If you were asked to describe who Jesus was, what would you say? Many people might reply that Jesus was loving, caring, humble, and forgiving. While these adjectives could describe Jesus, I would add that Jesus was persistent, challenging, and willing to take risks. In other words, Jesus was a social activist. He threatened people in power by challenging world views and asking hard questions regarding the motives and desires of the temple leaders. While pushing the boundaries of the status quo, he championed the cause of people without power.
Members of the congregation at Old South Church have long been advocates for social justice. When you arrived at the church today, you will see a banner that hangs from the pillars at the top of the front stairs. It proudly announces this mission of sacred activism.
Recent events have created a greater sense of urgency in our call for social justice. A key component to being an activist/advocate/ally is to understand how we got here in the first place, acknowledging the truth of our own history so that we can have difficult conversations together and create pathways to healing.
Following Jesus is not always the easy thing to do. By examining ourselves and pushing to know what Christ wants from us, we are working to living into who Christ was.
RESPONSE TO PROJECT 2025
If you missed the insightful "Response to Project 2025" webinar hosted by the Vermont Conference UCC Justice & Witness Ministries February 27th, don't worry! We've got you covered. The webinar featured Rev. Mike Neuroth, Director of the Office of Policy and Advocacy for the national setting of the UCC, and Domestic Policy Advocate Abigail Cipparone. They presented a comprehensive, faith-based response to the policy changes proposed in Project 2025, a new administration's policy agenda. You can now access the full recording of the webinar below, along with relevant resources to further your understanding of this important topic.
This webinar provided valuable insights into the potential impact of Project 2025 and how we, as people of faith, can engage in advocacy and action. We encourage you to watch the recording and share it with your communities.
To learn more about the UCC's Office of Public Policy and Advocacy and their ongoing work on justice issues, please visit [The UCC’s Office of Public Policy and Advocacy on Capitol Hill]. We hope you find this recording informative and empowering. Let's continue to work together for a just and compassionate world.
Sincerely,
The Vermont Conference UCC Justice & Witness Ministries
Resources:
"Countering Project 2025 with Love"
-UCC JPANet Center https://www.votervoice.net/JAWM/Home
-Resources for the First 100 Days https://www.ucc.org/first100days/
-Faithful Witness Wednesdays https://sojo.net/join/events/faithful...
-JPANet Newsletter archive https://www.ucc.org/category/column/j...
Our interfaith partners https://washingtoninterfaith.org/members
THE COST OF INHERITANCE -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUCFF8e0yYs
THE TRACES OF THE TRADE -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXdBLeNigbA