Epiphany

Migrants and Refugees

Now when they had departed, behold,( an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. (Matthew 2:13-15)

National Migration Week 2015 will be held from January 4-10 with a primary theme of "We are One Family Under God." As a child, Jesus himself experienced migration when he had to seek refuge in Egypt together with Joseph and Mary in order to flee the threats of Herod.

How we treat migrants, refugees, and undocumented people in the USA is a hot topic today. Pressure to migrate due to global economic problems, conflict, and climate change mean this will remain a hot topic. Here are a list of websites and resources for understanding the issue from a Christian perspective:

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
ELCA Message on Migration

Immigration: It's Our Community - Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Reform Immigration for America

America's Voice

Women’s Equality Day - August 26, 2016

August 26 is “Women's Equality Day,” commemorating the 1920 passage of the U.S. Constitution’s 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Now in our church we have an opportunity to join in on a study process for women’s equality and justice. The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ invites individuals and study groups to take part in the 7-session “Faith, Sexism, Justice: Conversations Toward a Social Statement,” being sent to all ELCA congregations, synod offices, and ELCA colleges before the end of summer 2016. Why do we need to talk together about these issues? And what can a study process do?

The 7 sessions raise questions and highlight issues for a study group to discuss such as: How can we address violence against women and girls? Why do images and words for God matter? And how can we challenge the misuse of Scripture against women and girls? Your reflections, comments and questions sent in by the end of August 2017 will help toward developing a draft ELCA Social Statement by the end of 2017. The draft will be carefully examined at synod assembly hearings and other venues in 2017 and 2018. Then a proposed draft will be brought before the 2019 Churchwide Assembly for its discussion, debate, rewording, and finally its up or down vote.

You can download the 7-session study here entirely or by module. To view a timeline, brochure and additional study materials, visit the ELCA Women and Justice website. Taking part in this process could help you to:

1. Hearten the women in your church and community. Show your church as a place where women’s voices can be heard and respected.

2. Help equip and encourage men as allies. As the group identifies social norms and realities that are unjust to women, men can gain deeper understandings of how systems -- even the church -- have favored white men over women. Men of faith who listen and take action play a significant role in boosting justice for women.

3. Inspire all involved. Help release creative potentials for the cause of peace with justice, and to grow closer to the gospel ideal of community. Create a space where the Holy Spirit can work with us on these issues, locally, synodically, and churchwide. And remember, LPF Women’s Resources are available to you as well, for your women and justice studies!

-- Lily R. Wu, LPF Issue Communicator for the LPF Women’s Initiative

Women and Justice: Speak Out through the ELCA’s study process (June 2016-June 2017)

Members of the ELCA-Lutheran World Federation delegation at the
59th UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2015, NYC.

What does our church say about women and justice, to generate discussion and encourage action? And how can we take part? Here are links and related resources:

1. Know that an ELCA Social Message on Gender Based Violence was adopted by the ELCA Church Council on November 14, 2015. ELCA Social Messages are "topical documents" that "focus attention and action on timely, pressing matters of social concern to the church and society.”

2. You are being invited to join in on developing an ELCA Social Statement on Women and Justice that will be presented to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2019. ELCA Social Statements are teaching and policy documents that help us discuss social issues in the context of our faith and life.

The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ, a 19-member group from diverse walks of life, has the responsibility for leading the study process, with an anticipated timeline. Materials will be sent to every ELCA congregation and downloadable online, to invite responses from June 2016 to June 2017. Have an idea or concern? You can send a message to the task force at any time: womenandjustice@elca.org.

3. For biblical undergirding, you can use this three-session study resource on the Bible and Women.

4. For an overview on women and justice issues worldwide, and our church's involvement, here is an excellent summary about the March 2015 United Nations meeting"Beijing+20." You can also listen to a radio show about it. The UN Commission on the Status of Women is meeting again in March 2016, with ELCA and Lutheran World Federation participation.

-- Lily R. Wu for the LPF Women's Initiative

February 14: Dance with the One Billion Rising Revolution To End Violence Against Women

Violence has power. But active peacemaking has power too. Have you heard of One Billion Rising? It’s the largest mass action in human history to end violence against women. This global movement is based on the horrifying statistic that 1 in every 3 women in the world will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. With the world’s population at 7 billion, that’s one billion women and girls.

Launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, One Billion Rising expanded to 200 countries by 2014. It evolved in 2015 into the One Billion Rising Revolution. In 2016, the revolution escalates!

• The rallying cry is for systemic change: “overhauling, challenging, and fighting” corrupt systems…

• The goal is justice “for all survivors of gender violence and the impunity that protects perpetrators...”

• The determination is to “create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable.”

• How can we get started?

• Be inspired by mass gatherings worldwide. See the panoramic YouTube video "One Billion Rising 2015 - La Rivoluzione."

• Sing with the music video "Break the Chain” (with captions on, to catch every word)!

• Learn the dance steps at "How to: Break the Chain Choreography" and introduce it to others. Also see “How to Dance ‘Break the Chain’ -- for the mobility compromised!”

• Check out the One Billion Rising Revolution website for more ideas. Don’t miss the toolkit, under “Resources.”

• Make use of Lutheran Peace Fellowship’s Women's Peace Resources for inspiration and empowerment. See "Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls," the “Women's Video Gallery,” and more.

• Pass this blogpost on to your friends. And share with us what inspires you to stop violence against women and girls, and to promote peace instead!

Lily R.Wu and Alan Forsberg

February 14: Dance with the One Billion Rising Revolution To End Violence Against Women

Here’s a statistic so shocking that it defies belief: 1 in every 3 women in the world will be raped or beaten in her lifetime, according to the One Billion Rising Revolution. Such a staggering issue calls for mighty action. Now here is our opportunity!

Launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, the One Billion Rising movement expanded to 200 countries by 2014. It is evolving in 2015 into the One Billion Rising Revolution: “the biggest mass action in human history to end violence against women.”

• The call is for systemic change: “overhauling, challenging, and fighting” corrupt systems. 
• The goal is justice “for all survivors of gender violence and the impunity that protects perpetrators...” 
• The determination is to “create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable.”

How can we get started?

• Be inspired by mass gatherings worldwide; see the panoramic YouTube video "One Billion Rising 2015 - La Rivoluzione." 
• Sing with the music video "Break the Chain” (with captions on, to catch every word)! 
• Learn the dance steps at "How to: Break the Chain Choreography" and introduce this brilliant activity to others. (The dancing expresses joy, community, and not being defeated by violence.) Also see “How to Dance ‘Break the Chain’ -- for the mobility compromised!” 
• Check out the One Billion Rising Revolution website for more ideas. Don’t miss the toolkit, under “Resources.” 

And have you seen Lutheran Peace Fellowship’s Women's Peace Resources for inspiration and empowerment? See our action guide "Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls," the “Women's Video Gallery,” and more.

You can help too by passing this blogpost on to your friends. And do share with us what is inspiring you to stop violence against women and girls, and to promote peace instead!

Lily R.Wu and Alan Forsberg

Epiphany

Migrants and Refugees

Now when they had departed, behold,( an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. (Matthew 2:13-15)

National Migration Week 2015 will be held from January 4-10 with a primary theme of "We are One Family Under God." As a child, Jesus himself experienced migration when he had to seek refuge in Egypt together with Joseph and Mary in order to flee the threats of Herod.

How we treat migrants, refugees, and undocumented people in the USA is a hot topic today. Pressure to migrate due to global economic problems, conflict, and climate change mean this will remain a hot topic. Here are a list of websites and resources for understanding the issue from a Christian perspective:

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
ELCA Message on Migration

Immigration: It's Our Community - Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Reform Immigration for America

America's Voice

Ferguson, Responding to the Continuing Tragedy

The grand jury has decided to not charge the police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teen in the Ferguson suburb of St. Louis three months ago. The decision and public response reveals a great deal about our broken criminal justice system and skewed media and civic grasp of the incident. A few highlights:

Grand Jury decision: A wide range of critiques are being made of the evidence and the judicial process such as bombarding jurors with mountains of contradictory testimony without any apparent effort to help focus on useful evidence, skewing the results toward dismissing the charges.

