Caldwell Presbyterian believes we are called, both individually and collectively, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. One way we do this is by advocating for, offering comfort to and working to empower marginalized people in disadvantaged circumstances. Our Mission Statement reflects how we strive to live calling.
Advocates for justice & equality
At the heart of Caldwell Presbyterian’s expression of faith is its tradition—past and present—of actively advocating for equality, inclusiveness and social justice. Over the last dozen years, Caldwell has:
- Housed a 50-bed transitional homeless sheler for women, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, for three and a half years.
- Marched annually in Charlotte’s Pride Parade, as well as participating in Charlotte’s Black Pride events and helping launch the annual interfaith worship service to kick off Pride Week;
- Fought against racism and white supremacy on multiple fronts, including taking a hard look at ourselves and our own blind spots and biases;
- Served as home to a bilingual preschool;
- Been active in MeckMin, a nonprofit organization of nearly 100 congregations representing more than a dozen faith traditions, as well as the Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice and other grassroots community-organizing efforts;
- Opened The Third Place, a warm and cozy meeting space for groups of up to 75 people. “Third places” are spaces where community is built and understanding is deepened. Groups using The Third Place range from poetry slams to music and concerts to team-building and organizational meetings to AA and more.
In 2020, our philosophy of sharing our campus for the good of the entire city enters a new and exciting phase. With the support of the Gambrell Family Foundation, Caldwell will begin a campus transformation to construct a Community Hall and a new affordable housing residence. The Hall will host a place where the congregation and community organizations can meet for meals, meetings, panels and presentations, as well as other ways we can help build community and understanding across our city’s many gaps and differences.
Responding to Charlotte’s Housing Crisis
In 2019, Caldwell Presbyterian members and supporters pledged $750,000 to work in conjunction with other Charlotte agencies to transform one of our existing buildings into about 20 homes in response to Charlotte’s housing crisis.
Charlotte’s housing crisis:
- Low and moderate income neighbors are being pushed out of the city.
- Charlotte has a deficit of 35,000+ affordable units.
- Rent has increased 35% in the last 5 years.
- Minimum wage earners would need to work 103 hours a week just to afford a market-rate apartment.
- Neighbors earning less than 50% of Area Median Income have little to no housing available within their budget.
Caldwell’s plan to help:
- On our campus, we have a 12,000 square foot building ready to be transformed.
- We will do this with the help of strong partnerships across the city.
- The three populations we have agreed to serve are those who are chronically homeless, young women who have no safe housing when they leave the Florence Crittenden Home with their newborn children, and those who have a diagnosis of AIDS.
- These will be permanent homes, which housing professionals tell us is the most effective way to transform lives.
Loving our Neighbor
In addition to bearing public witness through advocacy, Caldwell gives its time, talent and money to ministries, agencies and organizations that are the cornerstones of the city’s battle against hunger, homelessness and poverty. These include QC Family Tree, McCreesh Place/Supportive Housing Communities, Habitat for Humanity, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Loaves and Fishes, Urban Ministry Center and others. To get involved or ask questions, contact Elder Hellen Hull, Chair of Mission and Justice at 704-333-9169.
A Teaching Campus
Caldwell takes seriously the opportunity to shape the rising generation of servants of Christ. We have hosted more than 25 interns in the last decade. Our current primary internship offering is the Hope Gambrell Social Justice Scholars. In the fall and spring semesters, we usually host an intern from Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte to work in the field of social justice ministry. In the summer, we host five Gambrell Hope Scholars from undergraduate colleges and universities as they learn about how faith and justice intersect To learn more, contact Lisa Raymaker, HOPE Chair, at 678-592-4153.
Buddy Mentor Charlotte
Throughout the school year, Caldwell members engage with children in our community who can benefit from a relationship with a caring adult. These mentors and their buddies meet the second Sunday of the month, October-June, from 1-3:30 p.m., including at least two field trips. All meetings are supervised and structured. Mentors build lasting relationships and:
- Provide a lunch
- Engage in conversation and organized activities
- Assist with an arts and crafts project
- Call their buddies to remind them of the meeting
- Arrange alternative times to meet with their buddies, if they are comfortable with this, or provide coverage with another mentor if unable to attend a scheduled meeting.
All meetings are supervised and structured.