Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

UCC Blogads And Other News

The March-April edition of United Church News – the official newsletter of the United Church of Christ – is now online. Included in this issue is an article on the success of the latest installment of the God Is Still Speaking campaign. J. Bennett Guess writes:

In March, just before Easter, the UCC made internet history — some are saying — by becoming the first religious organization to purchase extensive advertising on 50 of the country’s top "blogs."

The UCC’s blogad utilized a series of still photos from the 30-second "bouncer" commercial — rejected in December and again in March as "too controversial" by the major broadcast television networks — to entice blog visitors to "see the ad the networks didn’t want you to see."

While it’s true that the UCC’s ad did reach millions of television viewers in March during a three-week cable network buy, the blogads reached millions as well, and the combination seemed to work nicely, early reports indicate.

The proof is in the statistical pudding: In just two weeks, nearly 50,000 people clicked on the blogads to view the UCC’s 30-second "bouncer" commercial online.

Even more remarkable is that one-third of those who came to the commercial through the blogs were persuaded to explore the UCC a little deeper, by seeking additional information from one of three UCC websites: ucc.org, stillspeaking.com or accessibleairwaves.org.

Impressed yet? Consider this: More than 40 percent of those who visited stillspeaking.com during the two-week period entered the site via one of the blogads.

You can see the blogad on this site (run here gratis). The article in United Church News also includes links to the Accessible Airways blog, Faithforward, and this site.  You can find other UCC-related blogs by clicking here and looking at the comments.

There are several other good stories in this issue of United Church News.  A great reflection on when 12 students at the UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary students took off from classes in 1965 to support the civil rights movement in Selma is included in this issue.  Jesse Jackson was one of those students.  Another article asks why UCC members have so much trouble sharing their faith stories with others.  Eden Theological Seminary president David Greenhaw is one of those interviewed.       

Pope leaves 'a remarkable legacy of faith' says UCC leader

By J. Bennett Guess
United Church News Director

April 2, 2005

Calling his 26-year papacy "a remarkable legacy of faith," Pope John Paul II is being remembered by the Rev. John H. Thomas, the United Church of Christ's general minister and president, as a religious leader committed to global peace and the nurture and development of young people.

Thomas, who leads the 1.3-million-member UCC in the United States and Puerto Rico, offered praise and condolences for the deceased Roman Catholic head, saying that what touches one part of the Christian family, touches all Christians.

"We stand in prayer with Catholics around the globe as they mourn the death of Pope John Paul II, leader of the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter of a century," Thomas said. "The United Church of Christ, committed at its inception to ecumenical relationships and the unity of the whole church of Jesus Christ, believes that when one part of the family grieves, all do. That which touches our sisters and brothers across the Christian faith touches us as well, and today we stand with Roman Catholic colleagues in the United States and around the world as they mourn the passing of their ecclesial and spiritual leader."

Thomas said theological differences between the two Christian traditions should not stand in the way of expressing our shared respect and grief for a Christian leader who demonstrated a "deeply spiritual commitment to peace" and displayed a "remarkable contribution to the welfare of the whole world."

"Differences we have in theological perspective do not keep us from giving testimony to this remarkable legacy of faith and we celebrate those achievements even as we mourn his death," Thomas said.

Thomas lauded the Pope's high-profile commitment to building peace in the Middle East, Sudan, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. In addition, the UCC's leader said the Pontiff's focus on youth and young adults "has inspired generations of young people, both within and beyond the Roman Catholic family."

Read Thomas' full statement.

Media Coverage On The Pope: Some Is Better Than Others

All the commercial media outlets have or will have sections up on their web sites about the passing of Pope John Paul II. None of them will compare with the material available on Beliefnet.com. Beliefnet.com has access to the latest news from Religion News Service on reaction from US Protestant leaders, several articles assessing the impact of this papacy from different perspectives (including a new essay from Father Andrew Greely), and a list with biographical information on possible successors. Why is the coverage on Beliefnet.com better than the coverage on CNN? Because the people writing for Beliefnet.com are experts in the field – regardless of their different theological perspectives.  The other media outlets cannot match the talent on a story like this. 

World Council of Churches React To The Death of Pope John Paul II

Expressing the profound sadness of the World Council of Churches (WCC) following the announcement by the Holy See of the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II today, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia stated that:

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II will be remembered as one of the most courageous spiritual leaders of our time. He demonstrated this courage as much in his illness as he did through his leadership, his writings and his pronouncements. In the one ecumenical movement he constantly affirmed as irreversible the deep involvement of the Roman Catholic Church in ecumenism. In responding to the challenging issues for the church in the world, he opened a dialogue with other religious traditions, and addressed constantly issues of social justice and moral and ethical values. As an African, I recognise the importance he gave to the African synod, and the pastoral care in which he identified with the people of Africa."

