Our Open and Affirming (ONA) committee assists CCC to be an active, visible and reliable presence for our LGBTQ+ community. With the committee, CCC chooses to promote a faith with the values ONA represents. 

ONA committee participation may range from being informed on the status of our activities to assisting and representing CCC at functions, e.g., Interracial/ Interfaith LGBTQ+ Dialogue, MoCo Police LGBTQ events, DC TransPride, DC Black Pride, Capital Pride, Transgender Day of Remembrance, HIV-AIDS walks, and LGBTQ suicide awareness and prevention functions.

The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition states, “When ONA congregations are active and visible, they can grow. New members will include both LGBTQ seekers and young heterosexual couples who want their children to learn the faith in a church with the values ONA represents.”

The Racial Justice Circle sponsors study groups and adult-youth dialogue on such books as The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehesi Coates, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The Racial Justice Circle also leads the congregation in advocacy efforts at the local and state levels in cooperation with such coalitions as the Maryland Alliance For Justice Reform and the Silver Spring Justice Coalition; sponsors “Lunch and Learn” sessions for the congregation on issues such as solitary confinement, the county’s criminal justice system, police-community relations, and youth incarceration; works closely with our Senior Pastor on Black Lives Matter and related initiatives; joins with neighbors in sorrow and protest when events like the killing of Robert White by a Montgomery County police officer occur; and organizes events in recognition of Black History Month.

Check out the Racial Justice Circle page for more information about recent advocacy events.

Liaising with IMPACT Silver Spring, CCC is searching for ways to offer immigration support through community awareness, legislative advocacy, and personal aid. This wide spectrum may encompass letter-writing to legislative representatives to accompanying undocumented persons when they interact with ICE agents.

Reforms to Immigrant treatment procedures is the most recent Mission + Outreach effort; participants are researching opportunities to link with neighboring organizations.

Ugandan Ministry
CCC helps the Kobulubulu community of Uganda in various ways as a KRMA-USPartner. 

The CCC community has provided ongoing financial and technical support to the 20+ women of KRMA who are moving from subsistence farming to being successful economic producers of cassava for their families, their cooperative and their village.

Another initiative provides feminine hygiene kits for women and girls. These supplies enable the women and girls to work and go to school without embarrassment, infection, or discomfort. Before these kits were provided, each girl was missing four to five days of school each month.

The last two years, the children of CCC also donated funds from the children’s offering to buy books for the children of KRMA members and others in the community.

Other Global Assistance
In addition to the Uganda ministries, CCC has financially supported other programs worldwide, including aid to communities in India and Zimbabwe, among others. Our children have collected funds for UNICEF each year at Halloween. CCC’s financial help has gone to fight hunger, for disaster relief, toward health care improvements, and to support educational opportunities.

The Israel/Palestinian Conflict and Search for Peace

Issues arising from the now 50-year Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land and people in the West Bank, plus Israel’s practical control of Gaza, have been concerns of CCC members for many years. Most recently, CCC’s Middle East Working Group has presented numerous educational programs on aspects of the I/P conflict, featuring film showings and a number of guest speakers from, e.g., the Central Atlantic Conference and the national UCC Palestine/Israel Network (“UCCPIN) as well as Jewish Voice for Peace. Future activities will address, inter alia, implementation of two recent UCC General Synod resolutions: “A Call for the United Church of Christ to Advocate for the Rights of Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation” passed on July 2, 2017, and the earlier “A Call for the United Church of Christ to Take Actions Toward a Just Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” passed on June 30, 2015.

Stewards of the Earth works to support and sponsor CCC activities that promote stewardship of the environment and the welfare of God’s creation by the CCC members and friends and throughout the world.

The Green Team, as a part of Stewards of the Earth, sponsors environmental education, and partners with local environmental groups (Friends of Sligo Creek, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake) to support their work. Additionally, the team assists and advises the Trustees on issues related to CCC’s stewardship of the environment.

Impact Silver Spring

IMPACT was founded in 1999 during the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring. It was formed as a community-wide leadership program, to bring people together across lines of differences for relationship- and skill-building. CCC maintains a close partnership with IMPACT through our anti-racism work. CCC also provides financial support to this organization.

Shaw Community Ministries

Since 1991, Shaw Community Ministry of the UCC’s Potomac Association has operated as a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to further enhancing the lives of those living in the Shaw area of Washington, DC. Their mission is to work together with the children, youth, adults and seniors of the Shaw community to expand opportunities in the areas of education, health and wellness, leadership and youth development.

CCC provides financial support to this organization through special fund collection and donations. A member of CCC serves on the Board of Shaw Community Ministry.   

Shepherd’s Table at Progress Place

In the late 1990s, Rev. Jim Todhunter and CCC helped form Progress Place, a place homeless residents can find shelter and community services in downtown Silver Spring. In 1996, Progress Place offered rent-free space to Shepherd’s Table, a community food ministry. Shepherd’s Table has never missed a meal since opening its doors almost 30 years ago. Members of CCC volunteer at Shepherd’s Table once a month.

Gandhi Brigade

The Gandhi Brigade was formed from the vision of the late Richard Jaeggi, CCC member, who wanted to combine his love of youth with his passion for non-violent social change. Richard founded this organization to help youth engage the public square, build community, and work for the common good through media. Richard’s vision lives on as the group continues to thrive.

The Senior Connection 

The Senior Connection is an interfaith caregiving program that serves older adults living in lower Montgomery County. Services include: escorted transportation, shopping and errand assistance; friendly visitation and help with paperwork. Services are provided free of charge by volunteers, who are constantly needed to keep pace with the increasing needs. Service hours are flexible to accommodate each individual volunteer.