Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

President Carter Calls On Baptists To Be Better Christians

Former President Jimmy Carter spoke today before the Baptist World Centenary Congress, a meeting sponsored by the Baptist World Alliance. He made provocative remarks about the war in Iraq and made comments critical of the Southern Baptist Convention (which does not attend World Alliance meetings because of their belief that all the other Baptists are too liberal).

The Baptist World Alliance explains their purpose with these words:

The purpose of the Baptist World Alliance in to empower and enable national Baptist leaders to effectively witness and minister in the name of Jesus Christ and to represent and support Baptists throughout the world in defense of human rights and religious freedom.

The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 211 Baptist unions and conventions comprising a membership of more than 47 million Baptized believers. This represents a community of approximately 110 million Baptist ministering in more than 200 countries. The BWA unites Baptist worldwide, leads in world evangelism, responds to people in need and defends human rights.

Uniting Baptists Worldwide for Global Impact for Christ…in fellowship, evangelism, justice, and aid.

The Goals of the BWA:  To Unite Baptists Worldwide, To Respond to People in Need, To Defend Human Rights.

President Carter was there to bestow an award and to teach a Sunday school class. He also held a press conference. The AP reports:

Birmingham, England (Congress) -- There is an "intense hunger" among Christians worldwide -- and among people of all faiths -- to work for justice and oppose terrorism, despite serious differences of faith, Jimmy Carter said July 30.

"There is an intense hunger among Christians around the world for a healing of the differences that now separate us from one another," Carter, United States president from 1977 to 1981, told reporters gathered for the July 27-31 Baptist World Centenary Congress in Birmingham, England.

Those Christians "are looking for a single voice, a common understanding and friendship, and [want] to put aside the divisions that plague our faith," said Carter, a keynote speaker for the BWA congress.

Differences of belief -- even among Muslims, Jews and Christians -- are outweighed by a common commitment "to truth, to justice, to benevolence, to compassion, to generosity and to love," Carter told a roomful of reporters from around the world. Those commonalties "make it easy for us to stand united without dissention and for a common purpose."

"We need to come back together," he said emphatically.

The common cause of stopping terrorism provides people of faith a platform for unprecedented cooperation, he said, but added that finding that one voice is hampered by misunderstandings.

"One thing we lack, in this time, is an understanding of each other when we worship in different ways."

Carter, who negotiated the Camp David Peace Accords while president, said that historic agreement between predominantly Jewish Israel and predominantly Muslim Egypt was built on the belief that "the elements of life that we shared could overcome the differences that we recognize in the way we worship God."

To stop terrorism today people of all faiths should "try to identify the things that divide us and set them aside and build a common commitment" to fight terror, he noted.

The 80-year-old Carter, a lifelong Baptist and Bible teacher, conceded the historical contribution of religious people to peace in the world has been as detrimental as helpful: "It's been about equal."

While all religions can provide a foundation for healing, he said, "in practical terms" religion has "so often been a cause for schism." He pointed to Ireland as a country that has endured religious-political conflict but, in more recent days, "has seen a very wonderful and gratifying healing process" between Protestants and Catholics.

Misunderstanding about the role between Islam and terrorism has increased division in the world, Carter suggested.

"I think now there is a general feeling, particularly in my country and maybe now in more recent days here in the United Kingdom, that a person who is a Muslim may be less committed to peace and justice and truth and humility and benevolence and generosity than we [Christians] are," he said. "That arrogant attitude--to derogate others because of their faith--is a mistake."

Carter pointed out one of the most deadly terrorist attacks on American soil was committed by a radicalized American Christian, Timothy McVeigh, who killed 168 people with a bomb at the federal building in Oklahoma City, Okla., in 1995.

"I think the main impediment is not knowing each other, not understanding each other, not recognizing that basic truth … that every religion emphasizes truth and justice and benevolence and compassion and generosity and love. We are just divided now because of the tiny number of terrorists among us."

Carter, a member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., said the worldwide hunger for healing offers a historic opportunity to the Baptist World Alliance -- an international fellowship of 214 Baptists unions, and the convener of the congress.

"I really see an opportunity at this moment for the Baptist World Alliance to become much greater a factor in Christian life than it has been in the past," Carter volunteered. "I think this is a time for almost explosive growth [in BWA]."

The members of the Baptist World Alliance are united in their commitment to the message of salvation, to peace and benevolence, Carter said. "And if that message comes out clearly from [incoming president] David [Coffey] and other leaders in the Baptist World Alliance, that could be the greatest thing ever," he said.

Carter said he was "very gratified" when the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the American organization with which he identifies, was accepted into BWA membership last year. "I felt I was coming home to join other Baptists around the world."

He said he "felt excluded" when the more conservative Southern Baptist Convention, historically the largest BWA member, withdrew from the group last year. He said he still hopes the SBC will reverse that decision and rejoin BWA. "I don’t think we should give up on them."

He then spoke on a remarkable range of important issues that Christians should be concerned with:

-- Carter said the war in Iraq is a mistake. "I thought then, and I think now, that the invasion of Iraq was unnecessary and unjust. And I think the premises under which it was launched were false. Whether deliberately or not, I don't know." He said governments and individuals "should always be truthful" about their actions and motivations.

-- The United States should close down the Guantanamo Bay detention center for international terror suspects and Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, both sites where American soldiers have mistreated prisoners. "What has gone on … is a disgrace to the United States of America" and only increases the danger of terror worldwide, he said. " Guantanamo does not represent the will of the American people or the basic elements that have made our country a great democracy and a proponent of freedom," Carter said.

-- He said he is "filled with admiration and awe" at the cooperation exhibited by British police in quickly apprehending those believed responsible for recent terror attacks in London and at the "stalwart" opposition of the British to terrorism.

-- The United States "is the stingiest nation of all," he said, based on per capita income and benevolent giving. "For every 100 dollars in income our nation receives, we give only 16 cents … for benevolent aid." Meanwhile, the gap between the rich and poor grows wider, he said. Alleviating poverty is a duty in both the religious and secular realms, he added, yet: "Most of us rich people rarely know a poor person enough to share our lives with them."

-- Many people are "too glib" in claiming the label of "Christian." If instead people define a "Christian" as "a little Christ," it would have more meaning and produce more Christ-like behavior, he said. "

• We deplore the melding of church and state," Carter said.
• Totalitarian governments pose the greatest risk to religious liberty worldwide, he said.
• And the Baptist World Alliance can play a role in advancing religious freedom in those countries.
• The tough work of interfaith dialog is not pointless but well worth the risk and investment of time, he said.

You’ll hear a lot of attacks from the religious right concerning the former president’s remarks.

What President Carter has been doing ever since leaving the White House is to build models of engagement – using Scripture as our guide – that help build reconciliation and real justice.  That scares those on the far right who wish to continue using religious language as a political tool.

Let us all offer prayers for our brothers and sisters in the Baptist tradition as they conclude their gathering and are released to be evangelists for the good news.

Preserve the Estate Tax

United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Ministries Action Alert

Before Congress adjourns for its August break, the Senate leadership wants to eliminate the estate and gift tax, a tax that only applies to the wealthiest 1.4 percent of U.S. families. The House has already passed similar legislation. Exemptions in the estate tax already make it virtually certain that family farmers, homeowners and most upper-income asset holders will never pay inheritance taxes. The estate tax is our most fair and progressive tax, because it taxes only those who are already wealthy and have the ability to pay. It also provides critical revenues at a time when Congress is facing major cuts in social programs. Contact your senators and urge them to preserve the estate tax.

Click here to take action.

Related Link:  The Estate Tax: Myths and Realities from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Related Post:  Would Jesus Pass Tax Cuts For The Rich And Leave The Least Of These Behind?

Bill Frist Makes Good Call On Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist made a good and thoughtful decision today when he announced his support for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Embryonic stem cell research is supported by many pro-life Republicans and by the United Church of Christ but is opposed by the Roman Catholic Church and by many of the most conservative evangelical groups.

Related Post: Support For Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is A Christian Position

Neo-Nazi Group Promises To Target Gay-Friendly Churches

This post has been updated

The Washington Blade is reporting this morning that the FBI is continuing to investigate the arson attack at St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ. The church was set on fire and anti-gay graffiti painted on the walls shortly after the General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted to endorse gay marriage.

“The writing on the wall, literally, tells the story,” (Michael) Foster said, “This was a politically motivated attack because of the gay issue, and the FBI is going to investigate it.”

Meanwhile, a neo-Nazi group is urging their followers to target gay friendly churches.

After the Middlebrook attack, the News Virginian, a newspaper in Waynesboro, Va., published a story about the responses of three white supremacist groups to the arson.

In that story, Bill White, a Virginia-based spokesperson for the National Socialist Movement, also known as the American Nazi Party, condemned the arson but said that he understood how the actions of the United Church of Christ could provoke such a reaction.

White told the Blade that he believes homosexuality is a mental illness, and that the UCC is a “heretic” church. “Their encouragement of homosexuality is simply a modern extension of their 200-plus-year history of anti-social, anti-white and anti-Southern activities,” White said…..

White told the Blade that his group is discussing “targeting pro-homosexual events being organized by local ‘gay’ churches.” He went on to name the Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke as a specific target of his group’s efforts, which he said included distributing messages on leaflets and through direct mail.

Click here to read the full article (which includes some quotes from me as well).

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that monitors hate groups in the United States, reports that the National Socialist Party may have as many as “45 units operating in 29 states.” They apparently target many of their recruiting activities toward children and teenagers. You can read the SPLC report on the National Socialist Party by clicking here.

