UCC GMP issues statement after ICE killings in Texas and Maine

July 26, 2026 in Faith In Action

by Charles Jefferson, Jr. | published on Jul 17, 2026

United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson has issued a statement condemning the recent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) killings of two individuals in Texas, and Maine, respectively. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo of Houston was killed by ICE agents who allege he tried using his vehicle as a weapon, an allegation that has been challenged by Araujo’s family, civil rights groups, and attorneys. Araujo was transporting members of a work crew to a construction site when the incident occurred. Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old food delivery driver from Colombia, died Monday in the historic Atlantic coast city of Biddeford, where neighbors remembered him as a good man and hard worker.

Read more here.

Season of Creation & Extreme Heat: July Resources from Creation Justice Ministries

July 26, 2026 in Faith In Action

Extreme heat is characterized by temperatures and humidity higher than average for a specific timeframe, typically two to three days. Extreme heat varies according to geographical location and season. For instance, temperatures and humidity above 95 degrees Fahrenheit during summer in Washington, D.C., qualify as extreme heat, whereas the threshold for extreme heat in Florida during summertime is above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Regardless, heat-related illnesses and deaths associated with extreme heat are preventable and there are many ways people of faith can respond to mitigate the impact of extreme heat on their communities. Click here to access educational materials, info sheets, warning signs, and a digital bulletin.

New Our Faith Our Vote toolkit and resources launch ahead of historic November midterms

July 26, 2026 in Faith In Action

As the 2026 midterm elections approach in November, there are new resources to help faith communities get educated on the issues and mobilize to vote with love, created by the United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy and Advocacy.

The toolkit includes:

🗸 Theological reflection on the upcoming election.
🗸 Guidance for launching a voter empowerment drive or organizing a candidate forum.
🗸 Single-page summaries on several relevant issues, including prayers and action steps – from economic justice to international affairs.
🗸 Tips for offering civil discourse in uncivil times.
🗸 Resources for college campuses and youth engagement.
🗸 Guidelines on church political engagement.

Read more.

1000 Marches to the Polls and 100 Days of Action

July 26, 2026 in Faith In Action

View the 30-minute Repairers of the Breach broadcast on Monday, 7/27 beginning at 3:00 PM AZ time / 4:00 PM NM & El Paso time at the Repairers of the Breach webpage.

That broadcast will be followed by an online national training to prepare for getting out the vote and implementing the Marches to the Polls!

Help Someone Get a Break on Their Utility Bill This Summer!

July 18, 2026 in Faith In Action

Did you know the Power AZ program is aimed at helping moderate-income individuals and families with energy bills? Many families are feeling the pressure of rising costs. Getting a little help with their electricity bill could relieve a lot of stress.

This summer, the state of Arizona has set aside funds to help those “not-so-low income” households by adding a credit to their electricity bill. BUT, they have to apply!

The Department of Economic Security (DES) portal will determine eligibility for both Power AZ and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

This program will end soon, so we need your help to get the word out. Share this with your faith community.

Click through for links and flyers to share, as well as a Zoom link for how faith-based service groups and church staff can help.

Election Protection: Poll Chaplains & Peacekeepers Needed

June 27, 2026 in Faith In Action

Arizona Faith Network is recruiting volunteers to serve as Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers for both the primary and general election as part of our nonpartisan Election Protection program. These faith-rooted volunteers help create safe, welcoming, and peaceful voting environments where every eligible voter can participate with dignity and respect.

No prior experience is required. Training and support are provided through partnerships with Election Protection Arizona and Faiths United to Save Democracy. People of all faith traditions and people of goodwill are welcome. Training sessions via Zoom will be offered on multiple dates/times from June through October.See the registration form linked below for additional details.

Join us in protecting democracy, promoting peaceful civic participation, and supporting our communities during the election season.

REGISTRATION

Voting Rights Under Attack

June 27, 2026 in Faith In Action

Alert from Scottsdale Congregational UCC:

The U.S. Postal Service has announced a proposal to refuse delivery of mail-in ballots for federal elections in states like Arizona that haven't provided the federal government with a list of eligible voters. Such lists which would be screened for compliance by postal employees.

