UCC PIN: A Timeline
United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network
Background, History, & Timeline
Four related events led to the founding of UCC PIN in 2012
1. In 2005 General Synod 25 passed the “Use of Economic Leverage in Promoting Peace in the Middle East. Among other things, the resolution called on the church to challenge the practices of corporations that gain from the continuation of the conflict and to divest from those companies that refuse to change their practices of gain from the perpetuation of violence, including the Occupation.
2. That same year Palestinian civil society initiated the BDS movement, calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions as a form of non-violent pressure on Israel.
3. During this period, Gay Harter and Rev. Branwen Cook had organized a Task Force on Israel Palestine in the Massachusetts conference.
4. Leading up to the 2011 General Synod 28, Rev. Cook learned that a group of delegates planned to introduce a resolution that would encourage positive investment in Palestine while committing the UCC to refrain from engaging in BDS activities. The group was composed of people who had visited Israel/Palestine on trips funded by Christians for Fair Witness in the Middle East. Because the proposal was in contradiction to the Kairos Palestine document and the church’s policy in many other areas, the MA Task Force organized to educate and inform GS28 delegates about the resolution’s problems. The Synod Committee recommended “No Action”; the principal proposer withdrew the Resolution.
This experience convinced Gay and Branwen, who as a GS28 delegate had been instrumental in informing the other delegates, that the UCC needed a national grass-roots organization to educate and organize the church around support for resolutions already passed, to develop new initiatives to promote justice for Palestinians, and to support Global Ministries partners in Palestine and Israel.
2012
January – Eleven activists from UCC congregations and institutions from around the country along with support staff from Wider Church Ministries (Jim Moos, Peter Makari, Derek Duncan) and Justice and Witness Ministries (Mike Neuroth) held an organizational meeting in Cleveland. The group selected the name (UCC Palestine Israel Network) and chose Co-Chairs Gay Harter and Branwen Cook (who later resigned due to health issues.) The activists became UCC PIN’s Steering Committee, the PIN’s decision-making body with the staff persons functioning as non-voting resource persons.
Other 2012 actions and activities
· Massachusetts Conference agreed to fiscal sponsorship
· Developed and approved Mission Statement
· Established Facebook page and began planning for a web page
· Designed card to promote membership stating that members would:
§ Affirm Mission Statement
§ Commit to:
· Study Kairos Palestine document
· Visit and Learn about the region
· Advocate with the US government
· Support denominational partners in Palestine
· UCNews article introduced UCC PIN and invited readers to membership
· Actions related to issues
o Raised questions with the Pension Boards and United Church Funds regarding their implementation of the 2005 Economic Leverage Resolution
o Endorsed the SodaStream Boycott.
o Distributed Collegium Advent letter suggesting boycotts
o Publicized and provided support for various advocacy initiatives of the UCC
§ Letter to Congress on humanitarian aid to Palestinians
§ October 5 ecumenical letter on foreign aid accountability
PIN Presence in the UCC and among allied groups
· Decided not to bring a resolution to GS29, but to have a literature table and sponsor a workshop.
· Continued monitoring implementation of the 2005 Economic Leverage Resolution through contacts with the Pension Boards, United Church Funds, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.
· Joined the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, some committee members attended the campaign’s annual conference
· Initiated consultations with our allies in IPMN & UMKR on common interests
· Helped publicize the Tree of Life Conferences in the fall of 2012
2013 – A General Synod Year
January - At the Annual Meeting in Cleveland the steering committee met, assessed the work of 2012, and planned for the future. General Minister and President Geoffrey Black and Jim Moos, Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries participated.
General Synod 29 in Long Beach, California
· Shared a literature table with FOSNA and introduced UCC PIN to delegates and visitors
· Sponsored a workshop with Sidney Levy of JVP, Mira Rizeq of the YWCA Palestine and Shakeel Syed of the Islamic Shura of LA, coordinated with a Global Ministries workshop also featuring Mira Rizeq.
