Dad’s Christmas ties not useless

Ties have long been the de facto holiday gift for dads —- and often are put away and worn maybe once a year. Now a new local program recycles those unused ties into reusable shopping bags. Their sale helps families avoid homelessness.

Called Ties That Matter, the program is the brainchild of Laura Martin, a volunteer with Central Presbyterian Church Outreach and Advocacy Center. Recently, volunteers from the center and the Atlanta Sewing Guild sewed up a storm to make the bags, using more than 100 ties to make 80 bags.

So far, Martin has collected in excess of 1,200 ties for the project, and volunteers have made and sold more than 400 tie bags. Proceeds from the project benefit the outreach center’s Exodus Journey program, which helps individuals and families move out of homelessness.

“During the past six weeks alone, our programs have been successful in finding permanent employment for 22 individuals. Through the Ties That Matter project, we hope to expand our work and meet the ever-increasing need for our services,” said Chuck Bowen, the outreach center’s executive director.

Martin hopes that other homeless-provider organizations will adopt the project. “It’s a first-of-a-kind project in the nation. We hope the Ties That Matter program will serve as a template for similar projects in other cities.”

A minimum donation of $6 is requested for each bag. The bags can be ordered by visiting www.tiesthatmatter.net or by calling the center at 404-601-3172.

Friendship installs pastor

The Rev. Timothy Tee Boddie will be installed as the sixth pastor of historic Friendship Baptist Church, a 142-year-old African-American Baptist church in Atlanta, at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 in Sisters Chapel on the Spelman College campus. Boddie is the former chapel dean at Hampton University in Virginia and executive secretary of Hampton’s ministers conference. Boddie graduated from Morehouse College and has a master’s degree from Stanford University and a doctorate in religious education from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond.

Peace activist to speak

The Rev. John Dear, a peace activist, pastor, lecturer and author of 25 books, will speak at the Carter Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The event is free and co-sponsored by the Aquinas Center of Theology and Pax Christi Metro Atlanta. Call 770-594-2293 for information.

Candler receives grant

Emory University’s Candler School of Theology has received a $4.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to continue building the doctoral program in religious practices and practical theology.