Theodore Parker Church's Social Action Committee has initiated a new method to address concerns of interest to congregation members. The 2007-2008 Church year is the first year of using a Task Force model, where the Congregation votes and approves on Task Forces at the annual meeting.

During the 2007-2008 church year, social action at TPC is focusing on four issues, following the congregation's approval of four new task forces at the annual meeting in June 2007.

• The Boston Peace and Safety Initiative Task Force will continue TPC's support for Renewal House with the Tickets to Safety Campaign, but will broaden its social justice efforts by also collaborating with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute and Healthy Roslindale. Contact: Jennifer Johnston, Jennifer.Johnston(at)childrens.harvard.edu
• The Community-Supported Agriculture Task Force will promote connections between food growers and producers at the local level, and provide information and activities about sustainable agriculture and food distribution. The task force has compiled a list of CSA farms in greater Boston. For many years, the church has supported the Food Project, which grows and sells organic vegetables at urban and suburban plots and distributes the produce through food pantries and local farmers' markets.Contact: Laura Dowd, dowd(at)gis.net
• The Green Sanctuary Task Force will provide information about sustainable living and promote measures to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, both at the church and at home or work. Contact: Steve Greene, sggreene(at)gmail.com
• Hands Across the Water, in partnership with Temple Hillel b'Nai Torah, will collect books for distribution to schools and libraries in developing countries, and explore other opportunities for collaboration with the synagogue. Contact: Susan Caron, suzecaron(at)rcn.com

The Social Action Committee is examining its role in relation to the newly formed Task Forces and welcomes the particpation of members and friends alike in their interest in exploring ways to support a social action program. The Committee supports and helps congregation members/friends in developing or finding a Task Force that aligns with their interests, as well as being a resource to learn about social action initatives/groups outside of this Congregation. In addition, the Committee and Congregation members are pursuing ways to be involved with other social action groups for information, collaboration, consultation, support for the Task Forces and resources: UUSC, GBIO, Urban Ministry, etc...
For more information about the Social Action Committee and/or about a Task Force in particular or in general, please contact Lara Sullivan, larasull(at)aol.com, or Jennifer Johnston, Jennifer.Johnston(at)childrens.harvard.edu.

INTERESTED IN RECEIVING PROGRESSIVE ACTION ALERTS? Would you like to be on an email list to receive information about events, rallies, marches, and forums addressing anti-war efforts, climate change, immigrant rights and other issues.? In order to honor the diversity of social and political viewpoints within our congregation, we have kept a general guideline of not using the weekly TPC Enews to announce such events. It now seems to make sense to start a separate list for those who would like to receive this information. Please reply to tpcuu@verizon.net if you would like to be on the PAL list (progressive action list).