Our Common Life...Words from the Conference Staff

I also think a lot about politics - not because I think there is a political solution to the fundamental challenges of humankind - but because politics is the on-the-ground way large groups of human beings negotiate their common life.  Participative democracy is far from perfect, but so far in human history, it seems the best we human beings have come upon.  I respect and accept that, and choose to actively participate in political life.

Here's what confuses me:  If politics is the mechanism by which we negotiate and regulate our common life, what are the values by which we enter into those negotiations?  How do we decide which ovals to blacken when we enter the voting booth?

I try my darnedest to take my faith into the voting booth.  I bet you do too.

So here's my question:  How much help did your church offer you in thinking through the faith implications of your voting decisions on Tuesday?  With some notable exceptions, I'll bet the elections were hardly mentioned at church, except perhaps for a perfunctory prayer this past Sunday asking that God's will be done, or something innocuous like that.

I don't believe that's enough.

I wonder how many people thought long and hard about the faith implications of their vote to retain or not to retain the three Supreme Court justices who were voted out of office this week.  So far as I've heard in the media, to the extent folk tried to apply faith to that issue it went this way:  God disapproves (we're told) of homosexuality.  Therefore judges who grant the civil benefits of marriage to same sex couples ought to be ousted from office.

Setting aside the question of what God might really think about folk who are gay or lesbian (a question fair interpreters of the Bible find not so clearly obvious as many think), there are still strong reasons to question the wisdom and the morality of the vote to oust these judges.

For me it boils down to the protection of minorities and others with little means to be fairly represented in a "majority rules" setting.   Contrary to the seeming thought of many, the court does NOT exist to do whatever the majority wants - the court exists to see that the laws of the land fairly comport with fundamental principles of equal protection - principles which are enshrined in our constitutions (state and federal).  It is NOT judicial activism for a judge to decide that a law enacted by a legislative majority violates equal rights for all - to declare such a law null and void is the fundamental (and constitutional!) responsibility and duty of a judge!  I learned this in government class back in high school and I bet you did too.

So how does this relate to people of Christian faith?  In at least two ways, I think:

·         We are a people who serve a God who clearly and unambiguously favors those at the edges and margins of political, social, and economic influence and power.  It isn't just "nice" to look out for those who are largely without power and influence, it is fundamentally Christian.

·         In protecting the welfare and rights of those who are minorities - whether in terms of race, class, national origin, sexual orientation, ability/disability, and - yes - religion, we are looking out for ourselves and for our children.  We never know whether the day might come in which we, or our loved ones, might find ourselves marginalized and powerless.  A strong and courageous judiciary can and should be the ally of those who find it hard to protect their rights on their own.  Were we a religious minority (a state toward which we are sadly moving), we might be more motivated to understand the societal importance of an independent judiciary - one unafraid to stand up to the tyranny of popular prejudice.

I believe these are questions which ought to be debated in church.  Maybe my views are wrong - if they are, church should be a place for give and take about precisely which views can be defended as Christian, and which cannot be.

Unfortunately, in too many churches it's not only taboo to talk about politics, it's even uncomfortable to talk about faith.  So far as I can tell, faith and politics, money and power, sex and child-rearing, are the everyday questions most people care about the most - the very thing most churches of our ilk are least inclined to address.  But if we never talk about them in church, is it any wonder that so many find us irrelevant?

My prayer for leaders in our church is courage and grace - the courage to enter forthrightly into uncomfortable conversations about matters of everyday importance, and the grace to do so with kindness, humility and respect.

Need help in figuring out how to do so?  Let's talk.

God's grace be with you!

Rich Pleva

Licensed Pastor John Chaplin invites friends to celebrate life of his father Jack Chaplin on Saturday, November 6th at the United Church of Monticello, Iowa (UMC/UCC).

The family will greet friends and relatives at 9:30am followed by the  services at 10:30am.

The church is serving a luncheon afterwards.

Agenda for the retreat:

1) consider the roles of men in American Christianity, past, present, and future,

2) consider statistics about and examples of men historically and today, and discuss personal examples such as our parents and grandparents, and

3) attempt to understand the roles of men in American Christianity in general, in your congregation in particular, and in our own lives, eventually considering our personal goals and dreams for the future.

Location:  First Congregational United Church of Christ, Sioux CIty, IA

Date:  Saturday, November 13, 2010, 9:00-2:00

Retreat Leader:  Dr. Bruce Forbes, professor of religious studies at Morningside

Cost:  $10/person including lunch.

RSVP by November 8.  Email alairew@msn.com or call the church 712-239-3385, and then mail payment to First Congregational Church of Christ, 4600 Hamilton Blv, Sioux City, IA  51104-1145.   

Celebrating the Gifts of Honored Laywomen at

This had been cancelled earlier this fall, so remember to get this back on your calendar!

Connect with Hope...

November 14-20 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  Hope Ministries has special events planned for each day of the week, including:

·Sunday, Nov 14: Bring Your Turkey to Church ·Monday, Nov 15: Community Awareness Tours

·Tuesday, Nov 16: Church Leadership Lunch/Learn

·Wednesday, Nov 17: 1st Annual Media Turkey Pickin'

·Thursday, Nov 18: Day of Prayer for those who are homeless

·Friday, Nov 19: Philanthropy Day

·Saturday, Nov 20: Volunteer Service Day

Learn about each of these events and how YOU can get involved by contacting

Hymnals available...

First Congregational UCC in Cedar Rapids has 400 blue Pilgrim hymnals available to give to any church needing them.   

Contact Brooke Spicer at 319.362.1926 if interested. 

Conference-wide Book Reading

Realities, chuckles, ponderous thoughts, relaxation...join the Conference-wide Book Readers who will take on their first book starting in January 2011!

What book???

Who is the author???

How do I join???

Where is the book???

How do I obtain the book???