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RACIAL JUSTICE/HUMAN RIGHTS
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UCC General Minister & President John Dorhauer was in Boston on Saturday, leading worship at Old South Church prior to the counter-protest which brought tens of thousands to the streets for a peaceful protest against the planned "free speech" rally. Joining him here are Massachusetts Conference staff from left, Ruben Bonilla-Santiago; and Associate Conference Ministers Kelly Gallagher, Wendy Vander Hart and Don Remick, all three of whom are also racial justice trainers. Their little friend joined in the photo.
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A Reflection on Charlottesville
by Kelly Gallagher
Associate Conference Minister
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Kelly joins other clergy guarding the park steps. She is between the two people wearing yellow.
UCC photo.
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I was at Charlottesville. Something tells me this will be a phrase that will be a part of the rest of my life.
The clergy call to Charlottesville came from a new organization - "Congregate" - that formed quickly in the face of the growing presence of the alt-right and white nationalists descending on Charlottesville over the last few months. Saturday's rally would have been the fourth, and largest, rally this year in Charlottesville of those who follow their god and gospel of hate, violence and fear. Indeed, some say it would have been the largest gathering of hate groups in decade.
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UCC Pastoral Letter Condemns Racial Violence in Charlottesville
As a response to the violent clashes between white supremacists and counter demonstrators in Charlottesville, Va., that left a woman dead and 19 injured, the national leadership of the United Church of Christ issued this Pastoral Letter.
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From the United Church of Christ
In an exceptional show of solidarity, theologians and spiritual leaders of the United Church of Christ's seven seminaries and their colleagues are uniting as signatories on this call to action, denouncing "the profound moral evil of white supremacy" and urging all Christians to make concrete change to end the benefit of white privilege.
As theological educators related to the United Church of Christ, we are united in the declaration that we reject white supremacy as a profound moral evil. White supremacy is an offense to God who created all human beings in God's image.
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A new collection of videos, podcasts, articles, social media resources, curriculum and more from the national office.
Find resources here
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MARCH FOR JUSTICE IN BOSTON: ANSWERING THE CALL
by TJ Harper
Racial Justice Associate
To see 40,000 people gathered in Boston to counter-protest 30 or 40 Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists was remarkable. Even if some of our political leaders refused to call the heinous acts of Charlottesville domestic terrorism and truly condemn them, 40,000 people in Boston were ready to demonstrate their beliefs. A message was sent: Our country has come too far and made too many strides in the right direction to let an aberration deter us.
I was reminded of that old Negro spiritual that said, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round, Turn Me 'Round, Turn Me Round.
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Racial Justice Podcasts Start in September
I hope that each of you is having an enjoyable summer thus far -- a time of restoration and rejuvenation. I am writing to share two important updates regarding Racial Justice Ministries within the Massachusetts Conference that will take place in September 2017.
We are launching a quarterly podcast beginning on September 7! Each conversation will be with a leader in the field of racial justice, and conversations will always have an intersection of spirituality and racial justice.
The subject of the first podcast is: "Why is it difficult to have conversations on race in the faith context?" The guest for the inaugural podcast is Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, former President of Spelman College (a historically black all-female university), acting President of Mount Holyoke College, and author of of
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria: And Other Conversations About Race
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FREE SCREENING OF "13TH"
MACUCC will host a screening of Ava Duvernay's Netflix Documentary "13th," which discusses how the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution has a loophole currently being exploited. Duvernay is also the director of the critically-acclaimed film, "Selma."
The "13th" documentary is a 90-minute segment that will be followed by a 90-minute panel discussion on the wider effects of mass prison incarceration. The documentary also conducts interviews with The New Jim Crow's Michelle Alexander, CNN's "Our Messy Truth" host Van Jones, MacArthur Genius Grant laureate Bryan Stevenson and many others
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Listening to Native Voices: Standing Rock is Everywhere
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Saturday, October 7, 10 AM
Agape Community, Hardwick, MA
St. Francis Day will be celebrated at the Agape Community, 2062 Greenwich Road, Hardwick, MA on Saturday, October 7, with a sacred water ceremony. Guests include:
- Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Standing Rock, Lakota, Dakota, Nakota Nations
- Beatrice Menase
- Kwe Jackson
Bring your own lunch and arrive early for parking.
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Climate Change and the Growing Risk of Nuclear War: An Agenda for Change
Please join the Pioneer Valley Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility for this timely and urgent symposium on Saturday, September 23, in Hadley. It features local and national activists and thinkers on both these existential issues, and how they intersect, including (but not limited to) a video message from Bill McKibben, Dr. Ira Helfand, Dr. Nitin Damle, Professor Michael Klare, Dr. Jennifer Leaning, and more. We will address the perils we face, but also how we are to overcome them.
The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Missioner for Creation Care, will moderate a morning panel and lead an afternoon workshop.
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IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE CONCERNS
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FAITH LEADERS: SIGN ON, WE ARE WITH DREAMERS
A message from Church World Service:
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects nearly 800,000 young people from deportation and provides them work authorization, is under immediate and existential attack. Ten attorneys general are threatening to sue President Trump if he doesn't end DACA by September 5th. We're concerned that Trump could end DACA in the next few weeks.
This
We Are With Dreamers letter demonstrates that elected officials, law enforcement, faith, and civic leaders stand with these young people and want to preserve the DACA program. We urge all local and national faith leaders, congregations, and faith-based organizations to sign on by filling out this form:
FaithWithDreamers.
The deadline has been extended to next Monday, August 28.
Learn More
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IMMIGRATION AND LGBT CONCERNS
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GALA TO SUPPORT LGBT ASYLUM MINISTRY
The LGBT Asylum Task Force's first ever Gala, featuring a full buffet dinner, cash bar, silent auction, raffle, and dancing to the music of Dale LePage (Central Massachusetts' favorite crooner) will take place Saturday, October 21, in Worcester. Jazz saxophonist Willie Sordillo will provide music for cocktail hour and dinner. You will also have the opportunity to meet some of our asylum seekers and hear their stories of courage.
Please support this unique ministry of Hadwen Park Congregational Church, UCC in Worcester. The task force provides for such needs as housing, food, and spiritual support for 16 asylum seekers at a time, and has helped over 150 people from some of the 80 countries where it is illegal to be gay.
Read More
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The Sunday of Labor Day weekend is Labor Sunday, a day to lift up workers, celebrate their contributions, and support their struggles. It is also a day to commit ourselves to improving jobs so that all workers have wages, benefits, and work hours that allow them to be self sufficient and live lives of wholeness.
Conditions and events at work absorb our energy, occupy our minds, and impact our psyches when we are at work and after returning home. Some workers confront particularly unjust situations-unsafe conditions, extremely low pay, racism, sexism, and other abuses.
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NEW RESOURCES FOR OUR CONGREGATIONS
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We at the Justice and Witness Council realize the difficult task placed upon our clergy to preach week in and week out in a time when we are, more than ever, called to be "the guide and critic of the state...
We invite clergy to submit sermons that they feel speak to this moment through the lens of the Gospel."
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Have you visited the Massachusetts Conference UCC's new resource for action
? Whether planning mission work in your church, finding ways to advocate for justice, or supporting disaster relief efforts around the world, you'll find helpful links to resources on these pages.
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