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UCJCI Update

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [11-20] [21-26]


Advancing the Gospel in Word and Deed -UCJCI in Partnership Across Denominations in Jamaica and North America Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
	The Jamaica Ecumenical Mutual Mission (JEMM), is an ecumenical entity which undertakes joint work in mission with the aim of manifesting the Gospel in word and deed. JEMM was established in 1979 and currently comprises the following denominations; the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas—Jamaica District, The Moravian Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. These groups work in collaboration with the Presbytery of St. Augustine of the Presbyterian Church, USA, whose mission arm is the St. Augustine Mutual Mission (SAMM). Together, as JEMM, joint work has been undertaken in the following areas: Housing Agriculture Health Ministry Youth Exchange Programme Adult Exchange Programm

World Council of Churches-Christian Unity, Cooperation and Solidarity Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
	World Council of Churches (WCC) is the most extensive and inclusive ecumenical movement organisation in the world. A movement that calls for Christian unity. Christians Unity is about cooperation and solidarity amongst Christians in issues relevant around the world. The WCC sees itself as an international venue for the promotion of such cooperation and solidarity. What does WCC Believe? The organisation’s founding tenets are based on the members common acknowledgement of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings and adherence to the Christian faith. WCC makes a claim, “The WCC brings together churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 500 million Christians and including most of the world's Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches. While the bulk of the WCC's founding churches were European and North American, today most member churches are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific. There are now 350 member churches.” (https://www.oikoumene.org/about-the-wcc)“ please click here for more information (PDF file)

World Communion Of Reformed Churches Fostering Justice Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
	Theology, justice, church unity and mission are the primary concerns of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) of which UCJCI is a part. Some 100 million Christians in Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting and Waldensian churches in over 105 countries of the world, believe that Christian faith is responding to God’s call to meet spiritual needs and foster justice for all in the transformation of the world through the love of Jesus Christ. Stating in its vision statement that, The World Communion of Reformed Churches is called to communion and is committed to justice, WCRC works through two strategic trajectories: - Strengthening and deepening the Koinonia; and Growing and expanding its work for a greater global impact.. The interlocking concerns—Communion, Justice, Theology, Mission, Ecumenical Engagement and Interreligious Cooperation— are addressed through leadership development, resourcing mission initiatives and offering ,opportunities for study, reflection and dialogue on matters of interest to Reformed church leaders and lay people, including youth. please click here for more information (PDF file)

UCJCI Works In Partnership Within Council For World Mission Wednesday Jun 16, 2021
	The Council for World Mission is a partnership of Christian churches with thirty-two members across the world representing some 21 million Christians in 40 countries. Together, these members commit to sharing their resources of money, people, skills and insights globally to carry out God’s mission in local spaces. The nexus of partnership sharing is the mission of God. The aspirations of this family of churches is captured in the vision statement, “ Life-flourishing communities, living out God’s promise of a New Heaven and a New Earth.” The history of CWM is combined in the endeavours of the London Missionary Society, the Commonwealth Missionary Society and the (English) Presbyterian Board of Mission which were incorporated into CWM in 1977. please click here for more information (PDF file)

