Latest News

United Church of Christ Warns of Credible Threats to Liberal Churches Now through Inauguration Day

1/16/2021

The United Church of Christ has issued a warning to Conference Ministers and others to be on alert for attacks on liberal churches. Those supporting racial justice, LGBTQ equality, immigrant rights, economic rights, etc. may become targets of extremists.

The alert is based on threats made to various churches in advance of both promised rightwing extremist actions at state capitol buildings and at the upcoming inauguration. The alert particularly focuses on January 17-20.

Here is a link to a Newsweek brief story on this alert. Here is the UCC statement.

We do not think this is alarmist. We think it is a prudent warning.

Many of you may recall that a few months ago an historic Black church, Asbury United Methodist, in Washington DC was vandalized for its "Black Lives Matter" banner. The same happened in Sacramento, CA to a UCC church there.

This warning, while originating with UCC, is not limited to that denomination's churches. Any church that has promoted justice issues or possibly with congregations that are dominated by immigrants or people of color may also be vulnerable.

Clearly state capital cities are a prime area of concern, but any area that has encountered contentiousness, threats, or high levels of political action need also to be on alert.

We recommend contacting your local police department and noting this warning. As UCC recommends, those churches able to hold gatherings due to their COVID status, may wish to revert to online or other remote forms of worship from tomorrow through next week.

Blessings on all of you, part of our beloved community, with heartfelt prayers for your safety and for that of your churches and centers of worship. May all be safe from harm.

Our Generational Day of Infamy. Let's Bring Hope out of Hate

1/6/2021

Dear Friends,

Today we saw the violent unfolding of the first active attack on our nation's Capitol since 1812. How do we process this attack on our democracy and our most cherished national symbol - our Capitol?

The riots today that have caused our elected leaders in Congress to go into lockdown were impelled by not just a false narrative about a "stolen" election. They were impelled by the fear of a multi-racial and diverse society. That includes all of us, people who should be part of the large body of Christianity but are considered massively dangerous because we are largely justice seekers not fundamentalists. It includes everyone of color, every immigrant, every medical person fighting COVID that the rioters dismiss as a hoax,  everyone not in a small set of white revolutionaries who wish to see America not what it is.

We who bear witness to justice for all, who live for peace and inclusion, who love our fellow humans whoever they may be, WE have been called to stand clearly for our nation's ethos of justice, of inclusion, of fairness, of democratic process. I don't have to tell you all any of this. It's why we know one another. But we now have to be more outspoken, more present about affirming those values publicly and actively. We are ignored too often by the media which is our means of contemporary information sharing. We must raise our voices to be heard loudly proclaiming our devotion to our Christian principles and to the work of democracy unimpeded.

We learned early this afternoon that the attack on our nation's Capitol was duplicated here in Sacramento. The Calfornia Highway Patrol and Sacramento Police Department had to shut down streets around our Capitol Park to tangle with insurrectionist rioters intent on breeching the building which, ironically, is empty due to COVID. Arrests were made, the building is safe. But where will this happen next? Who is safe?

Please begin some serious teaching moments in your congregations and communities. Please speak up for the entire process of democracy regardless of electoral outcomes. Our nation as a whole is more important than a specific election outcome. Respecting the truth, respecting the process, respecting the Constitution are far more important than that. Please bear witness as is safe to do for what we believe and for those we value. We had hoped always that it would never come to this. It has come. We can be passive adn quiet no more.

Please stay safe and keep the faith in both our beliefs and in our nation's commitments to a democratic republic. We have everything to gain. We also have everything to lose. We must count on your voices to protect what we all value. Democracy is about all of us, together. Keep that in your hearts and in your actions.

Thank you.

California Church IMPACT Ballot Guide

10/7/2020

If you are looking for California Church IMPACT's recommendations for the statewide initiatives on the November 2020 ballot, please visit the IMPACT website at: http://www.churchimpact.org/impact-blog/november-2020-ballot-recommendations-from-impact
or the IMPACT Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CAChurchIMPACT

Thank you!

Getting Through Hard Times - Resources from Jim Burklo

9/9/2020

Dear Friends,

These have been hard days. Pandemic and its spiritual, emotional, and physical impacts; social unreset and violence with all the attendant worries and sorrow that brings; economic crises affecting us and those around us; fear of the future with its deep uncertainties and unknowns.

So we share with you some uplifting resources from our friend and ally, Rev. Jim Burklo. We hope you find them useful and helpful. Any light we can shine in dark hours seems well worth the doing.

My Resources for Churches (and everyone else!)

