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Birthday Offering

“In recognition of Presbyterian Women’s heritage, a Birthday Offering shall be received in the spring.  Proposals are received, selections made, and interpretive materials prepared by the Creative Ministries Offering Committee” (Bylaws for Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Article VIII, section 2.A).

Creative Ministries Offering Committee (Bylaws, Article IX).

· The Creative Ministries Offering Committee (CMOC) of Presbyterian Women churchwide selects all projects to be funded by the Birthday Offering and the Thank Offering (including health ministries).
· CMOC meets twice each year and is accountable to the organization of Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA) through the Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women (CCT/PW)
· Committee membership: chair, appointed by the churchwide moderators; six members of the Churchwide Coordinating Team including the financial secretary; one representative each from Congregational, National, Worldwide division committees; staff (PW mission interpretation and program development associate (without vote) and assistance, as appropriate, from other General Assembly Council staff to review proposals and from governing bodies to endorse projects.

· One of the five projects supported in 1997 was The Societal Violence Initiative, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
· Funds supported a two-part project to develop a comprehensive program to address violence against women and children:

1. A national program for training and equipping Presbyterian leaders to respond to the needs of women;
2. A series of educational videos designed specifically for youth ministries, and for racial ethnic churches and service organizations.

· Partners in the project were the Societal Violence Initiative Team, PC(USA); the Center for Sexual and Domestic Violence in Seattle; Presbyterian Women, Seattle Presbytery.

· In 1991 the General Assembly Council appointed SVIT as a response to a General Assembly mandate to address societal violence against women.
· Working with the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence in Seattle, Washington, SVIT trained one hundred Presbyterians about domestic violence issues and how churches can respond (part 1. of the 1997 Birthday Offering funding to develop a comprehensive program to address violence against women and children).
· In January 2001, SVIT and its related network became part of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) of the PC(USA) and was renamed Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN), part of the National Ministries Division, (PC(USA)

· The center is an international, private, nonprofit, interreligious organization that addresses issues of sexual and domestic violence.
· Unique in its mission, the center’s goal is to engage religious leaders in the task of ending abuse, and to serve as a bridge between religious and secular communities.
· Since 1977, the center has worked with more than 85,000 leaders and produced numerous award-winning videos.
· The PC(USA) and PW have partnered with the center on several projects.

· A six-session curriculum and three-part video series on healthy relationships for youth and young adults.
· The resource is designed to inform young people about the elements that make up healthy relationships, increase awareness and understanding about violence and abuse; and motivate youth and young adults to seek relationships based on equality and mutual respect.
· The video was produced with funds from multiple sources, including the 1997 PW Birthday Offering (part2. of the funding).

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