The condolences were shared by WCC central committee moderator Catholicos Aram I who emphasized:

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II will remain an outstanding figure in the modern history of world Christendom. In fact, his relentless effort to make the Gospel of Christ a living reality in the life of people, his unyielding prophetic witness to make the moral values the guiding principles of human societies, his firm commitment to the cause of Christian unity, his openness to other religions with a clear vision of living together as a reconciled community in the midst of diversities, and his continuous advocacy for justice, human rights and freedom made him an exceptional figure of great achievements. As moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee and as the Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia, I had the privilege to meet His Holiness on different occasions and witnessed the strength of his faith, the depth of his wisdom and the clarity of his vision."

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.

A Statement by General Secretary Bob Edgar On Behalf of the National Council of Churches USA On the Death of Pope John Paul II

Through his own commitment to a life of spirituality and faith, Pope John Paul II captured the imagination of our time in an extraordinary way. 

He was a powerful, persuasive yet often disarming advocate for a vision broadly shared by an entire generation of church leaders and thinkers from many Christian traditions. His papacy sounded strong themes of unity among Christians. And in a world torn by war that all too often turns on religious differences, he advanced the cause of interfaith understanding. He engaged in a passionate quest to end hostilities in all the hotspots of the globe and to advance human rights everywhere. He spoke forthrightly on the scandal of want and need among the global family, calling to task the wealthy and secure, urging them to invest in economic systems that support human dignity and well-being. And always, he spoke to the youth, strongly connecting with them in faith and hope.

With people of faith around the world, we at the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) mourn the passing of this great and tireless servant of Christ. We treasure John Paul II’s legacy and our memories of this extraordinary man. Our relationship with him was developed during his visits to the United States in 1987 and 1995, by three major NCC delegations to the Vatican in 1989, 1993 and 2003, and by on-going contacts with other Vatican officials.

As an organization dedicated to Christian unity, we hailed the Pope’s 1995 ecumenical encyclical, Ut Unum Sint (That They May Be One), and his emphasis on the importance of praying together and of committing ourselves to the long road of continuing engagement that leads to greater unity. In response to the invitation of the Pope in Ut Unum Sint, the NCC Faith and Order Commission had been in a continuing dialogue with him about his desire to carry out his ministry as Bishop of Rome in a way that all could experience as a work of love and a service to unity.

John Paul II’s persistence in pursuing peace, justice and unity—despite many illnesses, an assassination attempt and the growing difficulty of living with Parkinson’s Disease—gave his ministry an urgent edge and a prophetic emphasis. Now he is at rest. Yet his legacy is very much alive in the hearts and minds of millions. May his memory be eternal!

For more information please visit the National Council of Churches USA.

Air America’s New Host: Jerry Springer

Liberal radio network Air America just added Jerry Springer – former Cincinnati mayor and former television talk show host – to their line up. My respect for the network just took a nose dive. Springer has the morals of the toad and if he is a voice of the political left in America the country is clearly doomed. Air America’s new host made his millions exploiting people on television. Springer might hold progressive political views but he has never demonstrated even a tiny commitment to the affirmation of human dignity. Air America should be ashamed.

Top ten reasons you're voting for Hillary Clinton for president in 2008

This came from Sojourners Magazine's April Fools e-mail sent out to supporters.  It kept me laughing for a good solid while.  You can read their entire funny bone e-mail by clicking here.  Below was one of my favorite parts:

10. To prove to my feminist girlfriend that I'm, like, into her issues.

9. It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes name recognition to raise a campaign war chest.

8. Her moderate rhetoric on abortion and religious values shows she that has the sincerity and integrity - or savvy B.S. - to connect with the American voter. I don't care - whatever it takes to get universal health care.

7. Can't wait to see what wacky hijinks Bill gets himself into around the White House without presidential duties to distract him.

6. Settling into a nice Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton rotation will make it much easier for America's school children to memorize the presidents.

5. She'd challenge chauvinistic Muslim governments with a progressive example of women's leadership - oh wait, Pakistan had a female head of state 17 years ago. And a woman became Indonesia's prime minister in 2001.

4. Afraid if I don't I'll end up like Vince Foster.

3. To demonstrate that American political dynasties aren't just patriarchal father-son affairs, but can also pass from philandering husbands to their embittered wives.

2. I've already ordered 10,000 "A woman's place is in the house - the White House" bumper stickers.

1. One word: Hillary-ous.

Prayers

My prayers and thoughts are tonight obviously with the Pope and the people of the Roman Catholic Church. May the coming hours bring both release and new life.