Role of the church in secular concerns of its congregants Essay Example for Free

Role of the church in secular concerns of its congregants Essay As notable and important as the role of the Black church in inspiring community service by its congregants is the service provided by the church for its congregants’ secular concerns. Church programs can often encompass all areas of a congregant’s secular life. Social interaction and personal relationships are fostered among the congregation; social services such as youth ministry and care for adolescents, literacy programs, economic development programs and physical and mental health programs are provided; traditional pastoral services such as grief counseling and marriage counseling are also benefits of the membership in the Black church. Many of these services have been the subject of study and inquiry in recent years, and a review of extant literature can provide insight into the role of the modern Black church. PHYSICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS Health and preventative care programs are some of the most important secular program offered by Black churches to their congregations. The health picture of African-Americans is grim: higher rates of diabetes and heart disease, lower birth rates and life expectancies, higher infant mortality, and higher rates of psychological problems are all exacerbated by lower levels of health insurance coverage and racial discrimination in health care (NEEDS CITE). Church-based health programs are a vital resource for the underserved population of the church community. The Los Angeles Mammography Promotion in Churches Program, a Los Angeles area health initiative sponsored by the RAND Corporation, which targeted an underserved population (older Black women) for health screening care including mammograms, ran from 1996 to 1998, with 18 Black churches participating. The aims of the study were twofold: one, to determine the feasibility of churches as focal points for community health programs; and two, to test the effectiveness of church-based programs aimed at increasing preventative health care access to underserved populations. The authors considered that â€Å"the church can be an important conduit through which to inform racial/ethnic minorities about preventative care, and that the Black church, because of its ethic of service to others, is particularly well-suited for health promotion (Markens , 2005, 805). The authors of the study, Markens, Fox, Teub and Gilbert (2002), surveyed the pastors of 16 of the churches upon completion of the program to determine the effectiveness of the program and its implementation. The survey illuminated not only the effectiveness and importance of church-based health care programs for the Black community, but many of the problems with implementation and participation in these programs. The authors note that â€Å"given its historical and ongoing roles within the Black community, the church is an ideal setting in which to offer health promotion activities for African-Americans (2002, 805). † In order to obtain answers about the church leader’s perspective on the effectiveness of the program, the authors of the study interviewed sixteen of eighteen pastors of the church where the program was implemented; two of the pastors were excluded due to their short tenure with their churches, which meant that they had not been substantially involved in the program. The authors found that most of the pastors were generally enthusiastic and positive about the program and their church’s participation in it; however, there were also a number of criticisms of the study. The authors noted that what drew many of the pastors to participate in the study was their holistic approach to ministry. One participant, Reverend Henry, said: I try to have a holistic ministry, one that not only deals with the soul but the body as well†¦ there are many facets to us that make up whole people, and each one needs to be dealt with and the church can be a focal point in dealing with the needs of the whole person†¦ I feel very strongly that the physical wellbeing of the person is as important as their spiritual wellbeing. (Markens , 2002, 807). Some participants in the study went even further than Reverend Henry, expressing a dislike of the idea of the separation of spiritual and secular concerns and explicitly linking spiritual and physical health. Reverend Ellington, another participant, remarks: †¦there are a lot of people because of a spiritual mentality, they believe that the Lord will do everything and they†¦ really don’t have to be overzealous about doing anything†¦ so you have to keep telling them that the doctor is there because God put him here. So then you’re supposed to utilize that source. And so that’s my kind of emphasis, that I keep people interested in their whole body. (Markens , 2002, 807). More pragmatically, many participants recognized that physical health was important to the congregation because it could affect spiritual goals. Reverend Henry noted â€Å"if you don’t keep people alive, you’re not going to have a congregation†¦Ã¢â‚¬  All the respondents to the study took the health of their congregation seriously, and considered it to be a matter of pastoral concern, disputing the idea that it was a secular matter (Markens , 2002, 808). One participant in the study, Reverend Hill, echoed a common sentiment when he remarked â€Å"the only reason for a church to be in existence is to better the community†¦ otherwise, it’s not a church† (Markens , 2002, 807). The eagerness and appreciation of community projects was a common attitude among the survey respondents. In a number of