JPANet August 2026 Newsletter

UCC Youth Bring Bold Faith to Capitol Hill 

This summer, high schoolers and recent graduates from across the United Church of Christ spent a week living, praying, and advocating on Capitol Hill as part of Youth Voices: Bold Faith, a joint program of the UCC Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington D.C. and NOWCYM, the UCC Network of Wider Church Youth Ministries. Read about their experiences and the issues they advocated for here. 

Urge Congress to Prevent Nuclear War

As we mournfully commemorate the 81st anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, join us in calling on the administration to renew our national commitment to nuclear restraint and take desperately needed steps to global peace. Send a message to Congress here.

Call on Congress to Reject Deepening US-Israel Military Coordination

The US must not continue to send military aid, approve arms sales to, or deepen military cooperation with Israel, especially at a time when Israel continues to kill Palestinians; illegally occupy Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syria; and violate international humanitarian law. Take action today!

Help Preserve Our Stories

The Open and Affirming Coalition is assembling the founding editorial and creative team for Human and Hopeful: An Anthology of LGBTQ+ Stories, Creativity, and Practices. Rooted in faith, justice, and community, this project will preserve the stories, creativity, and practices that sustain LGBTQ+ people and inspire future generations.

If you’re interested in serving on the founding team, click below to learn more and complete our interest form.Learn more & join the founding team here.

June is Torture Awareness Month

Every June, human rights advocates and faith-driven organizers collectively mark Torture Awareness Month, which commemorates the 1987 anniversary of The United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment entering into force. For this year’s Torture Awareness Month, NRCAT created a special edition of our Action Toolkit, featuring all-new data, tools, templates, event ideas, and calls to action. Check out the Action Toolkit here.

Collective Liberation Learning Communities 

Collective Liberation Learning Communities are nontraditional gathering spaces for bridgebuilders working towards movements of solidarity and nonlinear communities of belonging—nonbinary storytellers, BIPOC liberators, Native and Indigenous healers, Black and Brown abolitionists, and culturally-diverse kindom creators. Collective liberation includes practices of resistance—theological, biblical, and spiritual rooted in abolitionist values and centering cultures of color. You are welcome to join amazing faith leaders for spiritual nourishment and congregational vitality during challenging times. Learn more about Solidarity Practice Groups: Movement Maker Gathering. For more information contact Rev. Dr. Velda Love, Lovev@ucc.org

New 2026 Our Faith Our Vote Resources Available Today!

Election season is here! The United Church of Christ’s Our Faith Our Vote Campaign is our ongoing commitment to equip you with the tools for nonpartisan faithful engagement in our democratic process. Check out our newly launched resources here!

Nurture the Soul “Works” to Inform You About Economic Justice

Join Rev. ellie hutchison and their conversation partners this month as we explore how our congregations can become engaged in the work of Economic Justice. We’ll learn more about the intersections of economic justice and our food systems, disability justice, and how you can resource your community through the Fill the J.A.R. campaign. Learn more here. 

Labor Sunday & Labor in the Pulpit 2026!

To mark the end of summer, take a moment to plan a powerful service: Labor Sunday 2026 can be celebrated Labor Day Weekend or the preceding or following weeks. Our Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey has put together a sample liturgy with calls to worship, readings, sermon prompts and hymn suggestions – including two newly commissioned hymns! View, download, or print it HERE.

Your congregation is also enthusiastically invited and encouraged to incorporate a “Labor in the Pulpit” speaker (a local labor leader) during your service with the help of Seth and the AFL-CIO. Read more about the dynamic Labor in the Pulpit program HERE. Please reach out to Rev. Wispelwey at wispelweys@ucc.org with any questions or to sign up. Last year, dozens of UCC churches participated anew. Can we make it scores this year? Hundreds?!