· Signed up 76 new members.
· Kept a close eye on reactions to the Fossil Fuels resolution, comparing reaction of financial bodies.
Other 2013 actions and activities
Google Groups, similar to listservs, set up for communication– one for steering committee, the other for general membership and friends of the PIN
System for tracking members, friends, and potential members established
Catherine Alder created the website - www.uccpalestineisraelnetwork.org/
Began work on resolution to be presented to General Synod 30
Researched actions by UCF and Pension boards related to 2005 resolution
Researched UCC’s history of boycotts
Began work on text of the resolution
Began identification of possible sponsoring conferences
2014
February – At the Annual Meeting in Washington DC we focused on the GS30 resolution by working on the draft of the text and discussing strategy with Katherine Cunningham of IPMN.
Actions Related to the GS30 resolution
Completed text and distributed to advocates in conferences that we hoped would sponsor
Eight UCC Conferences voted to officially sponsorship; Central Atlantic Conference (CAC) under the leadership of Rev. John Deckenback, became the lead conference.
Began actively promoting resolution among delegates, developed a delegate education packet
Began raising funds to cover synod expenses, including a grant request to Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)
CAC staff coordinated with synod staff to ensure that proposal’s text and format text conformed to Synod standing rules.
Developed workshop proposal – rejected because of duplication of issues.
PIN Advocacy and Presence among allied groups
Agreed that Esther Riley’s Congressional letter re cutoff of funding to the Palestinian Authority could go over the steering committee’s name
Communicated our support for the Presbyterian Church USAoverture to be considered at the mid-June General Assembly in Detroit. The action would divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard, and Motorola. The overture passed, 313 to 310.
Gay added UCCPIN to the endorsers of the International Petition on Embargo
2015 - A General Synod Year
February – At the annual meeting in Cleveland we assessed the previous year and strategized on the campaign for passage of our resolution, titled “A CALL FOR THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST TO TAKE ACTIONS TOWARD A JUST PEACE IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT.” Colleagues from PCUSA, UMKR, and JVP joined us offering hints of what to do and what to avoid.
General Synod 30 In Cleveland, Ohio
· Before Synod
o Promoted the resolution before with presentations to conference delegations
o Developed of a second web site in support of the resolution
o Selected a logo and letterhead
o Actively solicited endorsements from other denominations, religious leaders, allied groups
o Decided not to take a position on NCNV’s resolution on apartheid
o Received a $5,000 grant from Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace (WIAMEP) with possible $2,000 more to come if matched
o Closely monitored PB/UCF resolution
o Set up a media team
· At Synod
o Set up an exhibit booth with video, printed materials, posters, photos, book-signing by Mitri Raheb; signed up 31 new members
o Promoted the resolution with the support of Jewish Voice for Peace and local Palestinians by meeting with conference delegations, speaking with delegates in the halls and at the exhibit booth, organizing a prayer vigil, distributing materials
o Distributed colorful stoles and pins to supporters
o Coordinated media presence with IMEU; Tweeted several times each day; posted to Facebook regularly
o Vote scheduled for the evening plenary session was postponed until the next day. That plenary session concluded with a rousing sermon by Rev. Mitri Raheb of Bethlehem.
o Next day celebrated passage of resolution – 508 yeas, 124 nays, 38 abstentions, well above the 2/3 requirement
· After Synod
o Allie Perry agreed to serve as treasurer
o Established standing committees
§ Membership and Contact Development
§ Communications
§ Education and Advocacy
o Endorsed a statement on freedom of worship offered by the American Muslims for Palestine in response to pressures on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
o Agreed that we will share our names with groups like FOSNA and Tree of life and can be listed as sponsors of their conferences but can’t guarantee financial support
o Began consideration of 501c3 status
o Fund-raising letter sent to friends and donors – goal $5,000
2016
April – Annual meeting in Cleveland where we met with UCC leaders (John Dorhauer, Jim Moos,Traci Blackmon, Pension Boards (Brian Bodager, Rick Walters), and UCF (Don Hart and Katie McCloskey). We attempted to develop a 5-year plan, did some visioning, then focused on implementation of 2015 resolution and presence at 2017
Implementation of 2015 resolution
Published 24-page Implementation document in support for 2015 resolution – a best seller, partially supported by a $500 grant from Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
Agreed to endorse any coalition being developed to oppose anti-BDS legislation.