This Nazi group also has their own web site where you can see for yourself just how evil this group is.

Update:  Bill White, the Nazi spokesperson mentioned in this post, tried to leave a comment on this site expressing his views on Jews and homosexuals.  I did not allow the comment to be be posted.  He has since linked this post to a Nazi discussion board.  If you're part of this group don't waste your time trying to leave comments here.  Comments are moderated and bigoted remarks will not be posted.

Update: Our Nazi friends are now sending dozens of spam trackbacks to this post and so I've stopped accepting them for this article.  But feel free to link away anyway.

So What Are The Religious Bloggers Talking About This Week?

A lot.

Father Jake Stops The World – one of the best faith blogs out there – writes today about the ongoing attempt by theological conservatives to take over the Episcopal Church.

World Wide Pablo, written by prominent Oregon United Methodist Paul Nickell, is taking on the gay rights community with his advice they not settle for civil unions and separate but equal class status.

Christian musician Kent Gustavson hasn’t written much lately on his blog Three Sumach-Red Dogs I Run With but his last post includes links were you can hear some of his music.  That's a good thing.  Listen in.

Writer Frederick Clarkson wants us to seriously consider the language we use to describe the religious right and their movement.

At Bethquick.com a discussion is taking place on how people find churches they connect with.

Pastor Dan - a UCC pastor - writes on his site at Daily Kos about Orrin Hatch’s recent comparison of conservative Supreme Court nominee John Roberts and….wait for it…. Jesus.

Radical Hapa is reporting that a leader of the so-called Minutemen - a group that has written me many times to decry my charges the group is racist - is resigning because the group is racist.  Who could have seen this coming....

"August 6: Living with the bomb for sixty years"

Message from the National Council of Churches USA

On August 6, 1945, at 8:16 a.m. Japanese time, 80,000 people died instantly in the blast of the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Another 35,000 were injured and more than 60,000 would die by the end of the year from the effects of radioactive fallout. On August 9, 1945, between 60,000 and 80,000 died at 11:02 a.m. in the blast of the second atomic bomb over Nagasaki. The nuclear age was born -- and continues in the uncertainty of missing plutonium caches and terrorist threats. This August, people of faith around the world will be commemorating the anniversary with worship, prayers and peace programs to prevent the horror from happening again. Click the links for a sampling of the resources that are offered by churches and church organizations for this historic observation: Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America; Church of the Brethren; Lutheran Peace Fellowship; Orthodox Peace Fellowship; Presbyterian Church (USA); United Church of Christ.

United Methodist Pastor Placed On Involuntary Leave After Refusing To Admit Gay Member

A United Methodist pastor in Virginia has been placed on an "involuntary leave of absence" for refusing to allow a gay person into the membership of his church, reports United Methodist News Service.

The action was taken after the minister, Edward Johnson, was instructed by his district superintendent and bishop to allow the gay individual to join the church. The United Methodist Church does not allow gays or lesbians to be ordained but that position is controversial and many United Methodist congregations support the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church.

The UM Social Principles state:

Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. All persons need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.

Rejecting someone from church membership based on their sexual orientation would seem to be a great offense. It was appropriate for this minister to be suspended.

The Republican Party-aligned Institute on Religion and Democracy has been one of the most vocal groups opposing the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the United Methodist Church and in other mainline denominations. IRD recently released a statement asking all those who disagree with their views to leave the United Methodist Church for other churches. The group, whose board and staff are filled with Republican political activists, receives funding from Richard Mellon Scaife.

Related Post:  Republican-Party Aligned Institute on Religion and Democracy Will Hold Portland Press Conference

Related Post:  Biblical Witness Fellowship: “Conspiracies Are All Around Us”

Related Post:  Republican Party-aligned Institute on Religion And Democracy Attacks United Church of Christ

Disciples Stand Up For Gays And Lesbians

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), meeting at their general assembly held this year in Portland, voted to endorse a resolution calling for further discernment on the roles of the GLBT community in the DOC and against hate language: Disciples World reports:

The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) spoke out against physical and spiritual violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and recommitted to a process of discernment during Wednesday morning’s business session.

Sense-of- the-Assembly Resolution #0514 — “Denouncing Hateful Speech and Action Aimed at Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Persons, and Renewing Our Commitment to the Process of Discernment” — decries “spiritual and physical violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, including language meant to demonize or vilify.”

Nancy Brink pastor of North Side Christian Church in Omaha, Neb., one of the congregations sponsoring the resolution, praised the discernment process. Congregations like North Side “have studied Scripture, listened to the stories of (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) people and their families, prayed, argued and prayed some more,” before finally coming to a place where these persons are included in the life of the church, Brink said.

Greg Widener of Columbus, Ohio, spoke against the business item, saying it contained vague and undefined language. Widener decried hate speech, but raised the concern that “discernment becomes advocacy.”

Jeri Smith, pastor of Westwood Christian Church in Pensacola, Fla., said her church did discernment on the issue and decided homosexuality is a sin. If we say that this is spiritual violence, then we can’t read Scriptures, said Smith, and "I will have to continue to teach the Scriptures in my church.”

Jorge Cotto, moderator of the National Hispanic and Bilingual Fellowship, made a motion to refer the resolution to the Committee of Reference and Council for further investigation, based on reasons similar to Widener’s.

In response, Patricia Case, of Central Christian Church in Indianapolis, argued that on the last day of General Assembly, “a motion to refer this item is a motion to kill this item. It cannot be referred and still make it back to the floor,” Case said.

“There is nothing vague about the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Case remarked.

David Nickell of First Christian Church in Oklahoma City agreed. “We then go another two years without taking a stand against hate speech and for discernment,” he said.

Delegates voted not to refer, returning the debate to the original resolution.

After another speaker in favor of the resolution and another against it, a motion was made to extend debate, but was defeated, bringing the matter before the Assembly for a vote.

A clear majority stood to affirm the resolution. However, the number opposed to it was significant, one indication of the opinion gap among Disciples.

The 2001 General Assembly passed a resolution initiating the discernment process on the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the life of the church. Some feel that the process has not been a priority for the church since then.

This resolution marks progress in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It was not long ago that those offering themselves for national leadership posts in the DOC were turned aside if they favored gay and lesbian rights.

Standing against hate speech in an era where so many Christians preach language that incites and justifies violence is an important act.

Related Post:  Hate Crimes Up Against LGBT Community; Religious Right Must Take Some Of The Blame

Breaking Down the Dividing Wall

This post has been updated

The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) today passed a resolution calling on Israel to bring down the wall built by their government to divide Palestinians and Israelis. The wall has been criticized by Jewish Voice for Peace, Human Rights Watch, World Council of Churches and the United Church of Christ. In a separate resolution, the Disciples reaffirmed their stand against suicide violence and their support of peacemaking efforts. Both the current Israeli government and the Palestinian authority have been accused of gross human rights violations.

Related Post:  Republican-Party Aligned Institute on Religion and Democracy Will Hold Portland Press Conference

Update:  The text of the resolution is now online.  You can find it at:

http://www.disciples.org/GA05/wall.htm

Women And Ministry: Roman Catholic Women Protest With Ordinations

Earlier this summer I participated in the preaching institute held at the Aquinas Institute of Theology (a Roman Catholic graduate school affiliated with the Dominicans). Most of the other participants were Roman Catholic priests or nuns (though we had a few UCC folks in attendance).

What struck me about the group was the overwhelming sense among participants that women have throughout history been denied their appropriate place as preachers and ministers by the church (whether that church is Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist or any other that denies women the right of ordination).

You might assume that because these nuns and priests were professionals within the Roman Catholic Church that they would be in full agreement with the Vatican’s position that only men can be ordained to ministry. That was not the feeling I got from this group (though I didn’t formally poll anyone about their attitudes regarding ordination).

At the very least, those who were there seemed to share an opinion that human interpretations of Scripture should not be used to deny women their rightful place as preachers.  This has been my experience with many Roman Catholics that I have worked and studied with.

The role of women in the church has always been a difficult one. Women thrived in the early Christian world and throughout history there have been notable women preachers and ministers in many religious traditions.

This week four women were ordained as priests and five as deacons in Canada in a protest against Roman Catholic policy, reports Religion News Service:

According to official Catholic teaching, male-only priesthood dates to Jesus' selection of men as his apostles.

It's time that changed, said Sister Patricia Bergan, a member of the women's religious community the Sisters of St. Francis and an administrator at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Syracuse, N.Y.

When Bergan, Cathy Gregory, and Meme Woolever, all of Syracuse, heard about the event, they decided to drive to the eastern Ontario town to see if they could participate.

The Woman’s Ordination Conference, which sponsored the ordination of these women, “is a US based Catholic organization working locally and nationally in collaboration with the worldwide movement for women's ordination.” There are resources on their web site for those interested in learning about the debate in Roman Catholic circles concerning the ordination of women.

The United Church of Christ first ordained a woman, Antoinette Brown, to ministry in 1853. That early date is something to celebrate but even in our denomination no woman has ever served as General Minister and President (the top position in the UCC) and women clergy still struggle for acceptance in some UCC congregations.

All of our churches have a long way to go until we fully recognize the gifts God has given us. The diversity of humanity – one of the greatest of those gifts – is so often used as a flash point for division that Christians often forget we are “all one in Jesus Christ.”  The movement to ordain women to ministry helps move us towards that ideal.

