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Disciples Advocate Email Edition: June 2026

Jun 10, 2026
Disciples Advocate Email Edition for June 2026 opens with a feature article from Rev. Sekinah Hamlin and then contains all kinds of links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, advocacy toolkits to support your work, and link to the most recent weekly videos from Disciples Advocate Digest. Check it out and spread the word!

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: June 2026

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Connecting | C reating Greater Awareness | Empowering Action

Beyond the Pageant:

A Christian Call to Truth and

Reconciliation on America’s

250th Anniversary

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, the air is

filled with fireworks, pageantry, and curated

national myths. But as followers of Jesus Christ,

we are called to a deeper, honest reflection.

The Apostle John provides our marching orders:

“Let us love, not in words or speech, but in truth

and action.” (1 John 3:18; NRSV)

How do we live this mandate today? I invite us to

confront these questions: Who are we to be as

Christians living our faith authentically? Who would

Christ be in our midst? Whom would He fight for?

Who Would Christ Be?

To understand our role in a secular society, we must strip away cultural distortions that

domesticate our faith. Christ would not be a conqueror or a mascot for white Christian

nationalism — a project that conscripts the Gospel into a worldly agenda of power and

dominion.

Instead, remember a radically different Savior: a Palestinian Jew living under the

oppressive Roman Empire; a refugee who knew the terror of displacement from his

childhood; and a revolutionary executed by the state for standing with the marginalized

and breaking systems of colonization. Jesus chose the path of the “least of these.” To find

Him today, we must look toward the margins.

Who Would Christ Actively Love and Fight For?

To love in truth, we must confess the “defective cornerstone” upon which this nation was

built, where a perverted freedom was rooted in the dominion over others. Christ’s love

compels us to fight alongside those bearing its scars:

Our Indigenous Siblings: Christ stands with the original sovereigns of this soil,

whose lands were stolen under the heresy of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Descendants of Enslaved Africans: Christ fights for the dignity of those whose

kidnapped labor built the foundational wealth of this nation.Our Global Neighbors: Christ stands with our siblings in the Global South, where

economic dominion and resource extraction prioritize greed.

The Immigrant and Sojourner: Christ welcomes refugees fleeing violence, rejecting

walls of exclusion that dishonor human dignity and the health of families.

Moving from Words to Action

We cannot honor God with our lips while our policies remain far from our neighbors. Living

as Christians means refusing comfortable lies and committing to work for reparatory

justice:

Repair Our Economy: Advocate for systems centering the safety, health, sufficiency

and debt relief of families, rather than hoarding wealth for the few.

Reconstruct Our Democracy: Ensure every voice is heard, standing firmly against

efforts to gerrymander votes or silence our history.

Restore the Land: Honor Indigenous sovereignty and seek pathways to repair the

global harms caused by extraction.

The Journey Ahead

As Disciples, let us choose actions over empty speech and truth over our national

mythology. Together, let us build a land where justice rolls down like waters and

righteousness like a mighty stream.

In the name of the One who makes all things new, let us begin the repair.

New Church Ministry Slideshow: 

 Disciples to Know for Pride!Happy Pride, Disciples! Our friends at New Church Ministry created a slideshow

featuring “Eight People Disciples Should Know for Pride” that includes:

Rev. Linda McCrae

Rev. Amy Diane Shoemaker

Rev. Chloe Peacock Specht

Rev. Sarah Zuniga

Rev. Dr. Luther Young

Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines

Rev. Mark Dingler

Rev. Stephen Underwood

If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, or are an ally, take the time today to

learn more about the queer siblings in our denomination who are advocating for their

communities and faithfully serving their neighborhoods.

Learn More & View the Slideshow

Spread the Word:

 Resources Worth Sharing

Disciples Advocate shares stories and resources from trusted sources that are

engaged in the work of justice. Check out these links from our partners. 

 You can recommend a story or resource here.Workshop Recording: Disability and

Accessibility 101 for Churches

During the Northern Lights Region’s Assembly, Rev. Chris Snow

presented this workshop on disability and accessibility. He is

making the video recording, the slide deck, and the transcript

available free of charge to anyone who would like to use them!

Check out the resources via Google Drive

Social Justice Hymn: Just Like Selma

Nolan Williams, Jr.’s powerful new hymn is inspired by the lives of

the Honorable John Lewis, Diane Nash, Amelia Boynton Robinson,

and the thousands of patriots who marched from Selma to

Montgomery 61 years ago to advocate for voting rights, fair wages,

education, and justice in America. Watch on YouTube.

Video available on YouTube

Action Alert: Tell Congress “Protect NOAA

Funding in the FY27 Budget”

Current FY27 Budget proposals reduce funding for the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from previous spending

levels. The spending bill also has harmful policy riders that would

block protections of endangered species.

