JPANet May 2025 Newsletter

Queerfully and Wonderfully Made
May 2025 Newsletter

Each month, UCC experts unpack a complex justice issue through our Getting to the Root seriesThis Mental Health Awareness Month, Cassandra Saunders (Justice and Peace Policy Fellow for the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy in Washington D.C.) shares a personal reflection on the growing crisis of queer and trans youth struggling with mental health. You can read the full reflection here.

UCC Advocates Exceed Goal of 50,000+ Messages to Congress in the First 100 Days!

Since inauguration day, UCC advocates have sent 53,087 messages to Congress and the administration! In a time when legislative power is being wielded to harm some of our most vulnerable communities, your voices and messages have made it loud and clear: the United Church of Christ is paying attention and demanding justice. To our incredible advocates and faithful congregations, THANK YOU!


UCC Churches and Faith Leaders Join in Solidarity With Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Members of Washington, D.C. area United Church of Christ congregations joined with other faith communities in a prayer vigil near the White House April 14th in support of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant and Maryland resident who was unjustly arrested and sent to CECOT, El Salvador’s brutal maximum-security prison. The Trump administration has since acknowledged in court that it was the result of an “administrative error.” Read more about the vigil here and join the 3,000+ individuals who have signed our petition to demand justice and bring Kilmar home!


Tell Congress to Pass a Moral Budget!

We deserve a federal budget that reflects our values of love, compassion, and dignity for all. Join us in urging Congress to reject a budget which increases funding for immigration enforcement at the expensive of lifesaving benefits for our low-income neighbors. Send a message to Congress here!


Re-engage in Nurture the Soul’s Series on Eco-Grief and Lament

These past two weeks, Nurture the Soul hosted two amazing pastors and thought leaders on the topic of grief and lament but through a special lens, our environment and ecology. We invite you to share these widely with your networks so we can continue to be good stewards of the land and one another in these upcoming challenging and ever-changing seasons. Watch the recording of “And They Shall Be Consoled: Connecting Eco-grief and Maundy Thursday” and Collaborative Change through Grief and Lament”.


Revitalizing Labor Sunday!

It’s here! The new UCC Economic Justice campaign for congregations that support worker rights, labor organizing, living wages, and more. Would your church like to “Fill the JAR” of God’s economic justice? Fill out the brief interest form here and UCC Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey will connect on the powerful possibilities that await.


The Launching of UCC Climate Hope Affiliates

The UCC is currently launching UCC Climate Hope Affiliatesprogram in Allentown (PA), Concord (NH), Framingham (MA), and the bay area of California. With a deep sense of calling, affiliates will address the interconnected crises of climate change and societal injustice. With monthly actions, they will develop ongoing relationships with their members of congress, local media, and leaders in their broader community. Let us know if you are interested in starting an affiliate where you live.


Faithful Witness Wednesdays Series 

Since March 5th, a coalition of 29 organizations, including the United Church of Christ, have co-organized weekly multi-faith vigils calling on Congress to exercise greater moral courage in upholding its Article 1 powers as a co-equal branch of government. These nonpartisan vigils speak truth to power, highlighting what’s at stake and what we can do in the face of injustice. You can watch the recordings of the vigils here


Tell Congress to reject more military aid to Israel and instead to reinstate funding to UNRWA 

Earlier this month, Israel targeted al-Ahli Arab Hospital with direct missile strikes, forcing the evacuation of doctors, hospital staff, and patients. Al-Ahli Hospital was the only functioning hospital in northern Gaza and one of the few remaining hospitals operating – even with limited capacity and supplies – in Gaza. Call or write your Congressional Representative to urge them to reject more military aid to Israel and instead to reinstate funding to UNRWA!