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary Of The World Council Of Churches, Speaks In Portland

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, was in Portland today and spoke before the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A press released issued after his address stated:

"If it was the challenge to US churches in 1965 to reflect a global perspective rather than that of an ultra-patriotic 'culture club', this remains a principal challenge 40 years later," World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia told a gathering of US Christians on 26 July.

Speaking at the general assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Portland, Oregon, Kobia was recalling a 40-year-old, but still relevant insight from a former WCC general secretary from the US, Eugene Carson Blake.

Commenting on today's world-wide fears regarding US policies like the doctrine of pre-emptive war, and the current US administration's reluctance to support international initiatives against global warming, or the Millennium Development Goals, Kobia said that the role of the churches is to "speak truth to power", even if it is unwelcome in some quarters.

At the same time, he acknowledged the leading role of North American Christians in the modern ecumenical movement, and stressed the role of US churches in providing an alternative voice and taking a leading role in fighting hunger, poverty, HIV/AIDS, racial discrimination and violence.

In the context of the southwards shift of the global centre of gravity of the world-wide church, Kobia suggested that North American churches "need to adjust to a new position within the wider church of Jesus Christ".

And referring to a perceived spread of para-church organizations, mega-churches and a "so-called 'prosperity gospel', based on assumptions of free market economics", from North America to other continents, he warned against "the confusing of preaching Christ with the proclamation of American cultural values".

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a North American mainline Protestant denomination, is one of a total of 23 WCC member churches in the USA.

The Rev. Sharon Elizabeth Watkins was elected earlier in the day to serve as the first woman General Minister and President of the DOC.  This is a milestone event in the history of mainline Christian churches.  No woman has ever held the position before.  Watkins has been the senior minister of Disciples Christian Church in Bartlesville, Okla.

You can keep track of other developments related to the DOC meeting by visiting Disciples World.

Disciples Blogging

The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is in full swing in Portland.  You can keep up on the lastest and even learn what these visitors are saying about Portland by clicking here and reading their blogs.

Biblical Witness Fellowship: “Conspiracies Are All Around Us”

The leader of the Biblical Witness Fellowship, a fundamentalist group affiliated with the Republican-party aligned Institute on Religion and Democracy, announced today that the vote of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ in favor of gay marriage was part of a grand conspiracy among politicians and the media to influence the debate over President’s Bush nomination of John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court.

I’m not making this up (though I wish it was all just a bad dream). The conservative Christian news service Agape Press reports:

(David) Runnion-Bareford contends that, compared to all the other Protestant denominations, the UCC stands alone in authorizing all the homosexual alternative lifestyles in a general resolution from its rule-making body and calling them compatible with Christianity. "This is not just simply a very liberal kind of denomination that just doesn't get it about God," he says. "They really are attempting to create a counterfeit that is saleable."

A further indication of this, the Biblical Witness Fellowship spokesman notes, is the fact that there was media coverage and commentary from around the world, including reports from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and National Public Radio on the UCC General Synod's decision to endorse same-sex marriage.

He even sees something suspect in the timing of an appearance by leading Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat Charles Schumer on ABC's "This Week," where the senator suggested he would make homosexual marriage an issue in the next Supreme Court justice confirmation battle.

Runnion-Bareford believes the UCC intended for its pro-homosexual agenda to get the media attention and discussion it is receiving and took carefully orchestrated steps to see that this would happen. "It's interesting to see the BBC run this as a front item as soon as that vote was taken," he says, "and for Senator Schumer to come out for gay marriage, almost as soon as that vote was taken, in a very strong way."

What is "afoot here" with the United Church of Christ, the church renewal advocate contends, is "an attempt to gain Christian sanction for the ideology that has moved forward in an attempt to let gays gain legal sanctions in the state of Massachusetts."

Runnion-Bareford is wrong that the United Church of Christ is the only Christian denomination to support gay marriage. The United of Canada argued for gay marriage in their nation years before the United Church of Christ took a stance. Other Christian groups have also endorsed gay marriage. The vote of the UCC, however, did make it the first mainline Christian church in the U.S. to take a such a position.

And it is just bizarre to sugguest some grand conspiracy between the UCC and Senator Schumer to introduce the issue of gay marriage in time for the debate of the Supreme Court nomination. The dates for the General Synod were set years in advance and the resolutions debated there were introduced months before.

Runnion-Bareford’s group pretends to be affiliated with the UCC but it is their clear intention to drive wedges between local congregations and the national offices of the denomination. The group is concerned with what they see as “the UCC’s theological surrender to the moral and spiritual confusion of contemporary culture.” They reject modern biblical scholarship and suggest that churches within their movement seek ministers trained in more conservative seminaries outside of the UCC tradition. Biblical Witness Fellowship seeks with intention to undermine the UCC by supporting the appointment of pastors from more conservative denominations in local UCC congregations and have worked diligently to then move those churches into a position were they will spilt from the UCC.

Republican-Party Aligned Institute on Religion and Democracy Will Hold Portland Press Conference

The Institute on Religion and Democracy (a group with ties to the Republican Party and funded by Richard Mellon Scaife) is perhaps best known these days for their anti-gay advocacy. 

But they are concerned about a host of right-wing issues and will be holding a press conference in Portland this morning asking the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) not to adopt a resolution condemning the security fence being built by the Israeli government to separate the Palestinians and the Israelis.  The Disciples are considering such a resolution at their General Assembly being held in Portland this week.

The wall has been condemned by Jewish Voice For Peace, Human Rights Watch, World Council of Churches, and the United Church of Christ.

“Israel has a right and duty to protect its civilians from attack, but it must not use means that entail indiscriminate punishment of entire communities,” said Joe Stork, acting executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. “Israel’s separation barrier seriously impedes Palestinian access to essentials of civilian life, such as work, education and medical care.”

Human Rights Watch….argues that the barrier imposes arbitrary and excessive restrictions on the freedom of movement of tens of thousands of Palestinians and violates Israel’s obligation under the Geneva Conventions to ensure the welfare of the population under occupation.

The press release issued by IRD announcing the press conference stated that Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams would be one of the speakers. I have confirmed that Commissioner Adams will not be at this press conference.

At Jewish-Christian Gathering Kobia Talks About Divestment, Calls For New Alliances For Life

News Release From The World Council of Churches

While anti-semitism is a sin, not every critique of Israeli policies qualifies as anti-semitism, Samuel Kobia told a Jewish-Christian gathering on Sunday, 24 July.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary addressed the issue of churches divesting from companies making profits out of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in his keynote address at the annual conference of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ), in Chicago.

To those who feel that the WCC's recent call to member churches with investment funds to consider not participating economically in activities related to the occupation was "an act of anti-semitism directed against all Jews," Kobia restated the Council's historical condemnation of anti-semitism, which goes back to its inception.

A "sin against God and man," anti-semitism is "absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith," Kobia said, quoting the first WCC Assembly in Amsterdam in 1948.

While acknowledging that the divestment issue "has been received as something utterly disturbing by many Jews," he affirmed that "there is a risk and perhaps a temptation to fall into readily available metaphors".

Care should be taken "not to fall prey to a simplistic use of metaphors," like comparing divestment "with a call for boycott of Jewish goods and Jewish persons as in Germany in the 1930s," Kobia warned.

The WCC general secretary highlighted the need for a "safe space for listening to each other, and for discussing how and where we need to go". "Our concern is peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians," he emphasized.

Recognizing "the power to unite and inspire, but also [*] to divide and destroy" that lies within every religion, Kobia called for a "commitment among people of faith" to make sure that religious traditions are not "used to breed contempt and death".

"We need to form new alliances for life that defy the division and conflicts that are a product of globalized injustice in all its many forms," he declared.

The full text of Kobia's keynote address is available on the WCC website at:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/interreligious/kobia-iccj-05.html

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.

Is The United Church of Christ About To Start Growing?

Since the meeting of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ there has been growing interest in churches joining the UCC. United Church News reports:

Denominational leaders said this week that as many as 15 different churches and church groups have inquired about affiliating with the UCC since the meeting of its General Synod earlier this month.

On the heels of a General Synod that dramatically spiked the church’s national visibility, inquiries have come from a variety of sources, according to the Rev. David C. Schoen, the UCC’s minister for evangelism.

Schoen said the inquiries include expressed interest from three significantly large congregations representing three different regions of the country -- with a combined membership of nearly 12,000 parishioners.

"Interest has been all over the map,” Schoen said. "The interest has ranged from people wanting to plant a church to churches wanting to affiliate with the UCC to groups of people wanting to know about the UCC and how they might become affiliated with the UCC as a new church start. It has all been very exciting.”

We have known since the launch of the UCC’s God Is Still Speaking advertising campaign that tens of thousands have contacted the UCC about learning were they can find a local UCC congregation to worship in. Even more have contacted the denomination since General Synod.

Mainline Protestant churches and Roman Catholic churches have seen declining numbers for many years. Maybe that trend will finally start to reserve itself for the UCC.

Are you looking for a UCC church?  Click here.  Want information on how to have your congregation become part of the UCC or looking to help with a new church start?  E-mail the Rev. David C. Schoen.

Related Post:  Extravagant Welcome Evangelism

Related Post:  Blogging United Church of Christ General Synod

Rethinking Blog Comments

Typepad (my blog hosting service) has provided new tools for moderating comments left on their sites. It is a welcomed development. Now all comments can be reviewed for content before being posted. This has already cut down dramatically on spam. It has also helped me from letting a few of those hateful comments degrading different religions or groups of people from slipping in.