More MUSINGS by Jim Burklo
Every so often, I put out a "musing" that is a guide to my writings and videos.  It's that time when churches make plans for their program year, so this is a good moment to share links to my materials for worship, study, and spiritual practice. Use freely.  All I ask is attribution!
My BOOKS on Amazon -- Open Christianity (2000) - an introduction to progressive Christianity.  Birdlike and Barnless (2008) - a progressive "book of common prayer" for use in churches.  Hitchhiking to Alaska (2013) - the spirituality of service and social activism.  SOULJOURN (2013) - a novel about religious diversity in America.  Deeper Love: Faithful Rhetoric for Progressive Social Change (2016) - a handbook for activists and candidates.  Mindful Christianity (2018) - how mindfulness is woven into the contemplative tradition of Christianity - a great resource for church prayer/study groups.  Mindful Christianity - a video intro to my book . Coming soon:  Tenderly Calling: An Invitation to the Way of Jesus - an introduction to the faith for beginners - great for confirmation and new member groups.

LITURGICAL RESOURCES:
New Words to Old Hymns
Deeper Love - a song for communion - very timely for the election, etc -
Jim Burklo's Book of Common Prayer - liturgical resources including invocations, benedictions, litanies, prayers, poetry, etc
SKITS - for worship - Against or Through? With or For? But or And?

RESOURCES FOR STUDY/PRAYER GROUPS:
Resistance Bible Study - a study series that would be ideal to run in the time between now and the November election.   My short rendition on video of a mash-up of Wm Jennings Bryan speeches - he was a fundamentalist Christian who ran 3 times for the presidency as a progressive Democrat. A shorter study:  Samaritan Care: Health Care in America
Contemplative Christian Practices - my series of 3 half-hour videos introducing the mystical tradition of the faith. Good for study/prayer groups. Each video introduces practices that take about 30-40 minutes, so devote an hour to each one - and add time for discussion, etc.  Contemplatio - The Questions of Jesus - practices for study/prayer groups - Ten Ways to Meet God - more practices
Mindfulness Practice - five short videos that cover the basic content of the classes I teach at USC for Mindful.USC.edu - good for prayer/study groups:  Mindfulness: an Introduction - Mindfulness of the Body - Mindfulness of Emotions - Mindfulness of Thoughts - Mindfulness and Compassion - Mindful Habits
How to Read the Bible- some basics for progressive Christians, good for study groups - related: Book of Nature, Book of Scripture - Sacred Myth of the Gospel - The Bible and Bob Marley
The Varieties of God - an outline of different understandings of God, within and beyond Christianity - a great conversation-starter in study groups

SPECIAL SUNDAYS, etc:
Fearless Sunday - 2nd Sunday in Sept (or any other Sunday) - a time for pastors and members of churches to "come out of the closet" about their real theological beliefs (or unbeliefs) - Questions to Ask Your Pastor on Fearless Sunday - What They REALLY Meant When They Signed That Statement of Faith
Election Day:  Blessing the Hands That Cast Ballots - Voting Rituals - How to Be a VOTIVATOR (sharing with each other how we vote)
Christmas Poems by Jim Burklo
LENT: Mindful Christianity Practices - WORD JAZZ for Fat Tuesday and Lent
Tax Day: Blessing of the Taxes (in worship) - Prayer for Tax Day - Progressive Taxation and Christian Faith -
Pluralism Sunday (first Sun in May, or other Sunday of your choice) - celebrating in worship the religions of the world - and the principle that other religions may be as good for others as ours is for us!  Religious Pluralism and the Bible - A Song for Pluralism Sunday - Seven Principles for Interfaith Engagement
St. Buddha's Day (Aug 26 - or whatever day you choose to celebrate it) - Buddha was once accidentally canonized as a Christian saint... let's revive that tradition as a way of celebrating religious pluralism, and of the striking parallels in the teachings of the Buddha and the Christ!

CHILDREN'S MESSAGES:
The Clay Bird (an interfaith message - Christian/Muslim)
The Prodigal Pig
For Sneeches, Both Starful and Starless - the Sermon on the Mount, Dr Seuss-style
Elephant Eggs - pure silliness! punch line: what you need is probably already here.
Of Seeds and Stardust - a poetic science-based creation story
Parable of the Parrot - short story about the heart of the gospel
The Tumbleweeds - a family of tumbleweeds rides with the wind (which blows where it wills...)
Breaking Free - a flower becomes a butterfly - and learns to appreciate flowers

PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY - "messaging" for progressive congregations:
SIGNAGE for progressive churches - "elevator speeches" - one-liners that set your church apart
QUESTIONS for "church shoppers" to ask - progressive churches' answers are "yes" to all!
A SHORT HISTORY OF PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY - good for new members groups, etc
THE FOUR SPIRITUAL AWES - a short "tract" that expresses the essence of progressive Christianity - print freely!