Protests: There have been significant numbers of nonviolent protests, largely ignored by the media, in Ferguson and around the country that represent positive responses and hope. The mass media also has seemed incapable of separating nonviolent protest and random violence like looting, and incapable of going beyond that coverage to the real issues of this tragedy such as the four we raised in LPF's blog post on Ferguson, issues that beg for serious attention:

Militarization of police: that separates police from the community and protesters, undercuts legitimate “protect and serve” orientation and programs, and often makes confrontations more lethal;

Racism: such as discriminatory policies in education and jobs, police behavior and incarceration rates; the protests in Ferguson and elsewhere build on decades of marginalization of young people of color and other forms of structural racism;

Skewed budget priorities: that spend money on militarized police and the highest prison rates in the world, instead of addressing the roots of racism;

Stereotypes about nonviolence and inadequate preparation and training in effective protest, especially in a context predisposed to dismiss serious protest and merge it with random violence.

The result has been a minuscule amount of media attention on the important issues like these... attention that might help move the public discussion – and civic action – in productive directions.

It is important that we don’t allow our understandable disappointment, frustration and feelings of powerlessness to get in the way of our thoughtful positive contributions. There are many positive ways we can respond:

- Share helpful information in a thoughtful manner with friends, and in comments on web and media discussions, letters to the editor, etc. (see links in this blog).  You may be surprised at how your sensible comments can stand out!

- Participate in and encourage others to support The Week of Action, Dec. 1-5, including moments of silence, vigils, dialogues, and prayers. It is a call from groups such as Hands Up Coalition, Why We Can't Wait, Code Pink, and The Peace and Justice Studies Association.

- Look for opportunities to encourage addressing underlying issues like militarized police and racism in church adult forums, community discussions, upcoming government deliberations on budgets and priorities, etc.;

- Ferguson should serve as an inspiration for us to suggest forums and workshops on nonviolence. LPF has effective, highly-regarded leaders’ guides and other materials on nonviolence. Connect with the inspiration and resources of the Campaign Nonviolence movement of which LPF is part. (See LPF Nonviolence Resources including a Shalom discussion essay, an AV-rich Nonviolence Forum or our highly regarded Budget Priorities computer-based activity. Contact us about longer trainings.)

- In all this, it makes sense to connect with other people who share your views to support one another’s processing this tragedy and its implications, and taking useful next steps.

Blessings and Peace in this worthy effort!

      Additional links to useful material:

Links on the social and historical context surrounding the events in Ferguson assembled by Sociologists for Justice, 1,600 sociologists against police brutality and racism.

“It's not just Ferguson: how the system protects police,” by Chase Madar The Nation magazine, Nov. 24, 2014.

"Will Ferguson be a Moment or a Movement?" by Fredrick Harris, Director of the Center on African American Politics and Society at Columbia University, Washington Post, Aug. 22, 2014.

“The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries,” ELCA Social Statement on Criminal  Justice, includes a study guide 


     a couple newer useful links:

"Ferguson Activists Meet With President Obama to Demand an End to Police Brutality Nationwide," FergusonAction website, Dec. 1, 2014

"Obama resists demands to curtail police militarisation calling instead for improved officer training," by Paul Lewis, The Guardian, 12-1-14

From Ferguson to Real Change

There has been a deluge of reporting and commentary on the killing of an unarmed black teen in the Ferguson suburb of St Louis, and on the protests that followed.  Yet the way forward has been clouded by inadequate attention to at least four important issues:

1. Militarization of Police – A growing problem, visible to activists for years, has finally broken through to the media and the public.  Police have been purchasing (and receiving free from a major Pentagon program) large quantities of military style weapons. It’s gear that looks more like a Transformers movie than legitimate police equipment. It ranges from body armor and armored personnel carriers, to sniper rifles and 2nd generation tear gas.  (What Military Gear Your Police Department Bought) 

Such gear separates police from protesters, undercuts legitimate “protect and serve” orientation and programs, and often makes confrontations more lethal. It also equips, emboldens, and legitimizes the Rambo-style officers in most police depts.  Most people are shocked to learn that “roughly 137 times a day, a SWAT team assaults a home and plunges its inhabitants and the surrounding community into terror.”  (One Nation Under SWAT.)

