JUSTICE MATTERS

For Haiti, A Modest Proposal

2010-02-04T09:37:00.003-05:00

by Michael Kinnamon and George Hunsinger A headline ricocheted around the Internet this week, requiring no further comments. It read simply: "GDP of Haiti: $8.5 billion. Goldman Sachs bonus pool: $20 billion." Even before the recent earthquake alerted us to Haiti’s misery, Goldman Sachs was uncomfortable about the attention its bonus system was

Faith communities call for special help for those 'disproportionately' struggling in the current economy

2010-01-28T18:54:00.006-05:00

An interreligious coalition of faith communities today urged members of Congress to take special note of those who are "disproportionately" struggling in a recession in which millions have lost their jobs and have little prospect of employment.Noting that the unemployment rate is stagnant at 10 percent, "with a staggering 15.3 million people unemployed," the Interreligious Working Group on

President Obama's State of the Union Address and the GOP Response

2010-01-28T07:09:00.000-05:00

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Top faith leaders write to Obama on Health Care

2010-01-27T14:13:00.002-05:00

Twenty-two prominent religious leaders, including nine members of the White House Council for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, wrote to President Obama on the day of his first State of the Union address to encourage him to exercise his full influence to urge Congress to pass comprehensive health reform legislation, imploring him "to make it plain to all Americans that the decisions of

Harper Seeks to Improve Health of Women and Infants Worldwide

2010-01-26T21:06:00.001-05:00

var startDate = 'January 26, 2010'; if (startDate == '') { hideDiv('aug08ArticleDate'); } Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued a statement highlighting a Canadian initiative to improve the health of

Interfaith letter sent from 56 organizations urging Congress to finish health care reform

2010-01-26T13:54:00.001-05:00

Fifty six national and state faith organizations sent a letter to Congress today urging members to show political courage, vision, leadership and faith – and to “take heart and move meaningful health care reform forward.”Faith communities have supported health care reform for decades, and they have offered vocal support and occasional constructive criticism over the last year. While they

Cancel Haiti Debt, Head of World Council to Tell Leaders at World Economic Forum

2010-01-25T19:08:00.003-05:00

Geneva (ENI). The head of the world's largest grouping of churches, the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, is to tell the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that Haiti's foreign debt should be immediately and unconditionally canceled.Tveit, a Norwegian Lutheran, who took over as general secretary of the World Council of Churches on 1 January, is due to attend the Davos summit later this week. His call for

National Council of Churches Supports Nationwide Faith Call-in Week for Health Care - Starting Jan. 25

2010-01-24T10:22:00.003-05:00

The National Council of Churches is joining other faith organizations and allied partners in asking all people of faith to call their U.S. House Representative and Senators and urge them to "act with courage and mercy by enacting health care legislation now."The "health care reform now" call-in begins on Monday, January 25 and extends throughout the week. The toll-free number, provided

Editorial: An Uncertain Time . . . But It's NOT Over!

2010-01-20T08:47:00.004-05:00

by The Rev. Linda WallingExecutive Director, Faithful Reform in Health CareSenior Adviser on Health Care for the Disciples Center for Public WitnessThings really haven't changed for us -- the "us" being people of faith who have poured our hearts and energies into a moral vision for our health care future. We've been saying that even though we are so close to health care reform there are no

Children Respond to Haitian Crisis

2010-01-19T16:26:00.006-05:00

Children in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ are responding to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti through a program called Kids to Kids.This unique program is designed to involve elementary age children in the mission work of the church. It was started 15 years ago by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and is now also a program for children in the

HAVE A BLESSED KING DAY!

2010-01-18T08:48:00.016-05:00

The Governors and all volunteer Advocacy Team of The Disciples Center for Public Witness join many others within our denomination, across our nation, and around the globe to honor the birthday, life, mission, vision and continuing challenge of one of America's prophets and one of her strongest advocates for justice and peace: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.PRAYER: O God of our salvation,

Former Presidents Bush and Clinton Join President Obama to Aid Haiti

2010-01-17T19:11:00.005-05:00

In a major effort to help the people of Haiti, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is announced at the White House. swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player.swf", "swfobject2-id-12638232331", "560", "335", "7", "", { "menu": "false", "frontcolor": "0xaaaaaa", "path_to_player": "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TOGETHER ISSUES PRAYER FOR VICTIMS IN HAITI AND EGYPT

2010-01-15T00:07:00.003-05:00

Disciples News Service - In the wake of two recent tragedies, Christian Churches Together issued a "Pastoral Prayer of Comfort and Hope for Haiti and Egypt" during its meeting in Seattle, Wash., on January 12-14. Christian Churches Together expressed its grief over the devastation and loss of life caused by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, and by a drive-by shooting attack that killed seven

