Disciples Home Missions

Connecting People to the Life-Changing Love of God

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Weightlifters

Jan 2, 2025
This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator--one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time. It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!

Weightlifters

by Brian Frederick-Gray

2025 Laity Readiness Resource

This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator–one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time.

It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!

Rev. Monique Crain Spells
Vice President for Mission, Advocacy, & Programs

WHAT’S INSIDE?

  • Laity Sunday Litany
  • (7 ) Trainings Videos
  • (3) Downloadable Workshops
  • (1) Youth Study
  • (1) Men’s Study

An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort

Dec 2, 2024
Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray

An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort

by Brian Frederick-Gray

From the Theological Manna series — An Intersectional Gospel: Faith that Moves Beyond Comfort. A Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray.

photo is of University Christian Church Hyattsville, MD

Funding for Good: Community Collaboration and Grant Writing

Nov 21, 2024
This webinar recording is a collaboration with National Benevolent Association (NBA), Green Chalice and Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and offers tips, strategies and practical stories to help your congregation grow networks and resources to faithfully engage in climate action, community care and creation care. While this workshop will highlight stories of creation care funding it will be applicable to all collaborative efforts for congregations seeking to look outward in practice and resourcing.

Funding for Good: Community Collaboration and Grant Writing

by Brian Frederick-Gray

photo is of University Christian Church Hyattsville, MD

November 21st at 8pm ET

With Kara Whitehouse and Green Chalice guests.

Watch the Webinar Recording

This webinar is a collaboration with National Benevolent Association (NBA), Green Chalice and Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and offers tips, strategies and practical stories to help your congregation grow networks and resources to faithfully engage in climate action, community care and creation care.

While this workshop will highlight stories of creation care funding it will be applicable to all collaborative efforts for congregations seeking to look outward in practice and resourcing.

photo is of University Christian Church Hyattsville, MD

Funding for Good: Community Collaboration and Grant Writing

Oct 30, 2024
November 21st at 8pm ET With Kara Whitehouse and Green Chalice guests. This webinar is a collaboration with National Benevolent Association (NBA) and Green Chalice and Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and will offer tips, strategies and practical stories to help your congregation grow networks and resources to faithfully engage […]

Funding for Good: Community Collaboration and Grant Writing

by Brian Frederick-Gray

photo is of University Christian Church Hyattsville, MD

November 21st at 8pm ET

With Kara Whitehouse and Green Chalice guests.

This webinar is a collaboration with National Benevolent Association (NBA) and Green Chalice and Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and will offer tips, strategies and practical stories to help your congregation grow networks and resources to faithfully engage in climate action, community care and creation care.

While this workshop will highlight stories of creation care funding it will be applicable to all collaborative efforts for congregations seeking to look outward in practice and resourcing.

Ecumenical Climate Ambassador Training

Oct 30, 2024
AME, ABCUSA, DOC, ELCA, NBCUSA, PCUSA, TEC, UCC, UMC, and ecoAmerica are partnering to offer the Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador Training to equip you with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to speak and take action on climate change in your home, neighborhood, church, community, with policymakers and beyond. The training is practical, inspiring, and backed […]

Ecumenical Climate Ambassador Training

by Brian Frederick-Gray

AME, ABCUSA, DOC, ELCA, NBCUSA, PCUSA, TEC, UCC, UMC, and ecoAmerica are partnering to offer the Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador Training to equip you with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to speak and take action on climate change in your home, neighborhood, church, community, with policymakers and beyond.

The training is practical, inspiring, and backed by science.

If you have any questions before registering, please contact FaithAmbassadors@ecoAmerica.org

Energy Audits for Faith Communities

Sep 30, 2023
Energy audits are comprehensive reviews conducted by energy professionals and/or engineers that evaluate the actual performance of your property’s energy systems and equipment against their designed performance level or against the best available technologies. Audits alone don’t save energy; you need to implement the recommended improvements to reap benefits. Money saved due to implementing auditor-recommended […]

Energy Audits for Faith Communities

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Energy audits are comprehensive reviews conducted by energy professionals and/or engineers that evaluate the actual performance of your property’s energy systems and equipment against their designed performance level or against the best available technologies. Audits alone don’t save energy; you need to implement the recommended improvements to reap benefits.

