Why Join: Benefits & Responsibilities

What will my congregation gain by joining the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse?

  • Strategies for building community within and around your congregation.
  • Added leadership training: community building, social action, building the congregation.
  • New and effective ministry for members who want to work for justice, build power.
  • Effective relationship across racial and city/suburban lines through clergy caucus, lay trainings.
  • Added tool to challenge your lay leaders to build relationships in/around the congregation.
  • Tool to influence quality of life issues in city/county/region and to gain public respect.
  • Relationships with other powerful institutions and leaders.
  • Membership in ACTS (Onondaga County) includes membership in Gamaliel Foundation (an international community organizing network of over 60 community organizations like ACTS) and Gamaliel NY (with sister affiliates in Niagara Falls (Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope), Buffalo (Voice-Buffalo), Capital Region (A Regional Initiative Supporting Empowerment), Long Island (LION), and the Northwest Bronx (Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition).

What are the responsibilities of membership?

  • Annual Dues: $500/yr. min. (payable in quarterly installments); our goal is $1000/yr. average. Ability to pay is key factor. However, we want you to join no matter what your congregation can afford!
  • Training: participation in local and national leadership trainings.
  • Action: a public meeting is our public voice. Each congregation sends strong delegations. Many congregations also do actions on local neighborhood issues.
  • Relationships: participation in Clergy Caucus is an important way we build relationships.
  • Board of Directors: monthly board meetings (clergy leader + lay leader) guide our organization.

How can my congregation join?

  • Pastor/Clergy Leader or Lay Leader representing Clergy Leader sends Membership Application to ACTS with the attention to President, Rev. Kevin Agee, Pastor of Hopps Memorial CME Church. Phone: (315) 478-0191 .
  • Download the Membership Application

Need help with your congregation?

  • A member of the ACTS Clergy Caucus can meet with your leadership or trustees. Contact us at the ACTS office through the Executive Director Andrés Dae Keun Kwon!