PBUCC Investment Committee Votes to Eliminate Oil Sands, Thermal Coal Investments
Originally Published on Tuesday, 16 February 2016 11:16
The Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Pension Boards–United Church of Christ, Inc. (PBUCC), recently voted to eliminate separately-managed (non-commingled) investments in oil sands and thermal coal.
The upcoming Bi-Vocational Ministry In the 21st Century Conference happens April 15-16, 2016, and is sponsored by the UCC and partner denominations. The conference will be an ecumenical gathering of bi-vocational pastors and judicatory leaders. Your presence and the participation of pastors and judicatory officers from your denomination will enrich the conversation.
Initial registration goals have been met, registration will continue to be accepted until April 4th. You may find additional information here [Link].
Sunday begins the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (March 6-13) and UCAN is leading the national effort called the Framework for Dialogue. The Framework for Dialogue brings together people living with HIV and faith leaders for dialogue and joint action to reduce and eliminate HIV stigma. You can learn more here.
Thecampaign to end HIV Stigma in the U.S. that UCAN, the United Church of Christ HIV & AIDS Network, will launch on Sunday.
Read MoreIn September, 2015, the elected officers of the UCC Council for Hispanic Ministries appointed a team to gather opinions and insights focused on the future of Hispanic/Latino(a) Ministries and Leadership in the UCC. As a first step, the team will launch a church-wide electronic survey inviting the participation of Latinas and Latinos across the various settings of the church. We are deeply grateful to the UCC Center for Analytics, Data, and Research (CARD), for their support and expertise in the survey’s design. If you identify as Latina or Latino you are invited to visit https://www.research.net/r/UCCLatinos to participate in the survey. Your response is needed by March 31, 2016. Thank you for contributing your thoughts to the future of Hispanic Ministries in the UCC.
February 25, 2016
Written by Anthony Moujaes
Organizers of the United Church of Christ’s upcoming National Youth Event are making a revision to the registration window to ensure youth participants have the first rights to register for the July gathering, before opening registration to reasonably accommodate families that hope to take part in the event.
The decision to delay family registration allows youth participants and chaperones a dedicated registration period until May 1. But in recognizing the importance of family, and understanding that an event at Walt Disney World holds a wide appeal, family members of participants will be able to register on a first-come, first-served basis beginning May 1.
"This decision to delay the registration of families for NYE until all youth have had their chance to register is one that will understandably create some anguish, anger, and pain across the life of the United Church of Christ. It is a decision that likely should have been made earlier," said the Rev. John C. Dorhauer, general minister and president of the UCC. "Because it wasn’t, plans already made by some may be disrupted. For that, I apologize. Nonetheless, this decision was made in order to maintain the integrity of a youth event that gathers once every four years, and to wisely steward our precious missional assets. I hope that any family that wants to register will have that opportunity, and that they will understand with patience and grace why it is we are asking them to give the youth and their chaperones the first opportunity to do so."
NYE was announced as a family-inspired gathering last summer. Event organizers explained that since then, there have been concerns to programming, logistics and finances which arose as a result of offering such a wide-reaching invitation. Once registration expands to families in May, the cost for each family member remains the same $549 discounted price and includes lodging and a one-day pass to one of the Disney parks. Family members who are not participating in NYE will be responsible for their own meals.
"I think it’s important to remember the only change here is delaying family registration to ensure as many youth as possible can be accommodated, and the elimination of the meals for the family registrants," said Lee Foley, chief administrative officer for the UCC. "Our main objective is to provide an event of fellowship, worship, mission and education for as many kids as possible within the confines of ever-diminished financial resources. The new NYE administration finds the original well-intended efforts are simply not consistent with the realities of the day."
Dear Friend,
Right now, the Arizona Legislature is considering SB 1377, HB 2223, and HB 2370. These proposals prey on fear and seek to spread fear, hate, and discrimination against refugees and immigrants.
We are proud to announce the next concert in the Extraordinary Evening of Music series has been scheduled for Saturday, April 2, at 7:00pm. Performing that evening will be Jan Simiz, assistant principal cello for The Phoenix Symphony, Dumitru Lazarescu, second violin for The Phoenix Symphony, and Larry Loeber, principal pianist for The Phoenix Symphony. So save the date on your calendars and keep an eye on your email Inbox for further details that will follow shortly.
Healing Earth: An Interfaith Climate Action Fundraiser
WHAT: A fundraising event for Arizona Interfaith Power and Light
WHEN: March 8, 2016 6:30-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Temple Emanuel, 5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe AZ (map)
COST: $50 per person
We encourage you to gather with us to support the mission of AZIPL: to mobilize people of faith in Arizona to reduce the causes of climate change. The President and Founder of IPL, the Reverend Canon Sally Bingham, will be our keynote speaker. The program will also include an update on AZIPL plans for 2016, the SAGE award to green congregations, song, and interfaith prayers for the Earth.
It promises to be a wonderful evening of good conversation, music, wine and hors d’oeuvres.
