WHAT’S OUR MISSION
The Jamaica Council of Churches (J.C.C), as a Christian
Ecumenical Organization is committed to
- the visible unity of the Church in Jamaica, the
Caribbean and the Global Community in the execution of the ministry and
mission of Jesus Christ;
- the equipping of the people of God;
- the pastoral care of all, especially those who are
hurting and marginalized, and
the
prophetic witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.
In light of this, the Jamaica Council of Churches (J.C.C.)
will develop local partnerships among Christian and Non-Christian individuals
and organizations; within the Caribbean Region, through the Caribbean
Conference of Churches and other regional ecumenical partners, as well as
globally, through the World Council of Churches and other International
Ecumenical organizations, in giving particular attention to the following
goals;
WHAT’S OUR PLAN
SOCIAL ACTION
Goal 1: To develop
and implement a plan towards the renewal and strengthening of Family Life in
Jamaica. (Home
& Family Life Commission)
Strategies
- To develop a Radio/Television programme
that focuses on family education (parenting), couples and family therapy.
- Seek support for such programme
from the Government, Private Sector and Ecumenical Organizations and
Funding Agencies.
Goal 2: To
facilitate the alleviation of social problems in Jamaica, e.g., unemployment,
HIV/AIDS, Violence/Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse. (Church and Society
Commission)
Strategies
- The development of a database of skills-training programmes being offered by faith- based and other
organizations;
- Encourage and facilitate networking/collaboration by
denominations/congregations with a view to
providing opportunities for training, employment and capacity-building.
- The provision of opportunities for persons to be
exposed to the possibilities that exist in the local and global community
for production and exportation;
- To facilitate the process wherein groups/congregations
may have access to funding;
- To provide guidelines/tips in establishing income
generating projects;
- Provide HIV education (prevention and coping), training
in counselling HIV positive persons and their
families, and the development of support groups.
- To seek ways of implementing the WCC Decade Against Violence programme
while benefiting from findings of local research done on crime and
violence.
Goal 3: To
facilitate a joint response towards the achievement of high level quality
education, disciplined staff and students and positive attitudes within
schools, particularly those with Church affiliation. (Youth
Commission/Education Commission)
PASTORAL AND PROPHETIC ROLE
Goal 4: To become
more intentionally engaged in influencing the values and attitudes of the
Jamaican People. (Church
& Society /Family life and Evangelism Commission)
Strategies
- To agree on a set of core values and attitudes to be
promoted and a mechanism to do so, e.g. a media campaign, seeking
consensus with entertainers and the media in general;
- To collaborate with the Values and Attitudes Programme being administered by the Jamaican
Government;
- To participate in discussing and making recommendations
on ethical and moral issues of concern to the Jamaican People;
- To dialogue with Human Rights Groups re the promotion
of human rights.
Goal 5: To be more
intentional in reflecting on the socio-political issues in Jamaican, the
Caribbean and the Global Community and so offer the unique and critical
theological input of the Church. (Church and Society Commission)
Strategies
- To provide opportunities for presentations and
discussions on such issues at Executive Meetings and other fora;
- To participate in relevant deliberations within the
Caribbean Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches;
- To seek the support of other Ecumenical and
Denominational Groups globally;
- To articulate the results of
these reflections in the broader debate of the society, i.e., to
deliberately be the voice of God.
CHRISTIAN UNITY
Goal 6: To work
for greater unity and partnership in the Mission of Christ among JCC Member
Churches and between JCC and other Umbrella Groups. (Officers/, Faith
& Order and all other Commissions where possible)
Strategies
- To provide opportunities for Theological reflection
among JCC Member Churches;
- To create opportunities for on going dialogue between
Umbrella Groups;
- To ascertain and share information on special programmes being offered by JCC member Churches and
other Umbrella Groups.
- To encourage joint action where possible;
- Target other Christian Organizations for membership in
the JCC
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
Goal 7: To improve
the JCC Communications Apparatus for greater effectiveness (Communications
Commission)
Strategies
- To improve communication between JCC and Member
Churches and Congregations;
- To observe a JCC Sunday annually;
- To maximize the opportunities in the print and
electronic media for communicating JCC Programme;
- To utilize the World-Wide Web for promoting JCC work;
- To provide timely responses to National Issues;
- To provide occasions for the promotion of the work of
the Church within Communities;
- To execute relevant research and establish JCC as a
resource centre for information.
FINANCE
GOAL 8: To improve the Financial
base of the JCC (Fundraising
Committee and Finance Committee)
Strategies
- The Establishment of Fundraising Committee and host an
annual fundraising event;
- To seek funding from Ecumenical Bodies and Funding
Agencies for JCC Programmes;
N.B.
- The Goals are not listed in terms of priority;
- There may be further collaboration between Commissions;
- The strategies are suggestions and may be changed
depending on what the Commissions deem appropriate.
- Not all the goals have suggested strategies.
- Commissions will need to develop plans along the agreed
goals and submit the same to the Executive Committee for approval before
implementation.