A few people have been banned from this site for making such comments. But it is hard to actually ban people. They start posting under false names and change their IP addresses in an effort to slip through (even a conservative Catholic priest has used this dishonest and kind of obsessive tactic). What I don’t have is the time to track down who people are being dishonest with who they are. I do have the time, however, to review each individual post for content (since I read them all anyway) and that is the path I’ll be using from now on instead of trying to ban individuals.

The site will also now request that people who wish to comment to first create an account with TypeKey. This will help cut down further on spam comments.

So if you’ve been banned from this site in the past – and there are only about 12 of you out there – the ban is lifted and you’re welcome comment away but play nice.

Speaking Of Human Rights....

The man killed yesterday by UK police "was not connected" to the terrorist attacks in London.  Police shot him five times in the head.  He was not armed.  Faith groups in the UK were already asking questions about the killing before it was known someone not connected with the terrorists was killed.  We cannot win a war against terrorism if we start acting like them.

White House Fails To Uphold Widely Held Christian Principles On Torture

The Washington Post reported today that the White House is opposing legislation supported by Republican senators that would guarantee the human rights of those held in detention by American forces:

The Bush administration in recent days has been lobbying to block legislation supported by Republican senators that would bar the U.S. military from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" of detainees, from hiding prisoners from the Red Cross, and from using interrogation methods not authorized by a new Army field manual.

The legislation is supported by John W. Warner (R-Va.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.). McCain was himself tortured while a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict.

The World Council of Churches has asserted in pervious statements that:

All human beings regardless of race, sex or belief have been created by God as individuals and in one human community. "Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him." (Article 11 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights)

The legislation supported by the trio of republican senators would support that position.

The Roman Catholic Church has also issued several statements in support of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

In a 2004 statement dealing with the situation at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility the National Council of Churches USA said:

Our concern is based on the fundamental Christian belief in the dignity of the human person created in the image of God, and on the rights accorded all persons by virtue of their humanity. As affirmed in a NCCCUSA policy statement on human rights, dated December 6, 1963, “Christians believe that man is made in the image of God, that every person is of intrinsic worth before God, and that every individual has a right to the fullest possible opportunity for the development of life abundant and eternal. Denials of rights and freedoms that inhere in man’s worth before God are not simply a crime against humanity; they are a sin against God.”

Christians debate many issues but have spoken loudly across theological lines against abuse and torture in all forms. It is more than disappointing that the president of the United States does not share these basic values.

Minutemen, Nuking Muslim Holy Sites and Posing As OSHA: Immigration In The Hot Seat

Immigration is becoming one of those big hot button issues again. The so-called Minutemen patrols, organized by a group supported by white supremacists, are still busy keeping up their vigilantly justice crusade along the US-Mexico border.

Right-wing writer and Alan Keyes fan Devvy Kidd was just mad as all get out with me for first posting about the Minutemen and their ties to fascist elements in our society. She wrote in mid-June on a conservative web site:

Currie's statement that the Minutemen Project has "ties to white supremacist groups" has no truth to it whatsoever, but truth isn't the agenda. Since Mr. Currie is so in favor of allowing hordes of terrorists, murderers, rapists and other assorted criminals smuggling themselves across the border, perhaps he'd like to extend an invitation to house a few thousand of them - in the name of Christ, of course!

Despite this type of malicious accusation being thrown around, The Minutemen Project is a huge success and growing by leaps and bounds. The organizers and participants didn't let this side track them and they have fended off these types of false accusations with class.

The only problem is that it is true about their support from white supremacists.  What is sick is how some conservatives keep trying to link the issues of immigration and terrorism. 

Speaking of which....

Another sign of the anti-immigrant wave is the news Republican congressman Tom Tancredo, once shunned by his own party as a bigot, is now not only backed by the party but even considering a run for president in 2008.  He is best known for his support of anti-immigration legislation. 

Tancredo recently called for a nuclear attack against Muslim holy sites in the event of a terrorist attack against the United States. He comments have been condemned by interfaith religious leaders but he refuses to apologize.

Oregonian Eric Berg also wrote me with this news today from Interfaith Worker Justice:

Last week immigrant workers gathered to attend mandatory safety training they thought was being held by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

It turned out to be a sting operation by the Homeland Security's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (OSHA was unaware of this misuse of its name.)

Forty-eight workers, hired by subcontractors at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, were arrested on charges that they were illegal immigrants. At least one person was later released upon proof of citizenship.

Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) is outraged by this deception and deeply concerned about the impact of this action on future attempts by OSHA to genuinely address workplace safety issues.

We all should be concerned.

Related Link:  The Bible as the Ultimate Immigration Handbook: Written By, For, and About Migrants, Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers 

Portland Get Ready: The Disciples Are Coming

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will open their General Assembly on Saturday in Portland. The Disciples, as they are known, make up a progressive Christian denomination with historic roots in America.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born on the American frontier in the early 1800s as a movement opposing the rigid denominationalism imported from Europe and seeking Christian unity on a simple New Testament basis. Its founders were Thomas and Alexander Campbell in western Pennsylvania and Virginia, and Barton W. Stone in Kentucky. The basic principle was a fellowship built around the Lord’s Table and tolerance of widely divergent viewpoints concerning “non-essentials.” Counting the Churches of Christ and the so-called independent Christian Churches which gradually separated from the Disciples, the Stone- Campbell development represents an indigenous American religious movement second only to the Mormons in size. Both Campbell and Stone had been Presbyterians.

The United Church of Christ and the Disciples have a special ecumenical relationship in which our clergy can have standing in both denominations and we conduct our global mission projects jointly.

The General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ will bring thousands to Portland and will consider many important issues.

The representative body of the church meets biennially and may involve 5,000-7,000 persons, about half of them official voters from congregations and regions. All persons who register have the right to speak. The voters include all ministers, two lay persons from each congregation (more from a few larger congregations), some 260 regional representatives and the church’s General Board. The General Board is a 123 voting-member-body with 51 ex officio non-voting members that meets annually. A 40 member Administrative Committee meets twice annually.

You can read the different resolutions that will considered by clicking here.

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, will be one of the main speaks at the event.

Disciples clergy will also be preaching at many area churches on Sunday. Two churches worth visiting: First United Methodist Church (1838 SW Jefferson Street) at 10:30 am and First Congregational United Church of Christ (1126 SW Park Ave) at 10:25 am. Both these congregations will host visiting Disciples clergy.

Karl Rove’s Betrayal of America

We know now that Karl Rove told reporters the secret identity of a CIA agent in an attempt to discredit Ambassador Joe Wilson’s claim that the Bush Administration deliberately misused intelligence to bolster their case for war in Iraq. Wilson was proven correct in his assertions - the White House did lie about the reasons for going to war in Iraq - and The Washington Post published a story today confirming that administration representatives knew Valerie Plame’s identity was a state secret. Outing Plame put her life in danger and jeopardized national security. It may have also been a crime. That hasn’t stopped leaders of the religious right from defending their patron saint in the White House.

Tony Perkins of the conservative Family Research Council sent out an e-mail to supporters this week urging support for Rove:

Retired Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV has accused Rove of leaking the name of his wife, a CIA employee, to the media in an attempt to counter Wilson's public denunciations of President Bush's decision to go to war In Iraq. I won't repeat the details of this convoluted story, but it has all the hallmarks of a partisan witch-hunt, complete with New York Senator Chuck Schumer getting into the act last week…..

….Karl Rove can take some small comfort in the fact that the politics of personal destruction invariably aims at effective people. The attack he's facing now is just another phase in the liberals' failed war against the war on terrorism. They blame America first, and Rove makes a good second.

Perkins, a former Republican candidate for office with ties to David Duke and other white supremacists, has become one of the most prominent leaders of the religious right. Few figures are more partisan than Perkins and honesty does not seem to be one of his virtues.

Liberals have a war against the war on terrorism? Is he saying that liberals are in favor of terrorism? Of course he is.

This has been the party line of the Republicans since 9/11: criticize the administration on any issue and you are on the side of the terrorists. Karl Rove came up with the strategy.

Rove has proven that he’ll do anything or saying anything – even put the life of covert agents in jeopardy – for partisan gain. Were his actions illegal? The special prosecutor investigating will tell us that. But it was immoral. Perkins is no better. Together they make a great team.

The only honorable action for the president to take in this matter is to keep his promise and fire anyone who leaked the name of this CIA agent.  Karl Rove must go.

United Church of Canada Supports New Same Sex Marriage Law

Canada has become the fourth nation in the world to allow same sex marriages. Legislation supporting equal marriage rights was signed into law this week after years of debate. The law was vocally opposed by the Roman Catholic Church in Canada but supported by the United Church of Canada.

The United Church of Canada is the largest Protestant denomination in that nation. “The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, and 70 per cent of the Presbyterian Church in Canada entered into an organic union. Joining as well was the small General Council of Union Churches, centred largely in Western Canada. It was the first union of churches in the world to cross historical denominational lines and hence received international acclaim,” states their web site. Over 3 million people worship in United Church congregations.

It was in 2003 that the United Church first passed a resolution endorsing equal marriage rights. The United Church of Christ in the United States endorsed a similar resolution this summer at our General Synod.