2. Racism – Like minority communities in scores of other cities, Ferguson protests build on the frustration of people of color who have faced decades of poor education, lack of jobs and resources, and discriminatory policies that have been the root of unrest since the 1960's. (See an activist’s view of Unresolved Race and Economic Issues, or the views of this pastor or another activist.) 

One example: Blacks are pulled over by police in far greater numbers and received larger tickets than whites, and are a key reason why US incarceration rates are the highest in the world. (See the middle section of In Ferguson or Exposing the Toolbox of Racist Repression.)

3. Budget Priorities – The huge expense of race- and class-skewed policies cited above siphon money from sorely needed programs that would address underlying problems of prejudice and inequality. The list is familiar and includes greatly expanded jobs, social service, and community-building programs.

Funding for such programs must come from reducing military spending – which like all too many police and urban spending efforts emphasizes violent, 11th hour interventions that are ultimately ineffective, instead of major (but ultimately cheaper) programs to address underlying causes…. Moreover, those problems are at the heart of the ability of radical groups to find recruits.  (See From Gaza to Ferguson or Ferguson, Gaza and Luhansk, or 90-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Arrested in St. Louis.  For clear data on spending, see tables 2 or 7 or use the full LPF Budget Priorities computer-based activity.)

4. The Essential Contribution of Nonviolence – Ferguson also exposes the still rampant illusion that nonviolent responses to conflict are nice but don’t ultimately work: “Real” problems require “real” (violent) responses.  But as Desmond Tutu put it, nonviolence is “a force more powerful” than military  – or militarized police – responses to conflict, as history repeatedly shows in both arenas.  (See LPF Nonviolence resources  from a Shalom discussion essay to an AV-rich Nonviolence Forum.)

But Ferguson also reveals inadequacies of efforts to organize and deploy nonviolence campaigns.  Activist groups have been too complacent and isolated from younger generations who lack experience with the power of nonviolent responses to conflict.  Ferguson must be a wake-up call to activist groups as well as police forces, urban planners, state and federal budget officials. (See In Ferguson, young demonstrators are finding it’s not their grandparents’ protest  and Nonviolent Protest and Accountability in Ferguson.  All this points to the importance of efforts like Campaign Nonviolence - LPF is a member - which is highlighting over 125 nonviolent actions around the US in the week following Sept. 21, the ”International Day of Prayer for Peace” – see our next blog post.  And consider participating! )

February 14: One Billion Rising in 200 Countries To End Violence Against Women

What three words first come to mind when you think of February 14, Valentine's Day? You'd have plenty of company if you said "hearts, flowers, and chocolate." Heart-shaped cards and special gifts are a wonderful way to show our enthusiasm and appreciation for loving relationships.

Now, what if we also celebrated the day by finding ways to express loving support for a world of peace, focusing on "women, survivors, and justice"? What if we added to our observance of Valentine's Day our support for these much-needed efforts?

For example, playwright Eve Ensler and activist Kimberlé Crenshaw tell in a Democracy Now interview about One Billion Rising, a growing movement worldwide to stop violence against women and girls. On February 14, events are being organized in 200+ countries to focus on "justice for all survivors of gender violence and the impunity that protects perpetrators all over the world."

Here is a startling statistic: one in every three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. What's your reaction to this statement? Whether we feel disbelief, anger, or a range of other emotions, the fact remains: women and girls are widely subject to violence in many forms. It is also a fact that there are many efforts organized and being organized to stop it -- efforts that will be stronger if more people join in to help.

Anti-violence work focused on women and girls is sorely needed. The reasons why are spelled out in One Billion Rising, Lutheran Peace Fellowship Women's Peace Resources, and many other places. Such work will also be good for men, boys, families and communities, because promoting peace instead of violence will result in a better world for everyone.

The One Billion Rising video is one of several in LPF's new "Women's Video Gallery." LPF also put together an action guide for churches: "Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls." Please share with us what your congregation has found helpful in LPF's Women's Peace Resources. Let's boost one another's efforts to end violence, especially against women and girls.

