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| The Session of Cenral Church has officially adopted four Mission
Projects to focus on long term. Two are local, the Food
Pantry, and Habitat for Humanity of Livingston
County. Our Regional Mission is Fair Funding
for Education, and our International Mission Project involves
Mexican Border Ministries. We also support
special needs occasioned by earthquakes, hurricanes, and such. |
| REGIONAL:
FAIR FUNDING FOR EDUCATION |
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| Thank you for looking into our regional mission project, which is to promote reform of the way New York State finances the public schooling of its citizens. We actively support legislation, such as The Schools for New York’s Future Act, to help fulfill statewide the state’s constitutional duty to provide the opportunity for a sound, basic education – including a meaningful high school education - for all its sons and daughters. |
| A lengthy legal process (CFE vs. the State of New York) has established that the state has been violating this constitutional requirement for many students in New York City. Similar very defective provision has been occurring also in other inner-cities and in some rural districts of our state as well. |
| As of the close of 2006, the State Assembly has passed appropriate legislation, but the Senate has not. In the courts Governor Pataki has opposed the court-ordered reforms. Governor-elect Spitzer has promised to provide supportive leadership in the matter. Citizen advocacy will be needed if all New York State’s sons and daughters – including those in “high needs” districts - are to receive the opportunity for the quality public education required by the times we live in, as well as by the constitution, by principles enunciated in the nation’s founding documents and in our Christian heritage. |
| Things You Can Do |
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Click here to send a prepared e-mail to a public official via the OurKidsCantWait web site. |
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Click here to review CPC Involvement in NYS Education Finance Reform. |
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Click here for our Testimony before the NYS Commission on Education Reform |
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Click here to visit the Campaign for Fiscal Equity web site |
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Click here to visit the Alliance for Quality Education web site |
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| You can also contact the CPC Mission Commission via e-mail: |
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| LOCAL:
FOOD PANTRY |
The Geneseo-Groveland Emergency Food Pantry is a local mission
of most of the area churches. There are similar pantries in
all the local towns. It was started about twenty-five years
ago. It serves anyone in the need of food in our local school
district. Clients are not questioned as to need although we
do try to restrict requests to once a month. The Pantry serves
about
fifteen to twenty families a month. It sends out about three
days of food, including eggs, milk and canned fruits and vegetables,
bread, cereals, soups, sometimes sandwich meats and hot dogs.
Food and money comes from donations from the local churches
and Food Link in Rochester. Volunteers take calls from clients
and volunteers deliver the food. We designate the first Sunday
of the month as Pantry Sunday. |
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| LOCAL:
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY |
| Livingston County Habitat was established in 1998. In the
last five years, this organization has built seven homes, located
in Nunda (1 house), Livonia (1 house), Hunt (1 house), and Dansville
(4 houses). In addition, since its beginnings, LC Habitat has
renovated an additional 10 houses. Central Presbyterian Church
has participated in construction on each of the new homes built.
In addition, the church has provided generous financial support,
and many church members have attended Habitat fundraising events.
Livingston County Habitat for Humanity is building two new houses
this 2004-- one in Dansville and one in Piffard. |
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| INTERNATIONAL:
MEXICAN BORDER MINISTRIES |
| In October, 2003, after several months of planning, 13 members
and friends of CPC (4 teens and 9 adults) traveled to Juarez,
Mexico, to work and live side by side with Mexican brothers
and sisters. This was a significant "first" for this
church! The tangible effect of this work in Mexico is a new
cement floor overlaid with beautiful tiles, and a newly installed
kitchen in a shelter for abused women. The intangible effects
include new-found friends, a greater appreciation for what it
means to live a spirit-filled life while struggling with everyday
poverty, and a deeper level of meaningful prayer for others
as well as for ourselves. Following are pictures of the group
at work and play. |
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| With approval and support of the Session,
the Mission Commission pledged to pay for the public education
of Randy Gonzales, a 14 year old high school student and
son of the family with whom the travelers stayed. Randy
is shown below with his parents, Guillermo and Anel. |
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