Southwest Conference churches’ clergy represented at General Synod included Rev. Drew Terry of Oro Valley UCC, Rev. Clara Sims of First Congregational in Albuquerque, Rev. Louis Mitchell of Rincon Congregational UCC, Associate Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott of Desert Heritage and Sun Lakes UCC, Associate Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Gloria Smith of Encanto, Rev. Dr. Randy Mayer and Rev. ellie from The Good Shepherd, and Rev. Susan Valliquette from First Church Phoenix. (Pastor Susan appeared virtually in a recorded interview for a workshop on preparing churches to respond to climate-related disasters.)
On Monday, July 14, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted an amended version of the resolution on immigration that First Congregational in Albuquerque submitted to the Southwest Conference, and that the Southwest Conference adopted and submitted to Synod. The resolution title is "Responding to the Federal Government's Attack on Immigrants, Migrants and Refugees." The amendments added by the Synod committee to which our resolution was assigned significantly strengthened the resolution. The final vote in plenary session was 627 in favor, 8 against, and 1 abstain. During the plenary session debate on the resolution, all comments were in favor of passage. The final resolution, as passed by the plenary session of General Synod, is HERE. attached.
Following this vote, over 70 Synod delegates and guests gathered for a vigil and prayer service organized by Rev. Noel Andersen, a UCC national setting staff member (and previously from the SWC!) who convenes the UCC National Collaborative on Immigration Leadership. View photos of the vigil here. Congratulations and many thanks to Rev. Clara Sims, who served in the role of “proponent,” introducing the resolution to the Synod committee to which it was assigned, and provided links to documents and photos from General Synod. Good Shepherd (Sahuarita) Pastor Randy Mayer joined the vigil and said “This administration is trying to destroy our humanitarian efforts, the faith communities that are out in the desert every day bringing water, food and medical care to the migrants that are only trying to escape violence and take care of their families. We believe that immigration is a family value and the people we find in the desert are people of great faith and people that love their families and they should not be denigrated, with their rights taken away, and left in a perilous desert where they could die.”
The ONA National Gathering and ONA Gala Synod dinner was one of the most well-attended dinners ever hosted. During the fourth plenary of General Synod 35, the ONA Coalition celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1985 General Synod resolution that called UCC churches to become Open and Affirming. To help keep this work going, every ONA church or supporter is invited to give $40 in honor of the 40 years of Open and Affirming ministry.
Desert Palm Pastor Tom is doing a sermon series, Exploring Spirituality through Film and Cinema, this month. The movies can be streamed at home or folks can come to the church on Wednesday evenings to watch as a group. Last week’s movie was “My Octopus Teacher.”
Desert Palm provided 34 back-to-school backpacks with all the requested materials to refugee children living in the Centro de Esperanza refugee shelter in Sonoyta, MX. Center of Hope is a shelter supported by several East Valley churches, including Desert Palm, Black Mountain, and Scottsdale UCC.
In light of our current, politically-charged environment and the IRS’s consent judgment on the Johnson Amendment—and the new freedom it creates for houses of worship to endorse candidates—the Church of the Good Shepherd (Albuquerque) Council unanimously passed the following motion:
COGS will not endorse any political candidates.
“We affirm our respect for the separation of church and state, so that we remain free from political influence and guard against any appearance of corruption. This policy ensures our ministry stays focused on God’s call, not on partisan agendas.”
First Congregational in Prescott brings you the Copper Door Concert season. Check it out!
United Church of Santa Fe’s neighborhood includes medical and business complexes (hospital, clinics, offices). A new effort is being made to “get to know our neighbors” and extend an invitation to enjoy the peace and beauty of United’s grounds at lunchtime or before or after work. Folks will pair up for short walks to meet their “workaday” neighbors, then come back to share what they’ve learned. It’s a great way to learn the neighborhood and share the blessing of United’s “corner of creation.
The Mission, Service and Justice Committee at The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita recently learned that the Sahuarita Unified School District is establishing a Student Resource Center that will help provide items for students that may be hard for families to provide for their children. The items most needed to get things started are school supplies, hygiene products (including feminine hygiene), backpacks, shoes, nutritious, non-perishable snack items, and uniform items. The Good Shepherd foresees this partnership with the school district to be long term.