Faith In Action
Please join us in calling on President Biden, Secretary Haaland and the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to make the Caja del Rio a National Monument. The Caja del Rio is one of the most remarkable cultural, spiritual, archaeological and ecological landscapes in the southwest. To learn more about the Caja del Rio check out this film. Here is an op-ed that Rev. Andrew Black wrote on Caja del Rio is HERE. In calling for a national monument, we will be joining the All Pueblo Council of Governors, Santa Fe County Commission, and Santa Fe Mayor.
As regional faith leaders, we are asking you to SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER.
COMMIT TO JUSTICE IN 2025:
a program for church-goers, laypeople, clergy, anyone looking for tools and support in their journey to building a better world.
Participate in the UCC's nationwide day of action on Valentine’s Day as we urge members of congress to have a heart for climate, our children, and our children's future. Organize a team to visit the district offices of your congress members on February 14th. Involve the children and youth of your church in the visit! Learn more and register your church.
Beginning in 2024, economic justice efforts in the United Church of Christ were centralized under the banner of “Fill the JAR” – Jubilee, Abundance, Reparations – God’s economic justice.
Dedicated campaigns for churches are coming (stay tuned new year 2025!) and a Fill the JAR podcast was begun: conversations with colleagues and collaborators in this shared work of fighting for liberation, equity, and thriving while staying whole and thriving ourselves. There would be more episodes, but I (Rev. Seth Wispelwey, Minister for Economic Justice) welcomed a new baby and parental leave for a while!
For now, you can subscribe and listen to conversations with Dr. Sharon Fennema (Join the Movement), Hill Brown (Faith in Harm Reduction), and Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt (Environmental Justice)…and expect many more in 2025!
After the election, commentators like Tom Nichols urged people to "stay engaged and make their voices heard at every turn.” But most still wonder how, and even if, they can make a difference between elections. What are the options?
(1) Protesting? Vital, but usually not the long game.
(2) Signing email form letters, which only 3% of Congressional staff says is highly effective? Just gestures.
(3) Taking a 2-year nap until the next election? Sadly, the preferred route for many.
Few know about (4) transformational advocacy which helps you change an issue while you also become changed in the process.
In his book "Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy," Sam Daley-Harris writes about people who have successfully brought about social change and personal transformation. Join us for this webinar as Daley-Harris shares his stories and wisdom gained from years of leading and coaching advocacy organizations such as Citizen's Climate Lobby, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Catholic Relief Services, and RESULTS.
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on Wednesday, December 11th at 1 pm ET (11 am SWC time), still sign up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!
This summer, the UCC Disabilities Ministries certified Desert Palm UCC as an “Accessible to All” (A2A) church. Our church is the first church in the Southwest Conference to attain this milestone. The achievement followed seven years of sustained work, two internal audits of our campus, educational outreach, and numerous meetings.
On November 16th, Blessed Tomorrow and a range of denominations will offer a training that will equip attendees on understanding the climate crisis through a faith lens while considering its impacts and how we can advance solutions. Attention will be given to how to best communicate with others and become engaged in taking action.
The Cool Congregations Challenge is an annual national contest to recognize congregations that are becoming energy efficient and sustainable role models. The contest is conducted by Interfaith Power & Light. The deadline for entries is December 15th, and the prize for each category is $1,000. Categories range from renewable energy to stewarding sacred grounds.
Watch the message from Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, GMP of the United Church of Christ, inviting us to pause, pray, and prepare to live love boldly as we process the election outcomes.
"No outcome of the election would deter us from our quest for justice. As people of faith and followers of Jesus, our values and our commitments are not changed by the politics of the day. We remain called to be advocates for justice and to find ourselves providing solidarity with those whose voices have been silenced, those who find themselves living on the margins of our society, and those whose rights are threatened among us."
The current and four former General Ministers and Presidents call on UCC to vote faithfully and with love.
The group of UCC leaders collaborated to create a video addressing the pressing importance of voting with a lens of faith values as part of the UCC’s Our Faith Our Vote campaign.
The historic message is given by the following Presidents and GMPs of the UCC:
Rev. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, current GMP beginning 2023
Rev. John C. Dorhauer, GMP from 2015 to 2023
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, GMP from 2009 to 2015
Rev. John H. Thomas, GMP from 1999 to 2009
Rev. Paul H. Sherry, President from 1989 to 1999
Congregations are invited to share the video for Vote Faithfully Sunday on Nov. 3, and a bulletin insert is available to accompany it.