About Us

Purpose 

Form friendships between young people, faith community, and law enforcement professionals who are otherwise unlikely to know one another and to reach a core value where each person at the table can say about all others "YOU matter to ME."

Overview

The social racial tension in the U.S. demands a response from the faith community. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be Bridgebuilders and peacemakers, pointing to the commonality in our humanity and the power of love. We are called to collaboratively seek a better way. We have prayed and marched. As we continue praying and marching, there are other substantive responses that the faith community could and should offer. No one congregation/ denomination can fix it all, but each can all contribute something.

The members of the Saint Mark's United Methodist Church discerned that one of the responses that the faith community can offer is to provide opportunities to increase positive community engagement and build community among youths/young adults, police, and differing ethnic groups within the faith community. Along with community forums and town hall meetings, we can provide opportunities for more dialogic and intimate conversations in smaller groups. Through the "Pass the Peace Feasts" initiative, members of the faith community will come together to sponsor small group community meals and conversations.

Two members of the faith community (of differing ethnic backgrounds) will take two to four community youths/young adults and two police officers out for a series of meals and conversation. The members of the faith community will have talking points for directed conversation during the meals.

We will also have periodic larger group gatherings with all participants who shared in the small group meals/conversations. The gatherings will include presentations drawn from the summaries, opportunity for those who shared a meal to reconnect, reflections about what is working and what needs to change, and continued conversations with previous participants and with other leaders in the community.

"YOU matter to ME" - We want to help make "mattering" personal, substantive, and sacrificial.