Advocacy and Action for Women’s and Gender Justice Local events stir thoughts and callings August marks not only the end of summer in a way that I feel in my bones, it marks several populations and initiatives that I want to honor in the coming month. World Breastfeeding Week was created in 1992 to highlight
During worship, a chorus of Samoan voices sang The Lord’s Prayer. Their harmonies washed over me, their love for God translated through the beauty of their singing in their native language. I was transposed from Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was on a recruitment trip at the North American Pacific/Asian Disciples Convocation, into an
published on Aug 1, 2024 Each month we unpack the complex justice issues that we’re working on. This month, Rebekah Choate, Minister for Global Advocacy and Education, reflects on the upcoming anniversary of the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the failure of the US government to compensate those harmed by nuclear testing, and the critical need to abolish nuclear weapons. Our Nuclear LegacyThis summer is
As the election approaches, many United Church of Christ congregations have been asking where, exactly, churches should draw the lines around political engagement. The webinar, “Be Prophetic, Not Partisan: Navigating Election DO’s and Don’ts for Churches,” which took place last week, has answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Is political conversation during
In Washington, D.C. last week, the Churches for Middle East Peace — a coalition of more than 30 national church communions and organizations in Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical traditions, including the United Church of Christ — organized a Joint Prayer Service calling for justice and peace. This was held just before Israeli Prime Minister
Like many others, I come from a family system that placed taboos on speaking publicly about one’s personal life. My siblings and I were conditioned at an early age not to discuss “personal things” outside of the home, especially something that might embarrass an elder. Our family mottos were “keep your mouth shut” and “don’t
The executive leaders of the United Church of Christ have issued the following statement addressing the violence in Israel and Palestine and calling for actions toward a just and lasting peace. “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14) Throughout the history of humankind,
United Church of Christ teens attending this summer’s Regional Youth Events (RYE) are hearing an important message for today’s increasingly troubling world: “Love Is Greater Than Fear.” The “Love Is Greater Than Fear” theme, anchoring all four regional events across the country, was inspired by a song of the same name that was written by
For years I have referred to myself as a peace-loving hippie-type pacifist who believes that violence is never the answer to humanity’s problems. In case I need to be clear, it was never the best choice to begin with and is often the catalyst for causing the problem that is being responded to. Violence not
In this presidential election year, many church leaders and congregations are concerned about where to draw the line between religion and politics. The United Church of Christ’s mission calls to “welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.” As a denomination committed to such values and justice for all, the UCC believes in speaking
