True Christian mercy is not driven by compulsion, duty, or guilt. It is rooted in a compassion that humbles us. We serve out of gratitude for God's liberating work in Jesus Christ, which we have done nothing to deserve. We partner with existing ministries to express the incomprehensible mercy that has been shown to us by Christ.
Current Ministry Partnerships
Homeless Ministry: Friday evenings, at 7pm, we minister to those without homes by offering them a meal at Logan Circle, near 18th & the Parkway. Every 1st, 3rd and 5th Friday of the month. For more information, contact
Calcutta House: liberti partners with the Calcutta House to care for those in Philadelphia suffering from AIDS. For more information, contact Kim Johnson.
liberti Care Team
Meeting Needs in Community. Our Care Team exists to provide practical help for people in the liberti Fairmount community. The team is made up of volunteers, deacons and an elder, who go through a six-month training program. They work in pairs to respond to requests for help including: housing, utilities, food, medical attention, insurance, transportation, counseling and childcare. Assistance for these last three items must be exhausted first within the Home Meeting before individuals approach the Care Team.
There is a Care Team Help Line through our main phone number (215-255-8414) at the liberti church office or via email. This help line is monitored by a Care Team volunteer and checked every 24 hours. Once someone leaves a confidential request for help, the Care Team member will walk them through a screening process to help ascertain how the Care Team can best provide help. The entire process is confidential, and will take a minimum of two weeks.
News: Liberti's Letter to the Mayor and City Council Regarding Mayor Nutter's Proposed Legislation to Prohibit Serving Meals in City Parks
April 11, 2012
We, at Liberti Fairmount Church, a Presbyterian Church in the Fairmount neighborhood, join with other local organizations in expressing our concern with and opposition to Regulation 769785, issued on March 29th, 2012 by Mayor Nutter and the Department of Parks & Recreation.
As a Christian church, our ministry of serving meals to our neighbors on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ and a response to his commands to feed those who are hungry. We are concerned that this regulation will effectively prohibit our Church from the practice of our faith through the serving and sharing of food with our neighbors in need. We have been in the practice of sharing a hot meal on the Parkway every Friday night for the past 7 years. We strongly feel that it is necessary to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in the locations where they are, and empathize with their reluctance to seek a meal indoors, or at a table provided at the City Hall apron with strangers. The city’s proposed alternative for serving meals to those in need does not provide adequate, long-term resources for the amount of people who are currently being served outside.
Mayor Nutter has stated that his reason for this regulation is a desire to offer dignity to individuals who are seeking free food in our city. We agree that all people have worth and dignity, regardless of where they live or sleep, or whether they can afford to buy food. However, we do not feel that this regulation is truly seeking the dignity of all Philadelphians.
As a matter of conscience and of faith, we believe in upholding justice for those who cannot defend themselves. The Bible tells us to “share our food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless; give clothes to those who need them and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” (Isaiah 58:7) As Christians, our definition of family extends to our brothers and sisters who may not be biologically related to us, but who are friends and fellow citizens in need. In the absence of any tangible solutions from the Mayor, and considering proposed budget cuts from the State in 2013, we are very concerned that this regulation will take away resources that are necessary to the health and well-being of many homeless, disabled, elderly, infirm, mentally ill, and vulnerable citizens of Philadelphia. We are committed to pursuing justice on behalf of these individuals.
We implore you to not pass this regulation, which will hinder our ability to practice our faith in life-sustaining, community-building activities. Our homeless ministries also remove some of the burden of public services from our cash-strapped city. We ask that you honor our efforts to worship in this valuable manner.
On behalf of the elders of Liberti Fairmount Church,
Scott Crosby, Lead Pastor