Initiated coordinated effort to communicate with UCC boards and entities re 2015 Resolution
Advocacy and Action Steps
Decided to offer a GS31 resolution on IDF’s treatment of detained Palestinian children, to be sponsored by at least 10 UCC congregations per Synod rules, with First Congregational, Old Lyme as lead congregation.
Endorsed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Letter (USCIRF)
Communication/Media/Administrative Steps
Joined Palestine Portal
Need for endorsement policy and procedures
Established new communications feature, E-News a monthly email newsletter sent all members of friends, including those who opted out of the Google Group listserv.
Central Atlantic became our fiscal agent, offering online donation feature
Decided to merge the two websites – long time project
Elected new chair, Rev. John Buttrick, and co-chair, Maryn Goodson
2017 - A General Synod Year
General Synod 31 in Baltimore, Maryland
At Synod
· Promoted resolution titled “A CALL FOR THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN LIVING UNDER ISRAELI MILITARY OCCUPATION”
· 16 congregations sponsored, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme CT as lead
· Implementation workshop for GS30 resolution – standing room only
· Exhibit Booth – about 60 new members, manned partially by Palestinians from Baltimore area and PCAP friends, AFSC friends
· Outdoor vigil supported by Baltimore supporters and Women in Black
· Youth selected our resolution to study, spoke in favor
· Passed 79% Yeas, 13% Nays, 9% Abstentions
Other Actions
· Signed ACLU letter in support of Esther Koontz, Mennonite teacher who refused to comply with Kansas anti-BDS requirement and contributed $250 to have the letter printed in a Kansas paper
Issued a statement opposing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
· Donated $250 to Hebron International Resource Network
· Established a committee to review our structure
· Decided to alternate our meeting times between afternoon and evening to accommodate members with work commitments
· John Buttrick resigned, Maryn Goodson became acting chair in September
· Elected Chair, Allie Perry, and Vice Chair, Ann Muir to begin serving February 2018
· Decided to hold our 2018 Annual meeting in Washington DC, April 17-19, with April 19th as a day for visiting members of Congress, lobbying for positions related to our two resolutions
Summary
Some positive patterns have emerged since 2012
We continue to receive solid support from UCC staff.
Our success with resolutions has been remarkable -two for two.
Our engagement with allies continues with support going both ways.
Some items continue to need more attention
Fund-raising
Documenting our endorsements/pronouncements
Developing engagement by UCCers in more conferences/congregations.
2018
Annual meeting in DC, April 17-19 with invited presenters: Yusef Munayyer, USCPR; Leah Muskin-Pierret, USCPR; Loren McGrail, Global Ministries. Two days of goal setting and organizational development, included a new structure with classes and terms for steering committee members, one day of advocacy on the Hill.
Actions coming out of Annual Meeting:
•Endorsed of Engagement Plan for the 2017 General Synod resolution on the rights of Palestinian Children.
