects Charlotte’s neighborhoods and families in ways that demand a response from people who follow a God who calls them to love their neighbors. The Gun Violence Prevention sub-ministry seeks to understand the impact of gun violence on the community and to discern ways that followers of Christ can support initiatives that reduce harm and address underlying conditions.