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Paris Climate Agreement: What comes next
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Climate deal lauded by UCC environmental advocates, compliance now up to us
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Now that nearly 200 nations have approved the first global pact to fight climate change that calls on the world to collectively cut carbon pollution, what happens next? UCC environmental advocates are calling on people of faith to put pressure on the fossil fuel industry and on world governments to ensure compliance.
"The world's climate negotiators have finally realized that nature doesn't negotiate," said the Rev. Jim Antal, conference minister and president of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ. "Now it's up to the people to make the fossil fuel industry comply with both science and hope." The "Paris Agreement" adopted Sat., Dec 13., during the climate change conference (COP21) aims to keep global temperatures from rising another degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) and pledges to limit the amount of greenhouse gas pollution created by human activity to the levels that trees, soil and oceans can naturally absorb.
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Former climate intern witnesses Paris negotiations
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Former MACUCC Climate Intern Patrick Cage with the United States Chief Climate Negotiator Todd Stern on December 11, just hours before Mr. Stern signed the Paris COP21 agreement.
Patrick will be available to speak at churches in the spring.
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By Wendy Vander Hart
Associate Conference Minister
Of the Spiritual Journey and Call papers I read in my work with Committees on Ministry, more than 90% (an educated guess) give testimony to someone in that person's life asking the question: have you considered ministry? You might think it needs to be the voice of God speaking directly to a person's heart, but more often than not God expresses a call through people.
Read Wendy's blog post
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Featured Event: Super Saturday!
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Save the Date! The next Super Saturday is being held in Connnecticut (location to be announced) on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
The keynoter will be Traci Blackmon, the newly appointed Acting Executive of the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries.
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Workshop proposals wanted
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What are you passionately engaged in now? How might you share that with others?
If you would like to share concepts and practices you've developed that are changing your congregation or community's mission and ministry, we invite you to consider submitting a workshop proposal.
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Local Buzz: Churches responding to violence
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Nancy Taylor has been at the epicenter of disaster. And as she explained to a large gathering of Yale Divinity School students and community members this past weekend, the experience taught her and her church a great deal about how and why ministry still matters.
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Churches hold vigils against gun violence
The idea for a vigil against gun violence in Acton surfaced during a South Acton Congregational Church sermon in October, when member Sean Osborne stood up and announced that anyone felt compelled to "take action" in response to America's gun violence should meet him in the church's library after the sermon.
The gathering was co-sponsored by the spiritual center, the First Congregational Church in Natick, Temple Israel of Natick, Pax Christi MetroWest, Fisk United Methodist Church and the Massachusetts Chapter of Brady Campaign.
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Upcoming Conference Events
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Jan. 20, 9:00 AM - Jan. 21, 3:30 PM
Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge
Clergy training, limited to 18 people per session. Registration is one a first come, first served basis.
Jan. 30, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
A day of training - for both clergy and congregants - to lead small groups in general, and small group Bible study in particular. Facilitated by the Rev. Anne Robertson, executive director of the Massachusetts Bible Society.
April 4- 6, 2016
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham
Three-day, self-contained course that introduces theories foundational to interim ministry. The class hours are devoted to providing opportunities for experiential learning through the use of case studies and sacred story.
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Racial Justice Training & Sacred Conversations
These events are led by Massachusetts Conference facilitators and are free and open to all. Please click here to RSVP to the appropriate church.
Sacred Conversation on Race
Jan. 10, 2016, 11:30 AM
Eliot Church of Newton
Sacred Conversation on Race
Jan. 28, 2016, 7:30 PM
UCC Burlington
Racial Justice Training
Feb. 3, 17, 23 and March 2, 2016
Trinity Church, Northborough
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Jan. 21-23
Charlemont Federated Church, Charlemont
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Jan. 29, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Andover Newton Theological School, Newton
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