JPANet March 2019 Newsletter

Getting to the Root of It

We’ve asked UCC advocates to help us unpack the complex justice issues that we’re working on. This month Katie Adams, Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues, looks at new legislation that aims to provide economic justice for women.

Economic Justice for Women
The economic justice work of the United Church of Christ is a way to affirm and uplift the call of God to love our neighbor and care for vulnerable communities. God envisions a world where all people live lives of wholeness, with opportunity to thrive. For us this means envisioning legislation and policies that reduce poverty, uphold and enforce workplace fairness practices and create circumstances for people to flourish. (Read more)

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Justice Events

Register Now! Ecumenical Advocacy Days is April 5-8, 2019
Join us in D.C. for the 2019 EAD “Troubling the Waters for the Healing of the World.”  Through workshops, worship, and training, we will empower and encourage one another to go to Capitol Hill and call on elected officials to support much needed reforms in our democracy and lift a voice on human rights around the world.  On Friday April 5th, you are also invited to attend a UCC EAD Pre-Event “#GoodTrouble for a Just World” from 10am-4:30pm at First Congregational UCC (945 G St. NW in DC). You can attend this whether or not you register for the full conference. Join us in Washington D.C. in April as we seek to stir up #GoodTrouble for all God’s children.

Webinar: Green Values and Voting – March 13
Those who care about the environment tend to vote less than others by a sizable amount. Fortunately, there are proven approaches to increasing voter turnout, and faith communities can play a leading role in encouraging more people to vote their values. Learn more in an upcoming Creation Justice Webinar featuring “the voting guru” Nathaniel Stinnett. Register for the webinar now.

World Water Day – March 22
Over 1 billion people in the world lack sustainable access to fresh water. Water is a vital ingredient for life. It is a gift from God for all creation and should be viewed as such a gift, not a commodity for profitable gain. Get resources and information for recognizing World Water Day from Global Ministries.

Earth Day – April 22
How we care for God’s creation is intimately intertwined with issues of generational justice. What kind of world are our children presently inheriting? What will the world be like when they get older? The UCC Environmental Justice Ministry joined with the ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries to author and produce reflective materials on generational justice for this Earth Day. Download a copy of this resource today.

Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training Pre-Synod!
An Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith Facilitator Training for implementing OWL for grades 7-9 and 10-12 will be held Pre-Synod, June 17-19, in Milwaukee. Our Whole Lives is a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, inclusive sexuality education program, used with Sexuality and Our Faith to provide transformative experiences and education in the UCC. Interested? Go here. Questions about timing, registration, etc? Contact Amy at owl@ucc.org.

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Justice in Action

Podcast For a Just World is back March 5th!
Together with Sacred Conversations To End Racism, we’re bringing you 6 weeks of meaningful and important conversations for the Lenten Season co-hosted by Rev. Dr. Velda Love, Minister for Racial Justice and Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey, Minister for Congregational and community engagement.  The series will bring deep and dynamic conversations about rooting identity in cultural narratives as a restorative justice practice in our continuing work to dismantle white supremacy and end racism. Catch up on past episodes and subscribe to PFJW at https://soundcloud.com/forajustworld

Discerning Your Call with a Ladder of Engagement
To present some of the ways in which individuals and congregations can undertake environmental ministries, a ten step “ladder of engagement” has been created that is based on the program offerings of the UCC and partner organizations. Use it as an opportunity to discern where God is calling you and your congregation to act. View the ladder now…

From Dialogue to Action: A Guide for Small Groups to Change the World
In partnership with the Sierra Club, the Environmental Ministry Program of the UCC has created a small group discussion guide focused on seeking clean, affordable energy for our society. Within your faith community or in collaboration with others, bring together a small group over the course of four weeks to have guided conversations that lead to actions generated by participants. Learn more…

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Justice Resources

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.

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