World leaders and government officials from nearly 200 countries are gathering for the next two weeks in Marrakech for the 22nd Conference of Parties (COP22), part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
While Presbyterians and more than 500 other clergy gathered in North Dakota in support of the Native American water protectors last Thursday, the Presbyterian Center in Louisville was the site of a prayer vigil held at the same time. The short vigil, organized by staff, allowed Presbyterians and others in and around Louisville to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
In August of 2013, President Obama announced the possibility of military action in Syria. Our Syrian Church partners urged the Presbyterian Church (USA) to speak out against military action, arguing that the situation would only become more violent as more weapons were funneled into the country. Mary Mikael, our church partner from the Evangelical Church of Syria and Lebanon, came to Washington, DC and the Office of Public Witness organized visits with key members of congress and the administration. She asked them to give “Syrians a chance to live.”
If this summer’s Presbyterian Youth Triennium is any indication, more young people are showing an overwhelming interest in critical topics that intersect faith and social justice, such as environmental racism.
Family and friends of the Rev. Eugene “Freedom” Blackwell took to the streets of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood for a freedom procession from the local high school to the House of Manna worshiping community where funeral services were held for Blackwell.
Faith leaders and activists gathered today on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort demanding legislatures uphold the values and principles upon which the United States was founded. The group of 80 progressive clergy and supporters joined similarly-timed “Higher Ground Moral Day of Action” demonstrations around the country asking elected officials to apply guidelines present in the Constitution, Bible, Quran and other holy texts to policy making.
As the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline continues near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, the Earth Care Team from the Presbytery of Northern Plains delivered supplies late last week to sustain those demanding an end to the pipeline’s construction.
The Rev. Eugene Blackwell died yesterday following complications from bone cancer. He was 43. A graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, he served as founding pastor of House of Manna in Pittsburgh beginning in 2009, and as assistant minister to North Way Christian Community.
When you go to the local grocery store or purchase a meal at a favorite restaurant how much do you know about how the food is grown, gathered and prepared? What is your church doing to end hunger and poverty in your community or across the globe? These are some of the questions Presbyterians and the public are asked to consider this October during Global Food Week of Action and World Food Day.
For the past nine months the Rev. Jennifer Butler has chaired the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Butler, who served with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations between 1998 and 2005, believes the time has been well spent.
