The UCC's five-person Collegium of Officers issued a statement today about the Occupy Wall Street movement, urging members and churches to "seek the common good as a church and in society through creative vision, faithful action, and prayer."

Below is the full statement:

The Occupy Wall Street movement that began just over a month ago in New York City is now in every state and 900 cities around the world. Despite protesters' many and varied messages, they are clearly communicating that something is deeply wrong. It is a reminder that thoughtful, faithful, and committed people can make a difference when voices are united for the common good.

The handmade signs tell their stories. They are concerned about the millions of unemployed.  They are concerned about a huge, growing gap between the very rich and everyone else.  They are concerned about wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the housing crisis, energy costs, climate change. They worry about basic needs like proper nutrition for our children, access to healthcare, and safe neighborhoods. They care about student debt and the cost of higher education, injustices in the justice system, inadequate public schools, and broken immigration policies.

Most of all protesters worry that our gridlocked political system seems incapable of adequately addressing these problems. Not knowing what else to do, people are taking to the streets and showing their concern not just for their own well-being but for the common good.  By participating with nonviolent steady action, they are exercising the basic principles of the democratic system that we valiantly support and protect.

If you were to join the Occupy movement in your hometown, it might be hard to know which sign to carry. Maybe a good message would be: "God shares abundantly. We should too."  We know God provides abundantly for all of us. It is good news. But God also needs us to speak and act as a demonstration of our faith.  We live in a very rich country in a rich world; however many continue to suffer the consequences of greed on the part of a few. There is enough for all if we share and if we organize our life together in ways that care for each other, that show our love for God and for each other, and for creation.

The call for all of us is to seek the common good as a church and in society through creative vision, faithful action, and prayer. May God bless the United Church of Christ, and all who labor for the common good, and give each of us courage in the struggle for justice and peace.