churches, the Los Angeles Mammography Promotion in Churches Program served as a gatekeeper for other church-based community health programs, often instigated or arranged by church members and pastors who observed the success of the mammography program. Programs such as diabetes and blood pressure screenings, health fairs and even the establishment of permanent Health Committees and Bible aerobics (a combination of a low-impact aerobics program with Bible study) were put into place in the participating churches, widening the congregation’s access to preventative health screening and care (Markens , 2002, 807). Not all of the responses to Marken’s study were positive. There were a number of barriers to care and the success of the program cited in the pastoral survey. The most common thread was lack of time on the part of the pastor to oversee the program; the responses speak to a larger problem within the church, that of high-stress leadership positions within the church. Reverend Hill stated: †¦ pastoring is one of the most stressful positions in America†¦ Mainly because you’re constantly on the go and consistently on call†¦ in the electronic age, you have a beeper on either side, you have a cell phone in your hand. You gotta check your email every day. And every time the phone rings you’re concerned†¦ you’re looking at a stressful society. (Markens , 2002, 808). At the same time, the presence of the pastor is extremely important – â€Å"in the Black church, people want to hear the voice of the leader†¦ some things just cannot be delegated ((Markens , 2002, 808). † There were other problems with the study that did not depend on the amount of time the pastor could devote to overseeing it. The smaller churches in the study didn’t have a lot of resources to draw on for financial support, which complicated administration of the program (many of the pastors worked second jobs in addition to overseeing the administration of the church. ) As the authors note, â€Å"Ironically, then, the Black church’s history of involvement in community and secular activities that makes them ideal sites for health interventions can at the same time possibly affect a pastor’s willingness to participate in new health programs (808). † Finally, the very lack of formal programs and secular support for the congregation’s health care affected the involvement of the congregation in the health intervention program. The combination of a lack of accustomed medical care, particularly preventative care and screening available to more affluent members of society, and a history of exploitation and abuse among the group resulted in an unwillingness to participate in a research study, regardless of how worthy it was (Markens , 2002, 809). The power of the Black church, although considerable, is not always enough to overcome the external pressure of the dominant culture. Another project that undertook a community health initiative within a Black church was Project DIRECT (Diabetes Interventions Reaching and Educating Communities Together). Project DIRECT, a federally funded research project sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Reid , 569). Project DIRECT was founded in 1994 in southeast Raleigh, North Carolina,, with the intended purpose of providing community care, education, screening and prevention resources in order to reduce the high rate of type II diabetes experienced within the African-American community in the region. This research project also examined the influence of another African-American institution, the historically Black university North Carolina Central University (NCCU), located in Raleigh, as a resource for community health programs. Reid state, â€Å"Historically, African American people have turned to the church for information about services of value and importance to them (571). † The authors note that the study was designed to take into account the fact that churches often have limited resources and are often overwhelmed with requests to participate in community health studies; careful organization of the study was required to avoid negatively impacting the pastor and outreach ability. The demographic profile of the church was considered more important for targeting church participation than the denomination of the church; however, there was no easy way to determine the demographic profile of any given church. In order to determine this, NCCU students participating in the study attended services at the church (with the pastor’s prior knowledge), and introduced themselves as Project DIRECT staffers during the fellowship time, discussing the project with those who showed an interest in it. The researcher observation allowed the Project to create a congregational health assessment tool (CHAT) used to determine the needs of the demographic served by the particular church, followed by a congregational health action plan (CHAP), customized to the church’s demographic. Church leaders were then engaged in providing their congregation with the appropriate contacts for education and management of type II diabetes within their congregation. The authors note that the outcome was positive: several churches reorganized or supplemented their health and social ministries on the findings of the CHAT and CHAP, and pastor response was positive. The interaction between the NCCU students and the church leaders and congregation was also noted as a positive outcome by the researchers: the Project DIRECT experience precipitated the founding of an interdepartmental master’s program in Community Health at NCCU, using the lessons learned to create a professional community health coordinator skill set within the community.