With the distribution of ashes on the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality, "from dust you came, and to dust you shall return," a prompt that life is short and to be lived to the fullest. Increasingly, that age-old lesson is taking on new meaning during the season anticipating Easter, a time which is becoming more about morality — less about what Christians give up, and more about what they are doing to be God’s church in the world.
Read MoreCome discover what the pastor of one of the fastest growing UCCs in the country knows about setting oneself apart as a progressive Christian in a predominantly conservative community!
Saturday, March 5th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at The Fountains, a United Methodist Church, 15300 N. Fountain Hills Blvd. in Fountain Hills. Registration (which includes a soup and salad lunch) is $40 per person (or $100 for three people from the same church). Admission is $50 at the door.
Read More
Cards may be sent to:
Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer
c/o United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Following is John's Message.
Dear Friends in Christ,
After taking a call from my brother on the ride home from work on Tuesday, and being told that my father – who had a week earlier gone into hospice – was not doing well and that I should think about getting here as soon as I can; I left Wednesday morning to be with him.
It took two days for all of his seven children to assemble, but one hour after his seventh child arrived, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren, my Dad breathed his last. It was a beautiful death, with tears and laughter filling the room and lifting our hearts.
I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. They sustained us all in these hours. I also want to thank you for the permission to be here and share this amazing experience with my family. I want to especially thank the Collegium for their support; and Cheryl Williams – whose able leadership in my absence allows me to be here without fear of some very important things being left undone.
I will spend a few more days preparing funeral arrangements and burying my father. I anticipate being able to return to the office and my responsibilities sometime later next week.
I am going to remain off line until then. Cheryl will coordinate all of my continuing responsibilities.
I rejoice in the grace of God, and marvel that at my father’s passing my grief is met with such profound joy. May it ever be so.
In the abiding love of our tender Creator,
John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President
This Sunday, 2/7/2016:
Michael Tucker Presents:
“Loving Yourself When Everything in Your World Says You Shouldn't”
Our environment is filled with illusions about what life means and falsities about who we are. From birth we are exposed to this "reality," and without questioning we accept it as truth. Included in these imaginings are ideas about our unworthiness of love and acceptance. Ignorantly, we expand on these untruths and build lives of limitation when it comes to loving ourselves.
Read MoreFebruary 10-12, 2016
University of Arizona
Environment & Natural Resources Bldg.
ENR2
Launching Tucson as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy
Sponsored By:
The Center for Regional Food Studies
City of Tucson
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Edible Baja Arizona
Institute of the Environment
More than 70,000 same-sex couples have married in the United States since Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004. These marriages can pose unique challenges for both couples and their parents. In her new book, “When Your Gay or Lesbian Child Marries: A Guide for Parents” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016), Clark Sociology Professor Deborah Merrill examines how same-sex marriage changes relationships between parents and their gay or lesbian adult children.
Read MoreThanks to grants provided by the Marshall Foundation and the County Fair/White Elephant, the Food Bank has been able to respond to The Good Shepherd’s commitment to cleaner energy and a lower carbon footprint. Panels installed on the roof of the Redman Room and the Library will
generate enough power to operate the two outdoor coolers, with a corresponding reduction in energy costs to the Food Bank. While the coolers are highly efficient units, specifically designed to operate in the desert, they nonetheless cost about $250-300 to operate each month. The coolers are separately metered, and the energy costs paid for by the Food Bank. With the addition of solar power, approximately 95% of those costs will be met. “That translates into more food for more people, and assures that funding the operation of the coolers will not be an issue in the future,” reports President of the Sahuarita Food Bank Board, Curt Ackley. “Our grantors have been impressed with the dedication of our volunteers to our belief that no children should go to bed hungry.”
Books, Books, Books, will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 3, in the Zuni room on the second floor of La Perla at La Posada. All are welcome. February's book is John Dominic Crossan's "The Power of Parable: How Parables by Jesus became Parables about Jesus". This is the theme of the weekend seminar with Crossan to be held at The Good Shepherd, February 19-20. If you have any questions about the book group meeting, please call Jane or Burt Eubank at 520-393-6593.
· Are you in a helping profession and ready to take the next step or are you looking
for spiritual direction training?
· Are you at the point where you want to explore deeper levels of the faith life?
· Have you ever asked - "I wish I knew how to be present to this person without trying to fix them?"
· Do you yearn for connection to community beyond "programmatic" offerings?
· Are you ready to go deeper with yourself, God and others?
If you have answered, "yes" to these questions, then:
"THE ART OF DEEP LISTENING" may be the place for you!
Using the practice of "Spiritual Direction/Companioning" as our guide, this 6-month
community will explore the gift of deep listening to God, self and others.
Visit the Pathways of Grace website for more information.
Sun Lakes UCC will celebrate its one year anniversary of its Open & Affirming vote on Sunday,
January 24, 2016. The service will include a congregational renewal of Sun Lakes' ONA Covenant,
along with some special hymns and the distribution of rainbow ribbons.