Related Link:  Pastoral Letter Following the Passage of Same-Sex Marriage Legislation from The Right Rev. Dr. Peter Short, 38th Moderator of the United Church of Canada

Support Bi-Partisan Efforts To Fund Troops In Darfur

The genocide occurring in the Darfur region of the Sudan continues and without additional financial support from the United States it will worsen. Troops from the African Union are desperately needed to help stop the slaughter. Bi-partisan legislation has passed the Senate and now must be considered by the full Congress. The Save Darfur Coalition reports:

On Wednesday, July 19, the Senate unanimously agreed to an amendment (SA 1290) to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (HR 3057) that would provide additional funding to the AU mission in Sudan. The amendment’s co-sponsors were Senators Corzine (NJ), DeWine (OH), Durbin (IL), Brownback (KS), and Obama (IL).

However, in the next few days, House and Senate negotiators will meet to work out differences in this legislation and finalize amendments. The AU has said it lacks $200 million for its mission in Darfur, so it is extremely important that the conference committee members retain SA 1290 in the final version of the bill. Please write your Representatives to urge their support for any amendments to HR 3057 that would provide additional funding for the African Union troops.

Take action now and support this important Senate action.

Related Post:  World Council of Churches Executive Committee Calls For International Peace-Keeping Force And Investigation Of War Crimes In Darfur

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Calls on People of Faith to Oppose Roberts Nomination as "Next Step in Effort to Overturn Roe"

Statement from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice vigorously opposes the elevation of Judge John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court. This nomination is clearly the next step toward the extreme right-wing’s stated intention to overturn Roe v. Wade and end constitutional protections for women’s health and safety.

The record on Judge Roberts is clear. He has argued that there was “no support in the text, structure, or history of the Constitution” for the reasoning behind Roe and that the historic decision was “wrongly decided and should be overruled.” In the case against the hate group Operation Rescue, he wrote a brief arguing that its violent blockades at women’s clinics were merely an expression of opposition to abortion.

The nomination raises grave concerns for religious freedoms. While a top government lawyer from 1989 to 1993, Roberts wrote a brief urging the Supreme Court to accept the constitutionality of prayer at a public school graduation ceremony. The Court rejected his arguments.

Despite President Bush's assurances there would be no litmus test for the Supreme Court, this nomination meets the “Religious Right’s” requirement that the next Justice oppose Roe v. Wade. Accordingly, this nomination must be regarded as a commitment to reduce and ultimately eliminate the constitutional guarantee that women may make reproductive decisions free of governmental interference and coercion. Those concerned about protections for women’s health and religious freedom must look beyond this nominee’s legal qualifications to his clear hostility to established rights. We urge people of faith to contact their Senators immediately to express their opposition to this nominee.

John G. Roberts: An Extreme Pick For The Supreme Court

President Bush has picked conservative John G. Roberts over the more moderate Edith Clement, a judge on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, to be his nominee to the US Supreme Court. Roberts, a federal judge himself appointed by President Bush, played a major role in coordinating Bush’s legal strategy in the 2000 Florida recount election. Roberts is a noted opponent of abortion and civil rights legislation. His nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit was opposed by the Alliance for Justice:

Although Mr. Roberts is indisputably a very capable lawyer, that alone does not qualify him for such a prestigious and critical post. As a group of over 300 law professors stated in a 2001 letter to the Senate, a lifetime appointment to the federal bench is a privilege that comes with great responsibility and requires much more. Every nominee bears the burden of showing that he or she respects and pledges to protect the progress made in the areas of civil rights and liberties, the environment, and Congress’ constitutional role in protecting the health and safety of all Americans. Mr. Roberts’ record, particularly his record as a political appointee, argues strongly that he would not do so.

While working under Presidents Reagan and Bush, Mr. Roberts supported a hard-line, anti-civil rights policy that opposed affirmative action, would have made it nearly impossible for minorities to prove a violation of the Voting Rights Act and would have “resegregated” America’s public schools. He also took strongly anti-choice positions in two Supreme Court cases, one that severely restricted the ability of poor women to gain information about abortion services, and another that took away a key means for women and clinics to combat anti-abortion zealots.

This pick is disappointing and many are suggesting it is one of the most extreme picks the president could have made.

People for the American Way has released the following statement:

People for the American Way is extremely disappointed that the President did not choose a consensus nominee in the mold of Sandra Day O’Connor. John Roberts’ record raises serious concerns as well as questions about where he stands on crucial legal and constitutional issues – it will be extremely important for Senators and the American people to get answers to those questions. Replacing O’Connor with someone who is not committed to upholding Americans’ rights, liberties, and legal protections would be a constitutional catastrophe.

Click here to read their report on Roberts.

The Alliance for Justice is made up of:

ADA Watch

American Association of University Women

American Constitution Society

Americans for Democratic Action

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Brady Campaign

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Community Rights Counsel

Earthjustice

Feminist Majority

Human Rights Campaign

Justice at Stake Campaign

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

NARAL Pro-Choice America

National Abortion Federation

National Council of Jewish Women

National Council of Negro Women

National Council on Independent Living

National Employment Lawyers Association

National Network to End Domestic Violence

National Organization for Women

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

People for the American Way

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Sierra Club

Society of American Law Teachers

Southern Poverty Law Center

Nearly 25,000 Civilians Killed Since Iraq Invasion

The American government does not bother to count all the civilians who die in Iraq but a new independent report says that nearly 25,000 have been killed in violence since the US led invasion. The Guardian newspaper in the UK reports:

The number of Iraqi civilians who met violent deaths in the two years after the US-led invasion was today put at 24,865 by an independent research team.

The figures, compiled from Iraqi and international media reports, found US and coalition military forces were responsible for 37% of the deaths, with anti-occupation forces and insurgents responsible for 9%. A further 36% were blamed on criminal violence.

Civilian deaths attributed to US and coalition military forces peaked in the invasion period from March to May 2003 - which accounts for 30% of all civilian deaths in the two-year period - but the longer-term trend has been for increasing numbers to die at the hands of insurgents.

Figures obtained last week from the Iraqi interior ministry put the average civilian and police officer death toll in insurgent attacks from August 2004 to March 2005 at 800 a month.

John Sloboda of the Iraq Body Count project, which co-authored the report with Oxford Research Group, said the Iraqi civilian death toll was the "forgotten cost" of the decision to go to war in Iraq.

"On average, 34 Iraqis every day have met violent deaths since the invasion of March 2003," he said at the launch of the report in London.

"Our data shows that no sector of Iraqi society has escaped. We sincerely hope this research will help to inform decision makers around the world about the real needs of the Iraqi people as they struggle to rebuild their country."

The Iraq Body Count project is the most complete attempt of its kind to record the civilian dead in Iraq. The researchers work from media reports, information from mortuary officials and on-the-ground research projects. Its figures, which the group regards as conservative estimates, do not include irregular fighters or others who died while attacking coalition or Iraqi government forces.

Religious leaders from across the globe – including most Christian denominations – condemned the US invasion and have spoken out forcefully against the violence and mayhem that has occurred since. Our original justifications for war (claiming the Iraqi government had developed weapons of mass destruction to use against the US and were somehow linked to 9/11) have proven false and the secondary reason (to save the Iraqi people from a humanitarian disaster under the old regimen) has proven to be a sad joke at the expense of the Iraqi people.

Related Post:  A Call to Speak Out On Iraq

Licensed Ministry In The United Church of Christ

The St. Louis Association of the United Church of Christ has recently granted me standing as a licensed minister in the denomination.

“Licensed ministry is a form of ministry in the United Church of Christ created by the adoption of 1983–1984 amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ. While replacing the category of lay minister, licensed ministry continues this form of ministry but establishes much more comprehensive requirements and standards for it. Licensed ministry is a form of ministry in and on behalf of the Church for which ecclesiastical authorization is required,” states the UCC’s Manual on Ministry. “By definition, a licensed minister performs specified duties in a designated local church or within an Association, mainly preaching and conducting services of worship.” Licensed ministers can also be authorized to administer the sacraments.

Most often licensed ministers are assigned to serve small congregations that are unable to call ordained clergy. However, seminarians preparing for ordination are sometimes granted this standing while serving a local congregation. The license allows the seminarian the opportunity to participate in a fuller range of ministerial duties. The congregation benefits by having another person authorized to conduct all the aspects of ministry.

My tenure as a licensed minister in the UCC will end in December when I finish seminary and return to Oregon seeking a call to ordained ministry.

You can learn more about ministry in the UCC by visiting http://www.ucc.org/ministers/.

Does Atlanta Have A Problem With God?

Atlanta is debating a proposal to arrest and fine people who are homeless and panhandling. The proposal is a bad one that criminalizes people who are homeless but does nothing to help people lift themselves out of poverty.

A hearing was held today, reports the Associated Press, where critics of the plan forced the city council to hold off adopting the measure.

…when people got a chance to address the council, many of them painted the ordinance as evil, even an affront to God.

``You're going to answer to a divine authority!'' shouted the Rev. Richard Cobble of Concerned Black Clergy, waving a finger at the council as he accused them of targeting the poor.

The proposal would make it illegal to beg for money near downtown hotels or tourist sites. On a third offense, beggars could be jailed or fined.

The plan has sparked intense opposition from advocates for the poor and civil rights groups. On the other side are downtown business owners, who say aggressive beggars are keeping people away from the central business district.

Atlanta ought to spend their great resources creating affordable housing and support services for people who are homeless instead of investing time and resources to create crimes to charge them with.

Rev. Cobble is correct that this is a religious issue.

