2023 Impact Report

“We will not be a people who despair of the future but a people whose heritage offers hope.”

-Roger Crook

A People Committed to Making a Difference in the World

IMPACT: Noun /im pak(t)/ the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.

Verb /im pak(t) / come into forcible contact with another object.

You are holding in your hands an “impact report.” What follows in these pages are articles and stories of Pullen’s impact on the lives of Pullenites, the larger Raleigh community, our state, and the world. Since its birth in 1884, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and her people have been committed to making a difference in the world. To put it another way, you have taken action, sometimes at great risk, to impact the lives of people by practicing a radical welcome and a justice-love.

A Christian community that embraces and nurtures an authentic and tested faith. Biblical interpretation that is grounded in sound scholarship. Prophetic preaching that speaks boldly on the issues of the day. Spiritual nurture that values personal experience. Embracing wisdom found in other faith traditions. Deep commitment to social justice. This is the Pullen of the present and will be the Pullen of the future because it has been the Pullen of the past.

In a weary world that is more often focused on the darkness of our times, Pullen is a community of diverse and beautiful people who are casting rays of light and hope. We are not a large church nor are we a wealthy church by the world’s standards. But we are a dedicated rag-tag band of seekers who believe that we can make a difference in the world—impact the world—by giving witness to a justice-love that has the promise and possibility of building God’s vision of a more peaceful and just world for all. To that end, with imagination and a creative spirit, we use the gifts, talents, and financial resources entrusted to us to impact the lives of those within our walls and those outside our walls.

Impact: the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another. What you will read in this report is the action of Pullenites coming forcibly (forcibly in a good way) into contact with one another, their community, and the world to make a difference for God’s justice-love in the world. We hope you enjoy reading about what you and your resources are doing through this place and people we call Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. In part, we are able to do the work represented in this report by your generous financial contributions. We hope that the words and images in the pages to follow will encourage and inspire you to continue to support Pullen with your presence and your generous giving.

You are a beautiful people doing beautiful work in the world!

-Nancy E. Petty, Pastor

If you would like to financially support Pullen, you can pledge to our annual budget, or you can give at pullen.org/give.

Pullen Kids

From a Parent’s Perspective

“The OWL program has been an invaluable addition to Pullen’s children ministry, and the larger community, for several reasons. Substantively, it has been apparent that it has taught my daughter to feel comfortable thinking about the issues discussed in the curriculum and to think critically about those issues. The OWL leaders have done a very effective job building a rapport with the children and connecting the group. They have also done an excellent job bringing the parents together and making them comfortable with the program. I can tell that the consistent, directed lessons and activities (including the overnight) have made the children closer as a group, which is very nice to see and, I expect, will make them more connected with the church going forward. Several other parents, some of whom had reservations about the program initially, have also expressed to me how wonderful the program has been for their children. The program also seems to have made parents more consistently engaged with the church and has connected new members to the community more closely, which is very beneficial. Given the absence of strong education about sex and sexuality in schools, I also believe that the OWL program could be a good way to attract new members to the church, as I have heard from a number of parents their desire for a forum to learn about those issues. Overall, it has been an excellent program and I am very appreciative of the resources Pullen has put into the program, and the time devoted by Tommy, Lynn and the other leaders.”

-Andrew Kasper

The Owl Program

In the Fall of 2023, the Children’s Ministry of Pullen Memorial Baptist added the Our Whole Lives curriculum to its programming. Our Whole Lives, or OWL, is a comprehensive sexuality curricula for all age groups published by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries. Our hope is that Pullen children will have two opportunities to experience OWL: children from ages 5-7 to begin the lifelong process of acquiring information, forming attitudes and values about identity, relationships, safety, and health, and Children ages 9 – 11 to gain the knowledge, life principles, and skills they need to express their sexuality in life-enhancing ways.

OWL’s materials say that “honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives.”

At Pullen, we will present OWL once a year. In even-numbered years, an eight-week workshop will be for children K-1 and in odd-numbered years a 10-week workshop will be for children in grades 4-5.

The Kasper family at Pullen came into the program very enthusiastically. Andrew, who grew up in the Unitarian tradition, and his daughter Ophelia speak to the impact OWL has had on them.

From a Child’s Perspective

The best part of OWL is hanging out and making new friends. In OWL, we learn that body parts are not that funny (but they are still a little funny). I also learned that as you get older, your body changes. Mr. Tommy and Ms. Lynn make it fun and not just talking-talking-talking and sitting in our seats. They also decorated the OWL classroom in a cool way. It has gotten less awkward over time to discuss bodies and what a person thinks of themselves. I know the kids better in the program because we see each other a lot and they share to me more. If you didn’t know about this stuff, you would be confused and you would have to ask your parents awkward questions. When I am my dad’s age, I will probably think that OWL is a good thing because not a lot of people get this education but it’s something important to have.