 Lily Wu and Alan Forsberg

Observing November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

"The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble." – Psalm 9:9

Since 1981, activists for women's issues have marked November 25 as a day against violence, in commemoration of three sisters assassinated in 1960 in the Dominican Republic.

The United Nations began to mobilize on the issues in 1999, when the UN declared November 25 as an annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in 2012:

"Millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even murdered …We must fundamentally challenge the culture of discrimination that allows violence to continue…I call on all governments to make good on their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I urge all people to support this important goal."

What can we do to stop the violence? We can build our own awareness and that of others…explore and choose an issue…support an anti-violence effort! For starters:

• Use LPF's "Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls" guide. 
• See the ELCA's Justice for Women resource page with links on ending violence against women.
• Urge your Senator to vote for ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The U.S. has signed but not ratified it, which means that the U.S. does not have to implement the Convention's provisions.

Look up the name of your elected officials here.

Let us stand together and do what we can to stop violence against women and girls!

-- Lily R. Wu, LPF Board Member

for the LPF Women's Initiative 

Book Review: Courage to Think Differently

Signed copies of this remarkable book are available from LPF (as supplies last), $10 including postage and handling, or free with a contribution of $75 or more. lpf@ecunet.org.

Imagine more than 30 notable prophetic voices sharing their insights on a wide range of issues that matter for our quality of life and the world's survival. That's the theme of Courage to Think Differently, by author and editor George S. Johnson, former director of the American Lutheran Church's hunger program. He brings together a diverse spectrum of writers including Larry Rasmussen, Frances Moore Lappe, Bill Moyers, Vandana Shiva, Elie Wiesel, Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, and David Korten. In the process, Johnson offers us a book so creative, so spiritually compelling that it practically glows in your hands.

"Jesus was constantly encouraging people to think differently…to look at deeper questions that don’t have easy answers," Johnson says. He adds that this book is not about giving pat answers or dispensing guilt; nor is more generosity the answer. A new mindset is called for, that asks questions such as "Am I believing in Christ, or following Christ?"

He also observes that not every person nor everything will change -- or needs to change. The book offers space for the reader to come to conclusions other than the ones presented. The point is to explore in fresh ways the foundations of our thinking and decision-making in the light of our Christian faith. Some of our most creative religious thinkers such as Diana Butler Bass, Walter Bruggemann, Susan Brooks Thistlewaite, Brian McLaren, and Shane Claiborne are all here.

Seven sections offer such creative starting points as "irrelevant religion," "thin democracy," "silence," and more. Teaching aids in the Appendix include "The Shakertown Pledge" (nine declarations for world citizens); and "How to Hang in There for the Long Haul" (21 notes for peace and justice activists). This book is a significant , mind-expanding anthology for every Christian who seeks to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God."

-- Reviewed by Lily Wu, LPF board member and editorial consultant

Johnson, George S. Courage to Think Differently. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, 2013. 304 pp. Also available from www.adventurepublications.net (enter the book title in the search box).

Human Rights Day - December 10

This year's theme is: 

"Inclusion and the right to participate in public life."

"Where we come from does not determine who we can become. What we look like places no limits on what we can achieve. We should all have the right to express ourselves, all have the right to be heard, all have the right to be what we can be: To reach for the sky and touch the stars. No matter who we are, no matter whether we are man or woman, or rich or poor:
My voice, my right. My voice counts." 

—Desmond Tutu, a key figure in the defeat of apartheid in South Africa, Nobel Prize Laureate, first black Archbishop of South Africa.

videos:

Celebrate Human Rights!

Lutheran Bishop Herbert Chilstrom and his wife, Minister Corinne Chilstrom, understand the importance of marriage -- for everyone. They support their brothers and sisters in Christ, and that's why they urged fellow Minnesotans to vote against a proposed constitutional amendment to write man-woman marriage into the constitution and essentially ban gay marriage in the State. The amendment was defeated. (see the Bishop's Advent Letter to LPF members, supporters, and friends  (pdf, html)















Links:

UN sites:

Human Rights (UN website)

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Human Rights Day 2012

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights.

