Intro pack 2018

What is Commitment for Life?

“I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy and executes justice for the poor” Psalm 140: 12

Commitment for Life is the recommended way, from General Assembly 1992, for local United Reformed Churches to support Christian Aid. It grew out of the 1% appeal. It is our unique way of working with Christian Aid and Global Justice Now to make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. It links with campaigns, partners and projects through personal stories and updates. All United Reformed and Local Ecumenical Partnership churches are encouraged to pray, give and take action for people across the world.Current issues thatthe programme supports through campaigns and projects include: tax justice; climate justice; Fairtrade and women’s rights. The current countries we support projects in are: Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (IoPt); Bangladesh; Zimbabwe and the region of Central America, which includes Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Commitment for Life is the single largest denominational giver to Christian Aid. The programme is more than just raising money: it is asking for a time commitment to gain a deeper understanding of development issues. Getting to know the stories of real people and projects in some of the most difficult places in the world is both inspiring and challenging and we hope will add a worldwide perspective to the life of local congregations.

Commitment for Life links directly to Statements 9 and 10 of Vision 2020, the mission framework of the United Reformed Church. We would love for your church to be involved.

Part of who we are

Whatever our convictions, we all need help to step up to a new level of commitment from time to time. It happened for me one day in 2005 when I spent my lunch break taking a bus to Trafalgar Square in London to see Nelson Mandela address a crowd during the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign. Already old and frail himself, Mandela spoke with a strong voice about his decision the previous year to retire from public life –

‘yet as long as there is poverty, how can any of us rest?’

He aimed his address particularly at the young people in his audience, being the generation which could eradicate world poverty. The joy he radiated was quite moving: and it was wonderful to see street-wise, sophisticated young London workers and students so genuinely delighted to see a gracious old man with determination motivating and inspiring them to action. He concluded,

‘Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Of course, the task (of eradicating poverty) will not be easy but not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up’.

Challenging words from Mandela are the mountain-top experiences which give fresh impetus, but sustaining a commitment to eliminating poverty and enabling world development on a day-to-day basis takes effort and sustained support – that is the ‘commitment’ of Commitment for Life. The increased number of advertisements in the media urging our support for different charities can be perplexing when we try to be sympathetic but have to make choices. At the same time, the UK in 2014 was fourth equal in the world for the percentage of its population giving to charity (Charitable Aid Foundation 2014 report) so despite fears of ‘charity fatigue’ we still have a good track record for responding to human need.

The Christian perspective on this starts with our vision of the world as God’s Creation. The book of Genesis begins with both a statement of faith and a protest against the assumption that the world as experienced by many is a wilderness of chaos and injustice. Genesis provides a picture of the way God the Creator intended the world to be, but also of the steps God has subsequently taken by calling individuals - Noah, Abraham and his descendants - to restore what has been damaged, and to show the rest of humanity how to pursue a faithful, purposeful way of life in partnership with God. Genesis concludes with Joseph’s words to his brothers that for all the scheming, posturing and recklessness which has threatened the created order, God is still God, and God’s purpose for all Creation will endure (‘Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good’. – Genesis 50.19-20).

Giving for others is also an expression of thanks for all we have experienced of God in Jesus. Seeing our lives through the lense of his life - his compassion for the poor and dispossessed, his protest against prejudice and stultified religion, his suffering and death for all, including his enemies, so that we may attain fullness of life with the Father – draws us to a different set of expectations for our own lives and a new engagement with the rest of humanity. Jesus’s grace-filled life points us to the abundance which God has given us in Creation – and which he has reaffirmed, restored to us and freed us to use for the good of all. To see everything as undeserved gift helps us release our grip on things – we no longer have ‘possessions’ but ‘resources’. From this perspective, others will benefit and be able to share from their abundance too. St Paul’s words are a continuing challenge to see things in this way: ‘What do youhavethatyou did not receive? And if youreceived it, why do youboast as if it were not a gift?’ (1 Corinthians 4.7)

While Commitment for Life may be one of many ways to support world development, and to persist in our efforts to eliminate extreme poverty and injustice in the world today, it has a distinct flavour of the United Reformed Church about it, in that it encourages our personal commitment, local engagement and personal identification with God’s world in its diversity of needs and opportunities. Whether by fundraising, being a local advocate within the UK, becoming an Intern (at home or visiting one of the four countries whose projects are being supported at any one time), joining a campaign, by praying or simply keeping in touch by reading and sharing the stories which are regularly made available, Commitment for Life is a genuine expression of who we are as a Church, and gives us the opportunity to engage in the ongoing work of God restoring Creation, and broadcasting through word, action and steady, persistent service, our love and commitment – for life (through the course of our life time) – and for Life (that fullness of life which is God’s gift to us and all people every day in Jesus Christ).

