Justice
One of our core values at Grace Capital City is Justice.
We define Justice as God’s right ordering of things, and we believe, as followers of God, that He is inviting us to partner with Him in His mission for justice on the earth.
If you are particularly passionate about any justice areas (mentioned below or others) or if you’ve made the decision to volunteer with one of our partners, we’d love to connect with you! Please email our Justice Director Hannah Martha Cohen Banks at hannahbanks@gfc.tv or Justice Resident Faith Anderson at faith@gfc.tv
JUSTICE MINISTRIES
Creation Care Justice Ministry
Celebrating and honoring the identity of God as Creator looks like prayerful and prophetic stewardship of all creation. As a community, we believe that this stewardship begins locally, with a community of believers who press in together to hear God’s heart for creation. From there, we take action by building partnerships with those who care and advocate for creation locally, nationally, and internationally. This ministry is advised by Dr. Jessica Moerman. Click here for more information on past events and expressions.
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Director and Creation Care Team Lead Hannah Martha Cohen Banks or click here to join the GroupMe.
River Clean Ups happen from late Spring to early Autumn. Click here for any upcoming clean ups.
Racial Reconciliation Justice Ministry
Justice + Equality serves marginalized communities by providing academic resources, peacemaking initiatives, and advocacy to elected officials for laws and budgets to be passed in favor of the disenfranchised. For more information and volunteer opportunities, click here.
Be the Bridge groups meet online for 10 sessions spanning 9-12 months.
In 2022, we partnered with Great Commission Community Church and The Triumphant Church. For more information, click here.
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Team Lead Faith Anderson or click here to join the GroupMe.
Children & Families Justice Ministry
DC127 journeys with parents who are socially isolated, overwhelmed, under-resourced, facing significant life challenges and at increased risk of instability. They build a support system that preserves families and ensures that children have a safe and healthy home. They also recruit and support foster families as a safety net for children who need a safe alternative. They walk with families fostering in the District and connect them to community resources, volunteers, and a support network to limit the amount of child placement disruptions. For volunteer and training opportunities, click here
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Team Lead Melanie Oeltjenbruns or click here to join the GroupMe.
Unhoused Neighbors Justice Ministry
Christ House’s mission is to provide comprehensive and compassionate health care to sick, homeless persons in the District of Columbia, and to assist them in addressing critical issues to help break the cycle of homelessness. For volunteer opportunities, click here
Cooking with Christ House is an opportunity to cook and serve meals for the Christ House residents. This opportunity happens monthly through December. Click here for any upcoming Cooking with Christ House opportunities.
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Team Lead Lonni Howard or click here to join the GroupMe.
Refugee Justice Ministry
Grace Capital City supports missionaries locally and abroad. For more information on our missionaries, please email hannahcohen@gfc.tv
Welcoming our New Neighbors: In coordination with local volunteer groups, we equip and connect members of the GCC community with families who have recently arrived to the United States to serve as friends and guides. Volunteers commit to visiting newcomer families a minimum of twice a month for four months and help rally additional support as needed, whether it's household good donations, tutoring, case management, or something else.
Quarterly Awareness Events: We also host quarterly events for the GCC community to learn more about Missional & International Justice--particularly along the issues of refugees, immigration, and displacement--through a Kingdom Justice lens.
Crisis Response: As the congregation of Grace Capital City feels called to address national and international crises, we periodically host candlelight vigils after service at the Taras Shevchenko statue to collectively intercede for peace and justice.
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Team Lead Krista Kartson or click here to join the GroupMe.
Proximity with the Incarcerated Justice Ministry
“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36, NIV). We feel called and are passionate about aiding those who are transitioning out of carceral situations to diminish the rate of recidivism in our community. Often times, developing a helpful presence in the prisons requires establishing a baseline of education and understanding on our part and consistency with building relationships and trust with partners who have access inside the prisons.
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Team Lead Jaime Calderon Goff or click here to join the GroupMe.
Peacemaking Justice Ministry
Multi-Faith Neighbor Network builds mutual trust and respect among faith leaders through civic engagement, authentic relationships, and honest dialogue leading to resilient, compassionate, and flourishing communities — communities that are more interconnected and resilient to hate, violence, and polarization. For more information and updates on upcoming events, click here
Jesus and the Qur’an will invite you, through an examination of the teachings of Jesus, to reconsider the message of Good News. It will challenge you, through interactive exercises and training, to enhance your understanding of a Muslim perspective on the world. And it will encourage you, through stories of lessons learned from personal experiences, to begin respectful, engaging dialog with your Muslim neighbors – next door, across town, or overseas. Grace Capital City periodically hosts JAQ training sessions. Check back for upcoming events. For more information and resources, click here.
Telos is a peacemaking organization that primarily focuses on developing,"diverse communities of American peacemakers [who] stand with both Palestinians and Israelis to sustain dignity, freedom, and security for all.” Occasionally, we partner with peacemaking expressions that Telos leads.
Get Involved with this community by emailing our Justice Team Lead Sarita Loredo or click here to join the GroupMe.
