July 2022

Welcome to Faithful Action for Justice Announcements, messages from ORUCC’s Justice missions (Care of Creation, Immigration Justice, Heart Room, Racial Justice, Christian Witness and Service).

Nobody can do everything. Saying yes to some things requires saying no to others. Our health and obligations limit us. As you read, briefly celebrate and pray for people doing something you will not join. As you feel called, reach out to a project’s contact person to learn more, and consider joining or click on links to read more.

Our justice mission teams provide information on issues that may be controversial, speaking to the congregation but not for the congregation.

SMAC Community Leadership Development

The Southwest Madison Action Coalition (SMAC) is partnering with UW-Extension Dane County and Good Shepard Lutheran Church to sponsor a series of free facilitated Saturday workshops focused on educating and developing community-based leaders who either live in the area or are interested in being a volunteer in area programs. The next workshop is August 13. Read more about these workshops For more information, contact ORUCC members Jane Glaze [email protected] or Bruce Olsen [email protected], who participate in SMAC’s housing subgroup.

Christian Nationalism

Some members of the racial justice mission team have been studying Christian nationalism. In its extreme version, it is the belief that the United States should be run as a White Christian nation. Its milder version includes the common idea that the United States is divinely inspired and merges religious and national symbols as sacred. Recently Java and Jesus discussed this interview with an Evangelical Christian who who opposes Christian nationalism, which explains these ideas, why they are dangerous, and how to talk about them.

Defending Equity in Schools

As we have described in a past article, members of the racial justice mission team have been attending statewide Zoom meetings sponsored by Faithful Stance for Equity, a coalition of faith-based groups seeking to defend schools. To blunt the wave of sympathy about racial justice issues after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, political operatives intentionally manufactured a wave of “anti-critical race theory” bills and protests attacking schools for teaching honest racial history or seeking to promote racial inclusion. The same political operatives are also using harmful scare tactics and attacking schools for equitable treatment of trans, gay, nonbinary, and other gender nonconforming people. To learn more about the groups seeking to defend schools, contact Karen Jaehnig. [email protected]

YWCA Racial Justice Conference

Registration is now open for the YWCA’s annual racial justice conference to be held September 28-30.  See this Madison 365 article for more details or the YWCA event website.

From Palestinian Justice

This article describes changes in treatment of child migrants that is allowing for some family reunification. There’s hope for reuniting families separated at the border.

The labor crisis in the meat and dairy industries highlights the important role that immigrant workers play in producing America’s food. As this report from the American Immigration Council shows, labor shortage has led to increased production costs for farmers and employers and higher food prices for American shoppers. To stabilize its food workforce—and thus stabilize prices—the United States should consider expanding temporary work visa programs and implementing other long-term reforms, including providing a path to citizenship for many of the undocumented workers in the U.S. today.

Interested? Reach out to learn more about our justice teams and projects. Our mission teams welcome your time, talent and energy!

• Care of Creation: contact Sara Roberts
• Immigration Justice: contact Ruthanne Landness
• Racial Justice: contact Pam Oliver
• Heart Room and Housing Justice: contact Helene Nelson
• Ilgen Literacy Fund: contact Jen Walker

In addition, our Christian Witness and Service ministry connects members to a variety of opportunities to support justice activities (chair: Ken Psyck).