We wish you, our members, our communities, our state, nation, and world a brighter tomorrow. Blessed be.

Online Course – Anti-Racism 101: Required Skills for White People Who Want to be Allies

9/2/2020

Note: This resource is from the United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race at: https://gcorr.teachable.com/p/antiracism101

Please send us resources from your faith tradition so we can share them across denominations. Each of us must do our part to dismantle over 400 years of entrenched and systemic discrimination and racism, especially those of us who are part of the dominant culture. We can learn from each others' traditions and accomplish more together.

New Online Course! Available September 1.
Anti-Racism 101: Required Skills for White People Who Want to be Allies

This online course centers on one big idea: that anti-racism is anything that actually interrupts and dismantles racism. As a 101 course, the content will focus on defining anti-racism, identifying anti-racism, and practicing anti-racism by interrupting racism. The three sessions will roughly fall under these categories: theory (big idea), practice [working with the big idea), and personal (implementing the big idea).
By taking this course, students will:

Learn how to explain anti-racism to your church siblings or family
Build your skills in interrupting racism in real-time
Practice becoming stronger against white fragility – overcome the temptation to give up when the realities of racism become intense
Create a foundational toolbox to interrupt and dismantle racism that will ground any other anti-racism work you do

Anti-Racism 101 is a self-directed course designed for you to take the course at your own pace.

Enroll now! $39.99

Take the course

30 Days of Anti-Racism

9/2/2020

Note: This resources is from the United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race at: https://www.gcorr.org/30-days-of-anti-racism/

Please send us resources from your faith tradition so we can share them across denominations. Each of us must do our part to dismantle over 400 years of entrenched and systemic discrimination and racism, especially those of us who are part of the dominant culture. We can learn from each others' traditions and accomplish more together.

#30DaysAntiRacism

Join us this September for 30 days of anti-racism. Each day we will engage in an activity that helps us to become more anti-racist in the ways we think and act. Share your progress with a picture or a reflection using #30DaysAntiRacism.

Click here to download this resource as a PDF

What inspired this projectCampus minister Morgan Stafford has committed himself to live an anti-racist faith and life. “As a white man, I have learned that I’ve benefitted from racism, while people of color have been harmed. I believe that white Christians must take the lead to confront and dismantle racism. It’s our job.”

Morgan Stafford and his mentor, Dr. Deborah Smith

To focus and make tangible his beliefs, Morgan spent the month of June doing at least one thing every day to listen to, learn from, do, and become more anti-racist, reporting his progress via social media. We at GCORR liked the idea and reached out to Morgan to share his story, what he accomplished, and how it’s changed and enhanced his spiritual growth and his work with young people.
As a result, GCORR invites white allies (and others) to spend the month of September doing #30DaysAntiRacism. Please post photos of your activities using #30DaysAntiRacism and encourage your friends, members of your congregation, Sunday school class, pastors, and community partners to join this 30 day.

Click here to download this resource as a PDF

30daysofanti-racism-pdf.pdf
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Please help the people of Beirut Lebanon - Here's how

8/7/2020

Dear Friends,

Whether you saw the video of the horrific explosion on social media or witnessed the appalling aftermath on news broadcasts, few people cannot be stunned at the breadth of damage done to the people and buildings of Beirut.

Reports confirm that unstable substances, confiscated from a ship some many months ago, erupted in a violent explosion sparked by a nearby fire. The devastation is almost impossible to take in.

So far the death toll is 150, but that will no doubt increase. Over 4000 people have been injured, and entire blocks of buildings destroyed leaving already imperiled families and individuals homeless. Beirut and Lebanon in general have been suffering grave economic insecurity due to the upheavals in the Mid East and the influx of refugees from war torn areas.

Now comes this explosion and it's threats to so many lives going forward as well as impacted by the explosion.

Please help the people of Beirut. There's not a lot we can do from so far away, but if you are able, please help with a contribution toward their medical needs, housing, food, etc. If you are inclined, please go here to make a donation today. The tally is given in pounds, but your donation will be calculated by the dollars you can contribute and converted by the charity.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Mourning John Lewis, the conscience of the Congress - and the nation

7/20/2020

Dear Friends,

Our nation is in turmoil, and it was thus the greater sorrow when we learned last Friday night of the death of John Lewis, Congressman from Baltimore, MC

Many of us remember Mr. Lewis as a young man, beaten and broken on the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma. He may have been gravely harmed, but he was unbowed, and he rose to continue the fight for justice, racial equality, and the dignity of all people everywhere. He stirred us to action, claimed our attention with his gentle but powerful leadership and challenge to do right.

