Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:5
Thousands of protesters clashed with police in Hong Kong on Tuesday. It was the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding, and while a celebratory military parade took place in Beijing, at least 66 people were wounded across Hong Kong. One was injured critically when an officer fired a live round into his chest, a first in the four months that these protests have been taking place. Many journalists have been withdrawn after violence against them has occurred.
God, as these protests go on, and as violence seems to be escalating, we continue to pray for peace that comes with justice. We pray especially for the church in Hong Kong, and for its witness and work amidst this moment.
An online training program is aiming to educate health-care professionals about biases Indigenous women may experience. Its importance has been highlighted by allegations of recent coerced sterilizations -- in December, the United Nations committee against torture demanded Canada stop forced or coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and girls. The training program was developed by a research team of mostly Indigenous women. "It asks the person who is taking it to really critically look at themselves and understand who they are and their biases," said the program’s creator. It also includes information on traditional healing and Indigenous history such as residential schools and the '60s Scoop. The creator said she hopes the training can also be used in other areas such as law.
God, we pray for Indigenous women, whose health outcomes continue to be troubling, who often feel unsafe or distrustful of their health care providers, and who live with the trauma of so many years of oppression. We pray for women of color in other countries, too, who experience similar barriers to wellness. We give thanks for the people who are dedicated to using their creativity, intelligence, training, and energy to make an impact on this problem, and pray that it might be a critical piece of real change.
Haiti is experiencing a deepening economic crisis along with chronic food and fuel shortages, and it has pushed thousands of people to take to the streets. They are demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse. Protest leaders called for a nationwide day of resistance to the Government, reportedly urging supporters to take the streets, after a demonstration on Friday when several homes and businesses were set on fire, with police firing tear gas at protesters. Several have died during clashes in the past few weeks.
God, we pray for the people in Haiti who lack the basic necessities they need to survive: food, medicine, fuel, clean water. We pray for those who are willing to die in order to demand that they be treated with dignity. We pray for the leaders in Haiti -- for transparency, for a commitment to leadership that honors the dignity of the poor. We pray for other world leaders to collaborate to find a solution to this deepening crisis in Haiti.
President Trump has issued a new executive order which would allow state and local governments to refuse to take in refugees for resettlement. There are fears that this will allow xenophobic attitudes to become more powerful -- those with anti-Muslim ideas, or fear of certain ethnicities will be able to pressure their local officials to bar refugees from their communities, even those who are reuniting with their families who are already there. It could also mean far less hospitality toward refugees who are currently living there.
God, we pray for the consequences of a decision like this one -- especially the consequences which will fall on people who have lived through such trauma. We pray that the church would be a distinctive, powerful, and stalwart presence in communities all around the United States -- a group of people committed to being both a public voice for justice and a private extender of hospitality.
We are deeply angered and disappointed by the administration's proposal to shrink the refugee resettlement program and allow states and cities to reject refugees cleared for resettlement. As a denomination that has long welcomed refugees, we oppose these plans and urge the administration to keep the refugee resettlement program in tact so our churches can continue to honor our God-given call to welcome the stranger. Read the full statement here.
Call leading members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and ask them to urge the administration to protect the refugee resettlement program and welcome 95,000 refugees for Fiscal Year 2020. Click here...
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