In an upcoming webinar, we will hear from three panelists about how people of faith can play a vital role in challenging authoritarianism.
Maria Stephan, who co-authored "Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict" with Erica Chenoweth, will provide an overview of international resistance movements. Brother Rodrigo Peret from Franciscans International will speak out of his experience under the Bolsonaro regime in Brazil as well as his arrest for anti-mining protests in Zimbabwe. The Rev. Jorge Bautista will speak about his practice of faithful solidarity after a U.S. immigration officer shot him in the face with a pepper ball while attending a prayer vigil.
Even if you cannot make the live event on December 10th at 1 pm ET/10 am PT, still register, and we will send you a recording. Register now!
Read MoreUCC Justice and Peace Action Network
The Global HOPE Office offers three grants through its Refugee and Migration Services ministry to encourage local UCC congregations, associations, conferences, and covenanted ministries to engage in ministry to migrants, immigrants, refugees, and asylees in their midst.
Applications are open! Contact Megan Bergert at bergertm@ucc.org with any questions.
Read MoreEducation is the foundational bedrock of this work, and books are a powerful tool for learning, reflection, and discussion. Our Resource Hub is a curated library of materials designed to support your congregation's journey, no matter where you are starting from. We've included a wide range of texts—from personal narratives to theological deep dives to practical guides.
Read MoreJoin Arizona Interfaith Power and Light leaders on Thursday, December 4 at 1:00 PM at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) public hearing regarding their proposal to repeal Energy Efficiency (EE) Standards.
Showing up in-person for the hearing shows the ACC that you are paying attention and care about Arizona's energy future. If you are concerned about climate change and energy efficiency, we encourage you to testify during these hearings for the public, Dec. 2 and 4 (details below).
If those dates don't work for you, click through for information on submitting a comment online or by phone before the comment deadline on December 4.
Click through for details on in-person and online information.
Read MoreAcross our nation, LGBTQ+ people are under attack. Trans and nonbinary youth are being targeted by cruel legislation. Inclusive books and curricula are being banned. Families and faith communities are being silenced for affirming love and dignity.
In moments like these, the Church must rise — not with fear, but with faith. Not with silence, but with love in action.
That’s why the Open and Affirming Coalition is launching A.C.T OUT: Advocacy, Community, and Transformation — a national, faith-rooted movement committed to resisting hate, protecting our neighbors, and organizing for a just and inclusive future.
Please take 5–10 minutes today to complete our A.C.T OUT – Building a National ONA Movement Inventory & Interest Survey:
https://forms.gle/Ci4nA6kPwMGKyXXNA
Read MoreGlobal Ministries ~ Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
On October 29, Hurricane Melissa swept through the Caribbean, devastating communities in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba.
Under the leadership of David Giron, our Global Relations Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Global Ministries is working closely with partners to identify and meet the most urgent needs. Our response will move through needs assessment, life-saving assistance, and long-term recovery.
Current needs include:
House of Hope – Haiti: Food, housing, and medical support totaling $41,881 for families facing devastation.
Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Cuba: Food and medical assistance for 600 families who have no other resources.
United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands – Jamaica: Needs assessment in progress.
100% of your gifts will go directly to our partners’ response efforts. Give today via the Southwest Conference portal and include “Hurricane Melissa” in the memo. Click here for more detailed information.
Read MoreTrans Day of Remembrance embodies our belief in the power of memory in the naming of Trans beloveds we have lost to violence. In a world moment, where division continues to be highlighted, the Church can offer a place of celebration and honoring of God's uniqueness and gifts within humanity. Register today to share space in remembering our trans siblings and celebrating the divine within them.
Read MoreFrom The Rev. Dr. Linda Noonan and The Rev. David Grishaw-Jones, Co-Chairs of the UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (UCCMPS):
Greetings, peace and gratitude to you all, colleagues and friends in faith!
On behalf of the Steering Committee of the United Church of Christ Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (UCCMPS), I’m eager to share with our partners in conferences across the continent the attached statement, “The Road from Ceasefire to Peace.” It captures much of our discernment over these past few weeks—as our partners and UCC leaders respond to the ceasefire that’s offered some hope to Gazans, but left many critical questions unanswered and even unaddressed.
This statement draws, clearly, on the 2021 Resolution we championed, and on the encouragement of our partners in Palestine, Israel and here in the US. We feel that particular resolution offers a compelling “plumb line” for advocacy and solidarity in this moment.
We hope you’ll share this widely and call on us if we can be helpful in interpreting it in any particular ways. We appreciate your leadership and prophetic vision as our United Church continues to articulate the path toward and envision a just peace.
The Spirit’s power be with you all,
Read MoreWith a proven strategy for affecting change, members of Climate Hope Affiliates are developing ongoing relationships with members of Congress, the local media, and the broader community. Our immediate focus is to prevent the dismantling and defunding of the EPA.
Sign up to learn about Climate Hope Affiliates on either:
Thursday, November 13th at 12 pm MST or
Wednesday, November 19th at 5 pm MST
Read MoreFrom our friends at Arizona Interfaith Power and Light:
If you think Arizona should prioritize clean energy, now is the time to speak to the Arizona Corporation Commission!
