09/07/2020 - Conference Ministers - Past and Present - Issue Pastoral Letter
Justice and WitnessReal structural change has to happen in our national and local structures where racism still exists even while flags and monuments are being removed.
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06/04/2020 - Responding to the Scourge of Racism
Conference programming Justice and WitnessWe hope that you will engage the resources we recommend here and post them as you see fit on social media and other communication tools at your disposal.
05/21/2020 - Bridge Conference Ministers Speak Out On Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
Justice and WitnessA Message From the Bridge Conference Ministers of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ As followers of Jesus, who has...
04/27/2020 - Conference Ministers Speak Out on Racial Disparity of COVID-19 Impact
Justice and WitnessThis pandemic has once again demonstrated that there is no equality in America
04/27/2020 - Edwards House Food Put to Good Use
By: Tiffany Vail - Justice and WitnessThe freezers at Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center were full of food when the Coronavirus hit Massachusetts, forcing the facility - part of the Southern New England Conference's Framingham property - to stop hosting gatherings. But thanks to the Edwards House ...
04/21/2020 - Mashpee Wampanoag Solidarity: Actions
Environment Justice and WitnessSocial Media Actions Earth Day April, 22: Post this picture on social media calling for the protection of Mashpee lands on Earth Day, with this message: "Happy Earth Day! The protection of Indigenous rights = the protection of Mother Earth. Join the good fight in ...
04/21/2020 - Pajama Challenge Raises Enough to Forgive $1.3 Million in Medical Debt
By: Tiffany Vail - Justice and WitnessSee all the images on the Facebook Fundraiser Page Bridge Conference Minister Kent Siladi and UCC General Minister and President Rev. John ...
04/09/2020 - Who's Got the Best PJs? Siladi or Dorhauer?
By: Tiffany Vail - Justice and WitnessTwo denominational leaders, popping up on Facebook in their PJs? Yup. Starting April 13, The Rev. Kent Siladi, Bridge Conference Minister, and Rev. John Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the UCC, will be sharing pictures of themselves in their pajamas on ...
04/02/2020 - Statement Released on Mashpee Wampanoag Disestablishment
Conference staff Justice and WitnessMassasoit, Wampanoag Tribal Chief who aided the Pilgrims UPDATE: Support is needed! Please call the Committee on Indian Affairs at...
03/25/2020 - Pastor Plans Tent Ministry to Fight Covid-19 Crisis
By: Andrew Page - Justice and Witness Outdoor MinistriesWhen the "Stay home—Stay safe" Rhode Island, Rev. Jack Jones asked where do those without homes go the "stay safe"?
03/02/2020 - FALMOUTH ACADEMY NEWS: MLK Day, A Call for Restless Determination
Justice and Witness Local BuzzOn Monday, January 20, several Falmouth Academy faculty members and students (and a few siblings) attended the sold-out 13th Annual Martin Luther ...
02/10/2020 - Conference Launches Drive to Erase Medical Debt
Justice and WitnessOne of our first actions as a new Conference is to invite you and your congregation to make a difference in the lives of those saddled by medical debt in our region.
11/19/2019 - Request for Clergy Signatures to Oppose Gas Demand Fee for Churches
Justice and WitnessConnecticut Conference Minister the Rev. Kent Siladi sent a request to clergy today asking them to sign a letter to the Connecticut Public Utilities ...
11/11/2019 - SPOTLIGHT - Interfaith Youth Learn About Their Similarities
By: Andrew Page - Church Growth and Vitality Faith Formation and Christian Education Justice and Witness SpotlightIn a time when lines drawn between groups of people get darker and more defined, Newtown Congregational Church is making efforts to break barriers and...
10/24/2019 - Mission Co-Worker Speaks On War and Peace in Colombia
By: Andrew Page - Justice and Witness United Church Mission"It's something that we have to accompany and monitor for a long time and continue to build peace in Colombia for decades to come." — Michael Joseph
10/18/2019 - Joseph Clemmons Program Moves in New Direction
Justice and WitnessThe Joseph D. Clemmons Job Training Program (JCT) has taken a new direction, transforming from a 2-week training program to an leadership development initiative for youth and young adults of color.
