Covenant News
Victims of Abuse Project Manager Named
CHICAGO, IL (July 20, 2004) - A Fremont, California, pastor has been tapped to lead the new Advocacy for Victims of Abuse (AVA) ministry that is part of Covenant Women Ministries (CWM) of the Evangelical Covenant Church.Aleese Moore-Orbih, associate pastor at South Bay Community Church, will be consecrated during Triennial XI in Portland, Oregon, August 12-15, according to Ruth Hill, CWM executive minister. Moore-Orbih has served as associate pastor of missions and evangelism since 1997. She previously served as interim pastor of Greater Faith Baptist Church in Berkeley, California; worked with materials management for American President Lines Program in Oakland, California; and was administrator for Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
In her new role, Moore-Orbih will seek to implement AVA's three primary
goals:
- Provide resources to bring healing to victims of abuse
- Equip the church to minister to victims of abuse
- Promote preventative measures to combat abuse
Moore-Orbih's doctoral dissertation (San Francisco Theological Seminary) reflects her sense of passion when it comes to victims of abuse – she outlined a church model for responding to teenagers exposed to domestic violence. "People asked me, 'What are you going to do after you finish your doctoral work?'" Moore-Orbih related in a letter accompanying her resume. "I replied that I want to lead the denomination in the development of ministries and community strategies against domestic violence. I want to travel throughout the denomination helping clergy to understand domestic violence and ways clergy and their congregations can respond effectively. The vision for AVA is a dream I began having about two years ago . . . it is my dream, my passion, and my ministry."
And why the Covenant? "The main reason that I decided to transfer my ordination to the Covenant was its radical and courageous spirit throughout its history . . . The decision to develop the Advocacy for Victims of Abuse (AVA) is once again a demonstration of the Covenant's way of standing up for unpopular issues and standing against injustice."
"Two words summarize my conviction that Aleese is the woman to lead AVA - called and gifted," said Hill of Moore-Orbih's selection. "The Lord gave her a vision for advocacy two years ago, about the same time he gave CWM its vision. We both have obediently pursued that vision and now find our calling joined together. I have no doubt that Aleese is the one God prepared for this role. She brings remarkable gifts and experience to implement the vision. Her passion for advocating for victims of abuse is very evident. I believe she will take AVA far beyond anything we had dared hope."
Hill's sentiments were echoed by CWM Board Chair Marilyn Spartz. "Her heart for this ministry and her vision for equipping the Covenant church to minister to victims of abuse was very evident during the selection process," Spartz noted. "We are thankful for God's clear leading, and as a board we look forward to working with Aleese."
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