Taken from us by cancer, he nevertheless was able in his last days, to join the "Black Lives Matter" marches near his home. He said not only did the numbers today vastly exceed those of the civil rights movement but the diversity of those raising their voices heartened him enormously. This was the work of all the people now. That was due in no small part to his impact on us.

We have been given permission by the author to link you to the New York Times commemoration of Congressman Lewis' life and work. In that long and beautiful tribute lies another link that touched us - the reminder that one of our own, Rev. James Lawson, helped bring both Mr. Lewis and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the practic of non violent demonstrations. As the former pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, he unites us at the Council with the work of the ages by those courageous and dedicated souls in an earlier time.

To read this excellent tribute please go here
To read Rev. Lawson's tribute, click here or on his photo below.

Mr. Lewis was well known for urging us to confront injustice at all points and to create "good trouble"to achieve what is right and good in our world. Now we are again in the struggle for human equality and fairness as our nation promises but rarely delivers. It is then in their honor that we urge both the non violence of Rev. Lawson's teachings and the "good trouble" of Congressman Lewis' last charge to us. We cannot be idle. We must be wise. We face perilous times but yes, we shall overcome if we keep the faith and the heart of our past and present. In Congressman Lewis' memory, we can do no less.

Peace.

Beating Boredom with Budget Challenge from Next 10!

7/15/2020

Dear Friends,

Once again California is in lockdown. We still can't eat inside at restaurants, can't - or shouldn't - convene groups of friends in close proximity. We are worried about our children and grandchildren in the deliberation of whether to send them to school or not. It's boring and worrisome all at the same time.

And then there's the dullness. You've cleaned the house, you've mowed the lawn, you've cooked new things (for better or for worse). You've watched every movie and TV series you can stand, and you've read every book you can lay hands on. You've called old friends who may or may not remember you, and you've gone to worship virtually that is a necessary connection to your congregation but not very fulfilling emotionally. What else do you have to do?

So, to alleviate our collective ennui, let's take the Budget Challenge! This year, more than most, we have a budget that is based on hope more than actual income. Today is Tax Day, and the state will determine whether or not there are sufficient revenues for the expenditures we would all like to assure.

Next 10, long-time allies of the Council and IMPACT, has the "California Budget Challenge" online. You can use your best insights and best judgement to figure out what we should fund and how we should fund it.

If nothing else the Budget Challenge will let you exercise your intellect and express your frustrations with our current situation. Next 10 gives you the parameters - what our situation currently is - and lets you take if from there. If you decide on a workable, moral, and human budget, would you then consider running for public office? We need you! If not, just bask in the glow of a job well done. And possibly share your thoughts with us to pass on to others. We do look for more than "defund it all and Devil take the hindmost" answers, we will say that up front.

To take the challenge, please click here Let us know what you decided if you'd like us to share. And anonymity is assured upon request!

Have, if not fun, a diversion. Enjoy it if you can!

Thank you

Help Voters Vote - the new "Freedom Summer"

7/3/2020

Dear Friends:

Our elections are the foundation blocks of our democracy. Free and fair access is imperative. We have only four months until the next general election, November 3, 2020, and assuring that everyone legally entitled to vote can vote is essential.

Black Church PAC has created the contemporary “Freedom Summer” program to reproduce the courageous voter registration drives of the early Civil Rights Era. While this drive is targeted to more Southern states than to our northern and western ones, every state has pockets of voter suppression. No one is immune.

Monday, July 6 at noon California time, there will be a webinar on Freedom Summer voter registration drives. You are invited to participate if you are Black clergy and laity or if you serve a diverse population in areas where voter suppression or obstacles may occur.

To register for this critical voter registration and enhancement webinar, please click here

Other steps you can take, no matter where you reside, is to prepare for long lines and delays at the polls. While in California all voters will be receiving “vote by mail” ballots, things still can go wrong, and support for those standing in line will be needed,

Bring cases of water, some food, folding chairs. Enlist your youth to hold line spots for voters needing bathroom breaks. Have masks available for anyone without one. Think about entertainment (socially distanced, of course). There will be spots in every state, even California, where things will not go smoothly. We need to anticipate those problems, be prepared to help voters vote.

Thank you!