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UCC in the News
News about the UCC from various sources.
Commentary found in this blog does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the national setting of the United Church of Christ, its Conferences and Associations, its local churches or its member organizations. Monday March 8, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 2:01PM EST on March 8, 2010
Scripture tells us that God has a simple request of humanity:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NRSV) Radio personality Glenn Beck doesn't like that kind of talk:
Beck's attempt to compare the modern Christian church to Russian Communists or German Nazis is nothing but a cheap ploy meant to divide Americans along religious lines.
What is Beck trying to do here? He continues to espouse a political philosophy that ignores the needs of those Jesus called "the least of these in society," argues that as stewards of creation humanity can do whatever it wants with the Earth, and justifies wars that most Christians across the globe condemn.
Clearly, he sees Christians as a threat to his political agenda.
Holy Scripture is filled with teachings from God about justice and God condemns those who create governments and socities that benefit the wealthy at the expense of the needs of the poor and homeless:
13The Lord rises to argue his case; he stands to judge the peoples. 14The Lord enters into judgement with the elders and princes of his people: It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord God of hosts. (Isaiah 3:13-15 NRSV) The church universal - when we have been at our best - has always been about social justice, about uplifting the needs of those lost and left behind.
Roman Catholics in Poland fought off Communism. African-American churches in the United States led the Civil Rights Movement. Mainline Christian Churches, in partnership with many others, have fought to stop wars and to help people living in poverty lift themselves up. Evangelicals have joined together in common cause with other people of faith to fight global warming.
Jesus himself explains what is at stake:
35...I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?”40And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.” 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” 44Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” 45Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:35-45 NRSV) Glenn Beck might pay special attention to verse 41 of this passage the next time he condemns the justice work of Christian churches.
Monday March 1, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 6:31PM EST on March 1, 2010
From The California Democrat:
To kickoff the Lenten season, United Church of Christ (UCC), California, hosted a three-day opportunity to walk a labyrinth. Sunday February 28, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 11:24AM EST on February 28, 2010
From TwinCities.com:
Is this the last story someone writes about a gay pastor in Minnesota? Obadiah Ballinger hopes so. He has just been hired by a church in St. Paul Park and would much rather talk about preaching than about his sexual orientation. Gay clergy have become less of a novelty, with many state churches hiring homosexual pastors. But Ballinger's hiring — and the long process the church went through to hire him — is still a sign of a widening rift among area churches over the issue of homosexuality. While some churches want to ban gay clergy, the Community United Church of Christ is going the other direction — hiring a male pastor who is married to another man. "The congregation welcomed me with open arms," said Ballinger, 27, who was installed as pastor Jan. 23. It's his first job as a pastor. He graduated from Yale Divinity School, where he met his future husband. They were legally married in Connecticut in May. Ballinger is winning over the few skeptics left in the church. The first sign was a classic symbol of Minnesota-style repentance — home-baked cookies. "A woman who said she originally voted against me brought me them," Ballinger said. The issue of gays in the pulpit has roiled different denominations in different ways. Churches in Afton and Lakeville took steps to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America after it voted in August to permit churches to hire gay clergy in "committed relationships." Some Episcopal churches are considering splitting from the main church over the issue of homosexuality, and there is wide disagreement among Baptists and Presbyterians. The United Church of Christ has been in the vanguard of gay acceptance. Tuesday February 23, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 11:16AM EST on February 23, 2010
Immigration reform continues to be an important moral issue and driving much of the debate in favor of reform is America's diverse faith community. Just this past week the National Council of Churches issued the following statement: New York, February 19, 2010 -- Responding to a "divine mandate" and as a "patriotic act," the chief executives of the National Council of Churches and Church World Service are pressing "comprehensive immigration reform" in the United States. In a letter to the leaders of the 36 communions that compose their organizations, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC General Secretary, and the Rev. John L. McCullough, CWS Executive Director and CEO, said the urgent need for immigration reform must be a shared Christian concern in the season of Lent. "As in years past, we are at a significant moment of convergence where our faith commitments and values and the needs of millions of disenfranchised people converge," Kinnamon and McCullough said in a February 16 letter to heads of communion. "We join together in stating our commitment to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that is humane, effective and that upholds the human and civil rights of immigrants." The letter expressed concern for the 12 million immigrants living in the U.S. who "find themselves without the hope of becoming citizens, reuniting with family members or enjoying the legal protections that most of us take for granted. Yet many of these people have lived and worked in our communities for years, becoming our friends and family, and often performing the daily tasks that enhance our quality of life." The two executives said in their letter that they joined with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Association of Evangelicals, National Hispanic Leadership Conference "and millions of other people of faith" in calling for immigration reform that "will improve and protect the lives of millions of people." They called on heads of communion to consider the following actions: 1.) Host a prayer vigil or community event to pray for immigrants and call for immigration reform, inviting your members of Congress and local media to attend 2.) Dedicate a sermon, bible study theme, or series of Sunday School lessons to Christ’s teachings to welcome the stranger, love our neighbors, and work for justice 3.) Call, write, and meet with your members of Congress – individually and as a community group - to urge them to support immigration reform 4.) Organize members of your community, or send representatives, to Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) March 19th – 22ndand a rally for immigration reform on March 21. 5) Get connected to and utilize resources related to your denomination’s efforts on immigration reform. The full text of the letter follows. For a printable version, see www.ncccusa.org/pdfs/HOCimmigration100216.pdf. The general minister and president of the United Church of Christ is one of those who has signed this statement. Saturday February 13, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 12:52PM EST on February 13, 2010
The Rev. John Thomas, who served most recently as the general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, was named this fall as senior advisor to the president and visiting professor of church ministries at Chicago Theological Seminary. He assumed his new duties in January. You can keep up to date with his work and the mission of this UCC-related seminary at the new "John Thomas Blog."
Monday February 8, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 6:40PM EST on February 8, 2010
The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, has an idea on how Wall Street executives could spend some of their multi-million dollar bonuses. RNS reports:
The United Church of Christ is a member of the National Council of Churches.
UCC members and friends are encouraged to make donations to Global Ministries and / or Church World ServiceChurch World Service for Haiti relief.
Wednesday February 3, 2010
Posted by: Rev. Chuck Currie at 12:16PM EST on February 3, 2010
As the international community worries - quite legitimately - about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, their human rights record, and their hard-line anti-Semitic government which has promised to whip Israel off the face of the earth, some voices have suggested a preemptive military strike that would take out Iran’s nuclear facilities.
General David Petraeus , however, has concerns about the counter effects such actions might have. Reuters reports:
Across the globe, religious leaders have argued for diplomatic solutions to the problem of Iran and such a course still appears to be the smartest and most morally sound path.
But General Petraeus went on to say something else that got my attention.
"There is certainly a history, in other countries, of fairly autocratic regimes almost creating incidents that inflame nationalist sentiment." He’s right, of course.
But sadly that is also the history of the United States.
We’d do well to remember as we debate America’s response to Iran that even free and democratic societies lie to go to war.
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