-Ophelia Kasper, 4th Grade

From a Teacher’s Perspective

My experience as a first-time Our Whole Lives (OWL) facilitator for Pullen Children’s Ministry has been one of growth for me and the families who are participating.

At the Parent Orientation meeting, most of us described our own sexuality education as less than ideal; we were told little or nothing, apart from “Don’t have sex before marriage or you will go to hell.” and “Homosexuality is a sin.” and “Here’s a brochure; read it.” We wanted more for Pullen’s children, yet felt ill-equipped to tackle the complexity of the subject without assistance.

Enter OWL and its age-appropriate workshops that cover the broad spectrum of human sexuality through vocabulary development, discussions, and decision-making activities. Planning and preparing materials for this 10-week series reminded me of the joy that teaching brings me. I hope one message the children received through OWL is their importance to their families, their church, and their teachers.

The children have been amazing in their willingness to discuss topics that initially felt very uncomfortable to them. They have moved past the giggling stage and are fully engaged throughout the 75-minute workshops. While one of our Group Agreements is “What happens in OWL stays in OWL,” I can say that they are all showing maturity, sensitivity, and a willingness to learn. They are understanding that issues of gender, especially gender fluidity/ non-binary identity, are issues of fairness and justice. They have shared stories of friends or acquaintances who have needed a friend due to gender non-conformity and are developing skills to be that friend. We have cleared up, or attempted to, at least, misinformation that they have encountered from others (you know, the “my friend said...”) and I have been impressed and proud of their ability to process new information and apply it to their own experiences.

Each week they write anonymous questions to be answered by Tommy and/or me the following week. They are asking hard, thoughtful questions about relationships, feelings, and how to simply be in the world. They are learning how to express their frustrations with the injustices they see in their world and how to argue effectively when expressing dissenting points of view.

Some parents have expressed concerns about some content in the companion book used for at-home reading (“It’s Perfectly Normal”). I have reminded them that this book was written for children ages 9-14, so some topics are geared to older kids and urged them to decide for their families what parts of the assigned readings to do at home.

Tommy and I encouraged parents to continue to share their concerns with us. We want OWL to be beneficial for families, not a source of stress. As the facilitators, we can modify as needed... as we have done and will do. We both have young adult /adult children and their experiences in learning about human sexuality are in the back of our minds as we plan and teach. Personally, I am approaching the teaching of this class as a model of what I hope my young grandchildren will receive and what I wish the my teenage grandchildren had learned when they were upper elementary students. I hope that helps parents understand the importance with which we approach this new area of Children’s Ministry.

When Tommy and I met to plan upcoming classes, there were sometimes areas of the curriculum/activities that we felt were “too much” for this particular group and decided to either omit or adjust it to meet the needs of our own children. While we made a conscious attempt not to stray too far from the OWL curriculum, we did make adaptations as necessary.

Overall, teaching OWL has been a benefit to me, and I think it has also been beneficial to families. We don’t dwell long on any one topic. I think that’s one of the pluses of OWL. The kids receive information that is age-appropriate and now have the vocabulary to ask further questions on their own. They will be fully prepared for the next stage of OWL offered by the Youth leaders. More importantly, they will be equipped to understand that human sexuality is and will be part of all aspects of their lives, that they possess the right to offer or withhold consent, that there are trusted adults available to listen and guide when they have questions, that their strength comes from within, and that knowledge is power and power is to be used for justice.

-Lynn Jarrard

Pullen Youth

Adolescence can be hard, church doesn’t have to be.

Part of what we do through youth ministry is accompany youth and families through what can be a challenging stage of life. Youth are trying to figure out who they are while negotiating peer pressure and increasing responsibilities. We offer them a supportive presence and place where they can just “be.” We learn, but within a more flexible structure than school, with lots of opportunities to ask questions, challenge convention and offer creative new possibilities. We also ask big questions about our lives and what we want to do with them.

