To view and print the updated informational flyer and registration form click on the above heading for the link.

central-pacific-MMI-05-2012

Here is a wonderful activity to engage globally and locally.

The Central Pacific Conference’s  Spring Assembly is focusing on mission this year.  The Wider Church Ministries Team was given the challenge to engage our congregations in Global Ministries  and we’ve put together . . . → Read More: CPC’s Spring Assembly to Focus on Global Ministries and Mission]]> Attention! All Who Care About Global Ministries And Want To Show It:

Here is a wonderful activity to engage globally and locally.

The Central Pacific Conference’s  Spring Assembly is focusing on mission this year.  The Wider Church Ministries Team was given the challenge to engage our congregations in Global Ministries  and we’ve put together a series of workshops and presentations intended to do just that.

Special guests include Bishop Melzar Labuntog, Northwest Mindanao Jurisdiction, United Church of Christ in thePhilippines and Rev. Jim Moos, UCC Wider Church Ministries executive. 

Assembly will take place on May 18-19 at Hillsdale UCC in SW Portland.  Watch for registration from the conference office.  Please join us in Portland

Here is your opportunity for further training and networking.

On May 17th the CPC’s Wider Church Ministry Team and the Oregon Region Disciples of Christ are sponsoring a Ministry and Mission Interpreter’s Training.  This is a condensed version of the training held in Cleveland every two years right here . . . → Read More: Ministry and Mission Interpreter’s Training in Portland]]> Attention! All MissionTeams of CPC Congregations: 

Here is your opportunity for further training and networking.

On May 17^th the CPC’s Wider Church Ministry Team and the Oregon Region Disciples of Christ are sponsoring a Ministry and Mission Interpreter’s Training.  This is a condensed version of the training held in Cleveland every two years right here in our region.  Some of our national resource persons with Common Global Ministries will facilitate our time together.  It is a great opportunity for learning and for networking.

The preliminary agenda includes 4 sessions:  Your Passport to Global Ministries, Be a Global Mission Church, Telling the Story of God’s Global Mission, and Developing an Action Plan.

Host church is Lynchwood Christian (DoC) in Southeast Portland.

Registration materials will be available soon for this one-day event.

Please spread the word;  put it on your calendar;  and be prepared to promote mission.

SENDONG DEVASTATES MINDANAO—URGENT HELP NEEDED

Like a thief in the night, flash flood due to . . . → Read More: SENDONG DEVASTATES MINDANAO—URGENT HELP NEEDED]]> The Central Pacific Conference is developing a partnership with the UCCP and the recent flooding there connects us in a real way. Our WCM Team allocated $500 recently for a farming project in the area. The farm suffered significant damage.

SENDONG DEVASTATES MINDANAO—URGENT HELP NEEDED

Like a thief in the night, flash flood due to heavy volume of rainfall brought by typhoon “Sendong” (International codename: Washi) on Friday, December 17, 2011, claimed the lives of hundreds of people in Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Rising as high as 11 feet, the flood swamped houses to the rooftops and drowned unprepared residents in communities including children.

Latest disaster update from the Philippine National Red Cross website placed the death toll at 652 from 8 heavily affected areas, with 808 still missing in the aftermath of the flood. Initially, there are 5,844 families affected by the disaster, according to a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“We need all the help we can get for relief work,” said Bishop Melzar Labuntog of the UCCP Northwest Mindanao Jurisdictional Area, lamenting that the disaster is the worst that they have experienced in years. Local churches and conferences in disaster affected areas are mobilizing disaster response machineries to conduct needs and capacity assessments, organizing and relief operations despite meager resources.

“We enjoin all our church members in fervent prayer to God for the victims of disaster in Visayas and Mindanao,” implored UCCP General Secretary Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza. “Let us sow hope amidst despair. The spirit of Christmas is more meaningfully expressed through our generosity in giving help and comfort to those whose lives have become bleak because this horrible experience.I urge our local churches to collect a special offering as a show of our solidarity to our brothers and sisters who were severely affected. This is how to meaningfully celebrate the Christmas season.”

Once again, the UCCP appeals for help to all its local churches and institutions, partner churches and organizations locally and abroad in its campaign for relief work to disaster-stricken communities in Mindanao. The funds that we can raise will be in support of delivery and distribution of essential food items, clean water and medicines for disaster victims.

You may send cash contribution to:
BPI Taft – 3061-0861-28 (Peso) 3064-0917-07 (Dollar)

BPI West Triangle: 3051-1183-15 (Peso) 3051-1108-61 (Dollar)

BDO: 41-0000-4756 and 41-0000-4454 (boyh Peso accts)

BY: BISHOP REUEL NORMAN MARIGZA

Eleven people have now accompanied me on three trips to the Central Plateau of Haiti as part of the PNW Solidarity Group, ages 15-86. My next trip to Haiti is set for September 12th – September 24th.  I invite anyone willing to share what they learn to accompany me . . . → Read More: WATER MINISTRY AWARENESS TRIPS TO HAITI]]> Join the Pacific Northwest Solidarity Group!

Eleven people have now accompanied me on three trips to the Central Plateau of Haiti as part of the PNW Solidarity Group, ages 15-86. My next trip to Haiti is set for September 12th – September 24th.  I invite anyone willing to share what they learn to accompany me to Haiti.

We will see the work of Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP), the Peasant Movement of Papay, on clean water, sanitation, health promotion education, and sustainable agriculture.  We will visit the remote mountainous area of Zabriko, Tablon, and LeFle Diset (clean water through capping and distribution spring water, latrines), Twa Woch (well repair, latrines, and health promotion), Cherival (newly drilled water well), Docele (well repair, cisterns, and vegetable gardening), and Yard for Life projects (sustainable small plot agriculture). We will also visit the primary partner of Global Ministries in Haiti, the national Protestant council of churches known as CONASPEH, in Port au Prince.  On Saturday, we will visit the spectacular local waterfall and caverns of Basen Zim.  On Sunday, we will attend local church services in the morning as well as conduct our own worship service on Sunday evening.

