Social Justice

Social Justice Advocacy

Micah 6:8 “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Church of the Nativity seeks to live into our Baptismal Covenant of respecting the dignity of all and striving for justice and peace. Through support of outside agencies as well as our own ministries, we strive to model The Episcopal Church’s work of racial reconciliation, healing and justice, guided by the church’s principles of Becoming Beloved Community.

If you have questions about any of these programs, please Email Becky Showalter or Email Beth Crow.

Below is a list of some of the ways Nativity lives out our Baptismal Covenant.

Episcopal Habitat Build

Church of the Nativity joins other area Episcopal churches in co-funding and constructing a Habitat for Humanity House for hard-working families in need of affordable housing in Wake County. Nativity has been a strong supporter of this program for many years.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County is to put God’s love into action by partnering with families who live or work in Wake County to build and purchase safe, affordable homes. For more information from Habitat Wake regarding the Episcopal Build program, go to the Habitat for Wake website.

For information on Nativity’s participation in Habitat for Humanity, Email Dave McKinnon.

Nativity Raleigh-Apex NAACP Scholarship Fund

As part of Nativity’s mission to work towards building Beloved Community,  in partnership with the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, we have established the  Nativity Raleigh-Apex NAACP Scholarship Fund. Nativity sends its  contributions to the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, which then discerns which  students from historically marginalized communities will receive a $1000  scholarship. Nativity has been able to provide eight scholarships each year  since the fund started in 2020. 

Donations can be made on the Church of the Nativity: Donate page; be  sure to go to the Select the Fund drop-down menu and select Nativity Raleigh-Apex NAACP Scholarship Fund. If you prefer to send a check to the  church, be sure to write “Scholarship Fund” in the memo line. The  Nativity / Raleigh-Apex NAACP Scholarship is also a part of Nativity’s Day  and Giving.

Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry

The Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry is a joint project of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, started in 1982 and based in Dunn, NC. EPWM works with agricultural workers (farmworkers, meat processing plant workers, and workers from nurseries, packing houses and poultry, swine, or livestock farms) and immigrant families in Eastern rural NC. The ministry coordinates direct services, leadership programs, community education programs, and advocacy in support of the community. The majority of people served live or work in Duplin, Harnett, Johnston, Lenoir, and Sampson counties. Church of the Nativity has a longstanding commitment of support to EPWM through direct interaction and through donations of money, clothes, and food. For more information, visit the ministry website linked above or Email Pete Crow.

Church of the Nativity’s Peace Library

Started in the spring of 2022, Nativity’s Peace Library offers our children  and youth a large collection of highly recommended, frequently award winning books that highlight diversity, self-worth, and respect for others.  Many of these books bring history to life in a manner inclusive of minority  cultures and points of view.

You can view all our books in the Nativity Peace Library on the Nativity Peace Library librarycat listing.

If you would like to contribute to our collection, go to the Nativity Peace Library Wish List. You will  receive a 21% discount if you enter the code NATIVITY22.  The team will pick these up once the orders have come in.

Now comes the real work—getting these books into the hands of our  children and youth, to encourage honest conversations about history, race,  and sexuality. Each month in Glad Tidings (and on our website) the Peace  Library Team will publish a book review with suggested questions and  activities. Jesus calls us as a faith community to step out of our comfort  zones and broaden our understandings of “others” while recognizing  God’s presence within us all.