By Betty Eidenier
St. Matthew's, Hillsborough
The secret of so much energy in support of the Millennium Development Goals at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Hillsborough is found in our guiding principal for getting involved in various projects whether local or international: the project must be of particular interest to at least one parishioner. That one personal contact puts a face on the partnership that we form.
What can one person do? If someone has enough interest to bring a project to the attention of the Social Ministries Committee, the committee will find a way to contribute time, talent and money toward the worthwhile goal. The common practice of "you suggested it, so you do it" is replaced by "thank you for helping us select which of many needy projects St. Matthew's can make a difference in right now."
Since the vestry of St. Matthew's designated 0.7% of the budget for meeting Millennium Development Goals, and the priest earmarked 0.7% of his salary for MDGs, the Social Ministries Committee made a serious commitment to meeting the goals. In July 2006 the committee organized a retreat with people responsible for every local, state, national, and world mission project at St. Matthew's, for the express purpose of documenting how all of these projects met the eight goals. In other words, whether the project "counted" by being international, it was analyzed in light of the goals. This proved a thought-filled educational opportunity for everyone to learn about the Millennium Development Goals.
To raise awareness of the MDGs and to give parishioners the opportunity to have fun while adding their support, the Social Ministries Committee sponsored a bazaar focused on international projects with particular parishioner connections. The church school children had been supporting Rainbow Centre, Burundi, which cares for orphans with HIV/AIDS and helps the unemployed and children go to school. Altruistic Action was founded by Chuck Richardson, our daycare center cook, to fight hunger and illiteracy by encouraging gifts to charities like Pratham, USA. Hope for Haiti is a project brought to our attention by Dr. Duane Webb, a former parishioner who is actively involved in providing medical services modeled on Paul Farmer's work in Haiti. Another parishioner worked with refugees at Christ Church, Istanbul to coordinate housing, education, and distribution of food to families. At the bazaar, children created a wall of artwork and collected money in a huge glass jar for the Rainbow Centre. Families from Pratham, USA shared Indian culture and information about efforts to combat poverty and illiteracy in India. Hope for Haiti shared a slide show of medical projects for which parishioners donated eyeglasses. At the Istanbul booth, plates of Turkish Delights satisfied the sweet tooth while people studied photographs and information about the refugee school and the history of Christ Church provided by Canon Ian Sherwood. An enormous wall hanging highlighted ERD international projects, while baskets of white MDG awareness bracelets and MDG refrigerator magnets were there for the taking. The bazaar included a sales booth from One World Market, games of soccer and bocce, international prizes including Bishop's Blend coffee and French wine. Music by Hallie Smith, Mary Rocap, and the El Buen Pastor mariachi band entertained the crowd at the barbecue dinner. Though the purpose was publicity, the bazaar raised a thousand dollars, which went to the international projects.
During the year, parishioners proposed additional international projects. In a partnership with the Chapel of the Cross, St. Matthew's supported a mission trip to Honduras and provided funds for a roof at San Patricio. The youth undertook a weekend fast to raise funds for the World Hunger Organization. A task force assisted Lutheran Family Services in settlement of refugees from Burma.
Because of the empowering change in thinking after learning about the Millennium Development Goals, the Social Ministries Committee decided to use the MDGs as a benchmark for local projects as well. Having the goals as guidelines is extremely helpful for making sure we spend our resources thoughtfully. For example, of our international projects, only the ERD met goal 5, protecting the environment. Parishioners wanted to do more. An answer was to begin an Earth Ministry, which is working to encourage "leaving no footprint" in personal life as well as at the church. What was basically one person volunteering to recycle for the church is evolving into a group of parishioners who can help us revise basic habits of mind. Similarly, as the Food For All community project is a collaboration of churches and groups to feed homeless and impoverished people in Hillsborough, it meets goal 1 (eradicate extreme poverty and hunger). Because of being involved in this local ministry, many people at St. Matthew's just think differently about hunger in the world. An exciting initiative to strengthen the Fairview neighborhood has become a collaboration with Dickerson Chapel AME Church, Chapel of the Cross Johnson Intern Program, Habitat for Humanity, and the diocese. This may not be a "global partnership for development" (goal 8) yet is inspired by just that way of thinking. At St. Matthew's, the change of culture which MDGs bring to bear has resulted in high levels of interest in ALL church mission work.
