Best Practices

This article is the third installment of our climate justice series.  Read the other articles here.  

Reading the fifth chapter of Mary Robinson’s book, Climate Justice, introduces us to two women, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim and Jannie Staffansson. Both belong to groups of native nomads and yet their lives and experiences are worlds apart. 

My favorite duty at our annual June church retreat, high in the Colorado mountains, is waking up early to start the fire in the grand meeting space fireplace. Sipping coffee and waiting for the fire to warm the lodge, I would meditate on the day’s schedule of devotions, studies and prayers which lead to sharing, testimonies, tears and healing.

Participants at the retreat would slowly be drawn to the warm hearth. The warm and dancing flames radiate out the raw power of fire reflected inside of us, which was recognized by our ancients’ ones. 

Immigration is our story. It’s our denomination’s story and it’s the story of most CRC and RCA congregants over the decades. It is our heritage, and we particularly recognize that this summer because June was Immigrant Heritage month -- the perfect few weeks to wrap up our “Immigration is Our Story” audio series.

“Will you give me a drink?” asked Jesus of the Samaritan woman. This story found in John 4:7-26 illustrates Jesus’ deep love for all women even those rejected by mainstream society. In this story, a Samaritan woman is at the well with Jesus, about to draw water for herself. Jesus asks her to get him a drink. Shocked at his request because Samaritans  and Jews didn’t mix, a conversation ensues.

An anti-alcohol law was passed in 2017 in Gulu district, after concerted and collaborative efforts of the Diocese of Northern Uganda and other stakeholders with support from World Renew. Petitions were raised by Diocese of Northern Uganda and peaceful protesters, both Muslim and Christian, marched through Gulu town to raise awareness of the need to have a law to stop the dangers associated with this kind of drink. And we were successful! All alcohol sold in sachets under 50 millilitres were banned in Gulu district.

Six months ago, I was rushing to bring materials to a church presentation. On my way there, I was pulled over. When the officer asked if I knew how fast I was going, I honestly said I did not know. He informed me that I had been going 47 mph in a 25. I was shocked. It was one of those moments that, even if I was focusing on my surroundings, the rush I was in distracted me from paying attention to how fast I was going. I was completely appalled at myself.

In honor of the 50 Muslim victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks, we are re-sharing this 2016 article from CRC member Nick In't Hout of Redlands, CA. The article was originally written in response to the 2015 San Bernardino shooting.

After the Dec. 2, 2015 attack on San Bernardino, a lot was communicated. One of the prominent themes was about Muslims in America. It was the talk in our town as the radical extremists who carried out the attacks were residents of my city (Redlands, CA), a town neighboring San Bernardino.

We're grateful to welcome Richard Silversmith as a new Do Justice columnist! 

Perhaps you have heard about the disturbance and engagement between Omaha Native American elder Nathan Phillips and Covington High School student Nick Sandmann on the major news outlets and social media, January 19, 2019.  

But when the time came for her to leave the community, she didn’t want to leave. Not only did she not want to deliver alone far from her community, but she also had 5 young children that she didn’t want to leave behind. I remember the daily stress of worrying that she would deliver the babies before leaving the community.