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Welcome to Our Blog!

A little bit MAC, a little bit Community, & ALL about meeting our Values of Matthew 25!

*The views and opinions expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Montana Association of Christians. MAC is a progressive, ecumenical organization, committed to the values of Matthew 25 and embracing the diversity of all individuals. If you have questions about MAC's position on any public policy issues, please feel free to contact the MAC at admin@macmt.org.

June 3rd- 2016 Investigation Discovery Documentary "Hate in America: A Town on Fire"

5/31/2016

 
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Join Us For:
Inspiring Change, Extinguishing Hate
3rd * June * 2016
6:15 pm * St. Paul's Church Sanctuary * Helena, MT

An Evening with the  
Southern Poverty Law Center
& Montana Human Rights Network
Featuring a new 2016 Investigation Discovery Documentary "Hate in America: A Town on Fire" set in the Flathead Valley, a speakers panel and reception.

Where:
St Paul's Sanctuary
512 Logan St. Helena, MT


Suggested Donation $20

Amidst growing awareness and heated debate about the of white supremacist movement and anti-government radicals across the country, The Montana Human Rights Network will play host to a Southern Poverty Law Center expert and screen a new Investigation Discovery Channel "Hate in America: A Town on Fire" episode set in Montana.
 
In the film, Emmy Award-winning journalist Tony Harris introduces the beautiful Flathead Valley that has become home to activists that envision an all-white homeland and those that see it as a modern-day Alamo where they can escape from the reach of government. "Town on Fire" is part of the "Hate in America" series created to showcase the state of hate in the U.S with stories like that of David Lenio in Montana, who in 2015 tweeted he wanted to execute 30 or more grade school children and put bullets "in the head" of a rabbi.

Read More

Boundaries Class - Free

5/31/2016

 

Sexual Misconduct and Boundaries

The Montana Synod Sexual Misconduct Policy adopted in 2005 mandates
that the synod provide ongoing education on issues related to sexual misconduct,
boundaries and prevention strategies. Every rostered leader and lay staff should be
trained in this. Ethics, common sense and church insurance policies suggest that
documentation of boundaries training should be in every minister’s file. While we have not yet taken the step that other synods have taken of making this mandatory,
we are strongly encouraging rostered leaders and LPAs to take the opportunity to
attend this workshop to refresh your skills and awareness. If you have not taken a
Boundaries class in the last 10 years, please consider taking this workshop to
refresh your skills and awareness.

This 6- hour workshop is offered by the Montana Synod, with continuing education hours given to participants through the Montana Synod. Pastor Greg Holler-Dinsmore and Pastor Carol Karres are the Sexual Misconduct and Boundaries workshop facilitators.

The cost will be $30, and the location will be at the Radisson Hotel Billings, just prior to the Synod Assembly and Theological Conference. The Boundaries training will be from 1:30-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2016.

Overnight accommodations are available at the Radisson Hotel Billings for Thursday night. Room costs are $89 plus tax. Please contact The Radisson Hotel Billings (formerly The Holiday Inn Grand, 5500 Midland Rd, Billings MT 59101). The Radisson has an online reservation link for our group here:

http://www.radisson.com/montana/synod , or call (406)248-7701 or 1-800-333-3333, toll free. Ask for the Montana Synod block. Rooms will be released after May 13th.

We look forward to having a good turnout at this workshop.
Please call or e-mail Colter McCarty to register. (406) 453-1461 or cmccarty@montanasynod.org You may bring your payment with you.
boundaries_schedule.pdf
File Size: 7 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Children, Families, Health & Human Services Interim Committee Meeting

5/18/2016

 
On Monday, May 9, I attended a meeting of the Children, Families, Health & Human Services Interim Committee. This House/Senate interim committee is charged with preparing legislation for the 2017 Montana Legislative Session. The committee is taking on few primary initiatives of particular interest to the MAC 2017 legislative focus, including:  
  1. Updating the Department of Public Health Services data gathering and processing system required for case workers, legal services and administrators. This is a critical need for helping children and their agency support personnel in navigating the complex systems of intervention and care. The goal of the data systems revision is to more effectively keep track of children in need of services and to provide them with the best care available.
  2. Addressing need for additional funding for Child and Family Services, particularly in the area of case workers and support.
  3. Considering the need for increased funding for mental health services. Courts also need additional staff to provide adequate oversight to children and adolescents moving through the judicial system.
I am always impressed with the level of commitment, the amount of hard work and time that our “citizen” legislators give to their tasks. Many of the legislators and staff are young (Millennials) and they give me considerable hope for the future of our state and nation. MAC is right, I believe, to focus our attention on Children & Families in the next legislative session. There are always those voices that think first of cost and last about the long term consequences of neglect. MAC may well be a decisive voice in encouraging legislative support to repair inadequate systems of intervention, crisis care and understaffed agencies. 

Additionally, while this item is not on our MAC agenda for 2017, I also attended the session on Alzheimer’s support, guardianship regulations and long-term care. Memory care is a growing crisis in Montana and the nation, and our legislators are preparing to address the issue. This may be a valuable issue for MAC to continue to observe and tackle in the future.

Please feel free contact me if you have additional questions.   We will continue to monitor the legislative impact on Children & Families as it is presented.   

MAC President Elect for 2017
David Andersen, Pastor, Butte Aldersgate United Methodist Church
406-461-8321 

CNR Update: 

5/16/2016

 
House Bill Passes Committee, Includes Provision to Drastically Weaken Community Eligibility

Last week, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed their CNR bill, following a contentious bill hearing and a largely partisan vote. The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016 would undermine the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), weaken nutrition standards, and miss out on numerous opportunities to strengthen the Summer Food Service Program, WIC, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program included in the Senate's version of the bill. 

To Read the Full Excerpt Go to the Site

For Additional Information please contact Tirza Asbell at tasbell@mfbn.org or (406) 215-1771 if you have any questions.
Montana Food Bank Network
5625 Expressway
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 721-3825

www.mfbn.org

Air Ambulance Flights Add Insult to Injury - Jesse Laslovich, Missoulian May 3, 2016

5/3/2016

 
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"Last September, John Andrews suffered a brain aneurysm and was airlifted via helicopter by Life Flight Network from Anaconda to Missoula. He was charged $34,200, his health insurer paid almost half, and Life Flight Network billed him the balance – $18,678. Upon arrival in Missoula, St. Patrick Hospital decided John needed to be airlifted via airplane to Seattle, this time by its own affiliate, NW MedStar. He was charged $57,867, his health insurer paid about one-third, and NW MedStar billed him the balance – $37,931. Two flights. Two companies. Two large bills. And one call to action."

To see the full letter from Jesse Laslovich, chief legal counsel to Montana State Auditor Monica J. Linden, please click here. 

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Montana Association of Christians
PO Box 7121
Helena, MT 59604-7121
​(406) 449-6010


  • Home
  • About
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    • Event - MAC Connect!
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    • BLOG >
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