Conference Minister Corner

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Rev. Gordon Rankin | Conference Minister

I write this week while taking a brief pause from the activities of the 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ. We are only halfway through Synod and there are already many things I'd like to write about.  

What I what I want to mention today is something the Reverend Shari Prestemon, candidate for the position of Associate General Minister for Love of Neighbor and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, said in her candidating speech. ...Read More on nhcucc.org

Friends,

On Sunday afternoon, we received the heartbreaking news that there had been a fire at the Daisy Dube Orphanage in Mt. Selinda, Zimbabwe. Most of those who have traveled to Zimbabwe as a part of our Ukama partnership have visited the orphanage.

The good news is that there was no loss of life or serious injuries. However, the building was a total loss. The 13 girls and 9 boys who lived there are now displaced. 

We are in regularly contact with our partners in the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. They are assessing the damage and their options. I would encourage your prayers for the youth, for those who care for them and for our partners at this time.

In upcoming days, we will share a little more about additional ways you can offer your support.

Gordon

Last week, in response to a court case, the Internal Revenue Service said that they would no longer be enforcing the provisions of the Johnson Amendment as applied to churches or other houses of worship. This overturn decades of practice. In essence, this would allow churches to endorse political candidates to their congregations. They said that they would not consider such endorsements as campaigning, but rather a family matter like "a family discussion".

We want to be clear with our churches that the law has not changed. It is still illegal to endorse candidates even to your congregations. It is just that the Internal Revenue Service will not be enforcing that law. What remains unknown is if this lack of enforcement will be implemented consistently across all churches/houses of worship and for all candidate endorsements.

To help your church incorporate this shift into their faithful practices, I would offer this counsel for our United Church of Christ General Counsel, Heather Kimmel:

"This morning we woke to the news that churches now have the freedom to endorse candidates from the pulpit.

What happened? The National Religious Broadcasters and Intercessors for America and a couple of churches sued the IRS. The plaintiffs alleged the Johnson Amendment, the law the prohibits all tax-exempt charitable organizations (501(c)(3)s) from intervening in political campaigns—i.e., endorsing candidates for political office— violates several constitutional rights of churches as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The plaintiffs originally asked the court for an injunction against enforcing the Johnson Amendment for all 501(c)(3)s. Now the plaintiffs and the IRS have moved a federal district court in Texas to enter a consent judgment to settle the lawsuit, including the First Amendment.

The motion is for the court to enter a consent judgment, which is a judgment agreed upon by the parties to the case and which is approved by the judge. The proposed consent judgment states: “When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith, it neither “participate[s]” nor “intervene[s]” in a “political campaign,” within the ordinary meaning of those words.” The consent judgment also acknowledges the IRS has not historically enforced the prohibition on political campaign intervention by churches. After some discussion of the doctrine of constitutional avoidance, the motion concludes: “For these reasons, the Johnson Amendment does not reach speech by a house of worship to its congregation, in connection with religious services through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith.” The relief that will be accorded by the judgment is a permanent injunction against the IRS enforcing the prohibition on political campaign intervention against the plaintiffs “based on speech by a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith.”

What does this mean? The IRS does not have the authority to repeal legislation like the Johnson Amendment through a consent judgment to settle a lawsuit. But the motion for this consent judgment is a public statement by the IRS that it will not enforce the political campaign intervention prohibition against a church. It is a practice that is now public policy. Like much of this administration’s legislation-by-proclamation strategy, the extent of the impact is not yet fully known. Candidates may target churches and use them to funnel campaign funds. Churches that choose to endorse political candidates will divide on political endorsements. Churches and candidates will be beholden to one another in ways that will influence the churches’ mission and ministry.

What should we do? No IRS guidance exists on the boundaries of the policy. Churches can use the Our Faith, Our Vote resources to continue to be engaged in the political process in the ways that churches have always been engaged while carrying out the mission and ministry of their church.

Heather E. Kimmel (she/her)

General Counsel

United Church of Christ, National Ministries

JULY 17: JOIN THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE MISSION GROUP FOR THE

“LABOR MOVIE EVENT OF THE SUMMER!”

Thursday July 17, 2025, the 5th anniversary of the death of Congressman and justice icon John Lewis, has been declared the John Lewis National Day of Action when “Good Trouble Lives On!” 

“Good Trouble/Necessary Trouble” actions (these words are a rallying cry of Congressman Lewis) are taking place across the state and nation (see https://www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-actions/ - and the Concord event is described elsewhere in this Weekly News). In New Hampshire, we will cap the day with a NHCUCC Economic Justice Mission Group (and allies!) evening showing in Manchester of the documentary film UNION. All NH UCCers and friends are invited – and strongly encouraged – to attend.

The movie UNION documents the successful and against-all-odds effort by overworked Amazon employees to unionize Amazon’s JFK8 Warehouse in New York. We will screen the full-length documentary (102 minutes) at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst Street, in downtown Manchester – program to begin at 6:30 p.m. – film screening will begin at 7:15 p.m. The tickets are free, but it’s important for folks to register here. 