The Severe Effect of Global Warming Essay -- essays research papers

Global Warming When we think of global warming, we think about Air pollution, rise of temperature, melting glaciers, carbon dioxide emissions and so no. But even though we know that these factors could lead to a global catastrophe, very often we do not realize what king of severe effect the global warming could have on our planet. Imagine that you are placed into the future. It is some where around 2050. You begin to live in this new world, but the planet is not the same any more. You hear about huge storms over much of the North America that cause severe damage and flooding. San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal all experience major flooding from the ocean level having risen so high. Thousands and thousands of people die each summer across the world as the temperature soars to 65Â ° C for 2 weeks straight. No, this is not total fantasy. All of these events could really occur over less then half a century. All of them are results of one problem — the global warming. It is a huge issue with many consequences. People just do not realize that all of these events could occur if the action is not taken. If we work together, and unite our efforts we can stop the global warming. (Thesis) It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else will affect the outcome. *What is global warming Global warming is the increase in the temperature on average during the extended period of time. It has been first noticed by the scientist some time around 1980s. Since then lots of studies were made about this issue. Scientists from around the world have come to a conclusion that the climate on the Earth is changing. Our planet is continually being warmed by different sources suc... ...go up. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5% of the energy used. In North America 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide is released per person every year. We can decrease that number by simply not wasting the energy resources that we take form the nature. Since the people's actions have caused global warming, our actions can also help reduce this threat.(climax) Anyone can help by taking personal action and encouraging the people in your community to do the same. We should stop looking at the global warming as at the prediction. It is already happening right now. The problem is not new. We know it is still happening, so why is it still happening?(Chiasmus) We could not afford to let it happened! Global warming is a time bomb, a race against time.(Metaphor) In order to will this raise we need to be together, to save out planet for the future generations. The Severe Effect of Global Warming Essay -- essays research papers Global Warming When we think of global warming, we think about Air pollution, rise of temperature, melting glaciers, carbon dioxide emissions and so no. But even though we know that these factors could lead to a global catastrophe, very often we do not realize what king of severe effect the global warming could have on our planet. Imagine that you are placed into the future. It is some where around 2050. You begin to live in this new world, but the planet is not the same any more. You hear about huge storms over much of the North America that cause severe damage and flooding. San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal all experience major flooding from the ocean level having risen so high. Thousands and thousands of people die each summer across the world as the temperature soars to 65Â ° C for 2 weeks straight. No, this is not total fantasy. All of these events could really occur over less then half a century. All of them are results of one problem — the global warming. It is a huge issue with many consequences. People just do not realize that all of these events could occur if the action is not taken. If we work together, and unite our efforts we can stop the global warming. (Thesis) It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else will affect the outcome. *What is global warming Global warming is the increase in the temperature on average during the extended period of time. It has been first noticed by the scientist some time around 1980s. Since then lots of studies were made about this issue. Scientists from around the world have come to a conclusion that the climate on the Earth is changing. Our planet is continually being warmed by different sources suc... ...go up. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5% of the energy used. In North America 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide is released per person every year. We can decrease that number by simply not wasting the energy resources that we take form the nature. Since the people's actions have caused global warming, our actions can also help reduce this threat.(climax) Anyone can help by taking personal action and encouraging the people in your community to do the same. We should stop looking at the global warming as at the prediction. It is already happening right now. The problem is not new. We know it is still happening, so why is it still happening?(Chiasmus) We could not afford to let it happened! Global warming is a time bomb, a race against time.(Metaphor) In order to will this raise we need to be together, to save out planet for the future generations.

