United Church of Christ

Creating A New Progressive Ecumenical Church Relationship

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 05.02.2012

Read More: Presbyterian Church (USA), War on Women, Christian Church (Disciples of Christian), Episcopal Church (USA), Social Gospel, Christianity, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Progressive Christianity, Scripture Study, Scripture Commentary, Catholic Church, Mainline Churches, Religion News

I simply do not believe that at this point in time the distinctiveness of our different churches is more important than the values and common understandings of Scripture that unite us.

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Between Sundays: Holy Week And The Importance Of Weekday Christians

Rev. Emily C. Heath | Posted 04.02.2012

Read More: Christians, Easter, Worship, Church, Doubt, Suffering, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Good Friday, Rev. Emily C. Heath, Clergy, Holy Week, Palm Sunday, United Church of Christ, Lent, Maundy Thursday, Religion News

To me, the most comforting part of Holy Week is not the waving of triumphal palms on one Sunday morning, or the flowers and joyous hymns on the next. It's what happens in between.

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This Easter Season, Remember: Church Growth Is About More Than 'The Marrieds'

David Crumm | Posted 04.28.2012

Read More: Church Growth, Marriage, Easter, Divorce, Outreach, Lent, United Church of Christ, Evangelism, Spiritual Practice, Christianity, Religion News

Single adults and single parents tell me that they immediately sense when all of the spiritually rewarding experiences in a congregation are aimed at nuclear families. That's not a welcoming place.

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Open Letter To Archbishop Timothy Dolan: Stop The Partisan Politics

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 04.14.2012

Read More: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Obama Birth Control, Timothy Dolan, Barack Obama, Abortion, 2012 Election, Obama Contraception, United Church of Christ, Catholic Church, Religion and Politics, Obama Administration, Catholic Contraception, Religion News

There is a double standard where the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is concerned: you'll start a nuclear political war with a pro-choice Democrat but allow a pro-life Republican to get away with anything.

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Mitt Romney Not Concerned About People Living In Poverty -- But He Should Be

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 04.02.2012

Read More: Mitt Romney, American Jobs Act, Faith in Public Life, United Church of Christ, Poverty, 2012 Election, Religion and Politics, Christianity, Religion News

Romney told CNN this morning that "I'm not concerned with the very poor. We have a safety net there." He'll probably want to bet $10,000 to prove me wrong, but we aren't doing enough to fight poverty.

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Dear Mr. President: Another Chance To Fight Poverty

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 03.21.2012

Read More: Poverty, State of the Union 2012, National Council of Churches, United Church of Christ, State of the Union, Barack Obama, Religion and Politics, Poverty in America, Religion News

I urge you to use this State of the Union Address to speak of hope and change to the millions of Americans -- most of whom are children -- who live in poverty today. We need your voice in this important moment.

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Spiritual But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me.

Lillian Daniel | Posted 11.13.2011

Read More: Church, United Church of Christ, Spiritual but Not Religious, Spiritual Journey, Liberal Protestant, Spirituality, Religion in America, American Religion, American Spirituality, Spirit, Spiritual, Spiritual Not Religious, Religion News

Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn't interest me. There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself.

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Why I'm Not Marrying Any Gay Couples On July 25

Serene Jones | Posted 09.20.2011

Read More: Gay Marriage, United Church of Christ, Union Theological Seminary, New York Gay Marriage, Christianity and Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Marriage, Marriage Equality, Religion News

Our task as clergy is not to marry everyone who asks. It is to provide honest and caring direction to couples who seek to embark on that awesome task of binding their hearts and minds together.

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15 Ways To Build Multiracial, Multicultural Faith Communities

Deborah Plummer | Posted 09.07.2011

Read More: Open and Affirming Church, Multiracial Churches, United Church of Christ, Multicultural Churches, Religious Tolerance, Interfaith Communities, Interfaith Engagement, Religious Pluralism, Religious Diversity, Ucc General Synod, General Synod of the United Church of Christ, Religion News

If I had to create a formula for creating multiracial, multicultural church communities and distill it to five concepts, five skills and five actions it would be as follows.

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Former Philippine President Sued By Protestant Church Group Over Alleged Killings

AP | Posted 08.16.2011

Read More: Protestant Church, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Lawusit, United Church of Christ, Philippines, Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Sued, World News

MANILA, Philippines -- A Protestant church group sued former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday, claiming security forces under ...

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Mohler To Weiner: Atone Through Jesus

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 08.12.2011

Read More: Anthony Weiner, Jesus, Atonement, Jesus Christ, Albert Mohler, Likud Party, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United Church of Christ, Southern Baptist, Mohler and Weiner, Judaism and Christianity, Religion News

This isn't the first time that Mohler has spoken strongly of his belief that Jews need Christ to be saved. He once compared Judaism to a tumor that needed to be removed.

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Osama Bin Laden Does Not Get To Hijack This Sunday

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 07.06.2011

Read More: Osama Bin Laden, Christian Response to Bin Laden Death, 9/11, Bin Laden Death Celebration, Osama Bin Laden Dead, Osama Bin Laden Killed, United Church of Christ, National Council of Churches USA, Religion News

Since Sept. 11, 2001, I've lost track of the number of times I've personally invoked that dayin prayer or sermons. But bin Laden will not be the topic of my sermon this week.

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President Obama Offers Moral Vision, Faith Leaders Must Press For More

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 06.13.2011

Read More: Barack Obama Debt, Obama Budget, Barack Obama Deficit, Barack Obama Debt Speech, Barack Obama, Obama Budget Cuts, Barack Obama Budget, Barack Obama Budget Deal, United Church of Christ, Paul Ryan, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Bowles-Simpson Plan, Budget Cuts, Poverty in America, Religion News

Faith leaders in the United States should applaud President Obama for offering a moral vision for the nation while carefully monitoring how the White House and Congress proceed.

