News from Global H.O.P.E.
a Ministry Team of the United Church of Christ's Wider Church Ministries
January 2023
Global H.O.P.E. Position Opening: Communications Specialist
Position Open-UCC Global H.O.P.E. has an open position for a Communications Specialist (PT)
Deadline to apply is 2/27/2023
Apply here: https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=5167922
Global H.O.P.E. mourns the passing of Bill McMillion
Volunteer Ministries is sad to learn of the passing of volunteerism leader Bill McMillon on January 12th. He was at home with his wife and daughter in Nevada after a cancer diagnosis.
Bill was a member of the Community Church of Sebastopol, United Church of Christ for decades. An author, educator, naturalist, and metal sculptor, Bill was known for his good humor and straight-forward style. While he self-described as an atheist, Bill was devoted to community service and a regular churchgoer who served as a Trustee and advocate for the justice and outreach ministries of the church.
My home congregation is Bill’s home congregation, and I knew him from my childhood. The photo above is from a visit to Sebastopol in August 2022.
When I began as Minister of Volunteer Engagement in 2021, I began sorting through years of documents and files. I found a copy of Bill’s book – one of the only books in print about “volunteer service trips.” Volunteer trips are a core commitment of Volunteer Ministries and staple program for UCC churches across the country. His influence on my ministry is clear in my church’s tradition of volunteerism.
Gracious God, Bill loved your earth and its people.
May we celebrate how he lived by remembering that service is a way of life that grants a joyful life. Amen.
By Elena Larrsen Global H.O.P.E. Minister for Volunteer Engagement
Volunteer Ministries
Call for Applications: College Students and Young Adults invited and eligible for UCC Spring Break for Service at Back Bay Mission 2023
“Last Spring, covid-concerns meant some chaplains had to cancel Spring Break trips that were planned and paid for in advance. It is understandable that ministries are cautious to plan Spring Break service trips and are seeking collaboration. We excited to therefore partner with Back Bay Mission in Biloxi to offer Spring Break for Service in March 2023,” said Elena Larssen, Minister of Volunteer Engagement with the National Offices of the United Church of Christ.
Support to Campus Ministries by Campus Ministries
“Our campus group has traveled to Back Bay for years. This year, we will welcome any young adult or campus group that wants to join in with us,” said Rev. Paul Stark of Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. “Partnering with Back Bay and Volunteer Ministries to welcome additional participants means pooling our resources and increasing the size of the community for that special week.”
The Weeks are hosted by Back Bay Staff and Chaplains with a program of hands-on service, vocational immersion with health and human services staff from Back Bay, and cultural appreciation for the social justice history of the Biloxi region. Students of all or no religious affiliation are warmly welcomed, in alignment with Open and Affirming practices and Inclusion Excellence values of the United Church of Christ.
Week are hosted as follows:
March 5-11 Heidelberg University with Chaplain Paul Stark
March 12-18 Olivet College with Chaplain Mike Fales
March 19-25 Elmhurst University with Chaplain Scott Matheny and Chapman University with Chaplain Cisa Payuyo
Individual Students May Apply via Partners in Service: Space is Limited
Individual students may apply to join a week, should they not have a local option. The application for individual student applications is here:
UCC Spring Break students who are applying as individuals may apply through the Partners in Service Program of Volunteer Ministries: Partners in Service - United Church of Christ (ucc.org)
Application Link: Partners in Service Volunteer Application (smarterselect.com)
UCC Spring Break is driven by engagement with UCC ministries seeking to reawaken volunteerism among young adults and share resources. Rev. Larssen is currently welcoming additional chaplains, campus ministers, and young adult program leaders to join the collaboration: LarssenE@ucc.org.
Young Adults, 2023 Leadership Immersion Opportunities
If you are a young adult or know a young adult UCC has new leadership immersion opportunities for 2023
Looking for a 2023 Volunteer Work Trip?: UCC Ministry Opportunities has work trips available. Also let us know if there are Volunteer Work Trips in your Conference we might add to this list!
Refugee & Migration Ministries
The New Year: Drastic Policy Changes in US Migration
The New Year started off with enormous changes in U.S. migration policies. Following the sudden halt of Title 42’s anticipated repeal in December, the Biden administration announced in early January that new migration processes are now available for Haitian, Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan nationals. Under this specialized process, these nationalities may no longer claim asylum at a US Border; instead, they are required to find a private sponsor with US citizenship to invite them to the United States for up to two years on a Humanitarian Parole visa. This process, the federal government anticipates, will decrease the record high approaches to the Southern Border, as well as relieve pressure on a strained asylum processing system.
However, denying the right to asylum for these nationalities and instead putting their fates into the hands of untrained private citizens raises some serious concerns. We believe this trend of redirecting asylum, and perhaps even refugee resettlement, to the private sponsorship model will continue to increase. Over the first half of 2023, Refugee & Migration Services at UCC National Ministries plans to monitor these changes as they develop and inform and train our churches to respond. Please join us for a webinar that will address these changes, and why they’re resulting in your e mail inbox being flooded with sponsorship requests from strangers abroad, on March 1, 2023, 2pm ET. Registration for “Migrant Sponsorship: Responding to the Heartbreaking Email” is available here: https://UCC.zoom.us/webinar/register/5816740511851/WN_d6Eg5aZmR0S3q1VviY-WtA
Did you host Afghan Nationals in 2021-2022?
