This gathering is being rescheduled. More details to follow.

The Office of the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada announced the establishment of the Office of Prophetic Witness in the nation’s capital and the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II as the Inaugural Prophetic Preacher-in-Residence. The office will provide support, resources and encouragement for denominational and faith leaders in their public witness in the public square during these perilous times. 

On April 13^th, Palm Sunday Disciples General Minister and President, the Reverend Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens will offer remarks and lead the processional on Capitol Hill to hear the first Sermon to the Nation by the Prophetic Preacher-in-Residence, Bishop William J. Barber, II. Reverend Owens is extending an invitation to all and especially to faith and denominational leaders to join her on April 13^th. 

The Reverend Stephanie Kendell, Senior Minister of National City Christian Church welcomes this new Office of Prophetic Witness and will also be joining and encouraging others in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Capital Area and beyond to engage in public witness in the public square particularly the We Must Stand Moral Witness Wednesdays and the Justice Focused Weekends including the “One Moral Vision in 1,000 Voices.” 

Additional information and resources may be found on the Repairers of the Breach website. 

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The Office of the General Minister and President is pleased to announce the establishment of the Office of Prophetic Witness in Washington, DC, the nation’s Capital, by Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Public witness is a historic Disciples commitment. Disciples founder, Alexander Campbell reflected, “we ought to have the largest meeting house in Washington City, and there stand in the presence of king’s and earth’s nobility and proclaim the gospel…” 

The Office of Prophetic Witness will work with other denominational and faith leaders to coordinate and provide support and encouragement for their public witness in the public square, and advance necessary faith actions including Moral Witness Wednesdays and Justice Focused Weekends – One Moral Vision in 1,000 Voices beginning in April.

Envisioning a wider witness, Rev. Terri Hord Owens observed: “National City Christian Church is our national church, and I hope the Office of Prophetic Witness will further root our passion for justice alongside our national church and other manifestations of our denomination further extending our prophetic witness throughout and beyond the church.”

Rev. Dr. William Barber II, former pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, former Moderator of the North Carolina Region of the Christian Church, founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy, Yale Divinity School, and president of Repairers of the Breach, has been appointed to serve as the inaugural Prophetic Preacher In-Residence in the Office of Prophetic Witness. He has agreed to take on this role pro bono.

In this new role, Dr. Barber will preach, teach, and lecture once a month to the nation and the church. He will employ every means including in-person gatherings and social media to remind the nation and church of the high moral stakes of the policy battles raging in Washington, DC.

The post The Office of the General Minister and President announces the establishment of the Office of Prophetic Witness appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Yearbook reporting started a month later than usual this year. We have also been adjusting to the updated ALEX2 system and dealing with a few communication issues. Due to these circumstances, we are extending the deadline for Yearbook reporting to April 11, the Friday before Palm Sunday.

ALEX2 is a new system and new web site. Everyone needs to create new user information in the new system. Usernames and passwords from the old system will not work. Information on how to create a new login is available on the ALEX Help Center.

Yearbook reporting is streamlined in the new system. Reporters will only be asked for Yearbook statistics. Reporters will not enter staff information as they have in past years. A video guide to entering Yearbook report data is available on the ALEX Help Center.

Help with the new ALEX2 system is available on the Help Center or by sending an email request to alex@disciples.org. When requesting help by email, please include your name along with your church name and location.

If you haven’t submitted your congregation’s Yearbook report for 2024, please take advantage of this extended deadline to submit the ALEX2 Yearbook report for your congregation.

The post Yearbook Reporting Deadline Extended appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

With heavy hearts, we announce the closing of All Peoples Christian Church this month after nearly 80 years of serving our beloved community. Our church has been a national beacon of hope, fighting against injustice and inequality while seeking peace and fulfilling the Gospel. We have faithfully served, inspired by Isaiah 56:7: “My house shall be a house of prayer for all people,” where ALL are welcome.

