JPANet February 2020 Newsletter

February Newsletter

Getting to the Root of It

As you may have seen, on Tuesday, February 4th, the President spoke to the nation in the 2020 State of the Union Address. Many claims were made about the progress of this administration. Thankfully, Domestic Policy Advocate, Katie Adams is here to clear up some of the confusing and conflicting narratives from Tuesday night. This month’s Getting to the Root is our, at Justice and Witness Ministries, ‘State of the Union.’

The State of Our Union

Watching the State of the Union the other night made me feel a little bit like Alice in Wonderland, down a very confusing rabbit hole. On the TV we heard one version of America; a prosperous, boastful, insular country. Yet in listening to the voices of our communities and congregations, we hear a different story. We hear not only of the hurt, but the hope. The radical welcome and unapologetic faith of folks who are doing their best to love their neighbor, care for the widow and the orphan, and be a part of the body of Christ. (Read more).

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Justice Events

Webinar: Ground Zero in the Struggle for Environmental Justice

Around the country, the health and well-being of communities, and their children in particular, are threatened by corporations that pump toxic chemicals into the air. In this webinar, we will feature leaders from grassroots organizations in these fenceline communities as we learn what faith communities can do. Even if you can’t make the webinar on February 27th at 1 pm ET, sign-up to get a recording.

Save the Date for Ecumenical Advocacy Days – April 24-27

Around the world, the marginalized communities are experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis most profoundly. Women and children in these communities suffer the most along with all those who are disproportionately affected by hunger, poverty, and the structural history of colonialism and racism. EAD 2020 will focus on this intersection between climate change and economic injustice as together we gather to “Imagine, God’s Earth and People Restored!” Join us at EAD 2020 and plan to join a UCC pre-event on Friday April 24th. Also, read our Justice and Peace Policy Fellow, Madison Mayhew’s, personal appeal to EAD 2020.

Join us for a Press Conference in Washington D.C. on February 26!

We invite you to join us for the release of a new study spotlighting toxic air pollution in the U.S. and its impact on children, with a bold prescription for national action. Speakers include the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., civil rights leader and UCC minister who coined the phrase “environmental racism,” and the Rev. Traci Blackmon, UCC Associate General Minister, Justice and Local Church Ministries. This press conference will be co-hosted by the United Church of Christ and Interfaith Power & Light. The press conference will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at the United Methodist Building in Washington D.C. Updates on the press conference and the schedule will be posted on the Facebook event HERE. We hope to see you there!

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Justice in Action

Support a Just Middle East Peace

Our UCC/DOC leadership issued a powerful statement in response to the Trump Administration’s “Peace to Prosperity” proposal- a proposal that that falls well short of a just and realistic path to peace.  Add your name in support of UCC/DOC leaders statement affirming that the administration’s proposal “does not represent the hopes and vision of all American Christians.”  Click here to add your name!

Our Whole Lives Newsletter Launching!

Wondering about Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith? Want to know what’s new? Looking for resources? Want a faith connection to this work? Want to keep in touch?

Sign up now for our NEW Our Whole Lives newsletter!

• Open to everyone!
• Launches mid-February!
• Quarterly + not spammy!
• Sign up HERE!

A Call for an All-Out Mobilization of Churches to Address Climate and Inequality

In recognition of the urgent need to address the intertwined crisis of climate and inequality, the UCC Council for Climate Justice began the year by issuing a call for an all-out mobilization of churches over the next ten years. For each of the first ten weeks of this year, the council is suggesting an action for churches to take. Check out the first six!

Use your Voice: Our Faith Our Vote 2020

We have entered into a pivotal election year. The challenges before our communities, our nation and our world are as urgent as ever, and require our prayerful and faithful engagement. The UCC Our Faith, Our Vote, Our Voice campaign offers resources to help congregations engage the electoral process in a meaningful, nonpartisan way, through voter education, issue education and voter empowerment and mobilization: www.ourfaithourvote.org.  

We are looking forward to a strong and robust Our Faith Our Vote campaign in 2020, expanding our resource offerings and offering opportunities for engagement and action on many levels. To keep to up to date with the 2020 Our Faith Our Vote campaign, sign up for the UCC 2020 Our Faith Our Vote listserv to receive updates on new resources, webinars and ways to engage your congregation and community in this challenging election year.

 

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Justice Resources

The Pollinator

The Pollinator is a digital platform of the UCC for the sharing of ideas and inspiration. Its focus is the building of a faith-filled and faith-rooted movement for the care of creation

Witness for Justice
Looking for up-to-date social justice commentary? Check out Witness for Justice, a weekly editorial opinion column written by the staff of Justice and Witness Ministries.

Featured topics:

The Witness for Justice Begins at Home | Imagining a New World Together at EAD | I Refuse to be Complicit | Know Justice. Know Peace.