Embodying Pullen’s commitment to radical inclusion in youth ministry, we strive to create an environment where youth feel safe, knowing that this may not be the case for every young person at school or even at home. We started the year by collectively crafting a covenant about how we wanted to be together. Youth and youth leaders committed to being present, being curious about one another, and turning judgment into wonder, among other things. Here’s what some of our youth are saying about the space we’re co-creating:

“Youth group is a place where I feel safe to be myself and talk to people, especially the youth leaders. I love how inclusive the program is!” -Quinn Neiley

“I learn new things I never knew…” -Pender Fanney

“I always look forward to the ‘Question of the Day’ and choir. Youth Group is a place where you can be yourself and not have to worry about what others think of you.” -Eve Kasper

“Even though I joined the youth group early last year [they] have been family to me.” -Kiah Fanney

Pullen Young Adults

Young-ish Group – Pullen Young Adults

Every Tuesday evening, you can find a circle of young adults gathered in the Chapel. This gathering provides space for sacred conversations among those in their 20s and 30s whose lives and sense of purpose are taking shape. Over the last year, the Young-ish Adults have received support from multiple members of our ministerial staff as they have wrestled with question of vocation, social justice, their emerging leadership in the church, and Pullen’s role in the world. Most importantly, this open space provides our congregation’s youngest adult leaders the opportunity to connect with one another and share whatever questions are on their hearts. We may never be able to capture the impact of a ministry like this one in full. Many of the lives impacted most by this ministry may be in the midst of transition from our community to another. But we know that the seeds planted in these conversations will come to full flower over the years and decades to come. We are already experiencing the transformative impact of those who have stepped into leadership at Pullen now, and our community (and countless others) will continue to be shaped and guided by the wisdom that emerges each week when they gather with one another. Whether socializing over lunch at the PR on 4th Sundays, discussing the previous Sunday’s sermon, or organizing for medical debt relief for the most economically vulnerable in our community, this group is the vanguard of Pullen’s “ever-embracing, ever-becoming” spirit.

“I attend Young-ish gathering for the friendships I’ve found there. It’s a small enough group that it’s easy to get to know people. We have people who are very involved in Pullen in other ways such as worship and committees, and others whose first experience of Pullen is our Tuesday gathering. It’s been good to hear all those perspectives and learn how we can support each other.”

-Philip Taff

“The young adult group was one of our first introductions to Pullen and provided a way for us to form deeper relationships with people we saw in passing at church. It’s been a truly safe place to explore complex and challenging ideas and to share day-to-day joys and burdens. It’s been such a gift to have a space where we can hear different perspectives and learn about each other.”

-Grant and Shelby Forrest

Brave Space

Every first and third Thursday, our congregation and the Housing Options for Students Today program provide space for LGBTQIA+ college students to gather and reflect on the intersection of queer identity and faith. A ministry held in partnership with the Episcopal Church, Brave Space is one of the newer outreach initiatives of our congregation, an important point of connection with students from neighboring N.C. State. Gatherings include conversation about religion and politics, the Enneagram as a tool of vocational discernment, and self/communal care in the midst of an ongoing mental health crisis. This ministry continues Pullen’s dedicated support to the LGBTQIA+ community and is part of a robust web of connections our church boasts with neighboring institutions of higher learning.

Spiritual and faith formation for adults

Our small men’s group…We get a chance to get to know each other better. It is intergenerational and encompasses people from several different parts of the Pullen community. It’s an opportunity to hear male perspectives on a variety of issues. It is a set time to think about and discuss issues that often are not discussed day-to-day and which men often do not discuss socially.

-Kevin Neiley and Andrew Kasper

Thirteen years ago, Steve Smith asked if I would be interested in being part of a four-person, theologically trained teaching team for a new adult Sunday class he wanted to start, Exploring the Bible. The timing, the topic, and my heartfelt regard for Steve made it a good fit for me, and I said, “yes.” I am so glad that I did. In terms of church programming, the Exploring the Bible Sunday Group is my Pullen anchor. To me, it is everything that a church community should be about. We approach the Bible more as seekers than as confident believers and are guided by biblical scholarship, curiosity, humility, and camaraderie. We know and care about each other. Almost without fail, we go around the room and the Zoom screen to say our names both at the beginning and the end of each class. While that is helpful on a practical level, especially as memories falter, it is also a profound statement about who we mean to be to each other. Before ending, there is an opportunity to share personal joys, reliefs, and burdens, and, if Cheryl Stallings is present, our last act is a prayer. I leave the class looking forward to the next one, and I don’t think I am alone in that.

-Lisa Grabarek

Spiritual and Faith Formation for adults is one area of our budget that could benefit from some growth. If we had more financial resources in this area, it would enable us to invite more speakers and teachers from the community into our spiritual and faith formation curriculum.

Spiritual and Faith Formation for adults at Pullen is centered in three affirmations. First, the questions of our faith are just as important as any answers we might discover. Second, if we really want to understand our sacred text and how it informs us today, it is necessary to utilize the best methods of biblical interpretation. Third, our spiritual and faith formation is deepened when we learn from each other’s wisdom and experience, and this includes the wisdom and experience of other faith traditions.

Our Sunday groups for adults are taught by Pullenites who have a particular interest or expertise in a topic, including Pullen ministers, lawyers, rabbis, divinity school professors, imams, writers, poets, artists, and social justice activists. Sunday groups, Wednesday night programs for adults, small groups in which people gather for conversation and fellowship, and house gatherings around topics like anti racism are all places where our faith and spiritual lives are enriched and deepened.