Because increases in private sponsorship requests are anticipated in 2023 due to these policy changes, we are working with Church World Service and their governmental connections to analyze the sustainability of bolstered private sponsorship in the United States. To collect accurate data on mass private sponsorship, we’ve requested churches that hosted Afghan evacuees in 2021-2022 take this brief, anonymous survey about your experience here before February 13: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Afghan_Sponsorship
Data from this survey will be shared with our partners at Church World Service, who communicate with federal resources about the successes and challenges of private sponsorship. The feedback you provide on this survey is important for informing the umbrella systems about what they can expect from private sponsors under these new proposed programs. After the data has been collected and reviewed, we plan to host a debrief session in April with interested churches regarding their experiences hosting Afghan evacuees and introduce any new information on the developing private sponsorship changes at that time.
As always, we are inspired by your incredible ministries and thank you for all that you do to welcome with dignity.
Disaster Ministries
Disaster Ministries to assist victims of deadly California storms
United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries is tracking a series of deadly storms surging up the California coast, leaving behind a wake of destruction and displaced residents. Twenty-one million people from San Diego to San Francisco were under flood alerts as of Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, and the weather is slated to get worse as the storm moves north.
Enjoy the full article here.
The Emotional and Spiritual Care Team will offer a
Trauma Retreat in Florida
The Emotional and Spiritual Care Team will offer a Trauma Retreat in Florida-The team will meet from Feb 6-10 in Orlando Florida to offer a Trauma Retreat for Florida faith leaders and meet face to face as a team for the first time.
National VOAD Bi-Weekly Operations Call
National VOAD Bi-Weekly Operations Call- every other Thursday at 3:30pm CDCs can report out current operations as well as unmet needs you are experiencing. If you are unable to join the call, updates of your current activities can also be posted to VOADNet or sent to info@nvoad.org.Zoom Link Phone: 301-715-8592 Pin: 96701023440#
Find Your Local Number Here
More from Global H.O.P.E.
UCC Churches and Conferences Declaring Themselves "Willing to Respond" - United Church of Christ
Twenty Seven UCC churches, four conferences, eight new groups have joined the willing to respond network in the past two months!
Nineteen UCC churches and three conferences have declared themselves "Willing to Respond" to disaster.
Being "Willing to Respond" is as easy as 1-2-3! 1) Register your church to connect to your local disaster response infrastructure. 2) Name a point of contact. 3) Browse the resources on the "Willing to Respond" website to help you be ready when disaster strikes.
Mission Sites Currently Recruiting Volunteers
Western Kentucky - recovery from tornadoes and severe weather that left widespread damage in December 2021. Contact Greg Denk
Philadelphia's Eastwick neighborhood - recovery from Tropical Storm Isaias, Aug. 2020. Contact Sharon Sgriccia
Contact your UCC Conference Disaster Coordinator for local disaster recovery needs (e.g. clean up, muck out, repairs).
Additional opportunities to serve by welcoming refugees, helping after disaster, and more.
UCC delegation heads to Europe to track Ukraine response
The United Church of Christ has collected almost $3 million through an emergency appeal for the people of Ukraine. On Jan. 27, almost a year after the Russian invasion displaced 13 million, church executives are traveling to the region to see what their needs are and how faith partners are responding using UCC gifts.
The UCC delegation, led by Associate General Minister the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, will spend 14 days abroad. Much of that time will be with historic partners and churches in Hungary, Greece and the Transcarpathia region in southwest Ukraine.
To read more on this story click here.
Appeals to Support Neighbors
Your designated donation supports the on-going response and long-term recovery with those affected.
Russia's attack on Ukraine
Massive flooding in Pakistan
Hurricane devastation across Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Florida and more
Gifts to International Emergencies and Emergency USA allow the Church to be present in even more places, including with neighbors whose story may never receive a media spotlight.
About Global H.O.P.E.
Part of the UCC's Wider Church Ministries, the Global H.O.P.E. team brings into close synergy Disaster Ministries, Refugee and Migration Ministries, Volunteer Engagement and Sustainable Development.
Global H.O.P.E. distributes One Great Hour of Sharing offerings, stewarding gifts to OGHS and humanitarian appeals on behalf of the wider church. H.O.P.E. makes clear the team's vision: Humanitarian. Opportunities. Progress. Empowerment.
Staff:
Rev. Joshua Baird, Global H.O.P.E. Team Leader
Rev. Irene W. Hassan, Minister for Refugees and Migration
Rev. Craig Hoffman, Program Assistant
Rev. Elena Larssen, Minister for Volunteer Engagement
Lesli Remaly, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery
Key links
Global H.O.P.E.
2022 Grants from Global H.O.P.E..
Disaster Ministries
Disaster Updates
Refugee and Migration Ministries
Refugee Emergency Updates
Volunteer Ministries
UCC Ministry Opportunities