Contact your members of Congress to protect NOAA

Theological Reflection: Pentecost was the

Original Public DEI Program

On his Substack In Front of God and Everybody, Rev. David

Wheeler (Senior Pastor of New Covenant Christian Church in

Oklahoma City) writes, “The Holy Spirit did not erase difference.

The Spirit made sure everyone could be heard.”

Read the article and Subscribe to his Substack

Election Protection Guide: A Toolkit for the

Black Church from Faith Out Loud!

Faith Out Loud! invites congregations, clergy, and community

leaders to activate moral courage in public life, practice faith

beyond the walls of worship, build relationships that reflect Beloved

Community, and engage democracy as a sacred responsibility.

Access the election protection guide

Faith & Justice Podcast: Just Brite

Just Brite is a podcast from Brite Divinity School emphasizing

“journeying with justice.” It features conversations with people who

are serious about exploring and pursuing the work of justice in

tangible ways. Co-hosted by Oluwatomisin Olayinka Oredein and

Dale Walker. The latest episode is titled, “What is Justice to You?”

Keep up with all of the episodes

Save the Date: Disciples Mission Week September 8-13, 2026

DisciplesMissionWeek.org

Opportunities for Engagement:

 Toolkits, Invitations, & EventsEach email update from Disciples Advocate includes a list of upcoming invitations

and opportunities as well as toolkits you can use. 

 To share something with us, click here to fill out a simple webform.

World Refugee Day: Ecumenical Livestream

Worship Service on 6/17

Join ministry partners on Wednesday June 17th at 6-7PM ET,

for an online ecumenical worship service in observance of

World Refugee Day.

Learn More and Sign-Up

NBA Webinar: Ageism For Real; presented

by Older Adults Ministries

NBA’s Older Adult Ministries is hosting this webinar on June

17 at Noon ET. An intergenerational panel will discuss what

ageism is, share experiences, and offer ideas to push back.

Learn more and Register Here

Opposing Christian Nationalism: Worship

Resources for July 5, 2026

Our partners at the PCUSA created this worship guide to help

churches acknowledge the Anniversary of the Declaration of

Independence without falling into Christian nationalism.

Toolkit available at Call to Worship Journal

Event: Lament & Hope: Celebrating

Migrants on America’s 250th Anniversary

On June 28-29 you are invited to Washington, DC for an

affirmation and celebration of the presence and contributions

of migrants, hosted by the Latino Christian National Network.

 Learn more and register here

EcoPreacher Webinar: Navigating Pushback

in Climate Preaching

The EcoPreacher Initiative invites you to a workshop where

you’ll gain skills and sensibilities to stay open, relational, and

resilient. Thursday June 25 from 1-4PM ET on Zoom.

Learn More and Register for the Event

Retreat: Oreon Scott Clergy Conference

“Story, Soil, and the Sacred Beneath”

Green Chalice invites you to make plans to join ecumenical

clergy on September 1-4, 2026 at the Oreon E. Scott Clergy

Conference at beautiful Christmount, North Carolina.

 Learn More and Register for the Retreat

Upcoming Webinar:

 The Black Church & Climate JusticeFaith, Resilience, and Action for a Sustainable Future

 Tuesday, July 28, 2026; 6:30 PM CST (7:30 ET) 

 Hosted by Apostle Sharyn Cosby

The upcoming Black Church and Climate Justice Webinar is more than a scheduled program —

it is a prophetic summons for such a time as this. Rooted in the deep spiritual traditions of the

Black church, this virtual gathering invites clergy, faith leaders, laypersons, and community

members to explore how environmental justice is inseparable from the gospel’s call to love,

liberation, and stewardship.

Learn More Register Now

Recent Video Updates from

 Disciples Advocate Digest

New Episodes of Disciples Advocate Digest!

With each 10-minute long, weekly Disciples Advocate Digest video Chris Dorsey (DHM

President) and Brian Frederick-Gray (Director for Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM) talk

through several pressing justice issues while lifting up tangible resources for addressing each

one. The series helps to amplify issues, share resources, and empower Disciples to use our

voices and our actions to promote greater justice and mercy in the world!

Look for the videos on social media (Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and TikTok), or find them

on the Disciples Advocate YouTube channel:YouTube.com/@DisciplesAdvocate

Disciples Advocate Digest

for June 8, 2026

This week Chris Dorsey and Brian

Frederick-Gray talk about Faith

Out Loud’s Election Protection

Toolkit and EcoPreacher’s

upcoming Webinar on dealing with

pushback from justice oriented

sermons.

Disciples Advocate Digest

for June 2, 2026

This single topic episode focuses

on Environmental Justice as an

Intersectional Justice issue and

shares resources from Green

Chalice and Creation Justice

Ministries.