Tell Congress to Secure Funding for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network

The East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN) forms the backbone of the Palestinian healthcare system, especially in Gaza. By providing tertiary care, medical training, and specialized treatments Gaza itself, the EJHN provides a level of care not available in the West Bank and Gaza. Contact your Members of Congress Today: Tell Them to Support Funding for the EJHN! Take action here.

What’s happening in your congregation? 

Are you witnessing “justice in action” through your congregation? Share your story by sending a short blurb (40-60 words) to ucctakeaction@ucc.org for a chance to be featured in this newsletter and inspire others across the church! When you email your submission, please put “JPANet Justice Story” in the subject line. 

August 11th: Be Prophetic, Not Partisan: Election Engagement 101 for Congregations

Are you confused about what your church can and can’t do this election season? You’re not alone. Many congregations avoid political engagement altogether, unsure of the rules, while others charge in without knowing the risks.

As we head into the 2026 election, now is the time to get clear. This webinar cuts through the confusion around 501(c)(3) status and IRS guidelines, giving you practical, actionable guidance on how your congregation can engage boldly and legally in the public square this election season. Register today!

August 13th: Interfaith Call on Detentions: Promoting Community and Dignity

As immigration enforcement continues to escalate, terrorizing our communities, separating families and harming citizens and non-citizens alike, there is also increased public scrutiny of this country’s expansive immigrant detention center system, where inhumane conditions have only gotten worse. Across the country, communities, often led by faith leaders, are putting faith in action, building connections, responding to urgent needs, and speaking out for dignity, justice, and reform. The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) has created an Action Toolkit and invites you to a special webinar on August 13 7:00/6:00 PM ET/CT led by faith leaders on the ground, working to stop mass deportations and the expansion of detention centers. Register today!

September 20th: Just Peace Sunday

Each year, the United Church of Christ recognizes the Sunday before International Day of Prayer for Peace as Just Peace Sunday. We take this Sunday to renew our commitment to our Just Peace vision. This year, we gather around the theme “God’s Economy: People Over Profit”. Stay tuned for more worship resources here. 

August 12th: Can Advocacy with Congress Still Accomplish Anything? 

On August 12th at 1 pm ET/10 am PT, we will hear from Sam Daley-Harris who has been equipping advocates to swim upstream against the currents of political despair for over 45 years. He has coached and encouraged advocates as they have achieved tangible results. In fact, he is the founder of a highly successful anti-poverty organization called RESULTS. He is also the author of “Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy.” Register today!

September 10th: Responding to the Deadly ICE Detention System: Ways to Resist

As Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) continues to terrorize communities, separate families, and even kill citizens and non-citizens alike as part of this administration’s mass deportation campaign, there is also increased public scrutiny of this country’s detention center system for migrants. In 2025 alone, ICE broke records for the number of people who have died in detention, most often due to the horrific conditions and lack of proper medical care. Join us to learn from UCC pastors and lay leaders as they share how they’ve taken action and learn what we can do as people of faith to stop detention and continue to resist this deadly system. Register today!

October 4-6th: Faithful Response Immigration Gathering

You’re invited to join with people of faith from across Texas for training and resource building to faithfully respond to attacks on immigrants in our communities. The UCC and ecumenical partners are coming together to plan and sponsor this gathering at Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels, Texas, October 4-6 to facilitate space and provide tools for pastors, lay leaders, and the church community. Register and learn more about the event here (in English or en Español) 

DC Action Center

Each week, the D.C. Office creates an action alert based on what is happening at that time in Congress and offers you the opportunity to contact your legislators with just one click! You can take action with our previous action alerts here.

Justice & Peace Action Network Archives

Want to dive deeper into the expertise of the UCC on a variety of policy issues? Check out the previous Getting to the Root articles and our newsletter archive.

Witness for Justice

Looking for up-to-date social justice commentary? Check out Witness for Justice, a weekly editorial opinion column written by the National Staff.

The Pollinator

The Pollinator is a digital platform of the UCC for the sharing of ideas and inspiration. Its focus is the building of a faith-filled and faith-rooted movement for the care of creation.