• Proposed a Steering Committee structure: 21 members, three year terms, possibility of two consecutive terms, three classes with 7 in each class, Vice-chair to head nominating
• Approved a Funding Policy for UCC PIN
• Decided to revise our UCC PIN Mission Statement
• Brainstormed and proposed goals for the year
• Decided to have a booth and propose a workshop at the 2019 General Synod
How Are the Children curriculum:
• Approved request and proposal from Tom Beilman and the committee tasked with implementing the Engagement Plan (Ann Muir, Diane Dulin, Kim Vasko) for the development of a video to use throughout the UCC to educate about the human rights abuse of Palestinian children
• HATC team raised over $8,000 to fund the project
• Released pilot videos for review and feedback in the fall
• Created a companion website, HATCnow.org
• Launched the video and curriculum, with a plan for distribution through a network of conference contacts
Other Actions during the year:
•Endorsed the HP-Free Churches Campaign and encouraged local churches of the United Church of Christ to become HP-Free Churches.”
• Endorsed the “Open Letter to U.S. Faith Communities in the U.S.” by the Palestinian Christian Advocates for Justice and the Palestinian Alliance for Peace.
• Revised our UCC PIN mission statement
• Endorsed a letter calling for freedom for Kalida Jarrar
• Various PIN SC members worked to support Loren McGrail’s itineration
• Signed on as a partner sponsor for the October 11th Jerusalem conference
• Approved a $250 funding request for the “Youth Curriculum Project” that Gail Burnaford and Maryn Goodson worked on.
• Assigned steering committee members to classes (2020, 2021, 2022) in accordance with the structure we approved at our annual meeting in April 2018.
• Elected David Yoshida as treasurer, starting January 1, 2019, to succeed Maryn Goodson who had stepped in as treasurer when Allie Perry become chair.
• Elected Jessica Palys and Loren McGrail as new steering committee members to succeed Maryn Goodson and Esther Riley who are stepping down at the end of 2018.
• Fundraising proposal developed by ad hoc task force of John Thomas, Dave Yoshida, and Allie Perry presented to the steering committee
• Decided to hold annual meeting in April 2019
2019 – A General Synod Year, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Annual Meeting in DC, April 8-10, 2019: with guest presenters – Peter Makari (by Skype), Brad Parker from Defense of Children International – Palestine (by Skype), Paul Norsi from the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP),the Rev. Mitri Raheb, Leah Muskin Pierret from the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. Two days of strategizing about the work, resources, and structure of UCC PIN, in the context of (1) current realities in Palestine; (2) the 2015 and 2017 GS resolutions; (3) the launch of How Are the Children?, (4) the upcoming General Synod in Wisconsin. Day 3 we spent on the Hill advocating with Congressional members about Betty McCollum’s soon to be re-introduced bill on the rights of Palestinian children (H.R. 2407).
Actions coming out of the Annual Meeting:
• Moved to Zoom platform for monthly calls – Diane Weible will host
• Continued to promote How Are the Children? using it to educate congregations
• Positioning of UCC PIN to hire staff, priority on Media consultant
• Planning for our presence at General Synod, absent a workshop or resolution.
General Synod Presence:
• Had a terrific UCC PIN both at General Synod, thanks to Kim Vasko, with baklava and hummus, and “an apartheid well. “
• Distributed there our “The Kairos Moment Now,” human rights statement
• Alex Awad from PCAP was with us for most of Synod, got introduced on the Synod floor during a speakout by Diane Weible, and offered two ‘pop-up’ talks at the booth on Christian Zionism
• Added many new names to our database from folks who signed up at the booth.
• Dave Yoshida and Marla Schrader curated UCC PIN’s GS postings on twitter.