Money saved due to implementing auditor-recommended improvements may jusify the up-front cost of the audit. However, your budget may limit the types of audits that would make financial sense, because their recommended improvements that are not performed shortly after the audit can become outdated. If your congregation has limited property improvement funds, an audit targeting specific types of projects may be the most cost effective as it will recommend projects your congregation can implement in a short time frame with allotted project funds. This document will help you understand the types of audits and auditors and determine if an audit would benefit your congrega�on.

Climate and Faith: A Call to Stewardship, Creating Refuge, and Bearing Witness

Sep 30, 2022
The most important thing to do to implement faith-based climate solutions is to get started, and then get others involved. We need everyone, every day. 1. Offer gratitude. 2. Pray for guidance. 3. Join with others to build momentum and scale impact. 4. Start with visible, easy changes in your congregation and home. 5. Talk about climate. 6. Use your voice and vote. 7. Become a Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador.

Climate and Faith: A Call to Stewardship, Creating Refuge, and Bearing Witness

by Brian Frederick-Gray

The most important thing to do to implement faith-based climate solutions is to get started, and then get others involved. We need everyone, every day.

  1. Offer gratitude. 
  2. Pray for guidance. 
  3. Join with others to build momentum and scale impact. 
  4. Start with visible, easy changes in your congregation and home.
  5. Talk about climate. 
  6. Use your voice and vote.
  7. Become a Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador. 

Climate Solutions for Your Community

Sep 24, 2022
We can solve climate change, but we need public support to build the political will for collective action. Everyone can and needs to be part of solutions, including people of faith. Share your concerns and your ideas, focus on the benefits of solutions and the moral imperative to act. 1. Go clean. 2. Restore thriving nature. 3. Promote Active Transportation. 4. Shop local. 5. Be inclusive. 6. Connect with and support local officials. 7. Join a local organization.

Climate Solutions for Your Community

by Brian Frederick-Gray

We can solve climate change, but we need public support to build the political will for collective action. Everyone can and needs to be part of solutions, including people of faith. Share your concerns and your ideas, focus on the benefits of solutions and the moral imperative to act.

  1. Go clean. 
  2. Restore thriving nature.
  3. Promote Active Transportation.
  4. Shop local. 
  5. Be inclusive. 
  6. Connect with and support local officials.
  7. Join a local organization.

Climate, Food & Faith

Sep 1, 2022
We can all eat better, in a way that benefits our health and helps our climate at the same time. Focus on including more delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables in your diet, today. Share your healthy habits with your neighbors, colleagues, and policymakers 1. Eat the rainbow → more fruits and vegetables. 2. Eat better protein. 3. Eat locally and seasonally whenever possible. 4. Cook and shop with your kids. 5. Eliminate food waste. 6. Bring your reusable bags for fruits and veggies in addition to your shopping bags. 7. Vote with your dollar. 8. Vote for candidates and policies

Climate, Food & Faith

by Brian Frederick-Gray

We can all eat better, in a way that benefits our health and helps our climate at the same time. Focus on including more delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables in your diet, today. Share your healthy habits with your neighbors, colleagues, and policymakers

1. Eat the rainbow → more fruits and vegetables. 

2. Eat better protein. 

3. Eat locally and seasonally whenever possible. 

4. Cook and shop with your kids. 

5. Eliminate food waste.

6. Bring your reusable bags for fruits and veggies in addition to your shopping bags.

7. Vote with your dollar.

8. Vote for candidates and policies

Climate Solutions for Your Workplace or Congregation

Sep 1, 2021
We can all make our workplace or congregation better. The most important thing to do is to get started. Pick one or two actions from the list below and do them now. The rest will follow more easily. 1. Make sure climate and community well-being are part of your organization’s mission. 2. Involve others. 3. Focus on the benefits. 4. Make 100% clean renewable energy your goal, with a target date. 5. Start with the easy, obvious successes. 6. Move beyond your walls. 7. Engage other organizations and the community.

Climate Solutions for Your Workplace or Congregation

by Brian Frederick-Gray

We can all make our workplace or congregation better. The most important thing to do is to get started. Pick one or two actions from the list below and do them now. The rest will follow more easily.

  1. Make sure climate and community well-being are part of your organization’s mission. 
  2. Involve others. 
  3. Focus on the benefits. 
  4. Make 100% clean renewable energy your goal, with a
    target date. 
  5. Start with the easy, obvious successes. 
  6. Move beyond your walls. 
  7. Engage other organizations and the community.