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The
Open Door Community Statement
of Mission and Purpose: The Open Door Community in Atlanta, Georgia, is a
residential community in the Catholic Worker tradition (we’re sometimes called
a Protestant Catholic Worker House!). We seek to dismantle racism, sexism
and heterosexism, abolish the death penalty, and create the Beloved Community on
Earth through a loving relationship with some of the most neglected and outcast
of God’s children: the homeless and our sisters and brothers who are in
prison. We
serve breakfasts and soup-kitchen lunches, provide showers and changes of
clothes, staff a free medical clinic, conduct worship services and meetings for
the clarification of thought, and provide a prison ministry, including monthly
trips for families to visit loved ones at Hardwick Prison in central Georgia. We
also advocate on behalf of the oppressed, homeless and prisoners through
nonviolent protests, grassroots organization and the publication of our monthly
newspaper, Hospitality. More
information about the Open Door Community can be found at our Web site, www.opendoorcommunity.org.
Expectations/Responsibilities
of the Position: Resident Volunteers (RVs) assist with and participate in
all activities of the Community. RVs generally serve for a 6 to 12 month period;
the Leadership Team of the Open Door will consider exceptions to this on an
individual basis. Qualifications:
Living at the Open Door demands tolerance, patience, and an openness to give of
ourselves and receive from others without judgment. It requires a willingness to
work for change in our social structures and in ourselves. In all our work, we
are called to practice hospitality and friendliness. We are not here to simply
provide services, but to share God's love, mercy and compassion with our
oppressed brothers and sisters. Working
Conditions: All Community residents, including Resident Volunteers, live at
the Open Door and work in our ministries six days per week. RVs are placed on
the same job rotation schedule as other Community residents, with duties that
may include breakfast preparation and cleanup, soup kitchen work, supervision of
showers and clothes closet, house cleaning, answering the phone and door,
receiving and sorting donations, and supper preparation. As they become more
familiar with the operation of the Community, RVs may be asked to take on
additional responsibilities, such as leading breakfast or soup kitchen, being
“in charge” of the house during regular hours, or leading daily worship.
Dress is very casual, and RVs may obtain any clothes they need from our clothes
closet (as do all Community residents). We prefer that RVs not bring personal
vehicles to the Open Door; we recommend public transportation for personal
travel and will provide tokens for use on days off. The Open Door owns several
vehicles that we use primarily in our ministries. On-Site
Supervisor: Each RV is assigned a Pastoral Friend (a member of the
Community’s Leadership Team) upon arriving at the Open Door. This person will
serve as guide and mentor during the RV’s stay.
Supervision
Plan: The RV and her/his Pastoral Friend will interact daily during the
course of the Community’s activities, and special meetings can be easily
arranged whenever needed. Application:
Each prospective RV should complete a Resident Volunteer application form and
submit 3 references. Forms
can be obtained from the Open Door by mail or at the Community’s Web site, www.opendoorcommunity.org.
A series of interviews will follow, initially by telephone and progressing to a
face-to-face interview. We encourage prospective RVs to spend up to a week at
the Open Door during their application process. Preparation:
Prior to arriving, RVs should read Sharing the Bread of Life, a
book that describes the history and theological foundations of the Open
Door Community. We also recommend selected readings from the Open Door reading
list, which we will provide in advance to RVs. Additional
Comments: We welcome all without regard to gender or racial/ethnic
background. Housing, three meals daily, and clothing are provided to RVs, along
with a weekly stipend of $11.50 (the same amount received by Open Door Partners
and members of the Leadership Team). We expect RVs to provide for their
transportation to and from Atlanta, but we can assist with this in situations of
need. |
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