To honor and celebrate our community presence over the past 80 years, we have scheduled two special events in March:

Homecoming Community Event
Join us as we gather for a joyous reunion and celebration of community. We will come together to share memories and remember the rich history of All Peoples Christian Church and its impact on the community and the denomination.
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: 822 E 20th Street. Los Angeles 90011

Final Worship Service
Join us for our final worship service, where we will come together in prayer and reflection, giving thanks for the blessings and experiences we have shared. Reception Lunch to follow after Worship.
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 10:45 am
Location: 822 E 20th Street. Los Angeles 90011

We invite all current and former members, friends, and community members to join us in these events as we celebrate the legacy of All Peoples Christian Church. Together, we will honor our past and look forward to the future with hope and gratitude.  While this chapter is ending, the spirit of the church—the deep sense of community, unity, and service—will continue to live on through the work of All Peoples Community Center. More information to follow. 

The post Celebrating 80 Years of All Peoples Christian Church appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Rev. Dr. Mark G. Toulouse, a beloved professor, preacher, and author, passed away on March 3, 2025. A retired professor, ordained Disciples minister, and a PhD graduate of the University of Chicago Divinity School, he is the author of the well-known text, Joined in Discipleship: The Shaping of Contemporary Disciples Identity.

Dr. Toulouse retired in 2017 as Principal of Emmanuel College and Professor of the History of Christianity at Emmanuel College and the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto. He joined the faculty of Emmanuel College, the University of Toronto’s seminary, in 2009, after serving twenty-three years at Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University as a historian of religion and culture. Dr. Toulouse taught at Brite Divinity School from 1986 to 2008 and served as Dean from 1999-2002. He began his work in theological education in 1984, when he joined the faculty of Phillips Theological Seminary in Enid, Oklahoma.

He is the author of numerous articles and books. His books include The Transformation of John Foster Dulles: From Prophet of Realism to Priest of Nationalism (1985); Makers of Christian Theology in America (1997), Sources of Christian Theology in America (1999), Walter Scott: A Nineteenth-Century Evangelical (1999), and God in Public (2006), and The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Significance of Popular Culture (2016).

Services will be held Sunday afternoon (time TBD) March 9 at South Hill Christian Church, located at 3200 Bilglade Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76133.

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• Demonstrates spiritual maturity, possessing a deep understanding and appreciation of Disciples Identity;
• Demonstrates an understanding of the missional interconnectedness and covenantal relationships of all expressions of the church including a foundational understanding of the institutional structures of the local, regional, and general church;
• Displays a willingness to be a servant leader with a deep respect for differing opinions and cultural diversity as well as being open and inviting toward the understandings of others;
• Demonstrates effective communication skills both in person and virtually (including possesses a comfort level with the computer literacy skills needed to conduct board business);
• Possesses an understanding of budgets and the financial literacy needed to conduct the business of the greater church; and
• Demonstrates a desire to share specialized skills with the greater church as identified as needed by the General Board.

Learn more about the nominating process in this educational pamphlet.
Begin the nominating process for the Moderator Team, the non- salaried officers of the General Assembly here, and the General Board by clicking here. The deadline to submit nominations is February 22, 2025.

The post General Board Nominations Deadline Extended appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.  As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.  As part of this multifaith coalition, we seek to affirm that we do indeed welcome all.  If you or anyone in your congregation has a question about this action, please feel free to contact: news@disciples.org.

Moving towards wholeness together,
Rev. Terri Hord Owens
General Minister and President

Below are additional resources to provide further support and clarity. 

Video
A video resource featuring Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as she reflects on the multifaith action approved by the General Board to protect the freedom to practice our faith and for the church to be the church. The action is about moving towards wholeness together not about partisan politics. Disciples are Christians with a variety of political perspectives including conservative, progressive, republican, democrat, independent, and others. 

Filed Complaint
For more background and further consideration, the filed complaint is shared for reading and discernment.

Petition
To give others a chance to engage in this issue, there is a petition titled “Sensitive Locations, Sacred Spaces,” from the Center for Faith and Justice. 

