Commentary: La Mesa UCC’s Welcome Home Ministries fills a void September 17, 2012
On Sept. 9, the United Church of Christ of La Mesa (Calif.) welcomed home one of its own – Thomas Skinner and his service dog, Scrubs. Tom had recently returned from a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Commentary on Planned Parenthood by the Rev. Kent Siladi August 23, 2012
The Rev. Kent Siladi, Florida Conference Minister, today released a statement in support of Planned Parenthood and denouncing the recent terrorism of a local Planned Parent official.
Commentary: Return of land deeds to Native American congregations builds trust July 2, 2012
The South Dakota Conference of the United Church of Christ is engaged in a process of returning the lands of 13 Lakota and Dakota churches that make up the Dakota Association, which has often felt like a knot of legal, cultural, historical, and financial issues which were impossible to untangle.
UCC officers support president's action for young immigrants June 18, 2012
The national officers of the 1.1 million-member United Church of Christ today (June 18) released a statement applauding President Barack Obama's decision to extend administrative relief to an estimated 800,000 young illegal immigrants.
Commentary: Pardon the Wilmington 10 May 28, 2012
If we think that we live in a "post-racial" America, we need only be reminded of continuing evidence that racism is alive and well. Some say that we should put the pain of racism behind us. In order to do so, we must admit the injustice of our social systems and repair the breach – known as reparation. Granting pardon in the case of the Wilmington 10 is once such opportunity toward righting a tragic wrong.
Opinion: Why same-gender marriage is good for America: a pastor's view May 2, 2012
In recent years the issue of marriage equality has been front and center in the news. Most recently the issue has come home to Maryland as legislators passed a bill allowing for full and equal marriage rights for all Marylanders. One quote I heard on CNN was that this threatened the institution of Marriage in America. How exactly? As an openly gay man who was legally married almost nine years ago in Massachusetts, I am still baffled when people say my marriage threatens theirs. And as an ordained Christian minister I believe that marriage equality may indeed be the best thing for our country as a whole.
Opinion: Courage for the New Year January 3, 2012
It has been an incredibly challenging and sometimes discouraging year in all parts of the world. Daily news reports tell stories and show pictures of violence, human exploitation, economic stress, rampant hunger, and the environmental crisis before us.
Opinion: Faithfully engaging the 99% November 17, 2011
Fourteen members of the Interfaith Tent @ Oakland locked arms in front of the Tent and were arrested early Monday morning as the police raided the encampment.
Opinion: The 'moral cry' against the TransCanada XL pipeline November 11, 2011
Six months ago, the pipeline was a slam-dunk, business-as-usual, to-hell-with-the-planet project. There was no accounting of the huge damage to water and air in the Native lands and boreal forests of western Canada. There was no recognition of the danger of crossing the breadbasket of the U.S. with a trust-us-we-can-clean-it-up oil pipeline.