Lee Griffith wrote in The Fall of the Prison (Wipf and Stock Publishers: Eugene, 1999) that:

The Bible does not present crime as the problem of a few evil individuals within society, nor does it suggest that the answer to crime is to apprehend and lock up all the bad people. We cannot pretend that the problem is a hundred or a thousand or a million bad people. The Bible links crime with a crisis in the fabric of society. We are corporately responsible. More often than not, offenders are merely reflecting the idolatrous values of the larger community. Any of us who pretend that prison bars separate the good from the bad need to be reminded of the manner in which Jesus equated anger with murder and sexual objectification with rape and oaths with perjury (Matt. 5).

The crime Atlanta – and all our cities – should be dealing with is the crime of poverty that forces hundreds of people (including children) into the streets. I hope Atlanta gets that message.

Related Link:  Illegal to be Homeless:  The Criminalization of Homelessness in the United States
November 2004

Send Eric Rudolph A Message: Donate To The Pro-Choice Cause

Convicted terrorist bomber Eric Rudolph – who attacked the Olympic Games, a women’s health center and a night club catering to lesbians – was sentenced to life in prison today.

Rudolph became a hero to many on the fringes of the religious and political right during his years on the run after his bombing spree.

During his sentencing today he railed against abortion and said "deadly force is needed to stop it." There was no remorse expressed for his actions.

You can send a message today to Rudolph and all those who have used violence to try and take away health care options for women.

Donate today to Planned Parenthood or the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Help these two organizations keep abortion safe and legal.

Related Post:  Linking Tom DeLay and Eric Robert Rudolph

Related Post:  Can Christians Be Pro-Choice? Yes.

No Catholics Allowed

A Christian adoption agency in Mississippi is refusing to allow Roman Catholic families to adopt children “because their religion conflicts” with the agency’s statement of faith, reports The Washington Post.

Bethany Christian Services stated the policy in a letter to a Jackson couple this month, and another Mississippi couple said they were rejected for the same reason last year.

"It has been our understanding that Catholicism does not agree with our Statement of Faith," Bethany's state director Karen Stewart wrote. "Our practice to not accept applications from Catholics was an effort to be good stewards of an adoptive applicant's time, money and emotional energy."

The Mississippi-affiliate of Bethany Christian Services is associated with the conservative Presbyterian Church of America (not to be confused with the much larger Presbyterian Church USA).

The Presbyterian Church of America has in the past called Roman Catholic teachings a “perversion of the Gospel.”

What a strange world we live in. Good Roman Catholics – Christians – are turned aside by other Christians when looking to adopt a child over interpretation of scripture and doctrine.

Why is it we’re always trying to draw lines between people and say we’re better Christians than you because of how we worship God? In this case, children are being left without good homes because of a theological spat.

It is a little ironic, however, that the Roman Catholic Church is also in the business of sometimes drawing lines. They oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt.

When we place human interpretation above God's love everyone gets drawn outside the line eventually.

Comment Policy For This Blog

There has been a lot of comment spam on my site as of late and several people have broken my very lax rules about comment content. People are encouraged to leave comments. However, comments meant to simply offend others – or that are personal attacks – will either be deleted or the commenter banned from the site. We can disagree with each other and still be respectful. Over the course of the last 2+ years I’ve had to actually ban about a dozen people for breaking these rules (out of over 3,000 comments made) and don’t mind banning more in the future. To help facilitate better dialogue on this site I’ve changed the settings so that all comments have to be approved before they are posted. My apology if that means it takes awhile for your comment to appear. What I don’t want on this site – besides that annoying spam that comes in each day – are the hateful and spiteful remarks that so many seem to mistake for conversation. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Southern UCC Congregations Split On Same Sex Marriages

United Church News reported yesterday that about 100 UCC members in the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ signed a statement critical of the UCC’s General Synod to support same sex marriages:

More than 100 members of the UCC’s Southern Conference signed a declaration last week affirming their belief that biblical scripture defines marriage as being between only one man and one woman.

The declaration, entitled the "Lexington Confession" and signed by 130 UCC ministers and laypersons during a special gathering July 7 at Hedricks Grove UCC outside Lexington, N.C., was drafted in direct response to the vote earlier this month by the UCC’s General Synod affirming same-gender marriage equality.

“People who disagree with the action of the General Synod have to find ways that are meaningful to them to express their difference,” said the Rev. Bob Thompson, pastor of Corinth Reformed UCC in Hickory, N.C. “I can’t speak for other places in the country but I can tell you that there are a lot of individuals and churches in our area that are extremely upset about the vote. This is one response that they can make rather than pulling out of the denomination. We are hearing a lot of rumblings along those lines….”

(The Rev. John) Thomas (UCC General Minister and President), who endorsed the same-gender marriage equality resolution a week before it was adopted by the General Synod, praised those who have chosen to sign the Lexington Confession as embodying some of the core values of the UCC.

“In the United Church of Christ we expect local churches to hold in high regard the decisions or advice of the General Synod, but we do not expect each local church to agree,” Thomas said. “The Lexington Confession takes the Synod seriously, even in its dissent, and I am grateful that those who have signed it have expressed their desire to honor the covenants we share even in the midst of sharp disagreement as we continue to walk together in God's ways.”

Thomas and those who signed the “Lexington Confession” are correct: we can live together as Christians even in our disagreements.

There are not very many UCC congregations in the American South. Some that are there, however, have declared themselves to be “open and affirming” of gays and lesbians. Even in my native southland there is Christian support for gays and lesbians.

One of the clearest examples of that is at the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston, South Carolina. This congregation has made it part of their Gospel-centered mission to support civil rights for gays and lesbians. Their stance is prophetic in a state that often takes the opposite position.  Click here to read more about my last visit to Circular (and to see some pictures of this historic congregation).

Republican Party-aligned Institute on Religion And Democracy Attacks United Church of Christ

Just a week after an arson attack against a United Church of Christ congregation in Virginia the Institute on Religion and Democracy, a group aligned with Republican Party activists and funded by Richard Mellon Scaife, sent out another attack piece against the UCC. This one was written by IRD staffer and former CIA employee Mark Tooley.  Tooley wrote:

Episcopalians often get tarred as America’s most liberal Christian denomination. But there is a more liberal one! (Hint: it’s the one Howard Dean joined after he quit the Episcopal Church in a dispute over a bike trail.)

And it’s nearly as old, too. Episcopalians can trace their history in America back to Jamestown in 1607, but the United Church of Christ’s antecedents date to the Puritans who arrived in New England only a couple decades later.

It’s been a roller coaster of a ride across the centuries for the United Church of Christ, from gun-toting Calvinists to super-PC gay “marriage” proponents.

The l.2 million member United Church of Christ (UCC) became the first major Christian denomination in America officially to endorse same-sex nuptials, when its General Synod met July 1-5 in Atlanta.

The General Synod also targeted Israel for sanctions (forgetting, among so much else, the philo-Semitism of its Puritan forbears) and opposed Israel’s new security wall. And for good measure, it opposed privatization of Social Security, opposed President Bush 2006 budget proposal, urged the United States to support the International War Crimes Tribunal, and advised Bush to nominate a “moderate” Supreme Court justice.

The UCC didn’t say yes to every proposal. It rejected a resolution defining marriage as the union of man and woman.

And the UCC decided to remain Christian! It voted to affirm its continued belief in Christ and to retain a cross on its official logo…..

In a fitting conclusion to the UCC event, children’s cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants made a surprise visit. As a UCC news release explained, “SpongeBob and the UCC share something in common. They have both been accused by right wing critics of endorsing a gay lifestyle.”

Earlier this year, conservative and gay groups sparred over SpongeBob, who holds hands with a starfish and appeared in a commercial touting “diversity.”

Bouncers from the UCC TV spot appeared on the stage with SpongeBob, who took their arms and chirpily suggested, “Let’s go find a UCC church." Such fun!

It was the perfect conclusion for the UCC. Pretend bouncers, escorting an animated children’s cartoon character, to increasingly empty “inclusive” UCC local churches.

Actually, 100 new congregations have joined the UCC over the last year. 22,000 people asked our national offices where they could find a UCC church to attend in the days after General Synod concluded.

The IRD is a front group for Republican political operatives that advocate against basic civil rights for minorities, work to oppose health care options for women, support military intervention in nearly every instance, and is critical of every mainline Christian church.

The UCC is different from IRD.  We are a church and not a political front group like IRD.  Worship of God is central to our lives.  Partisan politics is central to IRD.  The UCC does hold that God calls humanity to be peaceful and justice centered.  So we reject war whenever possible and seek to put the concerns of the "least of these" front and center. 

IRD's web site also includes anti-UCC statements this week from the Biblical Witness Fellowship.  The fellowship, which calls themselves a UCC renewal group, partners with IRD on their work. Biblical Witness Fellowship also encourages their readers to visit the UCCtruths web site for news and information. UCCtruths is a group that states "it needs to be said clearly that this site is in no way affiliated with the United Church of Christ...and we are proud of that.

When you’ve got groups funded by Richard Mellon Scaife scared enough to attack you maybe the reason is that they’re worried the Extravagant Welcome evangelism preached by the UCC is reaching out and talking hold. Praise be to God!

No one should be surprised that IRD did not take the opportunity to condemn the attack on our congregation in Virginia.

Related Link:  The General Synod of the United Church of Christ

Teens Avoid Death Penalty In Murder Of Homeless Man

Two 18 year olds charged in the brutal death of a homeless man will not face the death penalty.

