office of public witness Archives

National faith leaders call for diplomatic approach toward Iran

Posted July 9th, 2019

Faith leaders including the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the Office of Public Witness, say that diplomacy and not warfare is the nation’s best policy toward Iran.

Reproductive Justice probably isn’t what you think it is

Posted July 4th, 2019

Before she told the audience what Reproductive Justice is, the Rev. Shanea D. Leonard had to say what it isn’t. “Most people think that it’s all about abortion, but it’s not,” Leonard said at the top of a Tuesday afternoon webinar, presented by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness (OPW) in Washington, D.C. “It’s so much more than that, but it’s inclusive of that as well.

Detention center reports strike PC(USA) staff as part of disturbing trend

Posted June 26th, 2019

As reports of inhumane conditions in child detention facilities near the United States-Mexico border surfaced over the weekend, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) staff working on immigration and asylum issues, like many observers, were shocked and saddened.

Presbyterians have an ecumenical voice in Creation Justice Ministries

Posted June 4th, 2019

If there wasn’t an organization like Creation Justice Ministries, Presbyterian Hunger Program coordinator the Rev. Rebecca Barnes says her ministry would want to create one.

‘Healing the Nations’ is the work of Christian denominations pulling together

Posted May 31st, 2019

Ecumenical leaders who are gathered in Louisville through Saturday are exploring how God continues to call the church to be a faithful witness, even during the current troubled times.

Presbyterians add their voices to Poor People’s Campaign events

Posted April 26th, 2019

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of Public Witness in Washington D.C., says “we have third-world conditions in parts of the United States of America,” reflecting on his travels to cities some might find surprising.

Washington activist urges Presbyterians to go ‘beyond ally to being an accomplice’

Posted April 19th, 2019

Samantha Paige Davis had to start her lunchtime talk at Compassion, Peace & Justice Training Day re-framing her given topic: “Movement Building in a Time of Fear.”

PC(USA) leaders help announce bus tour to show ‘real emergency’

Posted February 25th, 2019

Leaders from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Racial & Intercultural Justice ministry and Office of Public Witness participated in a Monday morning announcement by The Poor People’s Campaign that it will be embarking on a National Emergency Poverty and Truth Bus Tour in the coming months.

Presbyterians can do their part to avert a second government shutdown

Posted January 31st, 2019

Presbyterians are being asked to play an advocacy role to avert a second government shutdown — and at the same time protect immigrants and border communities.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) delegation crosses border into Mexico

Posted December 17th, 2018

It’s been a long four months for Marleny and her family. Since Aug. 28, she, her daughter, son-in-law and nine-year-old grandson have been on the road from El Salvador to the U.S. border. They’ve been at the Mexico-U.S. border for two weeks and are still waiting to talk with border officials.