The post Important Statement from the General Minister and President: Multifaith Action appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Messages from our General Minister and President
January 20th Speech
Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), joined ecumenical leaders and fellow Disciples at Healing Cathedral Christian Church in Memphis, TN, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Interfaith Gathering and Moral Mass Meeting, titled “For Such a Time as This,” united participants in powerful worship, prophetic listening, and calls to action. Click here to hear Rev. Owen’s inspiring speech.

Luke 4: Being the Church we say we are
Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), reflects on Luke 4 where Jesus was called to speak good news to the poor, to work for liberty for the captive, to give sight to the blind, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. She encourages the church, in the power of the Spirit, to listen prophetically, to speak firmly and courageously for peace, justice, and mercy, and to pray steadfastly together.  View the video.

Week of Compassion
Resources are available to help churches and communities support their immigrant and refugee neighbors with compassion and care. These tools provide guidance, advocacy, and practical assistance amid changing policies.

Obra Hispana
Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor of Obra Hispana, has pinned a letter in response to Executive Actions on Immigration by the Trump Administration. Tapia states, “Each of us has a role to play in this historic moment. Rejecting these actions is not just a matter of civil rights but also a matter of faithfulness to the Gospel.” 

Justice and Advocacy Ministries
Justice and Advocacy Ministries empowers Disciples to use our voices and our actions to promote greater justice and mercy in the world. Disciples Home Missions seeks to bring a coordinated approach to influencing the church’s work for justice with a focus on three key areas: 1) Refugee and Immigration Ministries; 2) Racial Justice; 3) Environmental Justice. Click here for an Executive Orders Resource List.

These resources appeared in the January 29^th issue of Disciples Justice Ministries. Subscribe today to receive the newsletter.

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The ALEX database for congregation and Yearbook data is undergoing a migration to a new platform. While the migration is underway, the ALEX site will be unavailable.

We are planning to open reporting of 2024 Yearbook statistics on January 21, and we expect ALEX will be available for reporting then. A worksheet for collecting 2024 data is available now in English and Spanish. Request a copy of the worksheet or send any questions in an email message to alex@disciples.org.

The updated version of ALEX will streamline reporting for congregations. It will also make it easier for ALEX subscribers and congregational, regional, and general ministries to access Yearbook history.

The post ALEX Database Migration appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

On January 20, 2025, the Interfaith Service & Moral Mass Meeting: “For Such a Time as This – A Prophetic Response to America’s Defining Moment” will be hosted in person at Healing Cathedral Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) located at 4523 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN at 6pm ct|7pm et. Please plan to participate as we come together in unity, faith, and action. Learn more and register to attend here. The gathering will be livestreamed at: Live | Repairers of the Breach.

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Four Regions of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are announcing the request for “letters of interest” to serve as their next Regional Minister.

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Georgia Regional Minister

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia is seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Job Description are posted on the following website: https://www.gadisciples.org/regional-minister-search. Persons who would like to be considered for this position should express their interest via email to Rev. Douglas M. Ivey, Chairperson of the search committee, at garegionsearch@gmail.com or by regular mail addressed as follows:
Search Committee Chairperson
Christian Church in Georgia
2306 Vineville Ave. Suite B
Macon, GA. 31204
Interested persons should also be sure that their Search and Call forms are up to date.
The application deadline is December 27, 2024.
________
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT​ Oklahoma Regional Minister

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma is seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to serve as its Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted at​ https://okdisciples.org/regional-minister-search/ . To be considered for this position, please submit a letter of interest via email to Rev. Susan D. Payne, search committee chair, at OklaDisciplesRegionalSearch@gmail.com, or by postal mail at this address:
Rev. Susan Payne
Search Committee Chair
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma
300 NW 70th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73116-7804
Please ensure that profiles are updated in Search and Call (Disciples Home Missions).
Deadline to respond is January 2, 2025.
_______
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Tennessee Regional Minister

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tennessee is seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted on the following website – https://tndisciples.org.