Ray Adams

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Intro pack 2018

Help, I’m a Link Person! – What can I do?

The role of the Link Person is to act as the enabler between the programme and the church. It is a crucial role within Commitment for Life, and one that we are extremely grateful for link people partaking in!

Every Commitment for Life Church has a Link Person chosen by the church meeting to receive our mailings. Their main job is to make sure people hear about what is in the mailings through:-

Prayer and Worship

  • Encourage individuals and whole church prayers (see Prayer Partners).
  • Arrange a special Sunday (ask for speakers or use Service outlines found at
  • Tell young people now about the issues

Publicity

  • Put the March and November updates in the church magazine.
  • Give the minister or worship leader any worship resources.
  • Make use of the notice board and display areas using the July mailing.
  • Get Commitment for Life a slot in the church meeting.

Campaigning actions

  • Encourage people to sign postcards and write letters.
  • Inform the congregation about campaigning events e.g.

Fairtrade

  • Promote Fairtrade and encourage others to buy more goods
  • Make sure your church is Fairtrade
  • Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight

Climate change

  • Work with those involved in environmental issues within your church.
  • Become an eco church Eco congregation in Scotland
  • Tell the stories of those affected by climate change.

Events: A few suggestions from other churches

  • Quiz evening on your partner country
  • Themed meal with a speaker
  • Education raising events e.g. film and discussion
  • Campaign writing group

It is important to note that we do not expect the Link Person to do all of the above all the time! We suggest that they try something they are comfortable with first and then progress to something new. We are grateful for all the ways the programme is shared within a church!

Resources/Orders

Resources are vital to engaging church congregations and obtaining more information on why and what Commitment for Life does. Orders for resources can be made at any time of the year, with new annual resources being received in July/August, which is when a taster mailing is sent out to churches.

To make an order, you can find a downloadable form on our website, under the ‘Resources’ page. You can also email/call/write to the Programme Administrator directly for resources.

Resources available include:

  • Giving envelopes
  • Annual booklet (information on all three partner countries and region)
  • Posters (individual ones for each partner country and region)
  • Donation boxes
  • Updates on each partner country and region ( Spring and Autumn)
  • Information on current Christian Aid/Global Justice Now campaigns

Mailings to churches:

  • July/August: New annual resources
  • March: Partner country/region update
  • November: Partner country/region update

Changes to the database

So our database is kept up to date, which will make sure that resources are sent to the correct person, please inform us if there are any Link Person changes, by contacting the office.

Partner countries/region: Where your money goes

Working with Christian Aid has enabled us to learn much more about our chosen countries and the struggles and successes achieved by partners within those countries. The money is divided equally amongst the four partner countries.

Credit lmead/cforl RAISED PUMP SO VILLAGERS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER

EVEN WHEN FLOODING OCCURS

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated and disaster-prone countries in the world. Of a population of 160 million people, 80 per cent of live in rural areas and depend largely on agriculture for their livelihoods.Alongside corruption, poor governance and an over-dependency on natural resources, tackling poverty in Bangladesh has become increasingly difficult due to the impact of climate change. Extreme weather events and an increasing number of cyclones, floods and droughts pose considerable challenges. Whether preparing communities for climate related emergencies, supporting farmers to improve their harvest and income, or ensuring women participate fully in vital decisions that shape their lives, Christian Aid partners in Bangladesh are committed to ensuring poor and marginalised people enjoy thriving and dignified lives.

CREDIT; LMEAD/CFORL Silveria House gives training in carpentry as part of their

small business enterprise scheme

Zimbabwe

Many years of bad governance and unstable political settlement, lies at the heart of Zimbabwe's problems. Every year, millions of people have relied on food aid in Zimbabwe. Drought and erratic rainfall patterns, a ruined infrastructure and an economy in collapse, means millions of people can't grow enough food to survive.There are very high levels of HIV in Zimbabwe - an incredible 13.7% of the population, and they have the highest number of HIV orphans in the world. It is hoped, with the new administration, that things will improve. Christian Aid has strong relationships with our church partners here who focus on a range of issues from food security and nutrition, to HIV, health and gender equality.