Hear from some people whose lives are being enriched by our adult programs:

The Synoptic Gospels have always been a puzzlement to me. They each tell the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ, but very differently. Nick was able to clearly explain each difference and why. I understand so much more now. He was able to address each question or comment that we asked, clearly and with respect to the wide range of Biblical knowledge of each of us. I enjoyed the ease of this class and would be willing to attend more of Nick Carter’s classes.”

-B.J. Welker

Worship

The Impact of a Gathered Community for Worship

Since our return to in-person worship, we have had extraordinary gatherings that have nourished our spirits and inspired a renewed vision for the future of our community and our world. Our impact would not reach as deep within us or as far outside us without the worship at the heart of our life together. For six months at the beginning of 2023, we were blessed by the leadership of our first Theologian-in-Residence, the Reverend Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., who called us to be a people willing to take great risk in service of the Holy Spirit. We have expanded our Rite 13 ritual into a Rite of Becoming for all those who have/are coming of age in our church. We gathered with the wider community to lament the overturning of Roe v. Wade and ongoing wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. We have welcomed powerful guest preachers like Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili, Rabbi Lucy Dinner, and Imam Abdullah Antepli. And we have welcomed a new organist to our staff.

Week after week, our ministerial staff plans and leads relevant worship that nurtures our spirit and sends us forth into the world with renewed hope, courage, and sense of purpose. Our children center us and lead us with the light of Christ’s love as we “gather together so that we may scatter together” in common purpose. We hear music that binds us one to another and sing hymns that draw us closer to the divine and give language to our shared theological commitments. Pastoral and prophetic preaching, which has guided Pullen’s community for generations, continues. Our lay leaders enrich our time together through prayers, focuses, and other offerings of word and spirit.

In churches all across America, people have been slow to return to in-person worship following the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been true for our Pullen community. We are grateful for our ability to live-stream our Sunday morning worship. We know that it is a critical ministry to those who are physically unable to attend in-person and for those who do not live close enough to drive in for Sunday worship. The live-stream worshiping community at Pullen is a vital part of our church. At the same time, for those who can, there is something intangible about sitting beside one another in the same space for worship when it is possible. Spiritual energy coming together in a shared space can have tremendous impact on our lives and the work we are then called to go forth and do—the work represented in these pages.

-Nancy Petty, Pastor

Music Ministry

Pullen’s ministry of congregational, choral, and instrumental music enlivens our worship as it expresses the values our church finds meaningful. In Music Ministry at Pullen, all ages are engaged in music-making that creates community and provides a welcome for all. Various and unique gifts of music ministry in the church are expressed by participants below.

From Adult Choir singer, Neal Braswell:

“One of the most meaningful ways to connect with others at Pullen is through a small group. The Pullen Music Ministry has allowed me to build strong, loving relationships with fellow Pullenites who also love music. As part of the Adult Choir, not only do I get to learn and express beautiful pieces of music through rehearsal, but I am an instrumental part of worship. In January, we join other church choirs for the Festival by the Sea, which is an incredibly rewarding choir retreat in Charleston, South Carolina.”

From congregants, Jim and Susan Pike:

“The marvelous Music Ministry at Pullen, led by Rev. Larry Schultz, enhances worship and is the glue that ties all of the parts of our worship services together. Whether it is a choir, the organist, the orchestra, the children and youth participants, the soloists or Larry’s marvelous, original compositions and lyrics, music in worship always seems to connect the sermon theme and the scripture into a whole. For us, the music ministry of Pullen is always worshipful, uplifting, energizing and most importantly reinforcing of the day’s From Youth Choir participant, Jack Rakestraw:

“I find the music we hear in worship to be essential to the overall experience of church and Pullen. Our music is familiar to congregants, and we are also introduced to new kinds of music incorporated into worship. I have lots of experience singing these songs in Youth Choir, learning African spirituals, songs in German and Latin, all of which have advanced my music tastes. I also like that children and youth have the opportunity to participate in worship in their own capacity, and that I, and my brother, Paul, have played piano along with others who play their respective instruments in worship. I love the music at Pullen and it’s one of the reasons I love our worship so much.”