09/22/2019 - UCCers Take Part in Global Climate Strike
Environment Justice and WitnessPeople from across the three conferences supported the youth-led Global Climate Strike in places all over the region on Friday, Sept. 20.
09/21/2019 - Southern New England UCC Staff Strike for Climate
Environment Justice and WitnessMembers of the Southern New England conferences staff took to the streets on Friday, Sept. 20, for the Global Climate Strike called for by youth.
06/18/2019 - Responding to the R.I. Opioid Crisis with Hope and Healing Part 4
Justice and WitnessFourth in a series from Peggy Matteson, UCC-RI Health Ministry Consultant. Addiction is a disease. People recover. Treatment is effective.
06/13/2019 - 2019 CT Legislative Session Wrap-Up
By: Michele Mudrick Andrew Page - Justice and WitnessAn overview of the 2019 CT General Assembly Legislative Session.
05/16/2019 - CTUCC Advocating on a Number of Issues with Legislature
By: Andrew Page - Justice and WitnessThe 2019 Legislative Session of the Connecticut General Assembly is under way. The Connecticut Conference’s Legislative Advocate, Michele Mudrick, has...
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05/14/2019 - Advocate Urges Phone Calls on Healthcare
Justice and WitnessConnecticut has the chance to pass ground-breaking legislation to allow the state to offer new health insurance choices, also known as a public option, for small businesses, nonprofits and individuals.
05/13/2019 - 2019 Living Waters Award Winner Announced
Annual Meeting Justice and WitnessSteve Lane, co-founder of Quiet Corner Refugee Resettlement (QCRR), will be the recipient of the 2019 Living Waters Award.
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05/13/2019 - Resolution on Bullying - Mass Conference Resources for Churches and Individuals
Justice and WitnessTo educate people about the bullying resolution proposed at the 2018 Mass Conference Annual Meeting, the ONA Ministry Team of the Massachusetts ...
05/02/2019 - First Recipient of 'Do The New' Grant Named
Justice and WitnessOn Palm Sunday, Susan Townsley joined the First Congregational Church, New London, for worship and to present the $5,000 grant check. Townsley named the embodiment the beloved community as one of the program’s hallmarks, and congratulated the church and co-pastor...
04/09/2019 - Legislators Talk About Importance of Faith
Justice and WitnessAt a first-of-its-kind event on Friday, more than 30 people from 11 Connecticut Conference churches came to the Legislative Office Building to meet with three CTUCC legislators and talk over issues from environmental protection to gambling to economic justice and ...
04/04/2019 - Rainbow Connections
By: Deborah Kirk - Justice and WitnessVolunteers agreed that the UCC presence at True Colors is an important outreach ministry.
04/02/2019 - Responding to the R.I. Opioid Crisis with Hope and Healing Part 3
Justice and WitnessThird in a series from Peggy Matteson, UCC-RI Health Ministry Consultant. Addiction is a disease. People recover. Treatment is effective.
03/28/2019 - Youth Learn Powerful Lessons on Homelessness from Family Promise
Justice and WitnessAt Church of Christ Congregational in Newington, volunteering with Family Promise has been an eye-opening experience for everyone involved, but ...
03/19/2019 - Responding to the R.I. Opioid Crisis with Hope and Healing Part 2
Justice and WitnessSecond in a series from Peggy Matteson, UCC-RI Health Ministry Consultant Open Your Doors Addition is a treatable, chronic medical condition. ...
03/14/2019 - High School Students Lead Activism Training
Justice and WitnessBy Grace O’Connor Hebron, CT – Regional Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough (RHAM) High School’s Activism club hosted an event at Gilead Congregational Church called “Activism Boot Camp” recently. The event was structured as a training for individuals seeking to become ...
03/08/2019 - Responding to the R.I. Opioid Crisis with Hope and Healing Part 1
Justice and WitnessFirst in a series from Peggy Matteson, UCC-RI Health Ministry Consultant More than 300 of our friends and neighbors died from opioid overdoses last ...
03/06/2019 - TJ Harper to End Time as Racial Justice Associate
Conference staff Justice and WitnessThe following is a message from Connecticut Conference Minister The Rev. Kent J. Siladi, Massachusetts Transitional Interim Conference Minister The Rev. Don Remick and Rhode Island Transitional Conference Minister The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix: Three years ago we initiated ...