Other Actions during the year:
• Completed consolidation of our previous two PIN websites into one: uccpin.org; Diane Weible agreed to be webmeister
• Issued several statements:
- On the First Anniversary of the Great March of Return March 30, 2019
- The Kairos Moment Now: Toward a Human Rights Approach to a Just Peace in Palestine, in conjunction with General Synod
- We will Not Be Deterred! A Statement from the United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network On the Recent Decision of the Trump Administration to Recognize Illegal Settlements, November 26, 2019
• Elected four new members to our Steering Committee: Ariel Ackerman, David Grishaw-Jones, Martha Koenig Stone, and Jenny Veninga
2020 – the year Covid hit
Actions during this unusual year
• Annual Meeting in DC was cancelled because of Covid
• Planned workshops for the National Youth Event which was then cancelled
• Decided to develop a resolution for the 2021 General Synod in the format of a Declaration of Faith. Ad Hoc committee to draft the resolution: John Thomas, J Jenny Veninga, Dave Grishaw-Jones, and Allie Perry
• Committed as a Steering Committee to donate as individuals a minimum of $200 to enable us to hire a digital manager
• Decided to revisit and rewrite our UCC PIN mission statement, to include guidance from our Palestinian partners and grounding in human rights. Committee: Pam Beck, Loren McGrail, Allie Perry
• New Vision and Mission Statement adopted September, 2020
• Endorsed the Global Kairos for Justice Cry for Hope statement
• Communications Committee worked to improve new website and then also developed the job description and conducted the search for a digital communications manager.
• Brought Kelly Cox on board as our first staff person: part-time Digital Communications Manager
• Elected seven new steering committee members: Philip Farah, Eric Fistler, Stephen Gasteyer, Elice Higginbotham, Laura Martin, Jeffrey McElwee, Crystal Silva-McCormack
• Secured the requisite six congregations to endorse our resolution, “Declaration for a Just Peace between Palestine and Israel.”
• Issued 10 UCC PIN E-NEWS
2021 – General Synod Year, Virtual Synod
Up to General Synod in July, UCC PIN was laser focused on promoting the resolution Declaration for a Just Peace Between Palestine and Israel which which the Committee on Dispositions eventually agreed, after our UCC PIN appeal, to recommend be brought as a resolution of witness to a committee of General Synod (after initially recommending it be referred to an implementation committee of the Board of Directors). PIN’s promotional efforts included:
• Development of packets of education materials to distribute to Conference ministers to introduce delegates and congregations to the resolution, including FAQ document.
• Development of a presentation for the Implementation Workshop, required for all resolutions. Jenny Veninga, Dave Grishaw-Jones, John Thomas, Peter Makari, Allie Perry worked on this, with Ariel Ackermann developing the presentation format and narrating it when presented during the Synod Implementation Committee
• Outreach to congregations to secure endorsements beyond the initial six. We ended up with 15 congregations endorsing the resolution.
• PIN steering committee members created minute long videos speaking to one of the six Resolution affirmations/rejections for sharing on social media
• Endorsements by Rifat Kassis, Global Kairos for Justice, and human rights lawyer Robert Herbst and Rabbi Brian Walt
• Synod’s overwhelming adoption of the resolution (83% of the delegates), with the words “sin” and “apartheid” that the vetting committee had taken out restored in the plenary thanks to amendments championed by Dave Grishaw-Jones for the word ‘apartheid’ and Shari Prestemon for the word ‘sin.’
Implementation of Declaration for a Just Peace Between Palestine and Israel
• E-News featured a focus on the 9 spokes of the resolution implementation wheel, one per issue.
• Working with Michael Spath, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, UCC PIN offered four webinars inspired by the 2021 Synod resolution, the first two offered in the fall of 2021, the third and fourth in early 2022. Topics: (1) The Oppression of Palestinians: It’s a Sin; (2) The Oppression of Palestinians: It’s Apartheid
Other Actions:
• Elice Higginbotham, with input from Domenic Ackermann began working on the resource “Engaging in Difficult Conversations,”
• Continued promotion of How Are the Children. Newsletter distributed to 650 contacts with 30% open rate and increase in Youtube viewing of the film.
• Endorsement of and advocacy for Rep. Betty McCollum’s bill HR 2590 and then for the new Congress
• Endorsement of and advocacy for the Pillsbury boycott.
• Signed on to letter to Secretary of State Blinken protesting Israel’s criminalization of human rights organizations.