Canadian PM and U.S. President Respond to the Earthquake and Aftermath in Haiti

2010-01-14T08:46:00.005-05:00

To read the remarks of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, PLEASE CLICK HERE.Watch the remarks of U. S. President Barack Obama below, or read the transcript. swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player.swf", "swfobject2-id-12634764901", "560", "335", "7", "", { "menu": "false", "frontcolor": "0xaaaaaa", "path_to_player":

Disciples Appeal for Assistance for the People of Haiti

2010-01-14T08:01:00.008-05:00

As we continue to hear reports about the devastation that the powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused in Haiti, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this disaster and those who are working to help the nation recover. Disasters like this one are especially devastating when they strike places that are already struggling to provide the most basic of services for its population.With

"Affordability Summit" highlights need for final bill to include House bill's subsidies for lower-income families

2010-01-13T16:13:00.004-05:00

At the "National Affordability Summit" on Capitol Hill this morning, 200 clergy, grassroots leaders and families from across the country were joined by Members of Congress, including leaders from key House Health Committees, who committed to making affordability their priority in final health care bill negotiations. The Summit was sponsored by leading faith, labor and consumer organizations who

People of Faith Launch Virtual Vigil for Health Care Reform

2010-01-12T09:45:00.004-05:00

People of faith from all over the United States are participating in a first-ever virtual vigil, called the "Interfaith Virtual Vigil of Prayer, Hope and Action." From now until health care legislation is signed by President Barack Obama, religious leaders and activists are being encouraged to pray, offer words of hope, and take action by contacting their Senators and Representative (1-888-797-

GMP Named by U.S. News & World Report as one of President's 10 Most Important Faith Leaders

2010-01-07T11:30:00.000-05:00

Disciples News Service - General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins has been named by U.S. News & World Report as one of President Barack Obama’s 10 Most Important Faith Leaders. Last year, President Obama selected Watkins as the first woman ever to give the sermon at the National Prayer Service, held during the presidential inauguration. She also serves on his Advisory Council on

Council on Christian Unity to Celebrate its 100th Anniversary

2010-01-07T10:02:00.002-05:00

Disciples News Service - A Century of Witness, A Journey of Wholeness will be the theme as the Council on Christian Unity celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding. Robert Welsh, president of the CCU, said that he hopes all expressions of the church (congregations, regions, institutions of higher education, and other general ministries) will "participate in the variety of opportunities

Epiphany Blessings!

2010-01-06T15:47:00.002-05:00

The Governors and all-volunteer Advocacy Team of The Disciples Center for Public Witness hope you, your family, your congregation, and all your loved ones had a very merry Christmas and, if you celebrated it, a wonderful and enriching Kwanzaa.On this holy Feast of the Epiphany, we wish you a blessed new year and pray that you will have many opportunities to share and receive gifts--especially

HAVE A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-24T07:29:00.000-05:00

The Council of Governors and the all-volunteer Advocacy Team at The DISCIPLES CENTER for PUBLIC WITNESS wish you, your family, and all your loved ones a very Merry Christmas.As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us pray that the love of God will be born anew in our hearts, and that our lives might more fully incarnate the Biblical vision of shalom--a vision of peace

BREAKING NEWS!

2009-12-24T07:22:00.000-05:00

Today, Christmas Eve, at 7.16 AM, the Senate passed its health care bill by a vote of 60-39. Negotiations will now begin to reconcile the Senate and House health care reform bills.

U.S. President and Canadian Prime Minister Comment on Copenhagen Conference

2009-12-19T12:49:00.006-05:00

According to U.S. President Barack Obama, "a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough" occurred in Copenhagen. "For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change."He continued, "We feel confident that we are moving in the direction of a significant accord. . . . Going forward, we're going

President Obama Calls for "Action" in Copenhagen

2009-12-18T08:10:00.006-05:00

World leaders have gathered in Copenhagen to wrap up a two week United Nations summit on climate change. This morning, President Obama attended multi-lateral talks with hopes of moving the stalled talks forward. In his address to the conference this morning he reiterated his role by stating "I've come here today not to talk but to act" and added "we are running short on time." The President also

Palestinian Christians Call for an End to the Occupation

2009-12-17T18:10:00.004-05:00

A group of Palestinian Christians representing a variety of churches and church-related organizations have issued an animated and prayerful call for an end to occupation of Palestine by Israel.The call, issued at a 11 December meeting in Bethlehem, comes at a time when many Palestinians believe they have reached a dead end. It raises questions to the international community, political leaders in