Faith In Action
Climate change most directly impacts people of color and the poor. We must stand together to change this. Giving Tuesday is your chance. Enact Climate Justice with a gift to the UCC. Funds raised will be directed to
Honor the Earth, an indigenous organization working to saving our planet (70%)
The UCC Council for Climate Justiceto enhance our advocacy and education efforts (30%)
The “Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021” (S.2956) bill, which was already introduced in the House as H.R. 4693, would prioritize addressing malnutrition across global health and other food systems, require robust monitoring, and authorize USAID to advance specifically targeted programs to prevent and treat malnutrition.
As a nation of plenty, we can and must do more to ensure that all are provided basic nutrition and dignity. Passage of this legislation would ultimately save lives and highlight ways that working for the common good can overcome partisan divides.
Read MoreFrom Jeremy Zegas, Regional Political Organizer for Healthcare Rising Arizona:
"For Giving Tuesday, we are looking to set up a number of signature-gathering locations around the state so that we can maximize our donation to RIP Medical Debt."
Please contact Jeremy at jzegas@healthcarerisingaz.org or 480-849-4236 if your church can provide a location on November 30.
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference has signed onto this initiative.
The Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ is pleased to endorse the Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act (PDCPA). The PDCPA is a proposed 2022 Arizona ballot measure that fights predatory debt collection in three key ways: it increases existing exemptions in Arizona law to allow more people struggling with debt to keep their homes, cars, and household goods; it protects workers wages by limiting the amount that can be garnished by debt collectors, and it helps folks with medical debt by capping the interest rate.
Read MoreThose of us who are planning Environmental Day at the Legislature, Feb. 9, 2022, have created "2022 Environmental Priorities for the Arizona Legislature and Governor.” It includes an outline of five environmental justice issues that we feel are essential.
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference has signed onto the PRO Act initiative which passed the House in March and is now before the Senate.
The PRO Act is the most significant worker empowerment legislation since the Great Depression.
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When our democracy gets polluted by campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry, people of faith can take action for the sake of God’s creation. Learn more in this webinar: bit.ly/PollutedDemocracy
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“The goal of the Green Amendments For The Generations is to advance a Green Amendment movement that sweeps the nation and secures for all people constitutional recognition and protection of their inalienable rights to pure water, clean air, a stable climate and healthy environments. We seek to inspire and support pursuit and passage of self-executing, environmental rights amendments in the Bill of Rights section of every state constitution across the U.S. and ultimately at the federal level. Once accomplished, we will work with communities to ensure their strong and meaningful implementation and enforcement.”
Read more here. Take action here.
Read MoreThe Veterans and Consumer Fair Credit Act (VCFCA) will establish an interest rate cap of 36% for all small dollar loans. This is an important step toward preventing harm caused by predatory lending practices. In addition, this rate cap has a proven track record. The Military Lending Act prohibits lenders from charging active-duty military servicemembers and their families more than 36% APR. The Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act would extend the Military Lending Act’s strong and successful interest rate cap to veterans and all Americans. It would not affect state rate caps that are lower and provide even greater consumer protection.
Take action today and urge Congress to support the Veterans and Consumer Fair Credit Act.
Read MoreHonor the earth. It’s a sacred commitment in which many United Christ of Christ congregations are immersed. Honor the Earth is also an Native-led nonprofit organization founded to raise awareness and financial support for Indigenous environmental justice. Both will benefit from this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign.
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The UCC Justice and Peace Action Network's November newsletter.
Read MoreThe IRC needs a lot of new staff to help with Afghan refugee families and singles. Here’s the website for open positions:
Read MoreGreetings, SWC churches. Information and strategy recommendations are available from the UCC National Setting regarding welcoming and resettling our 55,600 new Afghan neighbors and the anticipated 30,000 addition neighbors who will enter the US by year’s end. This guidance mentions ways to participate in the resettlement effort and considerations regarding partners with whom you might decide to work. The SWC office is interfacing with the National Setting and our other ministry partners regarding this effort. To that end they’ve asked us to collect your questions, collate them, and pass them on.
Read MoreJoin #ChurchOut at Boycott Bar on November 4th for this year's #ChurchOut Open Mic Night! All night long they're inviting LGBTQIA+ Christians and people of all faiths to come and share your stories of life in religious spaces.
Read MoreThe United Church of Christ Synod has been clear on the need to reorient our tax system to be more progressive, adequate, and equitable.
Join with us in asking your members of Congress to support these historic investments by passing the reconciliation bill to fulfill their moral responsibility to the nation. Now is the time to address the roots of our country's injustices, and to honor the sacred call to recognize the dignity and worth of our neighbor and creation.
Read MoreIn this webinar, we will hear from the following international climate policy specialists who will discuss the conference as it is happening: Kelly Stone from Action Aid, Chloe Noël from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, and Ruth Ivory-Moore from the Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1 pm ET on Wednesday, November 10th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!
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Our faith tells us that each person bears the image of God and each person’s life is valuable. We are called to oppose violence and abuse and ensure the protection and safety of others. Our 14th General Synod spoke to this stating, “We must testify that any unnecessary suffering – particularly the physical or sexual abuse of any person – is a blasphemy before God and a grave injustice in our midst.”
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Calling all faith leaders, clergy, community organizers and immigrant leaders! Join us November 7-11 (evenings, online) for the "Together We Welcome" conference, a national faith gathering to strengthen support for refugees, immigrants and migrants.
The conference will feature 32 sessions, keynote speakers, opportunities for formal and informal networking, and a virtual Expo hall with national and local resettlement offices and other experts.
Register now: cwsglobal.org/togetherwewelcome
Read MoreIt started as an idea that morphed into a vision that became a shining light.
As the “first tour” caravan of guests parked along the dusty road in front of the single-story building, exclamations of delight rose from the vehicles. The freshly painted sign written in big bold letters read Centro de Esperanza – one of the newest of many improvements to the facility – felt wonderful. The new migrant resource center in Sonoyta, Sonora was becoming a reality after years of caring, planning, working, negotiating, and serving!
Read MoreThomas Smith will soon become the United Church of Christ’s newest Partners in Service volunteer, serving in Sahuarita, Ariz., with The Good Shepherd UCC’s U.S.-Mexico border ministries.
Smith’s one-year, full-time assignment will be with migrants in desperate need, said Good Shepherd’s Lead Pastor, the Rev. Randy Mayer. For his part, Smith shared his excitement to work with a ministry that is “literally saving lives.”
The church’s Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans ministry works to “save lives and relieve suffering in the Arizona borderlands.” The ministry places food and water in the desert for migrants, searches the desert for migrants in distress, and helps operate on both sides of the border. Read more.