• Elected four new members to our steering committee: Venson Jordan, Barbara Kershner- Daniel, Shari Prestemon, and Andrew Long-Higgins
• Issued 12 UCC PIN E-NEWS
2022
UCC PIN continued to focus on implementation of the 2021 resolution, grappling with the challenges of grassroots organizing: engaging congregations, doing outreach to churches, and reaching people in the pews. We agreed at the start of the year to continue developing resources, specifically focusing on:
§ a resource on difficult conversations,
§ the newsletter’s series on the Implementation Wheel,
§ revision of the Website for easier navigation to implementation resources
§ Implementation of General Synod Resolution 4-part webinar series
Absent the capacity to hold an in-person strategic planning retreat, an ad-hoc planning group (Jeff McElwee, John Thomas, Ariel Ackermann, Barbara Kershner-Daniel, Dave Yoshida, and Allie Perry) considered several options for virtual planning. opted to do a modified, virtual strategic planning process, holding listen sessions with three of our Palestinian partners: Rifat Kassis of Kairos Palestine, Bernard Sabella of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, and Omar Haramy of Sabeel.
These conversations lead our Steering Committee to name three strategic initiatives: (1) Building a UCC Anti-Apartheid Movement; (2) Engaging Young Adults; (3) Interpreting/Education about the Right of Return. After discussion, we decided to move forward on the first through the AFSC organized apartheid-free congregations initiative and our solidarity circle, to table the second for now, and to explore with Michael Spath the possibility of a webinar on the third. Our Palestinian partners urge UCC PIN to keep using the word “apartheid” so that it makes “mainstream.”
Actions:
• Hosted the 3rd on Human Rights-based Approach and the 4th on Christian Zionism webinars in our Implementing the General Synod 4-part Webinar Series, with Michael Spath, ICMEP
• Hosted a webinar on the Weaponization of Anti-Semitism with Mark Weber presenting, Michael Spath facilitating
• Finalized and released the Engaging Difficult Conversations resource
• Co-Sponsored the Easter Community Holy Saturday Service from Jerusalem with Naim Ateek
• Launched a trial Solidarity Circle, facilitated by Eric Fistler and Marla Schrader with eight clergy/congregational leaders over 6 months starting in December 2022
• Joined with representatives from other PIN’s to develop an Apartheid-Free Congregations initiative, convened by AFSC
• Introduced Slack as a new communications platform for UCC PIN to use internally
• Kelly Cox and the Communications Committee started the process of redesigning the PIN website to make it more intuitive and easier to navigate
• UCC PIN participates in monthly FOSNA-convened denominational PIN calls, Allie represents UCCPIN
• Ariel Ackermann, Dave Grishaw-Jones, Marcia Hoffman, and Martha Koenig-Stone were elected for second three-year terms, along with Shari Prestemon for a 1 year term. Diane Wieble and Philip Farah rotated off the committee.
• Issued 12 UCC PIN E-News.
2023 General Synod Year (Indianapolis, Indiana) and the Assault on Gaza
Organization developments for UCC PIN:
• Redesign of UCC PIN website completed and launched.
• Andrew Long-Higgins joins communications committee (following departure of Diane Wieble who had been our PIN webmeister. Ariel Ackermann continues to chair the committee. Other members are Dave Yoshida and Allie Perry. Kelly Cox continues as our Digital Communications Manager.
• Conducted PIN’s first $5,000 challenge matching grant appeal, in anticipation of General Synod expenses and raised [amount] towards the $5,000 pledged.
• Welcomed new UCC PIN members: Tala Al Rabeh, the Rev. Edward Davis, the Rev. Rhina Ramos, and the Rev. Lorraine Ceniseros. (The Rev. Lorraine Ceniseros who had been elected had to resign one month into her term.)
• In recognition of Kelly Cox’s good work and tenure as PIN’s Digital Communication's Manager, we voted to increase her hourly rate to $35, from $30.
