Heard at Synod

HARTFORD (08/03/2007) Words and images from the United Church of Christ's golden anniversary General Synod in Hartford, Connecticut.

"The conscience of our nation cannot rest"

Doing the Lord’s work is a thread that’s run through our politics since the very beginning. And it puts the lie to the notion that the separation of church and state in America means faith should have no role in public life…

Yet what we also understand is that our values should express themselves not just through our churches or synagogues, temples or mosques; they should express themselves through our government. Because whether it’s poverty or racism, the uninsured or the unemployed, war or peace, the challenges we face today are not simply technical problems in search of the perfect ten-point plan. They are moral problems, rooted in both societal indifference and individual callousness – in the imperfections of man.

And so long as we’re not doing everything in our personal and collective power to solve them, we know the conscience of our nation cannot rest…

We can recognize the truth that’s at the heart of the UCC: that the conversation roles are not defined; that through ancient texts and modern voices, God is still speaking, challenging us to change not just our own lives, but the world around us.

– Sen. Barack Obama, from an address to the General Synod, June 23, 2007

"What are you doing here?"

Since our last General Synod the genocide in Darfur has kept up its dismal cadence of death, while the nations - while we - offer lamentation without urgency and complaint that costs little. We watched the outrage of the “left out, the left alone, the left behind” in New Orleans, and we embarked on rebuilding, restoring, rehabilitating, but not oft en challenging with passion the disgrace of a broken social contract. Global warming continues apace, and so does the denial of many, including we ourselves who worry more over the high cost of gasoline than the generations who will pay the price for our foolish greed.

Faithfulness - and presence - is found not on the run, but on the way home to our future... There in the silence, God will yet speak, “What are you doing here?”

— Rev. John Thomas, from a sermon delivered to General Synod, June 24, 2007

"I am at home in this church"

I am at home in this church… You believe in the democracy of the pew, in the authority and power of the local congregation, and so do I. You believe in a witness based on the historic tradition of scripture but also the lived experience of today, and so do I. You believe, as Anselm said in Faith Seeking Understanding, the old story reconciled with the new discoveries of science and reason, and so do I. And you believe in the power and the promise of democracy, and so do I. I thank God for your witness and for the storied heritage of this Church.

– Bill Moyers, from a keynote address to the General Synod, June 23, 2007

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.