Advocacy & Social Justice

Community organizer and activist gets a lift from like-minded Presbyterians

Emma Lockridge, who five years ago told the PC(USA)’s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment how living near a refinery had disastrously impacted her and her neighbors, updated her story — made even more compelling by her photographs — this week during the most recent episode of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast.”

LGBTQIA+ Equity Advocacy Committee responds to pastors’ petition on the Olympia Overture

As the PC(USA)’s 226th General Assembly approaches next month, a change.org petition ignited much social media chatter this week as 26 teaching elders began a dissent to challenge Part B of POL-01, commonly known as the “Olympia Overture” as it’s sponsored by Olympia Presbytery. Nearly four dozen more pastors have since signed the petition.

Nationalism and Christian Zionism focus of latest webinar

As in the first webinar that examined the effects of the settler-colonial experience on Palestinians, the PC(USA)’s Christian Zionism working group hosted a large audience of interested participants in its most recent in a series of webinars, titled “Nationalism and Christian Zionism.” More than 700 people registered for the Zoom-based event and more than 300 watched live. The Christian Zionism working group includes PC(USA) national staff, congregation members and grassroots Presbyterians connected to the Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN).

Shiphrah and Puah in the room where it happens

Closing off the two-day Ecumenical Advocacy Days Spring Summit on Saturday, the Rev. Dr. E. Michelle Ledder, assistant minister of the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C., used the Exodus account of a pair of faithful Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, and Hamilton’s “The Room Where it Happens” to weave a powerful and insightful sermon that brought the 80 or so participants to their feet, wanting even more.

‘If anyone can bring the fire, it’s the people of God’

Gathered in person for the first time since 2019, Ecumenical Advocacy Days’ 2024 Spring Summit got off to an inspired start Friday courtesy of the Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

Presbyterians urged to contact their senators on initiatives that limit free speech, advocacy for Palestinian rights

As college students and others protest the war in Gaza and urge divestment from companies that profit from violations of the rights of Palestinians — and call for an end to U.S. military support for those human rights violations — the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness is asking Presbyterians to oppose a pair of bills already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives that OPW says will limit free speech and advocacy rights in this country.