In order to be considered, all applicants are required to provide updated search and call paperwork. In addition, all applicants are required to mail or email a Letter of Interest to the Tennessee Regional Office addressed to:
LaVerne M Bobo (Search Committee Chairperson)
Christian Church in Tennessee
4006 Ashland City Highway
Nashville, TN 37218
Email address: tnregminsear@tndisciples.org
The application deadline is January 15, 2025.
____
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Illinois/Wisconsin and The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Michigan Regional Minister

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois/Wisconsin and The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Michigan will be seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister to lead the two-regions-becoming-one into the future. Persons who would like to be considered for this position should express their interest via email to Sandy Harvey (Regional Minister Search Committee Chair) rmsearch@cciwdisciples.org or paper mail to
Sandy Harvey c/o Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin
401 W. Jefferson St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
Questions can also be directed to the Regional Minister Search Partner, Andy Mangum, andy@ccsw.org.

​***NOTE PROFILE WILL BE AVAILABLE in January 2025***

Currently the timeline for calling a settled Regional Minister is:
January 2, 2025–Regional Profile and Position Description available
March 3, 2025–Application Deadline
October 4, 2025–Anticipated Joint Regional Assemblies and anticipated call of Regional Minister

The post Four DoC Regions seek to call Regional Ministers appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

On behalf of Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada and the United Church of Christ in the U.S., we offer our prayers and support to the churches and people of South Korea at this uncertain time. We were deeply concerned when South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol surprisingly declared martial law on December 3. However short-lived, President Yoon’s initiative to seize government control to use against political opponents was widely regarded as a self-serving act that threatened the entire nation with fear and instability.

We recall South Korea’s profound and too-recent history of martial law and the Gwangju Massacre in 1980, when hundreds of protesting civilians were killed by government forces under General Chun Doo-hwan. President Yoon’s rash and futile act this week surely evoked anxious memories of those violent days for many South Koreans.

Just as they did during earlier periods of dictatorships, South Korean Churches and their faithful members have shown bold witness in defense of the rights and dignities of the Korean people. Our partners, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea and the National Council of Churches in Korea, have been persistent voices for peace and justice in the face of political threats. We support church partners who pressed lawmakers in the National Assembly to vote to rescind President Yoon’s declaration of martial law and who are now calling for his removal from office.

We join the ecumenical community worldwide in our commitment to stand with church partners and the people of South Korea as they move beyond this turbulent moment and continue to call political leaders to moral and wise leadership. We remain steadfast in our prayers for all in South Korea. May God grant hope and healing to all who seek the peace with justice promised in Christ.

Rev. Teresa Hord Owens
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
General Minister and President/CEO
United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. LaMarco Cable
President/CEO, Disciples Overseas Ministries
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Co-Executive, Global Ministries

Rev. Shari Prestemon
Acting Associate General Minister
United Church of Christ
Co-Executive, Global Ministries

The post A Statement of Solidarity with the People and Partners of South Korea appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Disciples Church Extension Fund has named Rev. John Powell, M. Div. its Interim President and CEO.

Rev. Powell has over 30 years of bi-vocational experience in ministry and commercial banking, including strategic planning, lending, and corporate mergers. In his new role, he will guide the organization through transition as the Board works to call the next new President and CEO.

“Rev. John Powell possesses the gifts and graces that will serve the mission of Disciples Church Extension Fund well during this season of transition,” said Board Chair Martha A. Brown. “The expertise that he brings to this ministry and its partners will continue to grow the organization and the whole church.”

Rev. Powell is a past board member and has served as interim pastor and lead pastor in multiple congregations. He has also served as Moderator and Vice Moderator of the Capital Area Region and on several regional committees. He is currently serving as the pastor of Burgin Christian Church (DOC) in Burgin, KY.

