It’s time for some plain talk.
This morning, I want to speak openly about the hurt, fear, and confusion many of us are facing in the wake of substantial changes within our country. I want us to consider why we, as people of faith, rightfully hold these concerns. Then, I am going to remind us of the ways we have “banded together” through covenants, just like Christ’s disciples, trusting that God is in our midst and working collectively through us.
These past few weeks have brought unprecedented change to our country. There’s a lot at stake—truth, justice, budding Christian nationalism, immigration policy, refugee treatment, LGBTQ rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, international diplomacy, humanitarian aid, education, and what a functioning democracy means. These are just some of our areas of national tension and discord.
In a time like this, I think we, as a church, need to remember who we are and to whom we belong to.
First Congregational, The Church of the Open Door, is a member of the United Church of Christ denomination. We are part of a wider church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. We are a church where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary, and where together, we strive to grow a just and peaceful world.
Did you know the UCC (like almost every mainline denomination) has an Office of Public Policy & Advocacy in Washington, D.C.? This office offers leadership for social action concerns and provides resources to the national, conference, and local churches. It works to identify emerging social issues and legislation that call for our attention.
Within Wisconsin, we belong to the Wisconsin Conference UCC, which challenges us to live Jesus’ teaching in our local context, calling us:
To serve God, care for creation, and treat all people with compassion and justice.
To encourage, inspire, and challenge one another with hope and joy.
To make bold and courageous choices with love.
To strive toward greater diversity.
To reach beyond and across the church and engage new partnerships as we live our shared values.
Lastly, our Conference is a major supporting partner of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, which represents approximately 2,000 churches in the state with over 1,000,000 members. This means Lutherans, Polish National Catholics, the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and many others are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Did you know that the Wisconsin Council of Churches provides policy statements on legislation? Additionally, at appropriate times, they offer testimony on legislation that aligns with the interests of and on behalf of its members.
Our membership in these wider networks isn’t an afterthought—it’s the basis for our kinship as brothers and sisters in Christ, binding us to diverse peoples across Wisconsin and our country. It also binds us together in mutual suffering and success, for we are a portion of the living body of Christ.
First Congregational has a history of being deeply engaged in social justice work. Our ministry includes housing, economic justice, food security, ecological justice, prison reform, migrant and refugee support, gender justice, racial justice, and much more.
And on all fronts, for all our brothers and sisters in Christ, our work just got a lot more difficult—or even impossible.
Some of us are grieving. Some of us are angry. Some of us do not know what to do. Some of us feel alienated. When you take into consideration our particular spiritual calling, our feelings are justified. Your pastors see you—we carry your burdens and have heard your plaintive cries about the state of our country.
So let’s be clear: the faith-based advocacy arms to which we are connected teach us that while ministry isn’t partisan political work, it’s also not apolitical. The politics of our country should not be conflated with our Christian ministry. We cannot lose our biblically centered language, and we cannot be afraid to advocate for the politics of a communal life that welcomes the stranger and honors the brilliance of God’s diversity. We have a wide and faithful network—a bulwark—that will not capitulate in our mutual witness of Jesus’ ethic of radical love.
We are a band of people baptized not by political affiliation but by the Holy Spirit. Our bonds extend through the awesome and unbroken chain of disciples through the ages, who actively share God’s word and work to change the world for the better. I believe that. I deeply believe that God is working through us, despite us, around us, over us, and in us, to bring about a more just, compassionate, and meaningful life—for everyone. God’s faithfulness will see us through, the Holy Spirit will give us strength for the day, and Jesus is at our side.
Now, if you have not perused the websites of the United Church of Christ, Wisconsin Conference UCC, or the Wisconsin Council of Churches, I hope you will do so soon. There’s important information and suggestions for faith-based advocacy. Also, stay tuned—there will be more opportunities to have some “plain talk” with one another and renew your ties in these times as members of the Body of Christ and of First Congregational.
The Holy One of Israel has not forgotten His people! Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!
God has got us, God has got this, and so do we.
UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy:
WCUCC:https://wcucc.org