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

Jeffery Spurgeon and Justin Stearns have been charged with the first-degree murder of Michael Eugene Roberts, a capital felony, but the State Attorney's Office decided against pursuing the death penalty, Assistant State Attorney Ed Davis said at a court hearing Wednesday….

Neither the victim's family nor the National Coalition for the Homeless wanted the death penalty.

"We're not after revenge. We just want justice," said Roberts' sister, Barbara Burns.

Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, also agreed with the decision. "The National Coalition does not support the death penalty, so I think [the state attorney's] decision is probably appropriate.

"We do want justice to be done."

Stoops is visiting Daytona Beach to speak to local homeless advocates about Roberts' death and to lobby U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, for a congressional study on violence against the homeless. Stoops will address a meeting of the Volusia/Flagler Coalition for the Homeless at 4 p.m. today at the Homeless Assistance Center, 316 North St., Daytona Beach. Stoops and his staff also are shooting a documentary film that will include interviews with local homeless people and examine Roberts' death.

Roberts, who had been living in the woods near Holly Hill, was beaten to death May 25 at his campsite, investigators said. He had been attacked three times over the course of two hours, during which he was beaten, kicked and punched. His attackers also threw a log onto his chest and jumped onto the log, according to investigative reports.

Stoops, my former colleague with the National Coalition for the Homeless, is correct that the death penalty is not justice. Most Christian churches oppose the death penalty. We can hope, however, a real and substantial measure of justice is offered up to the defendants.

Related Link:  A Faith Perspective on Violence and Homelessness in America

Related Link: Hate Crimes & Violence Against Homeless People Increasing

Rehnquist: "I am not about to announce my retirement"

I was just sitting here writing a post about a bipartisan group of United States Senators asking Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to reconsider her retirement and to be a candidate for Chief Justice should William Rehnquist resign his post when this message flashed across the tv screen:

Rehnquist insists he won’t resign

He’s staying put. Holster your guns and wait to fight another day.

Justice Sunday II: They’re Back….

As if one “Justice Sunday” wasn’t bad enough….

The Family Research Council sent out the following announcement today:

Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee will host Family Research Council's simulcast television program, "Justice Sunday II - God Save the United States and this Honorable Court" on Sunday, August 14 at 7 PM ET. Justice Sunday II, the follow- up to "Justice Sunday - Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith," will be broadcast live in churches across the nation in addition to being carried on hundreds of radio stations, via satellite and webcast on www.justicesunday.com. Featured guests joining the simulcast include Senator Zell Miller, Tony Perkins, Dr. James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Bill Donohue, Phyllis Schlafly, Dr. Jerry Sutton, Lee Greenwood, Rebecca St. James and Jett Williams. With the future of the Supreme Court at stake, this is one simulcast that your church will not want to miss!."

The first “Justice Sunday” event – which accused people who didn’t support the president’s judicial nominees as being “against people of faith” - was widely criticized by mainline Christian groups and Jewish organizations.

August 10th Update:  Justice Sunday II: Religious Leaders Condemn Attempt By The Religious Right To Equate Christianity With Support Of Conservative Judicial Nominees

The Sounds Of Silence: The Religious Right Keeps Quiet

Pastor Dan noticed something yesterday.

The leaders of the religious right – quick to denounce anyone who disagrees with their political agenda as “against people of faith” – hasn’t had anything to say about the arson attack against St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ.

Not a word.

Nothing.

The Interfaith Alliance, on the other hand, released a welcomed statement

“The Interfaith Alliance urges everyone to raise a united voice against all hate crimes,” Rev. (Dr. C. Welton) Gaddy said. “Ending hate violence depends on people of faith and goodwill acting courageously to stand up against all religious bigotry and hate-filled acts. This is just one reason why passage of hate crimes legislation is so urgent. As the world’s most religiously diverse nation we celebrate and fiercely defend religious freedom for all.”

Are people like Albert Mohler and groups like Focus on the Family so wrapped up in their own culture wars that they cannot take a moment to condemn violence against faithful Christians?

"Feds: Fire was hate crime"

The fire set at St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ in Virginia was a hate crime, according to federal investigators.  The News Virginian reports;

Federal agents on Monday confirmed the weekend blaze at St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ in Middlebrook was arson and a hate crime against the church.

“We’re looking at it as a civil rights violation,” Lawrence Barry, spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said Monday.

The arson falls in line with federal hate-crime statutes banning attacks on property “with a religious character.”

Meanwhile, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have “definitely” ruled the Saturday morning fire as arson, said Bart McEntire, resident agent in charge of the ATF in southwest Virginia.

It would appear that the federal government is reacting appropriately to this act of violence.

Related Post:  United Church of Christ Congregation In Virginia Set On Fire; Vandals Leave Anti-Gay Hate Messages

"Christians love; cowards hate"

The following editorial ran this morning in The News Leader in response to the fire set at St. John's Reformed United Church of Christ in Virginia.  The words are strong and are a gift to all that have been touched by this story:

It was a small fire, but a loud message. A 225-year-old church in rural Middlebrook was damaged when someone set hymnals ablaze. The choir loft and a pew were burned, and smoke damaged the sanctuary.

The apparent motive was left in graffiti.

The congregation of St. John's Reformed United Church of Christ was left angry and in tears.

What was their crime to receive such punishment? Their denomination last week voted to consider opening its doors to gay couples who want to marry. The UCC's general synod decision to endorse gay and lesbian marriages is not binding on local congregations. It is beyond the ability of words to convey the nightmarish irony of such hatred.

First let's look at the history of the UCC:

Its forefathers left Europe to seek a new world in the early 1600s. By the 1700s, these Pilgrims took a stand against slavery.

In 1773, a member of the church, Phillis Wheatley, becomes the first black woman published author. In 1785, Lemuel Haynes is the first black minister ordained by a Protestant denomination.

In 1846, the first anti-slavery society is formed.

In 1853, the first woman pastor is ordained.

In 1972, the first openly gay minister is ordained.

In 2005, the denomination's synod overwhelmingly endorses gay marriage in its churches.

The United Church of Christ takes each word in its name to heart. It opens doors; it doesn't close them. It welcomes all; it doesn't shove them aside.

For this, we should thank the church's members as well as its leadership.

For this, we should gather in prayer for them, no matter our own beliefs or faith.

For this, we should condemn any actions of hatred against this or any place of worship.

This morning the congregation of St. John's Reformed United Church of Christ will gather on the lawn under tents to celebrate its 225th anniversary. The planned sermon was on the Heidelberg Catechism, focusing in part on Matthew 22:

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and with all your strength.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

It is a courageous church that seeks to live by these words.

It is a cowardly fool who seeks to express words of hate with masked malice.

Opinions expressed in this feature represent the majority opinion of the newspaper's editorial board, consisting of: Gary Stout, president and publisher; David Fritz, executive editor; Cindy Corell, city editor; Jim McCloskey, editorial cartoonist; Dennis Neal, opinion page editor; and Macon Rich, production director.

United Church of Christ Congregation In Virginia Set On Fire; Vandals Leave Anti-Gay Hate Messages

The News Leader reports:

MIDDLEBROOK — A small fire was set in St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ this morning and anti-gay graffiti was painted on the side of the building.

The outside of the church was vandalized with anti-gay messages and a declaration that United Church of Christ members were sinners. The graffiti’s message appeared to be a reference to the national church’s decision earlier this week to endorse gay and lesbian marriages.

The United Church of Christ’s General Synod voted Monday in Atlanta to approve a resolution that is accepting of gay and lesbian marriages but is not binding on local congregations.

A member of the congregation discovered the graffiti Saturday morning when he stopped by to mow the grass. He went into the church building, and when he opened the sanctuary there was still a small fire.

I have no idea whether or not the people of the congregation at St. John’s Reformed UCC were in favor of the resolution passed by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ supporting gay marriage or not. That is irrelevant.

It is tragic that whoever committed this hate crime did so because they were misled into believing that supporting legal equality for gays and lesbians is sinful. It simply is not.

The rhetoric of the religious right and their allies in the political right – who claim that homosexuality is a sin – must take some of the responsibility for the increase in hate crimes such as this one.

Albert Mohler, the prominent Southern Baptist leader, has even compared legal and legislative decisions in support of gay marriage to the attacks against the United States on September 11th. People hear that kind of hateful preaching and believe they are acting as faithful Christians as they torch churches or beat up gays.

United Church News is reporting tonight on the reaction of national UCC leaders:

The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, said the entire 1.3-million-member denomination would be offering prayers of support for St. John's Reformed UCC and its pastor, the Rev. Dorcus J. Lohr.

"My heart goes out to the people of St. John's UCC in Middlebrook," Thomas said. "The violation of sacred space is traumatic for a congregation, particularly when a message of hate targets a church's efforts to reach out in the spirit of Christ's love to all people."

"I knew that the decision of our General Synod on July 4 to affirm marriage equality for same-gender couples would be controversial both within and beyond the church," he said. "It saddens me to realize that, for a few, disagreement has moved to acts of violence."

"The whole United Church of Christ will surround St. John's and its pastor in prayer as they gather for worship this weekend and as they seek healing from this assault," he said.

Earlier this year, (Rev. John ) Deckenback said, two other churches in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley were vandalized near the time the United Church of Christ's Stillspeaking Initiative began running television ads welcoming all people, including gays and lesbians.

Let us pray that the perpetrators of these acts find God, ask for forgiveness and are brought before our civil courts for justice.