“I am honored to be able to serve the Church in this capacity,” said Rev. Powell. “I have witnessed the dedication the staff has to the mission and look forward to guiding their work until a new leader is called.”

Rev. Powell earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Transylvania University, attended Lexington Theological Seminary, and holds a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) from Wesley Theological Seminary.

The post Disciples Church Extension Fund names Rev. John Powell, as its Interim President and CEO appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) prepares for the 2025 meeting of the General Assembly next summer, the Office of General Minister and President is now receiving submissions for business resolutions. 

The procedure for General Assembly business is outlined in the Special Rules of Procedures for the General Assembly and in the Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Business items may be filed by any congregation, region, organization with a recognized relationship, institution or general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or by the governing structure of any such body (GA Special Rules 1.2). No more than one Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution may be presented by any one group (GA Special Rules 2.5.2).

The deadline for submission of resolutions to the Office of General Minister and President is January 13, 2025. Upon recommendation of the General Minister and President, the Administrative Committee shall determine whether each item qualifies for consideration by the General Board.

Resolutions will be reviewed by the General Board during its meeting April 4-8, 2025. The General Board will decide on a recommendation regarding each resolution and will refer them to the General Assembly for consideration. 

The Office of General Minister and President will circulate all resolutions for consideration (except emergency resolutions) to congregations, regions and general ministries no later than May 13, 2025. 

Submitters should review the types of resolutions outlined in the Special Rules of the General Assembly (section 2).

Resolutions/business items contain two sections:

• Whereas – this section delineates the facts of the issue. Each fact receives its own “whereas” statement. Cites and statistical references should be footnoted.
• Therefore, be it resolved – this section names the action(s) to be considered by the local congregations/regional ministries/general ministries in answer to the issue described in the” Whereas” section. If an action requires funding, the source of the funding needs to be named. If an action requires an individual or group to act on behalf of the voting delegates of the Assembly, that person or group should be named.

A third section – Background Information – may be included at the end of the resolution to provide additional information and history.

Resolutions may not impose judgment on others, nor are they to bring into question the Christian commitment of those who do not agree with the position of the submitters.

When submitting a resolution to the Office of General Minister and President, please email your submission to submissions@disciples.org. A complete submission must include:

• the name, email address and cell phone number of the person who will act as the point of contact for the submitters throughout the process
• the ministry(ies) putting forth the resolution
• the resolution as a Microsoft Word document

The post 2025 General Assembly Submissions Open appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

September 30, 2024

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” – Isaiah 2:4

This past week and a half have been devastating for our siblings in Lebanon, where thousands have been injured and hundreds killed, the result of coordinated Israeli attacks through personal communications devices and airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, Beirut, and elsewhere. These attacks have added to the anxiety, panic, and fear of an already-stressed population, and have resulted in deaths and destruction unknown in scope so far.  We know that a new incursion or large-scale war on Lebanon would be ruinous. And we know the United States continues to be complicit in its support of Israel’s unchecked offensives, which now also include air raids on Yemen.

We pray for the injured and their families. We pray for peace and comfort for those who have been displaced and those who mourn, in a country that continues to grieve and heal from previous losses.

The Lebanese people have suffered. Schools are closed.  Hospitals are overwhelmed. Tens of thousands are displaced, injured, or killed. Their land and communities are shattered by
continued assaults, and their livelihoods destroyed, as the country experiences
an ongoing economic crisis as well.  Residents of northern Israel, too, are impacted by the exchange of missiles, their lives uprooted.  The UN met on Sept. 20 in an emergency session, and a UN spokesperson said that Lebanon and the region are “on the brink of catastrophe.”

Last week’s attacks in Lebanon took place as the UN General Assembly met and voted to demand an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian lands within a year, following the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion issued this July.

We pray for the people and our partners in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, Yemen, and in Israel who are responding to the crisis and for our mission personnel living in the region. Along with our prayers, we commit to support their efforts in attending to the emerging needs of the people as they care for the injured and bury the dead.