For 20 years, Arizona utility companies have been intentional about incorporating renewables into our state energy profile because they have been required to. However, the ACC is currently looking to get rid of this requirement. So, we’re asking you to share your opinion on the matter, speak out against this proposal to repeal renewable energy standards, and show the ACC we're paying attention to how utilities are responding to the climate crisis.
In this article, you'll find background information, effective ways to take action, optional talking points with resources to learn more, and people you can reach out to for any questions.
Read MoreEducation and dialogue are vital, but at some point, we must move to action. Decentering whiteness requires intentional steps that challenge the dominance of white cultural norms and leadership structures while uplifting the voices, experiences, and wisdom of marginalized communities. This isn't just about what we say, but about what we do.
Here are a few practical ways your church can take action, building on the learning from our program's levels
Read MoreOur local churches have been generous supporters of the UCC National's request for assistance in addressing national and international disasters. On behalf of the Southwest Conference, Dr. Gloria extends our appreciation to your congregations. Should your church decide they wish to contribute to this disaster, please send your donations to the Southwest Conference so that we can record your service and generosity along with your other special offerings.
Read More“In D.C. for Love Knows No Borders, Dr. Toni and CM colleagues prayed, met with unpaid staff workers, and called national leaders to act—now the Southwest Conference is mobilizing; connect with Rev. Dr. Gloria at gsmith@uccswc.org to join the work for justice and dignity during this critical moment.”
Read MoreFor congregations that are already engaged in ongoing anti-racism work and are ready to tackle more difficult materials and take more concrete steps, Level Three is for you. This level focuses on facing hard truths and moving from education into visible action. Here, we begin to challenge the symbols, language, and structures that have perpetuated white supremacy, even unknowingly, in our faith communities.
Our Goals for Level Three are to:
Recognize and critically examine the symbols, language, and theologies that perpetuate white supremacy within our church.
Prepare to move from education into concrete, visible action, including direct community engagement and allyship.
Become more equipped to offer solidarity, support, and pastoral care to marginalized communities.
Suggested Activities to get you started: (click through to read)
Read MoreThis November, we invite you to partner with AZIPL and the Indigenous Impact Alliance to host a film screening of one (or more!) of these five powerful Indigenous-led documentaries: Bring Them Home, Singing Back the Buffalo, Sugarcane, Yintah and Remaining Native.
Resources for these free, in-person screenings are available now through November 20th. Get in touch with Gretchen (gretchen.reinhardt@azipl.org) to get started, or visit the Indigenous Impact Alliance website for more information!
Read MoreIf your congregation has some familiarity with racial justice concepts and is ready to look inward, Level Two is your next step. This level moves beyond basic definitions to engage in critical self-reflection and dialogue. Here, we begin wrestling with the more difficult questions: not just "what is this work?" but "how does it apply to us?"
Our Goals for Level Two are to:
Move beyond basic definitions to explore how whiteness shapes our specific church culture, leadership, and theology.
Begin wrestling with the discomfort that comes from self-examination and intentionally examining who is centered and who is marginalized in our worship, leadership, and decision-making processes.
Click through for suggested activities and next steps.
Read MoreMonday, October 27, 6:00 - 7:00 pm MST via Zoom
Join Sierra Club and Arizona Faith Network for this letter writing workshop where you will learn the latest regarding what is happening to our public lands, get some tips on writing letters to the editor, and then try your hand at writing a letter.
RSVP FOR ZOOM INFO
Read MorePlease watch and share the Multi-faith Vigil at Oak Flat:
Monday October 13 at 1:00 pm AZ / 2:00 pm NM & El Paso
Livestream can be viewed on Facebook here.
In solidarity, alongside joining the livestream, we are requesting “echo” vigils across the country between Oct. 11 and Oct. 20 to weave a web of prayer throughout time and space. There are many ways to protect Oak Flat: perhaps you and a couple friends come together to hold a vigil and watch the livestream recording, or maybe you offer a prayer as a part of a pre-existing gathering, or maybe you invite your community over in Presence for Oak Flat and sacred land. See our echo vigil toolkit for guidance/support, and register your gathering here.
Read MoreThe UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (MPS) is launching a Southwest Conference chapter on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10:30am (AZ) via Zoom! A presentation will be given about MPS and the resolution calling for an end to the genocide in Palestine, which was passed by General Synod this summer, and we will decide concrete ways to take action in our conference.
To register, please email: sabrinarjennings@protonmail.com
Read MoreProtests, marches, and rallies are vitally needed in democratic societies, but what happens the day after these public events and then the next day? What’s the long-term strategy for everyday people to exercise their power to influence their government? Your church can learn about the pro-democracy movement in a couple of ways. Invite Sam Daley-Harris, the author of “Reclaiming Our Democracy,” to give a Zoom presentation for members of your church. Daley-Harris is coaching UCC leaders to start Climate Hope Affiliates that are actively engaged in developing ongoing relationships with members of Congress as part of a broader pro-democracy movement to defend government institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency.
Request a presentation from a member of the Climate Hope Affiliate Leadership Team. As people of faith, we have the opportunity to help defend and promote the common good in our society.
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