Subscribe to

Disciples Advocate

Donate to Disciples

Advocate

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Video: Voting Rights, Faith, and Democracy

May 19, 2026
After the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Disciples Home Missions hosted a panel discussion on Voting Rights, Faith, and Democracy that features: Rev. Chris Dorsey, Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, and Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton; with Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray as facilitator.

Video: Voting Rights, Faith, and Democracy

by Brian Frederick-Gray

After the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Disciples Home Missions hosted a panel discussion on Voting Rights, Faith, and Democracy that features:

  • Rev. Chris Dorsey President and CEO of Disciples Home Missions
  • Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner Founder of the Skinner Leadership Institute and Co-Convener of Faiths United to Save Democracy
  • Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton Executive Director of the Arizona Faith Network and a 2026 “The Vote Is Sacred” Fellow with Interfaith America
  • Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray (facilitator) Director for Justice and Advocacy Ministries at Disciples Home Missions

The panelist have a robust and insightful conversation about four specific issues:

  • How do we help people in the pews understand what’s been lost by this decision in Louisiana v. Callais — especially those who have only studied the Civil Rights Movement in History Class?
  • What scriptures, traditions, or spiritual teachings can you point us to that call us to protect the right to vote — especially for communities that have been historically excluded?
  • Parts of the wider church have historically been an organizing infrastructure for voting rights movements — from voter registration drives to candidate forums to transportation to the polls. What does that infrastructure look like today, and where are the gaps? What new tools, strategies, or coalitions do faith communities need to build for this moment?
  • If someone leaves this conversation and does one thing — one concrete act before the elections this Fall — what should it be?

Scripture Passages Cited

  • Proverbs 31:8
  • Matthew 25:35-40
  • Micah 6
  • Exodus
  • Psalm 11
  • Acts 2:1-21

Resource Links Referenced

Discussion Questions Going Forward

Once you’ve completed the video use the following questions for a small group conversation, for personal reflection, or as journaling prompts

  • What is your first memory of voting? Why is participating in the democratic process important to you? If it is not, why not?
  • What scripture passages, Christian traditions, or faith practices speak to you the most in this moment? What empowers you to work to protect voting rights and voter empowerment, particularly for communities that have been historically excluded?
  • If you were to follow Dr. Williams-Skinner’s invitation to “take five” then who would you included in your list of friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, and/or colleagues that you will talk to in order to encourage them to exercise their right to vote this year? List them.
  • Building on what Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton said about “preparing your own personal voting plan,” how are you planning to exercise your right to vote this year? Be specific in your plans and build in an accountability system to help you follow through.

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: May 2026

May 13, 2026
The May Disciples Advocate Email Edition begins with a lead article from Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund reflecting on her experiences at Ecumenical Advocacy Days. It continues with DHM’s Statement on the Supreme Court’s recent decision that guts the Voting Rights Acts, links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, advocacy toolkits to support your work, and link to the most recent weekly videos from Disciples Advocate Digest. Check it out and spread the word!

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: May 2026

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Disciples Advocate Email Edition for April 2026 is now available!

Apr 8, 2026
The April Disciples Advocate Email Edition begins with a lead article from Rev. Ryan Cullumber of Harbor Christian Church and Living Coast Ministry. Then it continues with an announcement about Ecumenical Advocacy Days, links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, advocacy toolkits to support your work, and a special word about the weekly videos from Disciples Advocate Digest.

Disciples Advocate Email Edition for April 2026 is now available!

by Brian Frederick-Gray

🔗 https://conta.cc/4bUrBN2

The April Disciples Advocate Email Edition begins with a lead article from Rev. Ryan Cullumber of Harbor Christian Church and Living Coast Ministry. Then it continues with an announcement about Ecumenical Advocacy Days, links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, advocacy toolkits to support your work, and a special word about the weekly videos from Disciples Advocate Digest. Check it out and spread the word!

🌎 Learn More: disciplesadvocate.org

👍 Join Disciples Advocate: discipleshomemissions.org/disciples-advocate/join/

📺 Watch the Disciples Advocate video content: youtube.com/@DisciplesAdvocate

🤝 Share Something with Us: https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/disciples-advocate/share-something/

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: March 2026

Mar 11, 2026
The March Disciples Advocate Email Edition begins with a lead article from Rev. Laura Phillips, Director for the Children Worship Wonder and Welcome Program. Then it continues with an announcement about the Disciples Advocate Digest (a weekly video series from DHM), links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, and advocacy toolkits to support your work.

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: March 2026

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Shared Witness and Wisdom from MARCH Minnesota

Jan 31, 2026
In response to ICE, on January 22-23 faith leaders from around the country “answered the call to Minneapolis” put forth by the local, faith-based organizing coalition MARCH. Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray shared, “We were invited to learn what was happening in Minnesota, support our siblings in faith, and take their lessons back to our own contexts." This handout is one step in sharing learnings from the MARCH Minnesota events.