This war, now being fought on many fronts, must end.  As people of faith with commitment to justice and peace, we call on world leaders to attend to the escalation of Israel’s aggression in the region. We join the voices in the global community calling for ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the operation in the West Bank, and for an immediate de-escalation of this intensifying crisis in Lebanon and Yemen. We condemn Israel’s provocative campaign of assassinations.

We support the UN resolution calling for Israel to comply with international law to “withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank.” 

Isaiah spoke of God’s judgment, a message that nations and people will be held accountable for our actions.  We are called to do all we can to take actions to strive for the day when we will see a just world for all, the day when God’s peace – a peace with justice – may prevail. 

Join us in prayer: God of mercy and justice, we yearn for the day when prophecy is fulfilled and weapons of war become tools for planting and harvesting goodness, the day when war is set aside and forgotten. We long for the day when your peace prevails, when all your children will enjoy the richness and fullness of life. Today, we lament as that day is not yet here, and it seems a distant hope. We wait in hope. O God, grant us strength and courage in that task.

Join us with your gifts in supporting our partners as they respond to the needs of the people through the ongoing Disciples Week of Compassion and United Church of Christ Middle East Crisis Response appeals.

Join us in continued advocacy, including regular advocacy alerts such as our most recent the 3^rd Thursday Alert.

Rev. Teresa Hord Owens
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. LaMarco A. Cable   
President      
Disciples Overseas Ministries  
Co-Executive, Global Ministries 

Rev. Shari Prestemon  
Acting Associate General Minister
United Church of Christ
Co-Executive, Global Ministries

The post A Joint Statement on the Current Crisis in Lebanon and the Middle East appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The Rev. Dr. Charles (Chuck) Blaisdell passed from this life to the next on September 22, 2024. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Chuck excelled in math and engineering courses at Southwest High School. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University, a master’s in religious studies from the University of Chicago, a master’s in philosophy (ABD) from Vanderbilt, and both master’s and doctoral degrees in divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

A man of unparalleled integrity and allyship, Chuck spent more than forty years in ministry with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. He served congregations, regional bodies, and national church organizations in Texas, Indiana, Northern California, Hawaii, and Colorado. He was sought after as a mentor in ministry, a writer of good polity, and a brilliant theologian.

In his ministry, Chuck pastored First Christian Church (Monahans, Texas), Stylesville Christian Church (Stylesville, Indiana), Hilo Coast United Church of Christ (Hawaii), and First Christian Church of Colorado Springs (Colorado). He served as a lay leader at First Church of Sterling, Massachusetts.

Chuck also served as the Associate Regional Minister of Indiana and the Regional Minister of Northern California-Nevada. He also worked for UCC Church Building and Loan Fund, Week of Compassion, and CBP in development.

As a volunteer, he served nine years as a director on the Christian Board of Publication, including a stint as board chair, and was recognized as a director emeritus in 2021. He also served on the board of directors of Higher Education & Leadership Ministries.

In his free time, Chuck was a voracious reader. He enjoyed piloting his Cessna 150 and, later, listening to air traffic control. He spent copious hours moderating online forums, ejecting rude people with great glee. He was a great appreciator of puns, both terrible and clever.

Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, Hazel (Carr) and Richard Blaisdell, and his brother, Dr. Greg Blaisdell. He is survived by his loving wife, Rev. Barbara (Shires) Blaisdell; his brother, Jim Blaisdell; his hanai brother, Rev. Dr. Bob Hill; his children, Micah Shires-Taylor, Rebecca (Shires-Taylor) DeWeese, Andrew Blaisdell, Rev. Katherine Blaisdell, and their spouses; and three grandchildren.

Services will be held at the First Church of Sterling, Massachusetts, on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Borders, your local foodbank, or the congregation in which you serve God as he served so faithfully for decades.

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As members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we recognize the Biblical mandate to welcome the stranger, the foreigner, and the alien. Leviticus 19 tells us not to mistreat the foreigner who resides among us, but instead to “love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” Jesus instructs us to care for the marginalized and oppressed among us, for “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). As such, our faith compels us to speak out against the dangerous racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric shared earlier this week.