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The Spectrum Of Speculation About Planned Parenthood: Rep. Mike Pence And The Mormon Woman

Rev. Tom Davis | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Planned Parenthood, United Church of Christ, Abortion, Rep. Mike Pence, Mormonism and Sex, Abortion in America, Reproductive Rights, Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, Religion News

Two wildly contrasting views of Planned Parenthood have surfaced in recent weeks.

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Gay Clergy: God's Spirit at Work?

Rev. Peter M. Wallace | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Mainline Churches, Presbyterian Church, Gay Clergy, Episcopal Church, Elca, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church Gay Clergy, Gay Rights, Presbyterian Gay Clergy, Religion Homosexuality, Presbyterian Church Gays, Religion News

It seems that once the issue of gay clergy has been resolved, usually after decades of wrangling, the denominations (or what's left of them, anyway) begin to experience a new freedom and energy to pursue their mission.

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Shunned By Networks, Church Takes Inclusive Message To Internet

Religion News Service | Michael O'Malley / The Plain Dealer | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: United Church of Christ Diversity, Religion, United Church of Christ, United Church of Christ Ads, United Church of Christ Inclusive, United Church of Christ Commercials, United Church of Christ Banned, Religion News

CLEVELAND (RNS) Six years ago, United Church of Christ advertising spots promoting the church's openness and diversity were shunned by major broadcast...

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How Will SCOTUS Decision Affect Corporate Media?

Karl Frisch | Posted 05.25.2011

CBS' blatantly hypocritical decision has sparked intense controversy and brought new light to the shadowy world of corporate media policy governing political or issue-advocacy commercials.

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Where Will The Obamas Worship? (PICTURES)

The Huffington Post | Willow Lindley | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Obama Slideshow, Religion, Obama White House, Slideshow, Barack Obama Religion, Religion and Politics, Obama President, Barack Obama, United Church of Christ Obama, United Church of Christ, Barack Obama Church, The Obamas, Obamas Worship, Healthy Living News

With the Obamas' impending move to Washintong DC in January, many have begun to speculate on all aspects of the family's new life, including where Sas...

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NYT's Kristol Caught Falsely Claiming Obama Attended Controversial Sermon

The Atlantic | Marc Ambinder | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama United Church of Christ, Bill Kristol NYT, Bill Kristol, Bill Kristol New York Times, Obama Jeremiah Wright, United Church of Christ, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Kristol Obama, Barack Obama, Politics News

Bill Kristol's New York Times column about Barack Obama this morning contains a major, prejudicial error. Paragraph five: But Ronald Kessler, a ...

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Jeremiah Wright, Obama's Pastor: "Hillary Ain't Never Been Called A N****r"

Huffington Post | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama United Church of Christ, Video, Jeremiah Wright Barack Obama, Obama Jeremiah Wright, Jeremiah Wright, United Church of Christ, Barack Obama Race, Obama Black Voters, Trinity United Church of Christ, Good Morning America, Obama S Pastor, Obama S Church, Obama Pastor, Politics News

Video of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor and mentor to Barack Obama, has been posted. The Reverend defends his most famous constituent and attacks Hilla...

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Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

Raymond Leon Roker | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama Pastor, Rev. Otis Moss III, Pastor Jeremiah Wright, Jeremiah Wright Barack Obama, 2008 Election, Breaking Politics News, Obama Jeremiah Wright, Pastor Wright, Obama Wright, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Ferraro Obama, Barack Obama, Jeremiah Wright, Tyler Perry, Geraldine Ferraro Obama, Obama S Preacher, Obama Church, Obama S Pastor, Obama Preacher, United Church of Christ, Trinity United Church of Christ, Obama S Church, Jeremy Wright, Obama Minister, Obama United Church of Christ, Obama Black Voters, Politics News

People like Rev. Jeremiah Wright don't speak for all blacks. We are not in lock step, no matter how much we all might like rap music.

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New Pastor At Obama's Church Speaks Out

NY Times | Kate Philips | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama United Church of Christ, Trinity United Church of Christ, Obama Jeremiah Wright, Jeremiah Wright, United Church of Christ, Barack Obama Race, Jeremiah Wright Barack Obama, Politics News

The new pastor of Senator Barack Obama's longtime church in Chicago took it upon himself to issue a statement Sunday to defend the record of his prede...

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Jeremiah Wright, Obama's Pastor, Prompts Candidate To Address Comments

Huffington Post | Posted 05.25.2011

The appearance of video by Jeremiah Wright, pastor to Barack Obama, has caused a recent frenzy as both Democratic candidate struggle with the issue of...

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Obama Pastor's Sermons May Violate Tax Laws

Wall Street Journal | Suzanne Sataline | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama Church Tax, United Church of Christ IRS, Obama Church IRS, Obama Pastor, Jeremiah Wright IRS, Barack Obama Religion, Obama Church, Obama Jeremiah Wright, Jeremiah Wright, United Church of Christ, Politics News

On Christmas morning, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. compared presidential candidate Barack Obama's impoverished childhood to Jesus Christ's. "Barack knows ...

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IRS Investigates Obama's Denomination

AP | RACHEL ZOLL | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: United Church of Christ, Barack Obama, Obama's Church, Obama Speech Church, Irs, IRS Investigate Obama's Church, United Trinity Church of Christ, Politics News

NEW YORK — The IRS is investigating the United Church of Christ over a speech Sen. Barack Obama gave at its national meeting last year after he ...

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