• Kelly Cox announced her decision to accept a full-time position elsewhere, completing her time with PIN at the end of August; PIN communications committee initiated the search for a new Digital Communications Manager, and selected Nadeem Hazboun to start as on February 1, 2024
• After reviewing PIN’s support for other organizations, we budgeted these annual donations: $500 each to FOSNA, Apartheid-Free, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, and the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace. $250 for Palestine Portal.
• Steering Committee changes: Shari Prestemon, Eric Fistler, Tala Raheb stepped down. Crystal McCormack-Silva, Stephen Gasteyer, and Elice Higginbotham agreed to serve a second term. New elected were: the Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals and Abad Al-Salam Manasra.
• On-going challenges continue with our current fiscal sponsor. UCCPIN continues to look for an alternative
General Synod
• UCCPIN hosted an exhibit booth, staffed by Steering Committee member Elice Higginbotham with assistance from Allie Perry, promoting the Apartheid-Free congregations initiative, providing baklava and hummus, giving out olive wood (custom made in Bethlehem) magnets with UCCPIN’s logo. Lots of visitors. AFSC’s Dov Baum joined us in the booth for two full days of Synod.
• In conjunction with Global Ministries, UCC PIN offered a workshop with AFSC’s Dov Baum presenting on Apartheid-Free Congregations. About 20-25 people attended.
• UCCPIN Steering Committee member Shari Prestemon during a Synod speak out brought to delegates’ attention Israel’s bombing assault on the Jenin refugee camp going on at the same time that Synod had been meeting.
Actions
• Co-sponsored Voices from the Holy Land film series, and were featured as a sponsor for the showing of “The Law and the Prophets.” Crystal McCormack-Silva spoke on PIN’s behalf about work.
• First Solidarity Circle completed in May to positive reviews from participants. Eric Firstler, Susan Switzer, Marla Schrader, Dave Grishaw-Jones, and Allie Perry debrief the experience and decide to continue, offering a next one in the fall of 2024.
• UCC PIN adopts the Apartheid-Free Pledge and promotes it through our E-News. Allie Perry represents UCC PIN on monthly Apartheid-Free calls.
• Co-hosted with Global Ministries the webinar, “Post-Easter Reflections,” with Munther Isaac.
• UCC PIN co-sponsors ICMEP three-part webinar series (post October 7) of successive conversations with Diana Buttu, Philip Farah, and Graylan Hagler
• Appointed a working group to develop a “clergy primer” on the Crisis in Gaza: John Thomas, Elice Higginbotham, Stephen Gasteyer, Dave Yoshida, Venson Jordan, and Allie Perry.
• In the aftermath of October 7th, UCC PIN hosted a gathering on Thursday, Oct. 12, for anybody
as a pastoral space for people to share feelings and concerns. Originally intended for our PIN
Steering Committee, the invitation was spread widely; 70 people attended.
• Issued 13 UCC PIN E-NEWS including a special edition post October 7th. Lists of Contacts tops 500, open rate consistently exceeds 50%
2024 The Gaza Crisis/Genocides Continues
Organization Developments for UCC PIN:
• Elected two additional steering committee members: the Rev. Thad Winkle and the Rev. Micah Bucey
• Given the geographic spread of steering committee members, we decided to hold all monthly meetings at 1 pm ET on the first Monday of the month (unless there is a holiday when we will meet on the second Monday)
• Appointed an ad-hoc planning committee (Edward Davis, Linda Noonan, Dave Grishaw-Jones, Dave Yoshida, and Allie Perry) to develop a proposal and plan an in-person UCC PIN Strategic Planning Retreat, to be held May 13-15 at the Saint Raphaela Retreat Center in Haverford, PA.
• UCC PIN introduces a PIN substack to share and archive liturgical resources, reflections and Pause for Palestine prayers.
• With Thad Winkle taking the lead, UCC PIN applies for a NIN grant and receives $5,000 for communications enhancement.
