Washington, DC – This is the third in a series of “snapshots” on the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) and its member organizations.
Who They Are: The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that came together as one church to join faith and action. With over 5,000 churches and nearly one million members across the U.S., the UCC serves God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world. The UCC is a church of firsts, a church of extravagant welcome, and a church where “…they may all be one” (John 17:21). (https://www.ucc.org / @unitedchurch)
What They Do: The UCC works alongside more than 200 mission partners, ceaselessly fighting injustice in the United States and abroad. The UCC forges young leaders who will imagine new dreams, and sustains and develops church leaders, pastors, and local churches to live their faith in exciting new ways.
Where They Operate: The UCC has over 5,000 congregations and communities all across the country. Based out of Cleveland, OH, the UCC also has an office in Washington DC focused solely on doing justice, seeking peace, and effecting change for a better world.
Core Value: We believe in a God that is still speaking, a God that is all-loving and inclusive. We are a church that welcomes and accepts everyone as they are, where your mind is nourished as much as your soul. We are a church where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary, and where together, we grow a just and peaceful world. Read more in “What We Believe.”
Noted For: The UCC is a church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. Our many “firsts” mean that we have inherited a tradition of acting upon the demands of our faith. And so, we were the first historically white denomination to ordain an African-American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry. We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and the Civil Rights movement.
Leadership and Key Contacts:
- Rev. John C. Dorhauer; General Minister and President The United Church of Christ
- Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister of Justice & Local Church Ministries for The United Church of Christ, and Senior Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ in Florissant, MO
- Sandy Sorensen, Director, UCC Washington D.C. Office
- Katie Adams, Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues and Co-Chair, Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Media: Jessi Quinn, Communications Specialist
- Facebook: Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ, Twitter: @justice_ucc Website: www.ucc.org/justice
Quotes:
The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President
Because no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. Here at the United Church of Christ.
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we accept all, love all, and seek justice for all. We are the United Church of Christ.
We all have a moral responsibility to welcome and love our neighbors in need. This is why the United Church of Christ has voted to become an Immigrant Welcoming Church. Vocally and without apology, we must relentlessly remind those in power that trampling our values and disregarding humanitarian policies for their own political gain goes not only against the traditional American belief in liberty for all, but how Christians are called by God to love their neighbors.
Katie Adams, Domestic Policy Advocate
Our faith reminds us over and over that ultimately, we are called to love – fully, fiercely and compassionately. The families arriving at the border present us with an opportunity to live into that call.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of 53 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants.
Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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