Believing that ministry to others is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship, we place a strong emphasis on being involved in specific works of compassion and justice-making, beyond the bounds of our congregation. This is our "journey outward." It is the corollary to our "journey inward," which is expressed through personal and communal prayer and other spiritual disciplines.

Listed below are ministries which (a) are carried out by two or more person in Metanoia Peace Community and/or (be) receive some financial support from the congregation.

Grief Watch and Perinatal Loss. “Grief Watch” is an “umbrella” term that covers all of the efforts by residents of the Peace House and other Metanoians to give spiritual, emotional and other support to people who are grieving, and to address the systemic injustices within our society which give people reason to grieve.

“Perinatal Loss” is the name of a specific Grief Watch program which focuses on the needs of parents who have experienced the death of their infant child before, during, or shortly after birth. The program publishes books, video tapes and other resources which are spread throughout the world by means of a mail order distribution system operating out of the 18th Ave Peace House. Pat Schwiebert is director of this program which is also staffed by several part-time, paid employees and several volunteers on stipend (after the manner of VISTA or Jesuit volunteers). Income from the sale of resources helps support other ministries within and beyond Metanoia. Perinatal Loss also sponsors several local “Brief Encounter” groups for bereaved parents and hosts meetings of Parents of Murdered Children and Suicide Bereavement Support.

18th Ave Peace House. In addition to the above Peace House-related ministries the 18th Ave Peace House offers hospitality in several forms: free meeting space and services for community groups and complimentary bed and breakfast for persons who are traveling as they do works of compassion and justice. From time to time, as we are able, we serve as a hospice, welcoming as residents persons who are dying because of AIDS or other illness. And, although we do not operate a food program as such, we do maintain a food pantry from which we dispense supplies of emergency food when we become aware of specific needs.

Hard Times Supper. Together with volunteers from two other United Methodist congregations, we prepare and serve a free supper every Wednesday evening, to which we invite and welcome persons who are low-income, homeless and/or chronically mentally ill. More than a “feeding program,” or “soup kitchen,” the event, which is held at Sunnyside-Centenary United Methodist Church, is a place where church people, street people, and people who are simply lonely, can share a meal together, served family style. Metanoia handles the financial administration and food purchasing, and much of the advance food preparation is done in the 18th Ave Peace House kitchen, under the supervision of Pat Schwiebert.

Military and Draft Counseling. From our church budget we pay the monthly telephone bill for the Northwest Military and Draft Counseling program, and get involved in the program’s efforts to reduce the presence of military recruiters in public schools.

Other Peace and Justice Ministries. We are linked in various ways to several local and global efforts to address issues of oppression and injustice, especially as it involves disturbing actions by multinational-national corporations and government bodies in the United States and elsewhere. These peace and justice efforts include, but are not limited to (a) the “Campaign for Secure Dwellings,” challenging U.S. support of Israeli oppression of Palestinians; (b) “School of the Americas Watch” (SOA), advocating closure of the Pentagon’s training program for counter-revolutionaries in Latin America; (c) “Voices in the Wilderness,” urging an end to the U.S.-led blockade against Iraq; (d) “Jobs With Justice,” advocating higher pay, better working conditions and workplace democracy for the working poor; (e) The American Indian Association of Portland (AIAP); (f) and “Shalom Ministries,” “Love Makes a Family” and other Portland-based efforts in support of gay men, lesbians and others who are discriminated against because of sexual orientation.

Shared Ministries. As a congregation of the United Methodist Church, we gladly contribute our fair share of the cost of extensive denominational programs for global ministries, peace and justice advocacy, disaster relief, interdenominational cooperation, campus ministry and more.

The Homing Project. This new ministry is designed to give financial, community, and technical support to a limited number of homeless families to enable them to get back on their feet.