The rationale, according to the postmaster, is to prevent fraud, and ensure that “the right ballots are going to the right people.”

Click through to take action before July 2, 2026.

America at 250: Giving Thanks, Telling the Truth, Renewing Hope – An Interfaith Prayer Vigil and Community Conversation

June 20, 2026 in Faith In Action

Thursday, July 2, 12:00 pm via Zoom

As our nation marks 250 years, people of many faiths and traditions are coming together for prayer, reflection, and honest conversation. Join Arizona Faith Network for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil and Community Conversation as we celebrate the gifts of our nation, acknowledge the truths of our shared history, and renew our commitment to building a more just, compassionate, and hopeful future for all.

Together, we will pray, listen, learn, and explore the values that unite us across faiths and communities. This is also the culminating activity of our "Interfaith Dialogue" series and all are welcome! RSVP for Zoom info.

Who Has Power Over Your Power?

June 20, 2026 in Faith In Action

Energy Justice & The Arizona Corporation Commission

Sunday, July 19, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
5524 E Lafayette Blvd, Phoenix

The SAGE team at Shepherd of the Hills UCC will be holding their presentation and listening session on the Arizona Corporation Commission and you don’t want to miss it! By sparking conversations on this topic, we can learn and take meaningful action together, which is far more enjoyable than doing it alone. If you’d like to host a presentation in your own faith community, come see AZIPL in action!

Climate Ambassador Training for Groups

June 06, 2026 in Faith In Action

The Climate Ambassador Training for Groups is free, flexible, and designed to help you connect, reflect, and gain the skills to speak up on faith and climate in meaningful ways. You’ll also join a network of ambassadors, with access to exclusive resources, events, and support. Explore what’s possible!

Action Sheet Spotlights Upside Down World of Values

June 06, 2026 in Faith In Action

After being part of the successful effort to defeat the Trump administration's proposed cuts to 2026 funding for the EPA, Climate Hope Affiliates is rallying again to beat back a renewed effort as the administration seeks to cut EPA funding by 52% while boosting military spending by 44%. To bolster opposition to EPA funding cuts, what leaders in your community might you bring with you the next time you meet with your local congressional office? Check out our most recent Climate Hope Affiliates Monthly Action Sheet.

Interfaith Dialogue: Shared Values in American Scripture

June 06, 2026 in Faith In Action

Thursday, June 25, 5:00 pm AZ / 6:00 pm NM & El Paso via Zoom

Join AFN for a series of four monthly online gatherings followed by an interfaith prayer vigil as we mark 250 years of the American experiment. Drawing on the faith250 framework, we will gather to reflect on texts that have shaped our history, from the call of the New Colossus, to the promise of the Declaration of Independence and more. We will hear from diverse guest speakers and together, we will seek divine guidance to move beyond polarization and toward a future where "liberty and justice for all" is a lived reality for every neighbor. Click through to learn more and get the link.

Five ways churches can celebrate Pride Month: Resources to worship, witness, love loudly

June 05, 2026 in Faith In Action

by Kayla Berkey | published on Jun 2, 2026

The start of June marks the beginning of Pride Month, the month designated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. Alongside other riots, Stonewall was an influential moment of resistance in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

Now begins the season of Pride marches and festivals held in towns large and small across the country, where many United Church of Christ congregations build on the denomination’s long history of working for LGBTQ+ inclusion by offering a visible presence of God’s love for LGBTQ+ people.

Click here for some resources and ideas for engaging with Pride within the sanctuary and beyond.

52 Ways to Care for Creation

May 30, 2026 in Faith In Action

Use this resource to deepen your congregation’s commitment to creation justice. Each week highlights a creation justice idea for action or reflection for yourself and your community. Every month, we will include a bulletin insert for you to print and share with your church. You can download the entire year by clicking here.

Arizona: Please Contact Your Lawmakers to Support Heat Relief Funding

May 23, 2026 in Faith In Action

From Arizona Faith Network and Arizona Interfaith Power & Light:

Arizona is facing a growing extreme heat crisis, and we need your voice now.

