Elizabeth Moser, left, and Sarah Marburger, right, assemble CWS Welcome Backpacks. Their church, Longswamp UCC in Mertztown, Pa., is confirmed to be the first anywhere to apply for and receive a UCC $250 Kits Match Grant to assemble the new backpacks. Total backpacks assembled: 14. Photo by Jill Shade, used with permission.

New CWS Period Packs, Backpacks are UCC Match Grant-eligible

September 03, 2022 in Faith In Action

United Church of Christ congregations have long assembled school kits and cleanup buckets to help others through Church World Service.

They now have two new opportunities. Church World Service Kits now include a Period (Menstrual Hygiene) Pack and a Welcome Backpack.

These join CWS’s well-established Hygiene and School Kits and Emergency Cleanup Buckets. And UCC churches assembling and donating any of the CWS Kits can apply for UCC Match Grants of up to $250 to help stretch their contribution.

Read the entire UCC news story here.

Reproductive Justice Means More than Being Pro-Choice

August 27, 2022 in Faith In Action

The Dobbs vs. Jackson decision that nullified women’s constitutional right to abortion has generated a deluge of rhetoric, legal changes, and arguments. Sherry Warren breaks down some of the lingo.

Refugee & Migration Grants Workshop

August 27, 2022 in Faith In Action

Global H.O.P.E. will be hosting a grant workshop on Wednesday, August 31 at 3pm to cover eligibility details and questions about the grants offered by Global HOPE for Refugee & Migration Ministries.

Register here.

Hope House of Sedona project receives award from State

August 27, 2022 in Faith In Action

On Aug. 19, 2022 at the Arizona Housing Forum, the Arizona Department of Housing awarded the recently completed Hope House of Sedona with the 2022 Housing Hero Award for Outstanding State Administered Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Funded Project.

2022 Our Faith, Our Voice, Our Vote Series

August 20, 2022 in Faith In Action

Living Faithfully During an Election Season

Tuesday, September 13, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

Join the Arizona Faith Network for a faithful dialogue and education series leading to the 2022 midterm elections. Together we will work to speak truth and justice as we build bridges across the divides this election season.

UCC Webinar—The Birth of the Environmental Justice Movement

August 20, 2022 in Faith In Action

One of the most significant events in the history of the UCC was a six week nonviolent action campaign that gave birth to the environmental justice movement with its pioneering focus on environmental racism. This webinar will feature three leaders from the protest against the dumping of toxic waste in Warren County, North Carolina: Dollie Burwell, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., and the Rev. William Kearney.

Good news for the Arizona Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act!

August 20, 2022 in Faith In Action

Big news on our campaign to #FightMedicalDebt: The AZ Superior Court has ruled in favor of our ballot initiative against legal challenges from predatory debt collection agencies. We agree with the court’s ruling, because no one should lose their home due to unpaid medical bills.

The Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act will now be known as Prop 209!

Pledge to Vote and Help a Friend!

August 13, 2022 in Faith In Action

Many voters like you are pledging to increase civic engagement in 2022 by committing to encouraging three friends to vote on or before Election Day. Because of the changing rules and wave of voter suppression laws passed at the state level, it is more important than ever that we know our voting rights and that we have a plan vote.

Disaster Update: How to Help

August 06, 2022 in Faith In Action

Event: Major Flooding and Severe Weather from Missouri to Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia

Read about the UCC impact, early response, long-term recovery, how to help, get links to news & updates, and contact information.

JPANet: See you in September!

August 06, 2022 in Faith In Action

Greetings JPANet Advocates,

It has been another fast-changing legislative year, full of twists and turns, and it is only August! There is no doubt that your voices, messages, action and faithful witness for justice have made a difference! Over the last several months of 2022, you have taken action on climate justice, gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, immigration, LGBTQ equality, defense of human rights around the world, reproductive justice, hate crimes and federal budget policy, to name but a few.

