Mission Statement:
The Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network (GAIN),Inc. is an inclusive coalition of faith representatives who collaborate to raise awareness and change systemic injustices in the Greater Annapolis area. Through our strengthened and broadened relationships, we share our talents and gifts to advocate for just opportunities for all.
The purpose of GAIN is to foster community and justice in our local area through raising awareness of issues, supporting our member faith groups, and sharing our talents to achieve this goal. This includes empowering all people to realize their full potential and to build solidarity and community for collaborative action.
Faith representatives and citizens from the greater Annapolis area are invited to take part in this joint effort. We are all interdependent; the health of one affects the health of all. Working together, our understanding and relationships will be strengthened, and our advocacy for just policies and practices will be more meaningful and effective.
Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network (GAIN),Inc. began several years ago as Churches without Boundaries when several church leaders recognized the difficulty in addressing the many challenges facing our community. Church leaders from Asbury United Methodist, St. Martin’s Lutheran and St. Mary’s Catholic Churches joined together to begin an faith-based group to work together for equity in the best interest of all. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the community for this new group, recognizing the vital role that we can play in advocating for policies and practices that provide equitable opportunities.A distinct characteristic of this group is collaboratively addressing the root causes, rather than symptoms, of inequities that we face. There are many charity efforts to address immediate needs. But needs are not lessened by these efforts. These situations demand social change—addressing the causes that require people to rely on charity to meet their daily needs. GAIN works to confront economic, ethnic, racial and social inequities, to bring about just opportunities for all. Members strengthened relationships and began a dialogue to identify collaborative solutions to advocate for economic, ethnic, racial, and social justice in our community. Discussions identified the top challenges facing our community and committees were formed to research and collaboratively define solutions to confront inequities. These committees are: Affordable Housing, Drug Prevention and Treatment, Education, Health Care, and Youth Recreation.As an inclusive group, we welcome all faith group members and citizen advocates in this collaborative dialogue and advocacy ministry to improve the quality of life for all in our community.