• An ‘inward facing’ group of Thad Winkle, Dave Grishaw-Jones, Linda Noonan, and Allie Perry convenes to consider organization development for PIN. Recommends not to pursue 501C3 status or membership questions as this time but to first focus on power analysis, theory of change, and possible re-visiting PIN’s mission.
• After serving two consecutive three-year terms, Loren McGrail, Allie Perry, John Thomas, and Dave Yoshida rotate off the steering committee.
• A nominating committee (John Thomas, Elice Higginbotham, Loren McGrail, and Allie Perry) present a slate, unanimously approved, of six new steering committee nominees: Gail Doering, John Gregory-Davis, Susie Hayward, Janet Cooper Nelson, Fred Rogers, and Jenny Veninga.
• Dave Grishaw-Jones and Linda Noonan are elected as co-chairs, Thad Winkle as Treasurer, and Jenny Veninga as secretary.
Actions:
• UCCPIN signed on to the South Africa Genocide Convention Case at the International Criminal of Justice.
• Released our UCC PIN Resource, “Crisis in Gaza: Leading Congregations to Understanding and Action. https://www.uccpin.org/crisis-in-gaza
• Held a promotion of and introduction to “Crisis in Gaza,” for conference ministers, organized with the support of Council of Conference Ministers chair Fran Rigert and Edward Davis, with John Thomas and Allie Perry presenting. Only 4 other conference ministers attended.
• Endorsed Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage https://www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com/
• Held our first in person gathering May 13-15 at the St. Raphaela Retreat Center in Haverford, PA. (Minutes are available in the 2024 Folder of UCC PIN Minutes on Google Drive.) John Thomas provided the origin story of UCC PIN and Allie Perry reviewed the arc of UCC PIN’s work over these 12 years. Guest presenters were Jonathan Kuttab from FOSNA (joined by Zoom from Palestine) and AFSC’s Dov Baum who attended in person. Peter Makari joined us for the whole gathering.
Key decisions:
√Decided to establish four teams, each open to include non-steering committee members: Liturgical Resource Team; Divestment Team; Advocacy Team, and Clergy Support and Affinity Team.
√Decided to develop a Statement naming Israel’s assault on Gaza as Genocide and using that to urge UCC leadership to adopt the same language.
√Affirmed UCC PIN steering committee structure, with its transition and leadership and names Linda Noonan and Dave Grishaw-Jones as the co-chairs to succeed Allie Perry at the end of 2024.
• Developed and circulated the Gaza Genocide statement, “It’s Past Time: Naming Israel’s Genocide in Gaza.” Copies of the statement were sent with a cover letter to UCC General Minister and President Karen Georgia Thompson, Co-Executive of Global Ministries Shari Prestemon, the Chair of the UCC Board of Directors, and Peter Makari, with the specific request to national staff to use the word genocide. The statement was also emailed to every conference minister with the request that they urge their clergy to name Israel’s assault as genocide. Steering Committee members followed up with their respective conference ministers.
• The Liturgical Resource team launches a weekly prayer, Pause for Palestine, posted every Thursday, with team members rotating the writing of a prayer in response to breaking news.
• UCC PIN issues a statement in support of the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel is engaged in plausible genocide.
•The Divestment Team initiates on-going conversations with Matthew Ilian and Noah Tabor from United Church Funds about screens and divestment, and human rights guidelines for investment.
• The Clergy Support Team organizes and hosts an online gathering on November 20th for UCC clergy to come together to pray, reflect, and support one another in the fight for peace and justice in the Middle East. 20 people attend.
• Decision not to bring a resolution to the 2025 General Synod. Ad-Hoc team of Sara Ofner-Seals, Martha Koenig Stone and Don Christensen are working on plans for the upcoming Synod in St. Louis, MO.
• Issued 12 UCC PIN E-News. List of contacts continues to grow now at 685, with a consistent open rate of over 60%.