Leaders of the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ issued this statement in their weekly newsletter, COMMAntary:

“Equipping a courageous church alive with Christ’s transforming love.”

That is who we are as the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ – equipping, and seeking to be, a courageous church.

To be courageous means to speak up to injustice, even if your voice shakes; to stand in the breach and help those left behind across the divide; to break down walls of division and to let go of some things so that others can have something. To be courageous means to follow Jesus even when it is difficult – to stand up when you would rather sit down, lay low, or get by.

Acts of courage change with the times. And our times have changed. In a Conference that is actively seeking to dismantle white supremacy we cannot sit down and lay low as extreme white supremacy runs amok in the highest political positions in our nation. As a predominantly white Conference, we cannot lean on our privilege to stay out of the fray. Because we are children of God, followers of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must leverage our privilege to protect our siblings at risk, and to remind this country that love and compassion and mercy are the ground upon which we are called to stand.

We stand with the United Church of Christ to commend the words of the Right Rev. Marianne Edgar Budde, and call us to the public square: “The voice of faith leaders must be heard in the public square calling truth to power in all times.” We commend the courage and wisdom of Bishop Budde and other faith leaders who bring a message of justice and hope for the oppressed. As ministers of word and sacrament, we have a responsibility to seek justice for all. Our voices join with Bishop Budde and others defending the oppressed. This is a time to learn to do right, as the prophet Isaiah exhorts. The call for unity is before us. For the sake of the vulnerable with whom we are called to care and for the free expression of our faith, may we continue to center Jesus’ work and God’s vision for a just world for all. Read the full UCC statement here.

This is a time to learn to do right, as the prophet Isaiah exhorts. The call for unity is before us. For the sake of the vulnerable with whom we are called to care and for the free expression of our faith, may we continue to center Jesus’ work and God’s vision for a just world for all. We stand with the Minnesota Council of Churches who, in a recent position statement condemned executive orders that:

• usurp constitutional protections such as birthright citizenship;
• close our borders to those seeking refugee from war-ravaged countries, brutal dictatorships, anarchy and religious persecution;
• whitewash history and promote false DEI narratives that try to diminish the brilliance, tenacity and worth of BIPOC individuals;
• attempt to block funding that serves the most vulnerable in our society; and
• allow federal law enforcement to enter locations previously deemed sensitive or secure such as places of worship, schools and clinics.

We are the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ, and we stand with those with whom Jesus would stand – the immigrant, the refugee, transgender and queer people, those who are held up and seen through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, those who are persecuted for standing for love, the poor and one-pay-check away middle class, and all those who stand with us.

We stand together with all those who ground themselves in our core values of faithfulness, stewardship, empowerment, innovation, justice, peace, extravagant welcome, mercy and humility.

As your staff and Board, we need each of you as we consider how to engage this time in history. We need to be courageous and come together – to model and embrace collaboration and compassion with strength and resolve. Only you can help us understand what that means on the ground, in the church and your community. How can we come together to be the courageous church in this time?

– Rev. Kelly Gallagher, Associate Conference Minister

– Rev. Kevin Brown, Associate Conference Minister of Faith Formation for Children & Youth