From Pullen Orchestra instrumentalist, Erin Newton:

“My 2002 date book introduced a new thread of Pullen music. I often tell the story that after having played violin in the Raleigh Civic Symphony and then the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra for about 10 years, when I was seven months pregnant in 1995, I napped through a matinee concert that I had thought was scheduled for the evening. My stand partner called me to ask where I had been, and I decided on the spot that it was time to hang up my bow “for the duration.” That was the last time I touched my violin until Larry Schultz arrived at Pullen with his vision of starting a Pullen orchestra. It seemed like that level of effort would be about what I could manage at that stage of life. I and several other people who had to dig dusty instruments out of closets became founding members, and it remains a highlight of my life at Pullen. I am only one of many players who appreciate the way Larry composes and arranges for us with sensitivity to Pullen’s culture of faith, and the mixing and matching of soloists and small ensembles. We love the relationships with youth who play with us; we have grieved for players who have moved away, passed away, or suffered physical disabilities; and we rejoice when “alumni” return for cameo appearances. Channeling George and Ira Gershwin: ‘In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble; they’re only made of clay. But I hope our Pullen Orchestra is here to stay.’”

Building Use

Pullen uses its building as a way to positively impact the local community in Raleigh. We allow our partner organizations and other local non-profits and groups to use our space in an effort to give these powerful organizations a place to meet and hold events. There is always a hustle and bustle around the Pullen campus. These are the organizations who use our space. Read some testimonies on the next page.

In 2023 so far, we have partnered with the following of our local our partner organizations to allow them to use the Pullen space:

Common Cause of NC Communities in Schools

Habitat for Humanity of Wake Co. Handsome Ladies Bluegrass Group

HOST Interplay

Oakwood Waits Raleigh Food Not Bombs

Root Cause Collective SAFEChild

The Hope Center The Light Group

Triangle Gay Men’s Choir Ukelele Playing Santas

White Flag Shelter YMCA: Kindercamp & Wee Camp.

One Wake

In 2023 so far we have hosted the following community organizations that are not official Pullen Partners:

Arise Collective Beloved Community Center of Greensboro

Community Hope Mentoring Declare Emergency

Family Resource Center South Atlantic (HIPPY) NC Peace Corps Association

NC State Dept. of Statistics NC State History Department

North Carolina Coalition for Women Leading 4 Wellness and Justice

Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NCCADP.org)

Raleigh Outreach Against Racism (ROAR)

Wake NCAE

YMCA Kindercamp

To Whom it May Concern,

My name is Morgan LeSieur and I am a Senior Youth Director at the Alexander Y. For the past five years I have supervised our half day preschool camp. During this time our space was limited in our building because of other camps, members, and the general bustle of the Y. Because of the limited space we were not able to serve the number of children we desired. I have often dreamt of having the opportunity to move our camp off site to widen our reach and serve more families with young children. This past summer Pullen Memorial Baptist Church made this dream a reality. This summer we were able to partner with Pullen to host our camp and served 200 children. Our campers were able to have specialized classrooms, filled with toys that were designed specifically for children their size. This also gave such relief to our full day camp team at the YMCA as they had more indoor space to give their children breaks from the heat during the summer. We are so grateful for our neighbors Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and how they assisted us with fulfilling our mission here at the Alexander Y.

-Morgan LeSieur

Senior Youth Director at the Alexander YMCA

Safechild

I want to express our gratitude on behalf of our Program Support Coordinators for your accommodating spirit in allowing us to use the space at Pullen for our gatherings. The welcoming atmosphere of the church has been instrumental in fostering a sense of community and support for our parents and children. Your willingness to provide us with this space has enabled us to host over 20 parenting groups in 2022-2023 and this has enabled us to carry out our mission of ending child abuse in Wake County.

The peaceful surroundings of the church have provided a safe and comforting environment for our families to come together and share their experiences and learn new perspectives on how to be better parents. We deeply appreciate your ongoing support and understanding of our mission that every child has the right to live in a family free of abuse. Your welcoming space has been a part of nurturing families, changing families, and teaching families how to break the cycle of abuse. You have all played a part of being a protective factor of the lives of the families attending our support groups.

We deeply appreciate your ongoing support. The use of the space at Pullen has been invaluable to us during our transition year of moving to a new building. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you and to host YOU as guests in our new home.

-Claudia Cortina-Czap

SAFEchild Volunteer Coordinator/ Program Prevention Coordinator

Below are some quotes from participants who attended support groups:

“By the end of each class, I felt encouraged and confident that I could be a better parent”

- Father who attended our Circle of Security Parenting Program.

“I not only learned about child rearing, child development, empathy, positive discipline, and parenting roles, but I learned how to provide my children with a safe home. Claudia helped me grow as a mother, value myself as a woman, and feel more self-confident. This program has changed my life and my children’s lives.”

- Crianza con Carino, participant

“ I now have the tools to be a better father, husband, and person. I truly believe the benefits of attending this support group will benefit my family for generations to come.”

-Father who attended Circle of Security Parenting Program

“I learned that children need adults to help them at every stage of their childhood. My relationship with my son has improved.”

