Cherry Blossoms, DC and Justice

With the financial support of our United Church of Christ Association (Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association) and the National Church (Justice & Witness Ministries) I was able to attend the 10th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) held in Washington DC March 23rd through 26th.  The theme for this event was "Is This the Fast I Seek?" taken from Isaiah 58:1-12 and Luke 4:14-21.  These were some of the most powerful days of my ministry.  I attended workshops on: Taxes, Immigrant Policies, Budget and Policy Injustice that Hurts Children, and others.  The keynote conference speakers and their topics were:

"The Bible & Just Economy"
Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer (Professor of New Testament, Interdenominational Theological Center

"Economy, Lifelihood & Our National Priorities"
Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien, Professor of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary in NYC & Columbia University
Ellen Nissenbaum, Senior VP for Government Affairs, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

Sunday Worship Preacher
Dr. Arturo Chavez, President and CEO, Mexican American Catholic College, San Antonio, TX

EAD Dinner Banquet Keynote Speaker
Congressman (and United Methodist minister) Emanuel Cleaver, II, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus

The workshops and speakers were outstanding.  The conference leaders and participants were from over 50 Christian denominations and service organizations.  I received training to work with our elected leaders from a faith perspective.  I met one other person from my district and she and I plan to visit our Representative together when we return to Kentucky.  On the last day of the conference EAD participants visited Capitol Hill and made visits to Congress members regarding the 2013 budget.  EAD presented a "Faithful Budget" document to as many Congress members as possible.  You may see this document at http://advocacydays.org/lobby/EAD%202012%20Leave%20Behind.pdf.

Prior to the EAD conference I attended the United Church of Christ "Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing" (Justice LED) curriculum training on March 21st & 22nd with six others UCC pastors and seminarians.



While at EAD I was able to meet for the first time two of our new UCC officers of the Church, Mark Clark (Associate General Minister) and Jim Moos (Executive Minister Wider Church Ministries).  I was also able to be with many national UCC staff members as well as UCC officer, Rev. Linda Jaramillo (Executive Minister Justice & Witness Ministries).  What an honor to share time with our national church leaders.  And of course I came home with more books to read and study (they had a great book store at the conference).

As part of the EAD conference the UCC delegates gathered at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington DC for a fellowship time and to visit the new building of this historic congregation in our nation's capital.

First Congregational United Church of Christ - DC

First Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington DC was founded in 1865.  They have torn down two former church buildings due to enormous repair needs and cost of operation in order to retain their ministry in the downtown area.  In 2004, with a deteriorating building and a resurgent downtown the congregation made the decision to redevelop the property by selling the air rights to a private developer in exchange for a new, accessible, green building designed to carry out their mission.  The FCUCC Site Development Task Force organized and coordinated the extensive legal, design and financial tasks necessary to develop the project; and fostered an extraordinary partnership between the church and the developers, designers and builders whose skill, labor and commitment have made this project a reality.
You must go and see their website and learn more, it is a fantastic building and ministry, FirstUCCDC.org.

Amazingly my time in DC was right at the peak of the Cherry Blossoms.  I have been to DC a number of times but never during the Cherry Blossom Festival. This year was the 100th anniversary of the planting of the Japanese Cherry Trees.  It was beautiful.  I also got to visit the Jefferson Memorial (I had never made it there in past visits), and the new World War II Memorial and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.  What a great trip!

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

George Washington Memorial

The original Cherry Trees in DC - 100 years old
Given to the US from Japan

World War II Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

My drive to and from DC included listening to the books on CD:
"The Gnostic Gospels" by Elaine Pagels and
"Contemplative Prayer" by Thomas Merton.
The drive both ways was beautiful and inspiring (long too!).  The country side was in full bloom and the rolling hills were peaceful and powerful.  Praise God for such creation. 

The highlight of driving to DC was being able to spend a day with my niece, Deanna, who lives in Chester, VA close to Richmond.  She hosted me in her home, gave me a tour and introduced me to the staff and volunteers of the mental health organization that assist her.  I was thrilled to be able to spend some time with her.  I asked her what she wanted to do and she asked if we could go see a movie.  I let her pick the movie.  It was a scary one.  She told me her Uncle Keith "screamed like a girl" in front of everyone.  And I did.  I don't care for scary movies too much.  It was wonderful to be with her!!!