Blue skies above. Lapping waves below. Palm trees blowing softly in the wind. Togoru, a village located on the south coast of Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu, seems to have it all. But paradise is an illusion. Gazing out at the water one can see the tips of ancient headstones amid the waves. The submersion
A pastoral letter: The United Church of Christ strongly condemns the violence directed against former President Donald Trump. Political violence has never been a solution to differing political beliefs and ideologies. As more details emerge regarding the shooting at the political rally for President Trump, we are horrified at the events which unfolded before us. With the
It’s been a frequent experience. Peter Makari and I arrive, greet our global partners and exchange introductions, settle in for our time together….and then the floodgates open. It’s as if our partners have been holding their breath, waiting for the moment when they could share their stories, express their grief, and wonder out loud about
In 1215, at Runnymede in England, King John signed the Magna Carta. The mythos surrounding this document as a foundational text of Western democracy, which ensured that even kings were subject to the rule of law, inspired the those who drafted the founding documents of the United States. I confess I was taught this mythos
“People know that things aren’t right in this world right now,” said the Reverend Seth Wispelway, minister for Economic Justice with the United Church of Christ. “I wanted to create a resource for those who want to go a little deeper into why systems are not interested in people thriving. You aren’t losing it—capitalism and
At First Congregational Church, UCC, in Colorado Springs, CO, our Climate Justice Leadership Team worked with individuals to help them identify their deep sense of purpose to help them align with like-minded groups and causes, both inside the church and beyond, so they can make meaningful contributions toward combating climate change. Reaching into the scientific
War is hell. Since arriving in the West Bank of Palestine midday on Sunday, we’ve sat with multiple friends and partners, as well as our Global Ministries mission co-workers who are serving here. Every conversation inevitably turns to the war in Gaza. Every encounter makes abundantly clear just how devastating it is, and not only
The United Church of Christ’s Washington, D.C. Office of Public Policy and Advocacy recently welcomed three members to its team. Hannah Santos began as communications and campaigns specialist in early June. She will provide strategic and technical support for the overall communication functions of the D.C. office. Santos recently served as the religious freedom program
“Life is unbearable here for the average person.. The church is doing what it can to assist those in need but it’s not enough. We need peace.” -Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, pastor of National Evangelical Church in Beirut, Lebanon Rev. Prestemon & Dr. Makari with Rev. Dr. Badr (center) There is an overwhelming sense of uncertainty
Meeting the children in one of DSPR’s summer programs She confides it to me while we’re standing in a mosque that memorializes the thousands of Palestinians who died in the 1982 massacre in the Sabra and Shatilla Refugee Camps here in Beirut. Everything is so overwhelming, she says, so much to do. “We’re just a