02/27/2019 - Three Conference Ministers Respond to United Methodist Vote
Justice and WitnessWe stand in love: a decision, a choice, not just an emotion.
02/25/2019 - Action Needed on Casino Hearing Tuesday
Justice and WitnessThe following is a message from Legislative Advocate Michele Mudrick: We could use everyone’s help now. The casino and sports wagering bills are having a public hearing TOMORROW - Tuesday, Feb. 26. We need your help in speaking out on this bill! These are two things ...
02/14/2019 - Guilford Church Hosts Criminal Justice Conference
By: Grace O'Connor - Justice and WitnessOn Saturday, February 5th, First Congregational Church of Guilford, CT hosted a program entitled “Just Mercy: Community Resettlement After Prison”. Several different organizations involved in bringing about justice for current and former inmates gave presentations ...
02/05/2019 - Speaking Peace
Justice and WitnessMore than 65 members of the community gathered at Beneficent Congregational Church UCC, in Providence for the first “Speak Peace Symposium."
02/01/2019 - VIDEO: Peace Dale Members Reflect on Haiti Trip
Justice and WitnessA group of 8 people from the Peace Dale congregational Church recently took part in the Rhode Island Conference mission trip to Haiti. In this video, they reflect on their experience:
01/24/2019 - Siladi and Ringen Discuss Parish Health Ministry
Justice and WitnessConnecticut Conference Minister The Rev. Kent Siladi recently did a live video interview with Deborah Ringen, an experienced Parish Nurse from the First Church of Chrst, Congregational in Old Saybrook, CT. They discussed ways in which local congregations can offer ...
01/17/2019 - Facing the Truth in Alabama: Reflections from Interfaith Freedom and Justice Ride 2019
Justice and WitnessIn early January, a delegation of 37 Christians and Jews from Hartford traveled together to Alabama to retrace the steps of civil rights leaders. The...
01/17/2019 - Siladi and Arifian Discuss Impacts of Climate Change
Environment Justice and WitnessConnecticut Conference Minister the Rev. Kent Siladi and Pam Arifian, the Director of the Northeast Environmental Justice Center at Silver Lake ...
12/10/2018 - Journeying to see Jesus – RI missionaries head to Haiti
Justice and WitnessChildren of the Community School of Bellevue, with Director Maxo Michel, just after they sang to the RICUCC mission group last year. Their school ...
10/31/2018 - Conference Leaders Express Support for Ballot Question 3
Justice and WitnessThe following statement was released by leaders of the Massachusetts Conference on Oct. 31, 2018 Statement by the Leadership of the United Church of ...
10/25/2018 - Deeper Understandings Come from Worship Onboard Freedom Schooner Amistad
By: Andrew Page - Church Growth and Vitality Church History and Identity Justice and WitnessNorth Branford Congregational Church took a creative approach to worshipping beyond their walls. Members of the congregation traveled to New Haven to ...
10/16/2018 - New Britain Family to Leave Old Lyme Sanctuary
Justice and WitnessFamily receiving sanctuary at First Congregational Church of Old Lyme receives stay of deportation and will be leaving the church to return home in New Britain.
10/11/2018 - New London Church becomes 100th ONA Church in Conference
By: Andrew Page - Church Growth and Vitality Justice and WitnessOn July 1, First Congregational Church of New London, UCC became the 100th church in the Connecticut Conference to declare itself as Open and ...
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09/20/2018 - New Reviving Justice Event to Offer Workshops, Worship, Inspiration
Justice and WitnessThe Rev. Dr. Damaris D. Whittaker The Connecticut Conference is teaming up with several ecumenical and civic partners to offer a NEW gathering this ...
09/05/2018 - Irons Homestead Fielding a Team for the Compassion Games
Justice and WitnessSeptember 8 –23, 2018 Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest is a community engagement experience that invites people around the world to inspire ...
08/29/2018 - Conference Group Provides Witness at the Border
Justice and WitnessFifteen people from the Massachusetts Conference - including Associate Conference Minister Kelly Gallagher and her family, and volunteers from four churches (Natick, Somerville, Walpole and Amesbury) - gathered at Arizona's border with Mexico on Sunday for several days...