Analyse the presentation of Jane in Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ Essay

How is Jane presented in Charlotte Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s ‘Jane Eyre’? Charlotte Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ presents Jane in three different sections of her life that run through from childhood at her aunt’s house to her adult life at Thornfield. The presentation of Jane’s personality and looks is shown both through her own narration as well as the dialogue between the characters. The first section of Jane’s life is at Gateshead, her aunt’s house, and she is presented as a child who is ‘but ten’ and who is plain enough to be described as ‘a little toad’ by one of the house servants. After her parents’ untimely death Jane was forced to live with relatives, which she did not mind until her uncle died too. After that she was treated with contempt by her aunt and cousins Eliza and Georgiana and her cousin John was a bully, he ‘struck suddenly and strongly’. The unkindness Jane experiences causes her to have a burning sense of injustice from that point and it begins with her fighting back against John by calling him a ‘wicked and cruel boy’. Her aunt’s contempt for Jane however, may be because she refuses to ingratiate herself to her aunts wishes, which could be construed as Jane possibly being proud; Mrs Reed says that Jane should ‘acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition. A more attractive and sprightly manner’ but Jane feels she should be accepted for who she is and not to have to play up to her aunt’s wishes, no matter what the consequences. As a result her aunt feels she is a child with a ‘tendency to deceit’ and tends to punish her for it. Jane is shown to be a very literary child; she takes comfort in reading or looking at books and she uses language like ‘ships becalmed on a torpid sea’ which for a ten year old, even at that time, is rather impressive. Though it must be taken into account that by the time Jane tells the story she is probably in her thirties or forties and so the language may not be exactly that which the ten year old Jane would have actually used. The books she reads feed her already vibrant imagination which lead her to believe that things like a light flashing past the window was ‘a herald of some coming vision from another world’, that the blood she could hear rushing through her ears was ‘the rushing of wings’ and she felt that ‘something neared me’. Had her imagination not been quite so vivid she could probably have thought it through and seen that there was a rational explanation for these phenomenon, for Jane seems to have good judgement. She certainly seems to have a talent of being able to analyse people’s character’s well. While Jane is in the red room she is thinking over why she is so poorly treated although she had done nothing wrong and the reader sees her analyse each of her cousins: Eliza is ‘headstrong and selfish’ and Georgiana has ‘a spoiled temper, a very acrid spite, a captious and insolent carriage’. This is an analysis the reader may feel inclined to agree with because that is how the cousins have been portrayed from the start however it is worth remembering that as Jane is the narrator there may be a certain bias against them. The next section in which Jane is presented is during her time at Lowood Institution particularly the first few months of her stay there. Jane is presented as still having a burning sense of injustice as she sees some of things that happen to girls who are ‘punished’ and from the reader’s perspective one can see why. The girls are unfairly punished and usually for things that are not even their fault, as was the plight of Julia Severn, whose ‘hair curls naturally’ was ordered to have her hair ‘cut off’. Jane having been ‘wrongly accused’ when she was called a ‘liar’, had curled up on the floor and her ‘tears watered the boards’. Jane could not take being accused falsely due to all the trouble it caused her at her aunt’s house and so she keeps grudges against that do wrongly accuse her. Though it may have been seen previously in the section at Gateshead, the reader sees it more clearly during her times at Lowood that Jane could be considered stubborn. There are many times when Helen Burns tries to change Jane’s mind about things that have mostly to do with religion. The first time the reader sees this is when Helen tells Jane that ‘if all the world hated you’ but ‘your own conscience approved you’ then she would not be ‘without friends’, but Jane determinedly states ‘I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough: if others don’t love me, I would rather die than live’. This also shows a dependant need, in Jane, to be liked by all she meets and a very melodramatic side to her that the reader rarely sees. The last important way the Jane is presented in in this section is as a very bright and hard working girl. On her first day she had ‘reached the head of my class’ and she tells the reader that she ‘toiled hard’ and ‘in a few weeks I was promoted to a higher class: in less than two months I was allowed to commence French and drawing’. This shows that Jane enjoys school and is willing to work hard to improve and become the best she can be. The third section in which Jane is presented commences eight years later when she accepts the job of becoming a governess at Thornfield Hall. As the reader has seen before, Charlotte Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ seems to determined to emphasise the fact that Jane is a plain girl as she explain to her employer Mr. Rochester when she tells him that she is his ‘plain, Quakerish governess’. She is also presented as being a very respectful and polite employee of Mr. Rochester as she always calls him ‘sir’, even when they are engaged, and she seems to take some sort of joy in it as she has rarely been able to respect many people as she feels respect must be earned. She also has enough respect for him to tell him the truth to any question he asks her, even if it were not something one would usually ask at the time, and is wonderfully shown when she tells that ‘wherever you are is my home – my only home’. This was a very forward statement but Jane felt that Mr Rochester ought to know it so she told him. During the time in which Rochester has the party of guests at Thornfield and they are playing Charades, Jane is shown as having the concept of self worth. She sees these fine women and how they act but does not become jealous of their wealth or beauty. Instead she felt a sort of pity for them because though Blanche Ingram ‘was very showy’ she ‘was not genuine’, ‘she had a fine person’ ‘but her mind was poor’, ‘she was not good; she was not original’ and there are many more ways in which Jane describes Blanche Ingram. Jane feels that because of all this ‘Miss Ingram was a mark beneath jealousy: she was too inferior to excite the feeling.’ This not only states that she has self worth and does not feel that she should put herself down by thinking of Miss Ingram because of Blanche’s less than lovely qualities, it also shows a sense of pride in Jane. She feels proud to be who she is and would not want to be like Blanche Ingram if it meant not being very intellectual. Jane is presented as a passionate girl through the entire story and we see it again in this section. Just before Rochester proposes to Jane, he talks to her about her leaving to go to Ireland for a new governess situation, but Jane feels like her heart is breaking at the thought of leaving him. In a passionate burst, she declares ‘Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? – You think wrong!’ but she does not stop there. She goes on to tell Rochester in an abstract way that she loves him by saying ‘And if God had gifted me with some beauty, and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you’. Her passionate nature, most likely, came from her want to be treated as an equal, and though she is no social equal to Mr Rochester she feel that she is his equal in intellect and feels down trodden when she is not treated as such. In the same passionate outburst as shown above she also exclaims ‘it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal – as we are!’ This shows her need to be treated as an equal by the one she loves. Jane is presented as a girl who grows up being passionate about being treated equally and having a burning sense of injustice when people are wrongly accused or punished without cause. She is described as being a plain girl her whole life who is very smart, literary, hard working and imaginative. This is shown through the narration as well as through the dialogue between character.

Should Marijuana Be Legalized Essay - 1985 Words

Abstract This project will observe the legalization of marijuana from 2013 to 2014 after the pot law of January 2011 when into effect in order to conclude if there any changes within marijuana arrest and crime rates. Denver marijuana arrestee record data will be used despite race, gender and ethnicity. They will observe marijuana arrestee record from 2013 to 2014 to analyze to see if there any benefit after the pot law of January 2011 when into effect. It is predict that legalization of marijuana will reduce crime. The implications of the results will permit us to find a solution to the marijuana crime that population confronts today. Introduction Should marijuana be legalized to reduce crime rates? Yes, marijuana should be legalized to reduce crime rates. The legalization of marijuana will have a significant impact on the reduction of crime. Making marijuana criminal to use is costing close to eight billion dollar a year in criminal justice resources. It provides net benefit greater that alternatives such as a legal regulated market for marijuana. The legalization of marijuana will decrease the cause of property crime and homicide, marijuana, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, and larcenies along with subsequent increase in hard drug arrest. Literature Review Shepard and Blackley analysis has assessed the impacts of marijuana arrests, conditions in local labor markets, and the effectiveness of local law enforcement upon rates of several non-drugShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical si de of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this wouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?985 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize Marijuana Despite what people believe about marijuana, it hasn’t once proved to be the cause of any real issue. It makes you wonder what the reason as to why there is a war on drugs. Why is marijuana the main concern? Since the time that alcohol and tobacco became legal, people wonder why marijuana isn’t legal yet. The fact that marijuana is illegal is mainly caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. Once the government starts anything, they stick to it. At