Related sites:

Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Defence for Children International

World Day of Prayer and Action for Children

Lutheran resources:

Addressing Racism: Challenge for Peacemakers

Goodsoil

Lutheran Human Relations Association

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Reconciling Works

ELCA:

ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries

Human Dignity and Human Rights

Human Rights and Family  - Journal of Lutheran Ethics - February 2009 issue

Human Rights - CSR program

Human Rights Day - December 10, 2011

pays tribute to all human rights defenders
and asks you to get involved in the
global human rights movement.

This year, millions of people decided the time had come to claim their rights. They took to the streets and demanded change. . .

videos:

2011
An extraordinary year for human rights


Celebrate Human Rights!



Human Rights DAY 2011 HC message



Global Protest Human Rights Day 10 December 2011 Worldwide Action



World Revolution - Global Action - 10 December 2011 - Human Rights Day



Human Rights Day 10 December 2011 - Stand up for our Childrens' Rights

Links:

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Human Rights Day 2011

Human Rights Day 2011 (UN website)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Defence for Children International

LPF resource: Addressing Racism: Challenge for Peacemakers

Lutheran Human Relations Association

Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service

Lutherans Concerned/ North America

Goodsoil

ELCA:

Human Rights - CSR program

Human Dignity and Human Rights

ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries

Journal of Lutheran Ethics - February 2009 issue - Human Rights and Family

Human Rights Day - December 10, 2010

will focus on human rights defenders
who act to end discrimination.

“Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most pressing human rights problems. No country is immune from this scourge. Eliminating discrimination is a duty of the highest order.”
Navi Pillay
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Discrimination: treating a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, based on the group, class, or category to which they belong (skin color, religion, sex, etc.) rather than on individual merit: intolerance and prejudice.

videos:

UN Human Rights Chief urges an end to discrimination

Anthony Romero message for Human Rights Day

Robert Archer Interview

Wilder Tayler

Links:

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Human Rights Day 2010

The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

LPF resource: Addressing Racism: Challenge for Peacemakers

Lutheran Human Relations Association

The Lutheran World Federation - Office for International Affairs and Human Rights

Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service

Lutherans Concerned/ North America

Goodsoil

ELCA:

Human Rights - CSR program

Human Dignity and Human Rights

ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries

Journal of Lutheran Ethics - February 2009 issue - Human Rights and Family

Human Rights Day 2009

Human Rights Day 2009 on December 10

will focus on non-discrimination.

“Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most pressing human rights problems. No country is immune from this scourge. Eliminating discrimination is a duty of the highest order.”
Navi Pillay
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Discrimination: treating a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, based on the group, class, or category to which they belong (skin color, religion, sex, etc.) rather than on individual merit: intolerance and prejudice.

videos:

UN Human Rights Chief urges an end to discrimination

Anthony Romero message for Human Rights Day

Robert Archer Interview

Wilder Tayler

Links:

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Human Rights Day 2009

The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

LPF resource: Addressing Racism: Challenge for Peacemakers

Lutheran Human Relations Association

The Lutheran World Federation - Office for International Affairs and Human Rights

Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service

Lutherans Concerned/ North America

Goodsoil

ELCA:

Human Rights - CSR program

Human Dignity and Human Rights

ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries

Journal of Lutheran Ethics - February 2009 issue - Human Rights and Family

---

Atonement Lutheran Church

Reconciling in Christ team presents:

HOPE, HOMOSEXUALITY, and HOSPITALITY

A Bible study by Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke, Oregon Synod - ELCA

Wednesday, January 27th 6:00 PM – Potluck and fellowship; 7:00 PM – Bible study, followed by questions and answers. Everyone is welcome! (541) 265-2554 (download the flier)

If you are interested in more information about the Reconciling in Christ process and how to hold such an event in your own congregation, check out the following online websites and resources:

Lutherans Concerned/North America

Caring Conversations - Trinity's Affirmation of Welcome

goodsoil.org – Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation

Wingspan

Soulforce

---

Dramatic new film

"The End of Poverty?"

nationwide premier

Now Showing in Seattle

for other cities see the full schedule and more details . . .

Interview: Filmmaker Philippe Diaz on “The End of Poverty?”