In the Community»

Through service and justice, we put faith into action, reaching out in the name of Christ to fight hunger and homelessness, poverty and powerlessness. We provide hope for the young and the old and the poor, both in our community and abroad.

Outreach is all that Westminster does to help meet the human needs of members of our church, people in our community and beyond. Through direct service, education, prevention, organizing and advocacy, we fulfill our mission: “To work for love, peace and justice.”

THE FAITH IN ACTION COUNCIL COORDINATES THE WORK OF FIVE MINISTRY TEAMS:

1. HOUSING MINISTRY TEAM

Transitional Housing Program
This program works to stabilize families who are homeless, come from abusive situations or live in substandard conditions. We help locate permanent housing and provide a rent subsidy, furniture, clothing and friendly support, with the assistance of a professional social worker.

Habitat for Humanity Join Westminster’s team and help build or rehabilitate low-income housing in the Twin Cities area. Westminster has joined with several other downtown faith communities in an unprecedented commitment to build 55 houses on Minneapolis’ near North side.

Shelter Partnership Westminster is investigating the establishment of an ongoing partnershihp with an emergency shelter in Minneapolis.

Paint-A-Thon

Join Westminster’s team of volunteers in painting the home of a low-income, elderly or disabled person on one Saturday in August.

2. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS MINISTRY TEAM

This team is responsible for developing and maintaining a wide range of partnerships with community agencies, including the following:

Partnerships Benefiting Children
Westminster has strong partnerships with several agencies providing vital outreach services in our community. Through our benevolence funding and volunteer support, we have close ties with two:

House of Faith Nursery School
Located in northeast Minneapolis, House of Faith offers WPC members and friends a chance to interact with three to five-year-olds by sharing hobbies or interests, donating and repairing toys, tutoring or substitute teaching.

Loring Nicollet-Bethlehem Community Center
A major educational and social service agency that Westminster helped found and continues to support, the Center provides opportunities for tutoring at a near southside location.

Social Service Sewing/Knitting
This group has been active at Westminster since 1859. Members have contributed hundreds of layettes, hats, mittens, children’s shorts, tops and pajamas to Presbyterian missions, hospitals, the homeless, Westminster’s Transitional Housing families and children’s homes. Fabric and yarn are always welcome donations. The group meets each Wednesday at 9am from September through May.

Kwanzaa Community Development
Westminster works with the Kwanzaa Presbyterian Fellowship to expand its outreach ministries of human and capital development in the North Minneapolis neighborhoods around the Church.

There are over twenty additional community partnerships that Westminster is involved with, all of which need assistance through many service opportunities. If you would like to serve with your time and talents for the organizations listed above, or would like additional information about volunteer opportunities, contact Doug Mitchell.

3. HUNGER MINISTRY TEAM

This team coordinates WPC groups seeking to end hunger, plans Bread for the World activities, fields a team for the CROP Walk and allocates the Hunger Offering.

Open Arms
Westminster members join together on the second Sunday of each month after the 10:30 a.m. worship service to socialize and cook meals for people with HIV/AIDS at the Open Arms' commercial kitchen on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.

Groveland Food Shelf
Westminster has joined with four other churches in supporting Groveland Emergency Food Shelf, located at Plymouth Congregational Church. Each Thursday morning Westminster members bag groceries for clients. Boxes for food donations are located throughout the church. Volunteers and monetary gifts are also needed.

Meals on Wheels
Each Monday morning Westminster members deliver hot meals to 30-40 homes in the downtown area.

F.E.A.S.T. (Friends Eating and Sharing Together)
Help serve a hot meal on the fourth Sunday of every month in the WPC Refectory. Members and friends of WPC help prepare and serve the meal to over 200 people.

4. SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY TEAM

This committee welcomes the participation of those who wish to put their faith into action through education and social advocacy.

The Westminster Social Justice Forum provides opportunities for exploring social and ethical issues of vital concern to our community. The theme for the Sunday Social Justice Forum in October is Democracy in America.

Advocacy Covenant Network of Presbyterians is a national organization of Presbyterians who are committed to working for a more inclusive and welcoming church. For more information about this thought-provoking and lively time, go to http://www.covenantnetwork.org/.

MICAH is an interfaith advocacy network that works for more just and effective public policies in housing, especially in the creation and preservation of housing that is affordable to very low-income residents.

Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) is an interfaith advocacy collation working for social justice in Minnesota by calling communities of faith of prophetic, unified action.

HIV/AIDS Committee educates the WPC community about HIV and AIDS issues, acts as a telling presence in the general community and gives support to HIV/AIDS organizations in the Twin Cities.

GLBT Committee educates and leads action on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in the church and the community.

5. GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS MINISTRY TEAM

This group is overseeing development of partnerships with groups in Brazil, Cuba, and Cameroon. Westminster members and friends travel to these countries to nurture relationships, build partnership commitments, and program activities.

Volunteers in Mission
Through Mission Committee, Westminster makes funds available to any person interested in participating in the Volunteers in Mission program of the Presbyterian Church (USA) or other national or international projects. For guidelines and application forms, contact the church office at 612-332-3421.

Social Justice Advocacy Policy

On October 21, 2004, the Westminster Session passed a Public Policy Position on Firearms and Gun Violence, using its Social Justice Advocacy Policy for the first time. This Policy will guide verbal nad written testimony for expected upcoming legislative actions related to permits to carry firearms. Click here to see a copy of the Policy Position in pdf format.

On May 15, 2003, the Westminster Session passed a Social Justice Advocacy Policy that will guide the church as it makes decisions about its public advocacy of social justice issues. Click here to see a copy of the Policy in pdf format.

On June 15, 2006, the Westminster Session passed a Policy Position on Affordable Housing Policy that will guide the church as it makes decisions about its public advocacy of affordable housing. Click here to see a copy of the Policy in pdf format.

Doug Mitchell, Westminster’s Associate Pastor for Mission & Outreach, can help match your talents and interests with a way to serve. If you are interested in any of the above areas, we encourage you to contact Doug by email or by phone, 612.332.3421.