The film focuses on the successful effort to organize this Staten Island-based Amazon distribution center between 2021 and 2022. The movie features ordinary rank and file workers who take on one of the largest corporations in the world -- and win Round One! You can view the movie trailer here: Union | Trailer | NYFF62 - YouTube. The night will start with a brief panel discussion, led by our Economic Justice group, that includes New Hampshire union members from the Teamsters, Starbucks Workers United, and the Freelance Solidarity Project/NWU. Speakers will discuss union organizing, the worker justice challenges facing New Hampshire workers, and how we can all become allies. The Economic Justice Mission Group hopes to see you there!

The New Hampshire Conference is accepting up to 10 Speak Out Videos to be played during the Annual Meeting. All videos must be sixty (60) seconds or less and adhere to these protocols. The deadline for Speak Out Video submissions is September 12, 2025. These Video Speak Outs will be the only speak out opportunity at this year's Annual Meeting.

Churches that are celebrating an anniversary (in increments of 25 years), are invited to submit anniversary videos. All videos must be 120 seconds or less and adhere to these protocols. The deadline for submission of Church Anniversary Videos is September 12, 2025.

GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON

July 17, 2025

Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people. 

From felony disenfranchisement to voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act, anti-democracy forces are working overtime to silence our voices. 60 years ago, President Johnson federalized the National Guard to protect peaceful civil rights marchers in Selma. Now, President Trump is calling the Guard to stop protestors from using their voice and to block progress on issues we care about. 

We can’t wait. We need Good Trouble now!

On July 17th, the anniversary of Rep. John Lewis’ passing, we’re mobilizing across the country to demand that Congress protect our rights and ensure free and fair elections for all.

We’re sending a clear message:

In the United States, the power lies in the hands of the people. We demand an end to: 

• The extreme crackdown on our civil rights by the Trump administration, from our right to vote to our right to protest and free speech.
• The attacks on black and brown Americans, immigrants, trans people, and other communities.
• The slashing of programs that working people rely on, including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security. 

What can elected officials do right now? It’s time for Good Trouble, not just from us, but from every lawmaker who claims to care about our country. Congressman John Lewis warned us of this moment. He spent the final years of his life fighting to protect the right to vote. This is our moment to carry the torch, continue his legacy, and pass it forward to future generations.

This fight starts at the local level. Get to know how election administration works in your state. Build local connections, take local action, and find a democracy organization that matches your passion, whether that’s protecting voting rights, fighting disinformation, registering voters, or reforming our election systems.

On July 17th, join us for rallies, community events, press conferences, and candlelight vigils as we call on our leaders to defend the freedom to vote and protect American democracy. It’s time for Good Trouble Now, Congress.

Join us on July 17th. Together, we March in Peace and Act in Power.

_______________________________

It’s Our Choice

The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe shared - Our choice: “to follow the demands of the federal government or the teachings of Jesus.”

"Churches like ours, protected by the First Amendment and practiced in galvanizing people of goodwill, may be some of the last institutions capable of resisting this administration’s overreach and recklessness. To do so faithfully, we must see beyond the limitations of our tradition and respond not in partisan terms, but as Christians who seek to practice our faith fully in a free and fair democracy.

We did not seek this predicament, but God calls us to place the most vulnerable and marginalized at the center of our common life, and we must follow that command regardless of the dictates of any political party or earthly power. We are now being faced with a series of choices between the demands of the federal government and the teachings of Jesus, and that is no choice at all." ...read the full article here.

_______________________________

"A Declaration for An End to Genocide in Palestine"

has been ADOPTED by Delegates to the General Synod!

At the General Synod, currently underway in Kansas City, the delegates, by an overwhelming majority, have adopted an emergency resolution: a "Declaration for An End to Genocide in Palestine".

This emergency resolution denounces the actions of the State of Israel in partnership with the United States government which in sum amount to genocide against the Palestinian people. It denounces the targeted killing of civilians, including children, medical workers, and journalists in Gaza.

It calls on all settings of the United Church of Christ, including the National Setting, Conferences, Associations, and local congregations to act in solidarity with the Palestinian people considering the ongoing genocide being implemented by the State of Israel with the ongoing support of the U.S. which enables it.



NOW is the time to take action to stop the killing.

Clergy Convocation: Just Eucharist: Communion and the Church's Public Witness

On September 15 - 17, 2025 at the Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center in Swanzey, NH, Rev. Mary Luti will guide us as we consider "the many ways Communion can 'communize' us for just and courageous living in the world."

The Rev. J. Mary Luti, Ph. D. is a retired seminary professor and pastor, having taught for 20+ years in the fields of Christian History and Worship at the former Andover Newton Theological School (now Andover Newton Seminary at Yale), where she also served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Director of the Wilson Chapel. From 2000-2008 she served as Senior Minister of First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, United Church of Christ, in Harvard Square (MA). In retirement, she has served as the sabbatical or interim pastor in several churches in the greater Boston area. A member of the United Church of Christ Stillspeaking Writers Group, she is a regular contributor to the UCC Daily Devotional, and the author of books and articles on various aspects of Christian life, most recently editing a resource for the SSWG entitled, Do This: Communion for Just and Courageous Living. 

There are 46 spots available; please register here.

The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Magill has announced her resignation as Pastor and Teacher of the Small Church Collaborative (Rindge Congregational and Ashburnham Community Church)). Her last day will be July 27. 

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