Credit: G Massey/cforl/ irrigation project conceived with thesupport of PARC

Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (IoPt)

Christian Aid works in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, through Israeli and Palestinian partner organisations. Their partners work to protect human rights, enable people to access services and resources, and challenge the structural causes of poverty in the oPt in order to bring about lasting and meaningful change. From emergency relief to long-term development, partners reach some of the poorest people in the region, regardless of religion or nationality.

credit@ lmeadc/cforl Santos Cruz part of a disaster preparedness group supported by

Procares in El Salvador

Central America

Christian Aid works in four countries in Central America: Guatemala; Honduras; El Salvador and Nicaragua. Around 30 partner organisations in the region are worked with including indigenous communities, small farmers’ associations, development organisations, research institutions and faith-based organisations. Poor and marginalised families in rural and semi-urban communities are reached – prioritising women, young people and ethnic groups historically excluded from society. We help small farmers through cooperatives or producer associations to access markets, produce better products and obtain a better price for them. Christian Aid work to build resilience of communities in areas along the Pacific coast which are particularly prone to disasters and environmental hazards such as floods and landslides. Finally, Christian Aid enables people to lobby their governments and the private sector to develop policies which take into account the voices of the poor and marginalised, which respect human rights and to establish a progressive tax system.

All you need to know about money

Thanks to your generosity and hard work, Commitment for Lifehas raise millions over to support our partners.

Commitment for Life grew out of the ‘1% Appeal’ which asked local congregations to give a penny in the pound towards development work. By giving of 1% of disposable income you are making a regular commitment, not a one-off donation. This helps with long term planning. In this way, we emphasise the ‘Commitment’ in Commitment for Life – our individual response as Christians to give ongoing support to improve life for the world’s poor. This Commitment should ideally also include giving of our time to learning and praying about the partners and the issues that affect them – as individuals and in the life of our church.

Making the appeal effective

Whilst we encourage the 1% approach to giving and would recommend it as best practice, churches have many ways of raising money for Commitment for Life – you need to find the most appropriate way for your own church. Some examples are:

  • monthly/quarterly/biannual/annual collection of gift envelopes
  • annual appeal, often linked with a special Sunday
  • special educational events and services with a donation

A combination of these approaches can be used. New ideas are sometimes shared with churches in our regular mailings and in our monthly email newsletter, Stories for Change.

How the money is spent

75% to Christian Aid to be divided equally between the four partner countries (so allowing Christian Aid to make long-term plans for those countries, while the local church focuses and raises awareness for one particular partner);

5% to global Justice Now for advocacy and campaigning

20% for advocacy, administration and grants

We remain committed to careful control of costs.

Information for Treasurers

There are multiple ways that you can send in monies raised for Commitment for Life:

a)by cheque:

  • A Remittance Advice form is sent out with every thank you letter for a cheque received. It is also downloadable on the CforL website, on the ‘Resources’ page.
  • Please fill it in as fully as possible so that our records are correct and we send thanks to the right person
  • Please send the Remittance Advice form with the cheque/s
  • If you don’t have a remittance advice form, please give us your church name and Yearbook Number and any addressee details
  • Please make cheques payable to the ‘United Reformed Church Trust.’ And send to the Commitment for Life, United Reformed Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, LONDON, WC1H 9RT

b)by direct payment:

A direct payment can be made by either a standing order (for regular payments of the same amount) or a BACS transfer (for one-off payments of differing amounts). For both direct payment options, the bank account details needed for the URC are:

Sort = 40 05 03

Acc. No. = 01191802

Bank = HSBC (Fleet Street)

Please include your Church nameCommitment for Life in the narrative or it may go to the wrong account.

Gift Aid

The Commitment for Life office is unable to process Gift Aid envelopes. This should be the responsibility of the church.

Commitment for Life is a URC programme that is adopted by the local church. All giving to local churches for Commitment for Life may therefore be included as the income of the local church and Gift Aid tax may be reclaimed when appropriate. The local church then forwards their Commitment for Life gifts to us and any recovered tax which may be at a later stage.

N.B. Tax reclaim for gift aided money is currently 25p per £1.

Personal Giving

Commitment for Life also relies on the very kind donations of those who give personally to the programme. To do this, please use the information above in regards to BACS payments.

Legacies

Legacies are a fantastic way to carry on supporting the programme beyond life. If you would like more information on how to give this way, please do contact us.