JPANet February 2026 Newsletter

Racial Justice Ministries offer Black History resources for the month and year-round

Black History Month resources are available for the month of February that include a Call to Worship incorporating the names of “ancestors who made a way out of no way with God before them, beside them, and lovingly guiding succeeding generations.” Learn more here.

Tell Congress: NO Additional Funding to ICE

Congress is debating a funding bill that would give ICE an additional $6.2 billion and 50,000 more beds for detention centers. As a justice-seeking faith community, we urge Congress to vote NO to any funding bill that would increase funding for ICE. Send a message to your elected officials here. 

Call on Congress to ensure sufficient aid to Palestinians in Gaza and beyond

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Israel began to demolish the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Jerusalem. Join us in calling on your Senators and Congressional representative to demand that the US hold Israel accountable for its destruction of UNRWA’s headquarters in Jerusalem and restore full funding for UNRWA. Take action here.

Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson issues statement and prayer following 2nd fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis

The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO issued a special statement and prayer following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. Read the full statement here. 

2026 Climate Hope Art Contest for Children and Youth

Children and youth are invited to draw, paint, or color works of art that bring to life our theme: A Future with Hope. We’ll accept art submissions from February 6th to March 20th. We will have winners for different age groups and an overall winner who will receive an all-expense paid trip to visit Washington, DC with a parent or guardian. Register your congregation now to participate.

Register for the Joint Advocacy Summit!

Registration is now open for the 2026 Joint Christian Advocacy Summit, taking place May 5–7 in Washington, D.C. Global Ministries is proud to co-sponsor this important gathering under the theme, Do Right; Seek Justice (Isaiah 1:17): Christians Uniting Against Oppression in Palestine/Israel.” Join Christian advocates from across the country to strengthen your faith-rooted advocacy, learn from leading voices, and raise a united call for justice and peace. Secure your spot today!

Meet six UCC clergy who traveled to Minneapolis to put faith in action

Several United Church of Christ clergy traveled to Minneapolis in late January to join more than 600 interfaith leaders in public witness, community care, and protests against ICE operations, including neighborhood patrols and clergy arrests during demonstrations at the airport. Read more here. 

UCC clergy members among those arrested at “Pray with Your Feet Day of Action: ICE Out of Our Communities”

More than 500 people from across the country gathered in D.C. to demand the Senate say no to any funding to the Department of Homeland Security in a bill that would support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The action resulted in dozens of arrests. Learn more here.

Apply for the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award

This award is given at the annual Earth Summit to congregations, ministerial teams, or other groups in UCC or Climate Hope Affiliates who have exemplified the tradition of prophetic action in the past year.The application deadline for this award is April 8, 2026. The summit will be held on Saturday, April 25th. 

Applications Open for the “Youth Voices, Bold Faith” Summer of Advocacy!

Are you a young person ready to make your voice heard? Join the United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. for Youth Voices: Bold Faith, a week-long immersion in faith-based advocacy, justice, and community. Together, we’ll explore how our faith calls us to speak truth to power, stand up for what’s right, and work toward a world where all can thrive. Applications due Feb 22nd. 

A fourth-grader shares what helped his fear when ICE visited his school

Xavier, a fourth grader in Washington, D.C., shared with First Church UCC his experience of witnessing ICE coming to his school. At the congregation’s Christmas Eve service, Xavier reflected on themes from the story in Luke when the angel appears to the shepherds, saying, “Do not be afraid.” Read more here.

What’s happening at your congregation? 

Are you witnessing “justice in action” through your congregation? Share your story by sending a short blurb to ucctakeaction@ucc.org for a chance to be featured in this newsletter and inspire others across the church!

Feb 6th: Learning from the MARCH: Sharing Session with Minnesota Clergy Organizers

Get a sense of what Climate Hope Affiliates is all about while hearing from Mark Reynolds, who led Citizen’s Climate Lobby during an explosive period of growth from 6 chapters to over 500 chapters around the world. Join Climate Hope Affiliates for its monthly national webinar on Saturday, January 10th at 1 pm ET/12 pm CT/11 am MT/10 am PT. Sign-up to join us!

Feb 11th: Venezuela, Oil & U.S. Imperialism

Faith communities are actively responding to the U.S. invasion of Venezuela as the U.S. seeks to control Venezuela’s oil. In this webinar, a panel of experts will discuss what faith communities need to know about the situation faced as well as what can be done. Even if you can’t join us on Wednesday, February 11th at 1 pm ET, still sign up, and we will send you a link afterward. Register now!

Feb 21: Climate Hope Affiliates Webinar on EPA Funding

Get a sense of what Climate Hope Affiliates is all about while hearing from a leading expert on current battles over EPA funding. Marc Boom will unpack for us what happened with Fiscal Year 2026 funding before turning our attention to present struggle over Fiscal Year 2027. Climate Hope Affiliates will have its monthly national webinar on Saturday, February 21st at 1 pm ET/12 pm CT/11 am MT/10 am PT.  Sign-up to join us!

April 13-17: Join us at CPD!

The UCC United Nations’ team invites you to participate virtually at the 2026 Commission on Population and Development (CPD) April 13-17th!

Our team is putting together a virtual delegation to attend CPD59 in New York this April. CPD plays a critical role in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) by setting policy and monitoring progress towards goals including universal access to SRH services. ALL are invited to join the virtual delegation at no cost! All that’s required is access to internet.

We also have a few spots to join us in-person at the forum! The only ask is that those interested cover the costs of participation through self-funding and local resources.

Send an email to Donna Bollinger at bollingerd@ucc.org AND Abigail Reed at reeda@ucc.org by February 27th if you are interested in joining either of our delegations!

Feb 7th: Reading Into the New Year: Dismantling White Christian Supremacy

In this next installment of Reading Into the New Year, we’ll be in conversation that confronts traditional theology which serves to justify white Christian supremacy. We’ll explore how we go about reconstructing a theology more aligned with the teaching of Jesus and what is the role of the church has in making this transition. Register here!

Feb 18th: Racializing Black Women: Equity, Exceptionalism, and Sustaining Resistance

Black women are often praised for strength, resilience, and endurance, but rarely given space to name the cost. This workshop examines how racism functions as a system of power rather than individual bias, and how Black women, including Black trans and queer women, experience its impacts in work, leadership, relationships, and movement. Register here!

March 9-20: Join us at CSW!

The UCC United Nations’ team invites you to participate virtually at the 2026Commission on the Status of Women(CSW) March 9th-20th.

The Forum, organized by and for civil society and non-governmental organizations, serves to connect YOU with the Commission on the Status of Women. The virtual events parallel the official CSW program, and include webinars, meet and greets, conversation circles, and even regional gatherings where you can share concerns, raise questions, and engage in advocacy with participants from all regions of the world! There is no charge to participate in the Forum and it is open to anyone, anywhere. You can attend one session during the two weeks or multiple sessions every day. The only requirement is an internet connection and registering as an attendee on Whova.

Those interested will be asked to attend a virtual orientation at the end of February. Send an email to Donna Bollinger at bollingerd@ucc.org AND Abigail Reed at reeda@ucc.org by February 20th if you are interested in joining our virtual delegation.

April 20: Join us for Ecumenical Advocacy Days!

Ecumenical Advocacy Days, an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists, will return April 20-22, 2026! Stay tuned on our homepage for more information, including registration. 

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.