During the US Presidential Debate on Tuesday September 10, Former President Donald Trump amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating their neighbors’ pets. These false claims echoed similar anti-immigrant comments made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

This kind of rhetoric is unacceptable. It is dangerous, dehumanizing, and puts already vulnerable communities even more at risk of threats and violence. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is blessed to count Haitian congregations among our membership, including the Haitian Disciples of Christ in Florida who share:

“The recent false accusation against our Haitian community, alleging that we eat cats and dogs, are not only deeply painful but also damaging to our reputation. These unfounded claims perpetuate harmful stereotypes and foster division and mistrust. Our community
is built on respect, tradition, and shared values, and such misinformation
undermines our dignity. It is crucial for us to address these misconceptions
with honesty and compassion, promoting understanding and unity. By standing
together and correcting these falsehoods, we reaffirm our commitment to truth
and the values we hold dear.”

Haitian asylum-seekers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders are not only pursuing what is their legal right, they are also challenging us all to live in full alignment with our religious and spiritual values, which implore us to welcome all people and not to turn our back on those in need.

The former president’s rhetoric targeting Haitians is not just xenophobic– it is anti-Black. Mass migration from Haiti does not occur simply in response to natural disasters – it is closely tied to harmful, racist U.S. and Western foreign policies toward Haiti going back to 1804 when the country was founded by formerly enslaved people who fought for and won their freedom.

Portraying Black immigrants as dangerous fuels the same racist stereotypes that impact Black Americans and Black people across the diaspora. It is a deliberate tactic to spread hate, promote further polarization in our country, and maintain our broken immigration system.

We urge public figures, pastors, faith leaders and political leaders alike to use their platforms to uplift immigrant communities and foster an environment of care and respect, rather than perpetuating division with false narratives.

As a faith tradition, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada is committed to advocating for the dignity, rights, and humanity of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. We stand in solidarity with the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio and across the United States and Canada. We continue to work and pray for humane and just immigration policies and programs.

Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens
General Minister and President

Rev. Allen Harris
Regional Minister in Ohio

Rev. Sandy Messick
Regional Minister in Florida

Click to download a pdf of the letter.

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Dear Disciples, and dear friends of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),

For more than 300 days, since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, the Palestinian people in Gaza have been crushed in spirit and in body as Israel has pursued a relentless assault that has included the crimes of extermination, murder, forcible transfer, torture, and inhuman treatment, among others, according to a United Nations Commission of Inquiry.  The number of Palestinian deaths has now exceeded 40,000, of whom 10,500 are children. Thousands of others remain unaccounted for, presumed lost and killed under tens of millions of tons of rubble – whole buildings and neighborhoods which have been targeted and destroyed by the onslaught. More than 1.9 million people out of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza of 2.3 million – three-quarters of whom are refugees from 1948 and their descendants – have been displaced from their homes multiple times, almost all are facing food insecurity of emergency levels, and Gaza is now facing a possible polio outbreak. Israel has blocked or denied essential nutritional aid, clean water, as well as medical supplies. What Palestinians are experiencing is nothing less than genocide.

Alongside its war on Gaza, Israel has intensified its operations in the West Bank, where more than 600 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Settler violence there has increased attacks on Palestinians that Israeli authorities have not constrained. Israel has approved settlement expansion and land annexation, encroaching further on Palestinian rights, and occupied Palestinian land while dehumanizing the Palestinian people. Its brutal assault on Gaza has provided a measure of cover for Israel’s violations in the West Bank and has overshadowed exchanges of artillery along the Israel-Lebanon border that has left tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese displaced.

The threat of regional expansion looms following the assassination of leading Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut, respectively. Such a widening lens has drawn focus away from the continuing assault on Gaza.

