A. Context for Initiative

One of the initiatives in URC’s Vision, 15 by 2010, is Mercy Ministry and Social Action. The initiative reads:

Initiative #9: To commission the diaconate to accomplish the following ministry goals:

9a. Provide more opportunities for our congregation to show mercy to the poor and needy, and address the causes of poverty, in the Lansing area and around the world.

9b. Explore ways to be more integrated and involved in the Lansing Christian Services network of care.

In pursuit of this item in URC’s vision statement, a group of URC members and attendees met, over the course of a number of three months (August – October 2006), and developed the following approach to pursuing a Social, Compassion, and Mercy Ministry at URC. The major components of the ministry are outlined in the sections that follow.