Mission Statement
The Council of Churches of Greater Springfield (the Council) shall be the vehicle that will bring local congregations and community together in the spirit of unity. In living out the gospel, the Council shall be a prophetic voice for Christians and non-Christians alike, addressing issues of social and economic justice, consumerism, education, and political and social responsibility. In doing so, we profess three goals:
1. To bring local congregations and the community together in the spirit of unity by providing information and serving as a clearinghouse and center for community outreach, and by educating churches and community organizations in the greater Springfield area of the mission and work of the Council.
2. To serve as a bridge builder among people of different faiths, cultures, and classes by providing and promoting opportunities to work collaboratively through service and social action, and by providing spiritual opportunities for healing, forgiveness, and agape.
3. To remove barriers promote ecumenism and positive interfaith relationships, creating opportunities which promote cooperation and ownership in learning, action, and fellowship among all people of faith, and by expanding the membership of the Council.
The Council is striving to establish youth outreach centers that would help in counseling, mentoring, and character development. To accomplish this we
are partnering with various governmental and community agencies.
The Council has a need to identify the partners we will work with to accomplish our above goals. We are now turning to you, for your support, your gifts, and your participation.
Description
Volunteer / Faith in Action Program
1. Will conduct application interviews, including CORI check, with potential volunteers, assessing interests, strengths and limitations, in order to be able to match them with potential care receivers.
2. Worker will conduct entrance interviews, strengths and limitations, in order to be able to match them with potential care receivers, and if important, the family and / or caregiver(s), in order to ascertain appropriateness of Faith in Action services. If services are not appropriate, worker will know what services are available in the greater Springfield Community to answer the person's needs, and will make those recommendations. Assuming services are appropriate, worker will assess needs which will be met by a volunteer and discuss this with the potential care receiver. The worker will contact a volunteer and arrange a "match", i.e. ascertain that the volunteer wishes to become this person's new friend, and arrange a first meeting, including the volunteer, the care recover and her/himself. Assuming all goes well, the two will exchange contact information and make arrangements to meet each other in the future. The Faith in Action Worker will follow up in a few weeks to make sure all is going well.
3. Worker will check on all "matches" quarterly to ensure that all is going well.
4. Worker will keep computer records and "hard" files on all volunteers and care recovers.
5. Given the nature of the frail elderly population, an endless number of issues may arise with the elder, often first reported by the volunteer. The worker must know how to field these issues appropriately, as far as compassion, safety, and liability area concerned.
6. Volunteer recruitment: The worker should be comfortable speaking at civic organizations, business, houses of worship, etc. on behalf of Faith in Action, until it becomes "a household phrase". Any other public relations skills and fundraising skills is a plus.