Overworked, Overwhelmed, and Underpaid

“Creating a just world for all only requires that you show up and use the gifts you have. Your gift, no matter how small you may feel it is, is needed in this moment and in this movement. Prepare to grow together, grieve together, and walk through hard conversations with compassion and nuance” -Helen Nwabara, International Policy Advocacte, UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy. Read the full reflection here


25 Years of Our Whole Lives!

The UCC is celebrating 25 years of Our Whole Lives!  Our Whole Lives provides seven levels of comprehensive, inclusive, faith-based sexuality education for all ages. Along with our partners in the Unitarian Universalist Association, OWL has provided tools to dismantle shame and stigma about bodies and relationships for over 25 years.

Our Whole Lives is important now more than ever! Questions? Email owl@ucc.org.


Over 50 Years of the UCC in Washington D.C., Doing Justice & Advocacy Work!

Did you know the United Church of Christ has had an office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for 50 years? Our team there actively advocates, organizes, and bears witness to our UCC commitments to justice, peace, the dignity of every person, & the integrity of Creation. Watch this interview with Rev. Shari Prestemon (Acting Associate General Minister / Co-Executive of Global Ministries) and Rev. Michael Neuroth (Director of the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy) to learn more!


Commemorative Statement on the 110th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

“On this solemn occasion, the Armenian Evangelical World Council commemorates the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey… We remember not only the physical destruction inflicted upon our people, but also the incalculable spiritual, cultural, economic, and generational losses that continue to affect us to this day.” Read the full statement from our Global Ministries’ partner here.


May 7th: UCC Climate Action Assembly 

The next UCC Climate Action Assembly will be on Wednesday, May 7th at 1 pm ET. This assembly will include the story of a recent Creation Justice Church, a report on Climate Hope Affiliates, a presentation from PATHWAYS Theological Education on a new Environmental Justice Certificate program, and a proposal for future Climate Action Assemblies. Assemblies are open to all members of the UCC. Register to join us!


May 14th: Webinar with Environmental Justice Pioneer and Recent EPA Official

Join us for a webinar with a pioneer of the environmental justice movement: Charles Lee. Lee was the lead author for the landmark UCC report Toxic Wastes and Race in the United Statesin addition to organizing the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. Lee recently retired as the Senior Policy Advisor for Environmental Justice at the EPA. Register now to join us on Wednesday, May 14th at 1 pm ET!


Juneteenth: Celebrating Intergenerational Movement-Making toward Solidarity

Racial Justice Ministries and Join the Movement invite you to encounter and engage stories of abolition movements from slavery to civil rights, to today. Discover what these ongoing movements of emancipation can teach us about the power of intergenerational leadership – from elders to youth and young adults – as together we move toward solidarity, freedom, equity, and liberation. Explore reflections, resources, worship materials, and videos from movement leaders starting in June.

May 8th: Our Faith and Sensitive Locations – What Faith Communities Are Doing

The Center on Faith and Justice along with the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law organized a lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of more than two dozen religious groups in response to the current administration’s policy allowing immigration agents more leeway to make arrests at “sensitive locations,” including houses of worship. Join us to learn more about what the lawsuit is, what our own congregations and communities can do to support our siblings migrating, and dream of what’s next collectively. Register here!


June 6-8th World Pride In Washington DC!

Join the United Church of Christ in Washington D.C. for World Pride 2025! We’ll be showing up in solidarity with our queer and trans siblings through marches, services, parades, and more — and we want you to join us! Learn more about the UCC’s involvement and register to participate today here.


Join the Movement and Build Up a New World at General Synod

The Join the Movement toward Racial Justice initiative is in its last year and we are getting ready to celebrate and skill up at GS35 in Kansas City! We invite you to dive “Into the Deep” by strengthening our networks of organizing and leaning into the work of collective liberation. Get ready with our 2025 All Church Read: Building Up a New WorldAnd don’t forget to sign up forour workshop: Deepening ‘Networks of Mutuality’: Connecting, Discovering and Building

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.

Categories: Justice & Peace Action Network Monthly Newsletter

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