UCC Webinar—Water and Environmental Justice

July 30, 2022 in Faith In Action

For the UCC’s next Creation Justice webinar, our special guest will be Lynn Thorp who serves as the National Campaigns Director for Clean Water Action. She will discuss how we can make effective and equitable strides in reducing water pollution, including exposure to toxic substances such as the highly toxic “forever” chemicals found in almost everyone’s blood in the U.S.

Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1 pm ET on Wednesday, August 10th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

Willing To Respond - promo tools for congregations

July 30, 2022 in Faith In Action

Is Your Church “Willing to Respond” in a Disaster?

Does your congregation desire to be more prepared for disasters, both to protect yourselves and to extend love to your neighbors in time of crisis? Then Willing to Respond is for you!

Willing to Respond will help your congregation review its experience, available resources and community context; discern your growing edges, and get ready to respond when disaster strikes. The Willing to Respond network helps your congregation get connected to collaborate.

JPANet: Act to End the Threat of Nuclear Weapons

July 30, 2022 in Faith In Action

We are calling on Congress to pass H.R.1185, “Embracing the goals and provisions of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).” The TPNW is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons with its goal being their total elimination.

This resolution calls on the United States to take concrete steps toward reducing the threat of nuclear war, like taking our nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert as well as working with other nuclear-armed states to eliminate our nuclear arsenals. This resolution is only a first step, but it’s an important one towards a just and peaceful world for all. Take action now and contact your legislators.

Join the Global Ministries Mission Dash 5K!

July 30, 2022 in Faith In Action

Walk, roll, run, jog, advocate, or spiritually sprint wherever you are! You may choose to do the dash with your neighbors, friends, family, church, or on your own. You’re encouraged to do the 5K anytime between August 1 and August 31, 2022.

Make plans to join us today! Register now.

Check out the daily action calendar, too.

Time is Out. We Demand Climate Justice NOW.

July 23, 2022 in Faith In Action

We must continue to demand that all our leaders take immediate and bold action to address the climate crisis. They must pass legislation that transitions us fully to a renewable energy-fueled economy so that we can reduce our emissions by 2030. This should be done by including the climate change investments in the reconciliation bill. Congress must also ensure environmental justice while doing so and pass the Environmental Justice For All Act (H.R. 2021).

Now is the time for us to come together and lift our collective voice to hold Congress to account to meeting the needs of the people. We must also call on our neighbors to join us. There is simply no time to waste.

So many ways to serve! Disaster, volunteer, & immigration ministries

July 23, 2022 in Faith In Action

Read United Church of Christ Global H.O.P.E.’s July newsletter.

Hope House has a new house manager

July 23, 2022 in Faith In Action

Hope House of Sedona has found a new house manager, and have interviewed families that are ready to move in.

"The dream is becoming a reality." -Gale Lothrop

Act Now for Climate Justice

July 23, 2022 in Faith In Action

Mission Dash is a virtual 5K that you can complete any time during the month of August. We encourage you to run, walk, roll, or spiritually sprint while raising money for our global partners working on climate justice projects. In addition to the 5K, we will also have a daily action calendar of just a few things you can do at home, in your community, in our country, and around the world to support climate justice. Not every person will be able to do every action, but we hope you will take the actions you can during August and then turn those actions into habits.

Now What? Informing, Educating, and Mobilizing Progressive Churches for Reproductive Rights

July 11, 2022 in Faith In Action

The Southwest Conference hosted Now What? Informing, Educating, and Mobilizing Progressive Churches for Reproductive Rights on Saturday, July 9. You can view the video recording, chat, and a written summary.

Panelists included:

Frank Fox, SWC Attorney
Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, National Staff/Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Joan Lamunyon Sanford, Executive Director/NM Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Karen Richter, Our Whole Lives Educator
Rev. Dr. Barbara Doerrer-Peacock, Associate Conference Minister

Just Peace in a Southern Context

July 09, 2022 in Faith In Action

The Southwest Conference is welcome to attend. Register here.