MPP’s work is funded in large part by the Clean Water Fund of 1st Congregational Salem using Drink Water for Life contributions from congregations throughout the Central Pacific Conference — in addition to funds from other churches, schools, and individuals.

If you are interested, please contact me immediately through susanlsmithor@gmail.com.  I will provide an itinerary, a reading list, a packing list, travel notes, and everything you need for an enjoyable, memorable, life-changing and empowering trip.

If September isn’t possible work for you, consider coming with me on my Spring trip (mid-April – May) when I return toHaitifor a similar work/awareness trip.

Fall Preaching/Teaching/Presentations

I will be available after September 24th to lead worship/preach/teach/present concerning any of the following topics:

1) the global fresh water crisis and what we can do to address it;

2) global water and sanitation problems and the role of community-based projects in solving them;

3)Haiti, history, politics, and prospects for progress;

4) the Central Pacific Conference’s work on clean water inHaiti;

5) the JUST PEACE initiatives of the World Council of Churches;

6) water and sanitation problems inSouth Africa;

7) the human right to water as a mechanism to address global water and sanitation problems.

In preaching, while I tend to comment on some issue listed above, I generally preach the lectionary scriptures…which means my message WILL NOT be a canned sermon.  Pulpit supply fees, if any, are to directed to the Clean Water Fund, 1st Congregational UCC, Salem, OR.  This means that I would like to also do a pre/post church presentation in addition to service if possible.

I am willing to do multi-part adult forum or educational series, but they must be scheduled on 2 – 3 weeknights or for a half day on Saturday morning or afternoon.  I reserve Sundays for one-shot preaching and before/after service presentations.

My purposes are:

(1) raise awareness about global water issues,

(2) encourage your efforts to fund our clean water ministries,

(3) support congregations in obtaining Global Mission church designation,

(4) increase awareness of the work of Global Ministries,

(5) highlight Just Peace initiatives of the World Council of Churches, and

(5) assure a high level of clergy and lay energy and participation in next year’s Spring Assembly (focusing on Global Ministries).

NEW DAY magazine focuses on water issues

A forthcoming issue of NEW DAY magazine published by Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will focus entirely on water.  It includes three articles I wrote on the global water crisis, bottled water, and the clean water ministries of the Central Pacific Conference and 1st Congregational Salem.

Susan L Smith
Professor of Law
Director, Law and Government Certificate Program
Willamette University College of Law
susanlsmithor@gmail.com

         At the Annual Spring Assembly of the Central Pacific Conference (CPC) of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution to establish a partnership between the CPC and Northwest Mindanao Jurisdiction of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).  The CPC Wider Church Ministry Team . . . → Read More: Human Rights Concerns In The Philippines]]> HUMAN  RIGHTS  CONCERNS  IN THE PHILIPPINES

         At the Annual Spring Assembly of the Central Pacific Conference (CPC) of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution to establish a partnership between the CPC and Northwest Mindanao Jurisdiction of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).  The CPC Wider Church Ministry Team is continuing to work on this partnership.  Bishop Melzar Labuntog, Northwest Mindanao Jurisdiction UCCP has been invited to participate in the CPC Spring Assembly 2012.

As a part of this relationship, it is important that our congregations be  aware of the human rights violations that continue to occur in this part of the world.  Following are two articles that relate to human rights conditions in the Philippines.

New Zealand NGO Wants Philippine Mining Firms’ Permit Scrapped

Luke Coxon of the APS    April 25, 2011

         Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) challenged the Benigno C. Aquino III government to scrap the mining permits of big mining conglomerates in order to protect the Philippine environment and the indigenous communities.  The APS has called for the scrapping of the mining permit of the New Zealand Australian mining firm, OceanaGold that has its operations in Didipio, Nueva Ecija.

In a statement issued, the APS said “..it is ironic that the Aquino government leads a tree planting and clean-up drive as part of its Earth Day celebration while it continues to promote large-scale mining that destroys the environment and leaves thousands of people, homeless as they were driven away from their lands in order to give way to mining exploration and excavation.”

The Commission of Human Rights (CHR) of thePhilippineshas found that Oceana Gold has violated the human rights of the local Didipio community. The CHR has substantiated that OceanaGold had illegally demolished about 200 houses in the community during 2008 and this has been accompanied with excessive violence and brutality. The company has also violated the rights of an indigenous group to manifest their culture and identity.

UCCP  Legal Suit against Former Philippine President

Press Statement UCCP   June 16, 2011

         The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) filed a law suit against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo former President of the Philippinesand Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of thePhilippines.  While Arroyo was president, Church Pastors and leaders were liquidated, harassed, unlawfully detained or tortured by military agents and operatives.  UCCP General Secretary Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza joined with families of six pastors and leaders who were killed or tortured from 2004 to 2007 as plaintiffs against Arroyo for damages to the Church and Human Rights Violations of the victims.  From the UCCP, more than 18 persons were killed, 1 person disappeared and is believed killed, 3 persons ambushed and wounded and at least 4 persons abducted, detained and tortured under the administration of Arroyo.

Bishop Marigza stated “As the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, we take action against the relentless persecution and brutalization of the Church, especially being labeled as ‘ENEMY OF THE STATE’  through various counter-insurgency operation plans of the military establishment.  This false and malicious tagging has unjustly permitted for UCCP persons to be ‘neutralized’ in the name of so-called national security.”