justice Archives

Food Week of Action highlights Jesus’ call to serve

Posted October 12th, 2021

About halfway through Monday’s discussion of this year’s Food Week of Action on “Between Two Pulpits,” co-host the Rev. Bryce Wiebe turned to this week’s Gospel lectionary reading from Mark 10:35–45.

Mother knows best

Posted September 9th, 2021

Saying that “love leads to justice,” the Rev. Dr. Ralph B. Watkins said his mother always told him that “God is on the side of justice.”

‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ are not trends

Posted August 25th, 2021

These days, every organization is coming up with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — commonly referred to as DEI — strategic plan. The hiring of diversity and inclusion executives has grown 113% in the last five years. As of February 2021, half of Standard & Poor’s 500 companies have a chief diversity officer. The national agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are also putting together DEI plans as a response to the General Assembly mandate for a Race Audit in 2018. However, this is not the church jumping on the latest business trend. DEI has been a core value from the birth of the church. In fact, the church practiced them first. Consider the basic definitions of DEI and how they were present in the early church, from its Pentecost birth.

Race, faith and climate change

Posted August 25th, 2021

The first time I became aware of a connection between race, faith and climate change was in the late 1980s when I was a sociology student in Venezuela. I lived in Caracas with my family. In this cosmopolitan city, there was lots of nonregulated air pollution that caused me to have a sore throat and irritated eyes daily.

Aligning words and deeds

Posted July 19th, 2021

A northern Illinois congregation embraced the Matthew 25 call to build congregational vitality and began by updating their mission statement.

VBS takes Sermon on the Mount to the garden

Posted June 16th, 2021

Vacation Bible School at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis will “bee” different, in a hybrid way, this year, according to organizers. Although “maybe 75” children were expected to take part, more than 150 children — ages 4 through fifth grade — have registered for in-person VBS, and more children will participate online, June 21–25.

NWC reinterpreting biblical passages that have been used against those who are poor

Posted May 26th, 2021

Co-founder of Poor People’s Campaign building spiritual home for those challenging the ‘moral complacency of our time.’

Presbyterians in Florida support interfaith ministry of advocacy, prayer and ‘Nehemiah Action’

Posted May 20th, 2021

Like the prophet Nehemiah’s efforts to rally the people to work together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, the nonprofit multi-ethnic, multi-faith justice organization Lee Interfaith For Empowerment (LIFE) has worked for the past decade to mobilize efforts of the faithful to address important justice issues in Fort Myers, Florida.

God made the church to be an instrument of peace and justice

Posted May 11th, 2021

Even in today’s climate, the church still stands as God’s instrument in the world to seek peace, love and justice for all people.

Race, faith and climate change

Posted April 29th, 2021

Black, Indigenous and Latinx people are heavily impacted by environmental injustice, and faith demands that we act.