I knew it would be a historically significant event for Global Ministries and for our partner in Japan. I had no idea just how powerful a moment it would turn out to be. L-R: Jeffrey Mensendiek (mission co-worker in Japan), Yoshida Kimura (Chair, Kyoto Distric, UCCJ), Shari Prestemon (Co-Executive, Global Ministries), Derek Duncan (Global Relations
“The United States confronts a crisis of democracy, and the American church confronts a test of faith.” This is the first sentence of a recent statement signed by UCC General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, along with over 200 national faith leaders from across the ecumenical spectrum. The statement was released at
The Rev. David Long-Higgins was among many faith leaders gathered in Springfield, Ohio, on Sunday for a prayer vigil in response to the recent rise in violent threats and harassment toward members of the Haitian community. Long-Higgins serves as Conference Minister for the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ. Leaders from the Open and Affirming
Banned Books Week is underway, Sept. 22 through 28, and the United Church of Christ has resources uplifing the belief that banned books have a special vocation, a particular calling in our faith communities: to help expand and enliven the image of God and empower us to reckon with truths that demand our loving accountability.
250 partners in nearly 90 countries. That’s one way of describing the scale of our work as Global Ministries. But that simple phrase packs far more power and possibility than it might suggest. Opening worship begins at the 100th anniversary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK). The NCCK is a global partner
United Church of Christ General Minister and President, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, has written the following statement responding to the recent rise in violent threats and harassment toward members of the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, following widely spread, false narratives about Haitian immigrants. The Rev. David Long-Higgins, Conference minister of the UCC Heartland Conference —
There is an old playground saying that goes something like this: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” The implication is that while rhetoric and hate speech are bruising to the ego, they do not leave the physical scars of physical violence. As Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson highlighted
Every week, Our Faith Our Vote publishes a blog topic highlighting one of the critical issues facing the world today and providing for readers to take direct action. Whether you are writing the president asking him to protect asylum seekers, or working toward making your congregation Open and Affirming, there are so many ways the
Following two months of pilgrimage across the country, Apache Stronghold members gathered on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court with a large crowd of supporters on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The gathering of prayer and solidarity accompanied the group’s formal delivery of their appeal to the Court in the case of Apache Stronghold v. United
Project 2025 has become well known as a set of extreme policies which could threaten basic freedoms and harshly impact some of the country’s most vulnerable people. The United Church of Christ has published a response with an alternative vision – one that uplifts values of inclusion, dignity, and freedom. Countering Project 2025 With Love:
