What we can do

What we can do

Presbyterian UN Seminar seeks faithful responses to terrorism [6-8-02]

Forty-five Presbyterians from around the world gathered in New York City recently for a four-day seminar on the theme, Tackling Terrorism: Faith Talks in the Aftermath of September 11th. The event, sponsored by the Presbyterian United Nations Office, gave participants an opportunity to visit Ground Zero in Manhattan and to explore terrorism and its causes from a Christian perspective.

Presbyterians join interfaith delegation to Afghanistan

[6-1-02]

Three members of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto (California) will participate in what may be the first interfaith delegation to visit Afghanistan since 9/11.

Derrick Kikuchi, one of the leaders of the Silcon Valley Witherspoon chapter, has announced that he, along with David Mineau and Craig Wiesner, will join the delegation from June 14 through 22, which is organized by Global Exchange, and known officially as "Sowing the Seeds of Peace: An Inter-faith Delegation to Afghanistan."

Kikuchi adds:

Global Exchange has been organizing delegations approximately every two months based on various themes (education, healthcare, etc.). To our knowledge this is the first interfaith organized team going to Afghanistan. Goals will include discovering projects and needs that can contribute to rebuilding Afghanistan through partnership with faith-based churches and communities in the United States. One of the work projects that the delegation will be involved with while in Afghanistan will be helping to rebuild a mosque that was destroyed. Part of the delegation will also include two people who lost family members on September 11th. There will also be a Roman Catholic bishop and a Methodist bishop as part of the delegation. We will be the only Presbyterian church representatives in the delegation. Craig will be the only Jewish-American.

We're hoping that this trip presents an opportunity for congregations in our Presbytery to contribute actively in gaining understanding and extending God's love and peace through practical action in this troubled area of the world. It would be wonderful if churches in our Presbytery were to become interested in being involved in any of the project possibilities that emerge. More information about this trip can be found at: http://www.fprespa.org/afghanistan.htm

Kikuchi adds the hope that other churches in the Palo Alto area will invite members of the delegation to share their reports when they return. He can be reached at derrick@wkmn.com

The shock and the grief remain.
The search for understanding goes on.
Arguments about appropriate responses to the terror of September 11 will be with us for a long time.

But as part of the people of God, we must also respond to the immense needs.

This page will offer ideas, suggestions, connections that may help us all to sort through the possibilities.

And we hope you will contribute your ideas -- in a simple note, a longer report, a link to a helpful web site. Please share what you can with the rest of us! Just send a note.

Presbyterian News Service has summarized the resources available to help Presbyterians deal with the terrorist attacks of September 11. A special section of the PCUSA web site is the easiest, fastest way to get help, information.

Immigrant rights are doubly threatened, and advocacy groups call for May 1 action [3-30-02]

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) and the National Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty for Immigrants warn about twin threats to immigrant rights -- from a recent Supreme Court decision, and a revived "bracero" program apparently favored by Pres. Bush.

Support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance efforts to get a second round of aid to Afghan refugees. [12-10-01]

Oppose military tribunals and preserve civil liberties

Act for Change has issued this call for action. [11-29-01]

Religious organizations express concerns for the rights and well-being of detainees and immigrants; support release of information -- and suggest that others write to the President and the Attorney General. [11-20-01]

Say NO to torture!
[11-14-01]

Relief agencies call for a bombing pause in Afghanistan [11-7-01]

A number of prominent religious and secular relief organizations are calling for a suspension of the United States-led bombing of Afghanistan so that food can be delivered prior to the onset of Afghanistan's harsh winter.

Economic stimulus package still favors corporations and the well-off [11-2-01]

We have reported before on concerns that the President's proposals for stimulating the US economic seem designed to benefit the wealthy, and especially the largest corporations, more than helping average citizens - or the fading economy itself.

The picture looks even worse now, as reflected in a recent New York Times analysis. A web site called MoveOn offers a quick way to send messages to Congress about this issue.

Presbyterians have contributed more than $1.2 million in relief aid through PC(USA) channels since the Sept. 11 strikes, according to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). [10-26-01]

Church World Service is expanding its Afghan refugee aid to provide both family shelter kits and 6-months supplies of food. [10-26-01]

You may want to support a bill introduced in Congress, to establish a Department of Peace.

Get more information from alternative news sources.

Urge that economic stimulus proposals be changed to help the most vulnerable in our society, instead of the well-off. [10-16-01]

Deal with "anti-terrorism" legislation in Congress.

The National Immigration Forum in Washington, DC., provides information on anti-terrorist bills now in Congress, and their impact on immigrants. [10/9/01]

NOTE: This material also includes:

Anti-immigrant Backlash - Useful information in dealing with hate crimes and harassment

Detention - New regulation allows for longer detention of immigrants without charge

Peace groups plan rallies
[10-5-01]

Gustav Niebuhr reports in today's New York Times that a number of peace organizations are encouraging members and others to join in local rallies around the country this Sunday, October 7.

Here are ten simple things you might do to build community ties and resist violence against Muslims.

You or your congregation might sign the call by a wide spectrum of religions leaders, "DENY THEM THEIR VICTORY: A RELIGIOUS RESPONSE TO TERRORISM."

Consider using in worship a new hymn written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette in response to the terrorist actions: "O God, Our Words Cannot Express."

For a variety of other resources, including liturgies, prayers, and reflections, go to our general listing on the events of September 11.