-Mom attending support group.

“I was able to begin my healing journey after attending this group. Sharing was powerful and you all believed me. I felt validated and people understood what I was going through because they were going through a similar experience. I learned that Domestic Violence was not my fault.”- MOVE group participant.

Food not bombs

Food Not Bombs Raleigh would like to express its solidarity with Pullen Memorial Baptist Church: we are very grateful to the PMBC administration for treating us with dignity and respect while sharing

these valuable kitchen facilities with us. The kitchen has enabled us to feed hundreds of people. PMBC and FNB both strive to provide mutual aid to the community of Raleigh and beyond, and we hope this partnership will endure and expand. Solidarity forever, friends!

-Liam Bizzell, FNB Raleigh

HOST PROGRAM

Housing Options for Students Today (HOST), whose office and student support center are located in the Pullen mission space, marked a significant milestone this fall, celebrating a full year of service to college students. We matched our very first student with a host home in August 2022, and since then, HOST has connected eight students with volunteers who have opened their homes, providing essential support to these students. These partnerships have ranged from a few days to eight months, with most students staying with their hosts for 4-6 months. Also, HOST has been able to provide 25 additional students with financial assistance for emergency housing in motels or rental assistance to help them move into or maintain permanent housing.

-Libby Stephens, HOST Program Coordinator

Social Justice

Wiley Elementary

In 2001, Pullen and Wiley Elementary established a partnership in which a Wednesday after-school tutoring program based at Pullen was established for 8-10 students each school year. The program was paused for three years during the pandemic and resumed in January 2023 with a different look. This time, tutoring is taking place during school hours at Wiley. In the spring semester, 10 adult Reading Partners each met with 3 students - one-on-one for 20 minutes each - during the school day each week to support a total of 22 students. Kathy Foglia, Wiley’s literacy specialist, provided a simple-to-implement program in which students read passages aloud and then graphed their progress. This semester, the program has expanded to 23 volunteers working with 40 students. Based on the spring semester data, very clear gains in reading fluency were made by the students in reading fluency and with additional months of support for the 23-24 school year, we can expect even larger gains.

Resettlement Team

In January of 2022 Pullen and Raleigh Mennonite partnered to form a Circle of Welcome through Lutheran Services Carolinas for a family of three from Afghanistan. Our new friends, a young couple and their infant son moved into our resettlement space at Pullen Church. There they were surrounded by a team of loving volunteers, ready to support them through their transition into our community. Our team provided legal support, assistance with finding a job and home, help with speaking English and preparing for driving tests, assistance with medical appointments and opportunities to participate in cultural events in our community. Our loving presence in their lives has most recently rejoiced in the word that they have been granted asylum and will be able to apply for full citizenship in the future. The most important impact of this journey, however, has been on our team of resettlement volunteers. In this work we have gained new friends, a better understanding of the world, new perspectives, and great joy and belonging in a loving and generous group of people.

Round Table

Round Table Fellowship is a food recovery and meal distribution ministry of Pullen. Every Tuesday and Thursday, volunteers from our congregation and the community at large provide hot meals and a place of connection for around 80 people. Most Round Table guests are experiencing food and/or housing insecurity. Several also support the ministry through their service and by sharing food that they have grown and prepared for the community.

Below is an interview with John Kasper, one of the guests who has become a leader of this ministry. His story illuminates the impact of Round Table for both guests and volunteers.

How did you first get connected to Pullen?

Probably close to six or seven years ago, I had a little “situation” with homelessness. I came to the church and they helped me out; they still to this day help me out. I got to know Pastor Nancy, Ian, pastors and a lot of the people in the community that told me about y’all; always good, nothing bad. So I started coming just on Tuesdays and Thursdays just like everybody else, to get something hot in my belly, and then as I kept coming after years and years, I started to realize, you’re not just feeding people, it’s the love and the compassion that this church shows, not just for people who are hungry, but for the community, and worldwide. Now that I have started attending church on Wednesdays and Sundays, I realize more what this church does, not just locally but worldwide. It means a lot to me, because this church helps me out so much, in so many ways other people don’t even realize. I come and try to do what I can. I don’t have the resources to give anything to anybody, but I do have my time and my energy; that’s why I come.

What is the Impact that Round Table has had on your life?

Oh, a great impact. Not only do I know I’m going to get two hot meals every week, that’s where it started, but now it gives me a sense of wealth, for doing something for someone else, which is great feeling. If no one has ever done that, I encourage them to volunteer somewhere and help somebody else, because it’s the right thing to do.

Can you tell us what the Pullen community means to you?