Recent attempts to avoid a wider war and to conclude a cease fire have provided a glimmer of hope, but the death and destruction have continued, despite these efforts. We acknowledge and deplore the United States’ enabling role of providing diplomatic cover and military arms and aid to Israel. We reiterate that there is – and can be – no military solution.

As always, it is the most vulnerable who suffer. The past ten months have amplified the dual imperative of ending the current atrocities and addressing decades of physical and systemic violence, including apartheid, that Palestinians refer to as the “ongoing Nakba.” The Palestinians in Gaza must be relieved of this onslaught, but also of more than half a century of Israeli occupation, 14 years of debilitating Israeli blockade, and several major military campaigns in the last two decades (2006, 2008-9, 2012, 2014, and 2021). This war must end, and further regional expansion avoided. Humanitarian and medical aid must be provided immediately, safely, and in sufficient quantities. All parties must be held to account. The occupation and Israel’s apartheid system must be dismantled. Palestinian refugees must be afforded their rights, and the now-homeless compensated for their material losses with guarantees of reconstruction. The Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees must be released. The United States must end its unquestioning diplomatic and military support for Israel’s violations of American and international law. As long as the core issues are not resolved, Palestinian resistance to oppression will only be strengthened.

As a Christian community of faith, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) seeks wholeness in a fragmented world, upholding the sanctity of life as a highest value. We have
been consistent in our opposition to all forms of violence – physical and structural – that violate the dignity of the people who are their victims. We condemn speech and acts of hate, including against Muslims and antisemitism, even as we clearly distinguish between such attitudes toward communities of faith and criticism of governmental policies. We must name injustice when we see it, and also act to re-center our Christian values of peace with
justice, compassion, and love for all people – the weak as well as the strong, the poor as well as the wealthy, and the powerless as well as the powerful. We cannot succumb to the sin of apathy but must speak truth to power with clarity and with prayer, wisdom, and action.

Echoing Middle Eastern Christians, we affirm and are inspired by biblical principles that “the meaning of our Christian presence and mission lies in building a culture of community and unconditional love among human beings. In this way, we become a sign and instrument of God’s communion with creation.” [1] Such love includes “seeking peace and pursuing it.”

For us, that peace starts with justice and abundant life. What we have seen for too long is the opposite: death and destruction, displacement and famine, desperation and tears. Nothing can return the losses of entire families and communities. But there must be accountability – to international law and institutions like the UN, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court, and to higher principles of justice, morality, and the sanctity of life.

We have striven in our prayers, advocacy, and solidarity with partners since October, and longer, to lift up the dignity of the people in the Middle East and to seek peace. We confess that it has not been enough. We can only pledge to redouble our efforts in that witness to bring an end to the horrific genocide taking place in front of our eyes, and to pursue a peace with justice that chooses life in all its fulness – with dignity and rights – for people everywhere.

Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens
General Minister and President

Rev. LaMarco A. Cable, President
Disciples Overseas Ministries

Rev. Chris Dorsey, President
Disciples Home Missions

Click to download a pdf of the letter.

       

[1] “We Choose Abundant Life – Christians in the Middle East: Towards Renewed Theological, Social, and Political Choices,” Beirut: September 2021, §70.

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DMF Day 2024, a one day giving event to support Disciples Mission Fund is coming up on September 12th, the 236th birthday of Alexander Campbell. On DMF Day we will host live events, share stories and resources, and have a worshipful time of prayer in gratitude for the difference that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is making. Stay tuned for the full schedule. 

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Covenant Project Town Halls made space for formative feedback and thoughtful questions that shaped GA-2343 Amendments to the Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and made it more fully reflective of the church. We are excited to host a series of Town Hall meetings for the whole church to receive an update on the work and recommendations of the Implementation Team.

Register today to attend one of the following Town Hall Meetings:
Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 7pm ET | 6pm CT | 4pm PT (Register Now)
Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 10am ET | 9am CT | 7am PT (Register Now)

The post The Covenant Project: Implementation Team Update appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).