Contributions to help the church can be sent to:

St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ

1515 Arbor Hill Rd

Staunton, Va 24401

Young Adult Ecumenical Forum on Globalization and Poverty Will Be Held At Eden Theological Seminary

This conference notice was in my e-mail inbox and it looks good.

The 2005 Young Adult Ecumenical Forum is a grassroots, collaborative response to the lack of programming for young adults. The mission of the 2005 Young Adult Ecumenical Forum on Globalization and Poverty is two-fold: First, we will critically examine issues of contemporary concern within the context of the American Church. Second, we will use these contemporary issues as means to empower young adult ecumenical leaders. We will create space for dialogue rather than dogma, and, together, visualize the role that justice-drive young adults can take within the church.

The event will be August 11-14 at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. The application deadline has been extended to July 15! Assistance may be available through the UCC; contact Ken Brown for more information.

For information on how to apply and other details, download the PDF.

Extravagant Welcome Evangelism

Evangelism – bringing people the Gospel message – is a primary obligation of any Christian.  The Gospel message is one of radical inclusion and justice.  Jesus teaches time and time again that our love of God is demonstrated by how we treat the “least of these.”  Faithful witness to the Gospel teachings is evidenced by our love of neighbor.  That message of “extravagant welcome” is clearly resonating with those who have heard about the actions of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ over his past weekend.

Our General Synod voted to support same sex marriages.  Endorsing legal equality for gays and lesbians is not the most popular stance to take these days.  Several states – including my home state of Oregon and my temporary digs at seminary in Missouri – have endorsed anti-gay marriages initiatives.  But following Jesus is often unpopular and comes with risks.  Some people and churches might leave the UCC because of the stance of our General Synod.  No one wants that to happen.

Other churches in the UCC might have a very different problem to contend with:  where to fit all their new members.  22,000 people have visited the UCC’s national web sites looking for local congregations to visit since General Synod began.  Since Sunday, over 169,000 people have visited ucc.org.  That is a record.

Over 100 new churches have either been started by the UCC or joined the denomination over the past year.  Two-thirds of those churches “are from racial, ethnic, multiracial and multicultural backgrounds.”

This is all good news.  A progressive vision of Christianity – one rooted firmly in Jesus’ teachings – is doing well for the first time in a long time.    Could it be that the UCC which has had declining membership for years (along with all other mainline churches) will start to reverse the trend?  Regardless of that we can be glad that the message of “extravagant welcome” is being heard.

Related Post: Homosexuality and the Bible

Related Link: Family Research Council Chickens Out

G-8 Summit Offers Progress; President Bush Must Keep Promises

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. —Isaiah 58:6 & 10 (NRSV)

The G-8 Summit concluded today with an agreement to provide $50 billion in debt relief and other aid to some African nations. Jubilee USA Network reports the package is welcomed by debt relief advocates but does not go far enough. The group has issued a report outlining both the successes and limitations of the G-8 decisions:

Debt Cancellation Will Save Lives. The agreement, in addition to setting the important precedent of 100% debt cancellation for some nations to some creditors, will release close to $1 billion annually in resources poor nations can use for development. Already the Zambian government has said it will use debt relief proceeds to provide Anti-Retroviral drugs to 100,000 HIV/AIDS patients;

The G-8 Plan Includes Too Few Countries. The 18 countries that qualify immediately represent less than a third of countries (at least 62) that need full cancellation to meet the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to halve extreme poverty by 2015. The $40 billion to be cancelled by this agreement represents less than 10% of debt cancellation required for nations to meet the MDGs. The plan does not include middle-income countries that are heavily indebted and impoverished. The African Union called earlier this week for all African nations to receive debt cancellation; the G-8 agreement applies to only 14.

The G-8 Plan Contains Onerous Conditions. The economic policies mandated by the HIPC Initiative will continue under the G-8 debt agreement, including privatization of government-run services and industries, increased trade liberalization, and budgetary spending restrictions. These policies have not been proven to increase per capita income growth or reduce poverty as documented by both World Bank and civil society economists. Jubilee USA and social movements call for these conditions and policies to be abandoned.

Click here to read the full statement from Jubilee USA Network.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair pushed for additional debt relief and aid but was opposed by the US President George W. Bush.

Bread for the World issued a statement today saying that the “G-8 decisions give powerful support to what Africans are doing to overcome hunger, poverty and disease. These pledges are an investment in justice and peace.”

However, they also note that even the funding needed for the debt relief supported by the president is not contained in his budget.

The next step is for President Bush to come home and work with Congress to make his promises a reality. More than a fourth of the president's promised doubling of aid to Africa is in his budget request for next year. But the Senate Appropriations Committee has already voted to cut 60 percent of this increase; the House has voted to cut virtually all of it. The president's party controls both houses of Congress, and he needs to insist that they keep the promises the United States has made.

An Alliance to End Hunger poll last week showed that U.S. voters support President Bush's G-8 commitment to Africa and want Congress to back him up. More than 81 percent of likely voters agree, "It is important for Congress to approve funding for President Bush's budget that would increase money to reduce hunger, poverty and disease and strengthen U.S. security." (www.alliancetoendhunger.org)

Concerned citizens should write their members of Congress in support of keeping our promises to Africa. They should also urge their members of Congress to put themselves on record on this issue by cosponsoring the Millennium Development Goals bill (H. Con. Res. 172; S. 1315).

Our country has promised to help some of the poorest people in the world and we need to live up to our promises.

The steps made by the G-8 leaders are clearly important and move the world in the right direction. But we must acknowledge that these are first steps and that fundamental economic change must happen on a global scale for the world to see a real reduction in poverty.

Related Post:  Micah 6:1-8: A Sermon For Jubilee Sunday

Religious Leaders React To London Bombings

Religious leaders across the globe are offering their prayers for the people of London today and condemning the violence there.

The Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches USA, released this statement:

"The National Council of Churches joins in prayer for those who were injured and offers its sympathy to those who lost loved ones in the mass transit bombings in London today. Such violence reminds us not only of our need to be ever vigilant and to bring the perpetrators to justice; it also reminds us of our need to strenuously pursue peace with justice. While we recognize that religion is sometimes used to legitimize such acts of violence, we together with other mainstream religious organizations, including many in the Muslim community, thoroughly and unequivocally condemn such violence and enjoin all religious communities to pursue peace in a thousand ways."

The Islamic Society of North America stated:

We note with deep sadness the unfortunate events of this morning in London, England. We condemn such acts of mindless violence that violate the standards of Islam, as well as, of all faiths.

It is regrettable to note that a short-lived website has allegedly claimed responsibility for this reprehensible act and that website purported to link itself with a so-called Muslim group. Such a situation does not bode well for Britain's Muslims who maintain positive relations with their government and are active participants in British public life.

Irrespective of the sociopolitical implications, this act violates the Islamic principles of the sanctity of life and the safety and security of innocent civilians.

The British Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks has aptly stated: "It is not the weapon of the weak against the strong but the rage of the angry against the defenseless and innocent. It is an evil means to an evil end."

The Islamic Society of North America expresses its fullest condemnation of this unwarranted act of terrorism and offers its condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May God grant all the strength to bear this loss.

The Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general-secretary of the World Council of Churches, responded with these words:

"The news, images and stories of the terrorist attacks against civilians in London this morning filled my heart with sadness and concern.

I convey my condolences to the relatives and friends of those who were killed and express solidarity with the victims of these attacks. We pray to the Lord for peace and hope for all of them and for the inhabitants of London and the United Kingdom, who feel their lives to be in danger after these terrible events.

As Christians, we re-affirm our opposition to any form of violence. This radical rejection of violence has led the ecumenical movement to promote the "Decade to overcome violence: Churches seeking reconciliation and peace (2001 - 2010)". Peace is the only way to achieve justice for all. When, as it seems on this occasion, violence is deliberately targeting civilians and willing to create terror in the population, it could be described as a crime against humanity. There is nothing that can justify the killing of innocent people anywhere.

This kind of event is a call to all of us, churches, other religious organizations and the whole of humanity to strengthen our commitment to building a just and peaceful world where all human beings may feel secure and safe in their homes, in their cities and communities.

May "the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction" (2 Cor 1:4) be with all those who suffer at this moment."

Prayers For London

My prayers are with the people of London this morning. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has released the following statement:

“The appalling events in London this morning have shocked us all. So I want first and foremost to extend my personal sympathy and condolences to everyone who is suffering and grieving at this time.

“All those caught up in this tragedy – and that includes of course the emergency services whose selfless dedication and commitment is so vital at times like this – all are in my own prayers and in the prayers of a great many people.

“As it happens I have spent this morning with Muslim colleagues and friends in West Yorkshire; and we were all as one in our condemnation of this evil and in our shared sense of care and compassion for those affected in whatever way.

“Such solidarity and common purpose is vital for us all at this time of pain and sorrow and anger.

“We in the faith communities will have to continue to stand and work together for the well being of our nation and for our shared understanding of the life that God calls us to. I hope that we shall all keep that vision alive at this deeply sad and testing time.”

You can contact the Church of England with offers of assistance.

A Busy Week

Over the course of the last several days I have been blogging at the United Church of Christ web site and enjoying the company of family that came to visit with us over the holiday weekend.  We marched in a local 4th of July parade (joining US Representative Russ Carnahan) and took in  a great fireworks display.  I also preached this Sunday (you can download the audio here) and finished up my summer course work at the Preaching Institute at Aquinas Institute of Theology.  The picture above of our family is from the parade and the one below is of me with my mother and nephew at church this Sunday.