Oh, everything. Like I said, I’m in a situation right now, and there’s quite a few people that attend church here, and probably most of the staff members, nobody has ever looked down on me, or spoken badly to me; they encourage me, and I can’t say enough about the leadership and the team that Pastor Nancy has put together. Great team, great leadership, and I’m sure this church even after all of us are gone is going to continue to go forth.

Earth Ministry

Let the Sun Shine on Pullen!

In March 2023, we announced that Pullen had reached an agreement with Solarize the Triangle and YES Solar Solutions to install a 25 kW AC capacity / 22 kW DC solar panel system on our Poteat Chapel roof and on the walkway awning that runs between the chapel and the main building. This system will supply energy to Finlator Hall and Poteat Chapel. The 50-panel system will produce 30,789 kWh of electricity per year saving Pullen $2,655 the first year. Annual savings will increase as increased Duke Energy electricity rates (~5% annually) go into effect.

The solar panels on Poteat Chapel were connected to the grid and began generating energy on October 12th. We expect the installation of the monitoring system to be completed soon. This will allow us to view energy production.

Earth Ministry, Finance, and Building and Grounds worked together to take advantage of a unique set of cost-saving circumstances that made this project possible: Joining forces with Solarize the Triangle (a community-based group purchasing program for solar energy), $2,860 rebate, qualifying for both a Duke Energy solar rebate ($18,750) and a federal Inflation Reduction Act clean energy payment for Non Profits (estimated ~$17,160), and November 2022 ($2,800) in donations. An anonymous Pullen donor has promised to cover the remaining costs for purchasing this system!!! Many thanks to our donors and the people who worked so hard to make this possible!

The estimated annual environmental benefits of the Poteat Chapel system are equal to:

•Avoiding the emissions released by burning 24,441 lbs. of coal

•Avoiding the emissions released from consuming 2,455 gallons of gasoline

•The atmospheric Carbon sequestered by 26 acres of U.S. forests per year

Cox Building Solar Savings through September, 2023

Since inception (17.5 months), our solar panels on the Cox Avenue Building have reduced Pullen’s electricity costs by $9,131! September savings were $507. This has prevented the release of 213,969 lbs of CO2 emissions. Its environmental benefit is comparable to planting 1,617 trees.

The 17 month environmental benefits of the Cox Ave. system are equal to:

•Avoiding the emissions released by burning 108,755 lbs. of coal

•Avoiding the emissions released from consuming 10,925 gallons of gasoline

•The atmospheric carbon sequestered by 116 acres of U.S. forests in one year

Winning Hearts, Minds & Hands for Creation

“Next Faithful Steps” at the ICCT Imagination Convention

by Deborah Hooker

Four years ago, Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle came into being. It was born out of a book discussion and the suggestion that individual congregations practicing creation care could benefit from meeting and exchanging ideas. In 2019, over 20 congregations and like-minded organizations responded to that call to gather. This year, the call went out again – to meet and celebrate ICCT’s accomplishments and map the way forward. And once again, the people came — 72 of them, representing over 30 faith communities and people of conscience.

On January 28, the people came and they listened — to the inspiring words of faith leaders, the renowned Rev. James A. Forbes and United Methodist Church Bishop Hope Ward, whose prayers and reflections opened and closed the meeting. They heard a panel about the value of collaborating with allies in social justice and creation care, and participants shared personal stories about how each had come to embrace creation care and about what their congregations were doing to heal our wounded world.

They spoke proudly of solarizing rooftops, creating and tending community gardens, recycling, composting, and finding beautiful ways to lessen storm water run-off. Five lively break-out groups also generated a host of ideas to better fulfill ICCT’s mission to love and protect creation, among them, strengthening liaison relationships; finding better, hands-on ways to engage the young; and using art as a vehicle to spread the message of earth care.

In the closing moments of the convention, Bishop Ward urged everyone to take “the next faithful step” in creating ICCT’s future. What will that step be? Volunteering as a liaison? Collaborating with local social justice organizations? Teaching your congregation to compost? Whatever that step may be, it incarnates ICCT’s “sacred duty,” which falls to us all, “to love and protect creation, address our changing climate, and ensure justice for all life.”

Pullen and the ICCT:

In 2019, Earth Ministry worked with Missions & Outreach to host the organizational meeting of the Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle (ICCT) for 20 congregations. Since then the ICCT network has expanded to 85 congregations. ICCT is one of three Pullen interfaith missions. Pullen’s Missions and Outreach Council has provided primary annual funding for ICCT. Members of Pullen continue to serve on ICCT’s Board, Steering Committee, and Action Teams and participate in ICCT activities like the 3rd Prayer Chain for the Earth this year.