UCJCI Works In Partnership Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
	UCJCI works in partnership as we participate in God’s mission in this world. Human beings were created for community and there is much common cause and concern between organisations, churches, countries and communities. Pooled resources — people, ideas, finances and other materials — can accomplish more exponentially than unilateral action. Over the next few weeks Update will feature some of the partnerships in which UCJCI participates. In this issue, the focus is on CANACOM. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Ministry With Children- The Sequel Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
	Uniformed Groups—Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade Girls' Brigade Cayman Islands Girls’ Brigade in the Cayman Islands Regional Mission Council has been active for 74 years and offers girls a safe, secure environment, which is supervised by adult leaders who lead within a Christian framework. This international, interdenominational Christian youth organization holds the aim ‘to help girls to become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and through self-control, reverence and a sense of responsibility to find true enrichment of life.’ There are five companies operating in the congregations of the UCJCI in the Cayman Islands. Similar to the international movement, the programme of GB in Cayman focuses on the development of girls spiritually, physically, socially and educationally and, is designed to be challenging, interactive, relevant and exciting. The Boys' Brigade- Jamaica At a time when criminal and in other ways dysfunctional activities of males have been in the news, there has also been much discussion about interventions which will aid in the nurture of boys into honourable men. The Boys’ Brigade is a movement which provides opportunities for children and young people to learn, grow and discover in a safe, fun and caring environment rooted in the Christian faith. The movement’s partnership with churches to engage generations of children and young people with messages of hope rooted in Jesus is deliberate and one which UCJCI has taken seriously for many years. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Ministry With Children Wednesday May 26, 2021
	Uniformed groups are a part of UCJCI’s ministry with children. The Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades are both international non-denominational organisations with companies located within some UCJCI congregations. In this issue Update features the Girls’ Brigade in Jamaica. UCJCI Company, the first outside of Europe Girls’ Brigade—Girls Lives Transformed, God’s World Enriched. Founded in 1893 in Ireland by Margaret Lyttle, Girls’ Brigade is described as ‘a relational, relevant and responsive worldwide movement focused on working amongst girls and women’. The empowerment of girls, children and young women is the goal and they are encouraged to ‘be themselves, to develop and use their gifts and skills and to discover what it means to have life in full in their generation’. https://gbworldwide.org/) The first company formed outside of Europe was at Brownsville Presbyterian (now United) Church in 1923. The organization was actually Girl’s Guildry as the movement was named in Scotland. The company in Jamaica was founded by Mrs. Brooks, wife of the Rev. Phillip Brooks, a Scottish Minister who came to Jamaica to work . In 1949 the Rev. Madge Saunders (then Miss Madge Saunders) returned to Jamaica from the United Kingdom and took over the Girls Guildry in Jamaica as Organizing Training Officer. International Vice-President for Caribbean and the Americas, Quindell Ferguson, member of St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk, recalls learning mottos, doing Bible study, drilling, playing games as she went up the ranks. She started the 6th Kingston company at Scots Kirk. please click here for more information (PDF file)

A Ministry of Healing-UCJCI Children's Homes Wednesday May 19, 2021
	For 99 years, UCJCI has been providing shelter, protection, spiritual and physical nurture and socialization for children who are wards of the State. UCJCI operates two Children’s Homes—the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home in Manchester, and the Pringle Home for Girls in St. Mary. Pringle Home for Girls is a grand lady of 99 years, established by Rev. and Mrs. James Mc Nee and their daughter Kathie. Money to construct the building was donated by the then Custos, Dr. John Pringle, hence the name of the Home. Mount Olivet Boys’ Home is of younger vintage at 54 years old and between both institutions 65 children are currently embraced in UCJCI’s arms of ministry with children. According to Jeanette Rose Bryan, Director, Pringle Home, “Sometimes families are unable to function effectively and sometimes the development of the children is affected negatively. When this happens, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency intervenes. There is a legal process through the courts that determines the outcome of each case. Our children come to us through this system as Children in Need of Care and Protection.” please click here for more information (PDF file)

Spotlight on Church School Ministry Wednesday May 12, 2021
	Perhaps the most familiar expression of ministry with children for most persons is Sunday School. During this time the Christian education and nurture of children take place either while the worship service is attended by the adults or in the afternoon on a Sunday. Many Jamaicans and Caymanians were sent to Sunday School even if parents did not go. This means of engaging children remains at the heart of children’s ministry in the United Church. Although the name transitioned to ‘Church’ School instead of ‘Sunday’ School the purpose is the same—nurturing the church in the Christian faith, especially the children. UNITED CHURCH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2021 What has the United Church targeted for action in 2021 arising from the 42nd Synod? Synodical priorities are the areas of focus which have been identified from the leading of the Holy Spirit through reflection on the reports tendered at the Pre-Synod Consultations in regions, the deliberations in groups and plenary during Synod, discerned through worship, prayer, bible study and sermon challenges during the week of Synod, all impacted by the contextual realities of Cayman, Jamaica and the wider world. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Keeping Children Safe Wednesday May 05, 2021
	The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands launched a Child Care and Protection Policy in May 2016. The policy establishes basic provisions for the protection and safety of children — infants, children up to 12 years of age and young persons, (‘teenagers’) under the age of 18— who are under the care and responsibility of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Scope The Child Protection Policy takes into account the need for directives surrounding the general safety and care-giving of children as well as physical and interpersonal conduct within the church: on its grounds, within its congregations and in all church-related activities including church services, Sunday or Church School, summer camps and church excursions. please click here for more information (PDF file)