Global Ministries

The Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries is offering another unique experience for Disciples seminarians to be engaged in a ministry of Critical Presence – timely and appropriately meeting God’s people and creation at the point of deepest need – spiritually, physically, emotionally, or economically.

Two Special Offerings help to financially support the work of Global Ministries: The United Church of Christ's One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Week of Compassion offering. Both suggested offering dates happen early in the year. The 2016 suggested offering date for Week of Compassion is February 21-28 and for OGHS is March 6. For worship resources and other material related to the 2016 offering, please go to the Week of Compassion resources webpage or the OGHS resources webpage.

The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)* organized the 1st International Conference of Muslim Councils in the West - a major initiative for Muslims in Western nations - in Washington, D.C., February 1-3 in Arlington, Va.

This conference was the first of its kind to bring Muslim leaders around the world together to exchange experiences and to discuss common issues of concern to our communities.

By Cathy Wirt, January 2016

My earliest memory of Lillian comes from the late 1970s when in my early 20s. By then she was almost 40, already about ten years into the job she started BEFORE SHE WAS even 30 years old, interpreting the life and times of the CC (DOC). She was leaning forward in her chair, with her vivid red hair, wearing BRIGHT lipstick, big jewelry, with an earnest look on her face, and sporting a wild orange bolero vest and skirt to match.

She was talking about the importance of telling our story as a church body. She explained that the passion with which we speak our story is what engages listeners. Listening to a story without passion behind it is hard to do, she told us.

The United Church of Christ is looking to turn to a fresh page by finding ways to offer more support for refugee-welcoming congregations across the wider church. The project became even more important Wednesday, Jan. 20, when a bill that would have paused the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq was blocked by the Senate, opening the doors to thousands who are fleeing persecution in their home countries.

Advent and Christmas are magical times for children. It is difficult to sometimes separate the anticipation and fantasy of the secular Christmas with the deep mystery and beauty of the birth of Jesus. So as educators of children we try our best to “tell the Biblical story” surrounded by  spiritual awe and wonder, but I sometimes wonder how close does that resonate to a fantasy, that perhaps surrounds Santa. One of them is real.

The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local Muslim organizations, today announced major educational, outreach and civic empowerment initiatives to address growing Islamophobia in America and to enhance national security through the promotion of freedom and justice.

The Latin America Working Group has posted an in-depth article about US-Cuba relations in the past year since the announcement by President Obama and President Castro that they would be normalizing relations. The LAWG outlines what has been accomplished and what still needs to be accomplished for completely normalized relations between the two countries to be realized. They also offer suggestions as to what can be done in 2016 and ask members of the public to take action by urging their representatives in Congress to co-sponsor 2 specific bills.

More information and the full article can be found here.

Posted Dec 11, 2015 on LatinOne

After Puerto Rico Governor, Alejandro García Padilla, admitted that the country has run out of cash because of its $70 billion debt, the US Congress has thought of some ways to remedy the situation.

CNN Money said the legislative body presented two bills that could help Puerto Rico recover from its humanitarian crisis.

Posted Fri, December 4th, 2015 on SCOTUSblog

For the second time in the current Term, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to look into the Puerto Rican government’s authority to manage its own affairs.  This time, the commonwealth is seeking an opportunity equal to the states to restructure its public debt.  The island’s debt is massive and still growing.