ICCT & ONE Wake on Energy Efficiency

As a matter of environmental and economic justice, ICCT is committed to energy efficiency equity as an integral part of affordable housing. Environmental justice is one of ICCT’s three guiding principles. To find an avenue to make energy efficiency a reality for low-income residents, ICCT turned to a group already successful in working for affordable housing – ONE Wake, a multi-racial group of religious congregations and non-profits in the Wake County area.

Twenty people from the ICCT network spoke up at ONE Wake listening sessions in the spring of 2023 to share concerns about rising energy utility bills estimated to double within the next six years according to a May 24, 2023 news report from WRAL. We also spoke about equal access to IRA federal funding of energy efficiency upgrades for low-income homeowners and especially for renters and their landlords.

As hoped, at the June 8, 2023 Internal Assembly, ONE Wake members voted to continue their focus on affordable housing and to add research and action on unaffordable energy costs. ONE Wake responded by creating a Research Action subcommittee to study the issue for possible action with local officials. Five ICCT leaders have joined that subcommittee.

Many from ICCT have made connections and listened to webinars tracking the roll out of the Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act federal funding and its potential to help low to moderate income households decrease energy consumption through repairs, insulation, weatherization, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, and access to energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy. It is still far from clear how these monies will become available to local households.

Outside our Walls

Four Life-giving Partnerships

Pullen has partners in Cuba, Nicaragua, Republic of Georgia, and Coventry, England. These relationships broaden our knowledge of the needs of the world and enrich us as individuals and as a church. They are central to our congregational life and ministry as we seek to learn from our partners what it means to witness to God’s love and justice in their settings.

We understand our relationships with our partners as mutual ministries of accompaniment as we strive to be companions of our siblings in these locations. Although contributions of work and financial support are important aspects of our partnerships, this ministry of presence is our central vocation and learning from their examples what God is calling us to do and be is our primary task.

Financial support for these partnerships beyond our annual budget is received through our annual Advent Offering and other individual contributions.

Community of the Cross of Nails Coventry, England

Last May, Rev. Ian joined the Community of the Cross of Nails (CCN) for its first international gathering since the outbreak of the pandemic. Partners in this global network of reconciliation convened at Coventry Cathedral for several days of conversation, worship, and prayerful reflection on the state of the world. There was a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and broad-ranging discussions of peacemaking efforts past and present. With over 260 institutions in 45 countries across five continents, CCN boasts peacemakers in areas of active conflict, like Israel Palestine and Ukraine, as well as those “healing the wounds of history” in places where historic and systemic injustices endure—like with indigenous Canadians reckoning with the violence of colonialism or Black South Africans seeking liberation in the wake of apartheid.

In addition to highlighting the critical work of partners around the world (and addressing our shared responsibility for the climate crisis), this year’s gathering focused on a small yet monumental addition to the guiding principles of the Community. CCN leaders recently voted to expand our commitment to “building a culture of peace” around the world to “building a culture of justice and peace.” As this conversation commenced, CCN partners looked to Pullen—a long-time CCN member—for guidance on what the pursuit of justice could mean for their work. Our congregation’s explicit embrace of “justice love” has become a lodestar for CCN partners looking to deepen their commitment to peacemaking through justice-seeking. It is no exaggeration to say that Pullen’s impact is global in scale.

Just as our pursuit of justice locally has provided a model for partners around the world, CCN’s model of congregational connection has shaped our congregation’s efforts to reconnect post-pandemic. The Foyers, a home-based small group ministry recently relaunched at Pullen is an ongoing contribution of CCN to our church.

First Baptist Church Mantanzas, Cuba

Last May, Rev. Ian joined the Community of the Cross of Nails (CCN) for its first international gathering since the outbreak of the pandemic. Partners in this global network of reconciliation convened at Coventry Cathedral for several days of conversation, worship, and prayerful reflection on the state of the world. There was a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and broad-ranging discussions of peacemaking efforts past and present. With over 260 institutions in 45 countries across five continents, CCN boasts peacemakers in areas of active conflict, like Israel Palestine and Ukraine, as well as those “healing the wounds of history” in places where historic and systemic injustices endure—like with indigenous Canadians reckoning with the violence of colonialism or Black South Africans seeking liberation in the wake of apartheid.

In addition to highlighting the critical work of partners around the world (and addressing our shared responsibility for the climate crisis), this year’s gathering focused on a small yet monumental addition to the guiding principles of the Community. CCN leaders recently voted to expand our commitment to “building a culture of peace” around the world to “building a culture of justice and peace.” As this conversation commenced, CCN partners looked to Pullen—a long-time CCN member—for guidance on what the pursuit of justice could mean for their work. Our congregation’s explicit embrace of “justice love” has become a lodestar for CCN partners looking to deepen their commitment to peacemaking through justice-seeking. It is no exaggeration to say that Pullen’s impact is global in scale.