Over the last several years, communities across Arizona expanded cooling and heat respite centers, transportation assistance, outreach teams, and emergency heat response systems using temporary federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Those federal funds expire at the end of 2026.

Without continued investment, Arizona risks losing critical life-saving heat-relief infrastructure that communities across the state now rely on during dangerous summer temperatures.

Extreme heat is one of the leading weather-related causes of death in Arizona. More than 900 Arizonans died from heat-related causes in both 2023 and 2024. These deaths impacted housed and unhoused individuals alike, including seniors, outdoor workers, families, medically vulnerable residents, and people living without reliable cooling.

We need Arizona leaders to act now and support dedicated Extreme Heat Mitigation funding in the FY2027 Arizona State Budget.

Click through to see how to make a difference.

From this month's Pollinator newsletter

May 11, 2026 in Faith In Action

Articles from the UCC’s The Pollinator May newsletter.

Hiring: Heat Relief positions with Arizona Faith Network

April 11, 2026 in Faith In Action

Arizona Faith Network is now hiring staff and recruiting volunteers for our 2026 Heat Relief Program! Positions are available across Maricopa County—including Glendale, Phoenix, and Tempe—and will run May through September, with a potential extension into October.

We are hiring for:

Heat Relief Site Leads
Heat Relief Site Assistants
Heat Relief Safety Specialists
Heat Relief Volunteers

These roles are essential to creating safe, welcoming spaces for community members most impacted by extreme heat.

Positions are open until filled—apply and share with your networks today!

APPLICATION AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Watch the UCC Earth Summit on April 25th

April 09, 2026 in Faith In Action

An inspiring keynote speaker, leading practitioners in advancing just and affordable energy, amazing artwork from children and youth… These are just some of highlights of the UCC’s fourth annual UCC Earth Summit. Our theme is "A Future with Hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

To ground and inspire us as people of faith, the Jim Antal Keynote Annual will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Samuel, a renowned advocate and organizer for justice from the Atlanta, Georgia area. This two-and half-hour summit will additionally feature a panel discussion entitled “Power to the People: Energy Justice for an Equitable Future.”

Panelists will include Dr. Shalanda Baker, who headed the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the Department of Energy under the Biden Administration. Celebrations at the summit will include the announcement of the winners for both the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award and the Climate Hope Art Contest for children and youth. Moreover, we will recognize our newest Creation Justice Churches and our first Climate Hope Affiliates.

Take Action: Urge Your Congressional Leaders to Protect Public Lands Surrounding Oak Flat From Foreign Exploitation

March 28, 2026 in Faith In Action

Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07) introducing legislation to preserve public lands in the Chi’chil Biłdagotel Historical District that lie directly adjacent to the land that was transferred to Resolution Copper following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. Her legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to preserve the natural condition of the public land and prohibit mining related activities including rights-of-way, toxic waste pipelines, road development, and related infrastructure on the public land in the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District.

Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to engage in government-to-government consultations with Indian tribes with ties to the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District and enter into cooperative agreements requested by these Indian tribes to ensure access for traditional activities and preservation of sacred and cultural areas. The full text of the bill is available here.

“While I am deeply disappointed by the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, the fight to save Oak Flat does not stop here,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Thousands of acres of public land surrounding the transferred parcel remain at risk, and these lands are sacred to the Apache people. Congress must act to immediately preserve a site of immense cultural, spiritual, and natural significance. We cannot enable the destruction of Oak Flat by turning a blind eye to all of the disruptive mining infrastructure and toxic waste that will irreparably harm the surrounding lands.”

Click through to read the full article.

Statement from Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr.

March 28, 2026 in Faith In Action

Many of you have heard that on Friday, the Ninth Circuit again refused to stop the Government from giving Oak Flat to Resolution Copper for destruction. This is sad news. But we will never stop fighting to protect Oak Flat and each place that is sacred to our people. And we are still fighting—in the courts, in Congress, and, most importantly, spiritually.

In the courts, there are still four lawsuits seeking to protect Oak Flat. All four cases are still going. And any one of these cases could still put a stop to the Government’s and Resolution’s plans to destroy Oak Flat.

Click through to read the full statement.