Shared Witness and Wisdom from MARCH Minnesota

by Brian Frederick-Gray

In response to ICE, on January 22-23 faith leaders from around the country “answered the call to Minneapolis” put forth by the local, faith-based organizing coalition MARCH. This was a working convening rooted in accountability to impacted communities and designed to build the relationships, skills, and commitments needed
for sustained action across the country.

Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray, Director for Justice & Advocacy Ministries at DHM, was one of hundreds of faith leaders who came. “We were invited to learn what was happening in Minnesota, support our siblings in faith, and take their lessons back to our own contexts,” he reflected.

This handout is one step in sharing learnings from the MARCH events.

Clergy, Prepare for ICE: Guidance from Minnesota Pastors

Jan 29, 2026
In this article for Patheos, Rev. Dr. Leah Schade shares that "Minnesota pastors urge U.S. clergy to prepare now for ICE incursions. Their wisdom and experience show us how."

Clergy, Prepare for ICE: Guidance from Minnesota Pastors

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Minnesota pastors urge U.S. clergy to prepare now for ICE incursions. Their wisdom and experience show us how.

Clergy, Prepare for ICE: Guidance from Minnesota Pastors

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: January 2026

Jan 14, 2026
January's Disciples Advocate Email Edition features a lead article from Rev. Dr. LaMarco Cable of Disciples Overseas Ministries and Global Ministries. It also contains links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, and advocacy toolkits to support your work. Check it out and spread the word!

Disciples Advocate Email Edition: January 2026

by Brian Frederick-Gray

January’s Disciples Advocate Email Edition features a lead article from Rev. Dr. LaMarco Cable of Disciples Overseas Ministries and Global Ministries. It also contains links and articles from ministry partners, invitations to upcoming justice events, and advocacy toolkits to support your work. Check it out and spread the word!

🌎 Learn More: disciplesadvocate.org

👍 Join Disciples Advocate: discipleshomemissions.org/disciples-advocate/join/

🤝 Share Something with Us: https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/…/share-something/

Week of Laity 2026

Jan 12, 2026
Week of Laity 2026, themed Building Belonging, honors the faithful service of lay leaders whose gifts, care, and commitment strengthen the church and community. Together, we reflect, serve, and affirm that what laity do truly matters.

Week of Laity 2026

by Curtis Dixon

Week of Laity 2026, themed Building Belonging, honors the faithful service of lay leaders whose gifts, care, and commitment strengthen the church and community. Together, we reflect, serve, and affirm that what laity do truly matters.

December 2025 Refugee and Immigration Resource List

Dec 18, 2025
Includes news updates, theological reflections, toolkits, advocacy guides, and explainer articles to keep you informed on refugee and immigration issues.

December 2025 Refugee and Immigration Resource List

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Seeking to be a source of trusted information/resources for local congregations, Regions, and ministry partners, Justice & Advocacy Ministries offers the following curated list of
toolkits, articles, and action items about refugee and immigration ministries.

In the News: Updates on Important Stories

Viral Warnings of Planned ICE Raids on Churches have Pastors Worried  
Reporting from the Religion News Service shares that viral reports and online rumors about potential ICE raids on churches have faith leaders worried about their congregations. The Dept of Homeland Security says it does not have plans to raid churches — but will not rule it out.

After the Blitz: What Our Chicago Neighbors are Facing in ICE Detention
This report from the National Immigrant Justice Center provides a snapshot of where people have been taken and the conditions they are facing after being abducted by ICE agents during recent raids in Chicago. Through exhaustive research and first person testimonials it chronicles inhuman detention conditions and due process violations and then concludes with a call to action to defend our neighbors.     

US Immigration Courts at a Crisis Point
The Migration Policy Institute recorded a webinar discussing their latest policy brief, “Breaking the Cycle of Dysfunction at the US Immigration Courts” that offers evidence-based analysis, deep dialogue, and pragmatic policy solutions that could transform the process.  

Faith Voices: Theological Reflections on Current Events

Clergy are Essential to Resistance Against ICE, Chicago Pastor Says
From our friends at Bapist News Global: “The visibility and voice of clergy are indispensable to the protest movement forming against President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration tactics,” said Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, a Chicago-area pastor recently arrested outside a federal detention center.

The Love Your Neighbor Prayer Book
Beautifully written and illustrated by Sergio Cortes, this downloadable PDF prayer book contains seven daily prayers with specific words for immigrants and for allies. This prayer book was created in recognition that the present situation is darker for the immigrant community in ways we haven’t seen before. Real harm is being done. We can no longer turn a blind eye.

Visitation Ministry Offers Compassion to those Impacted by Immigration Detention  
Our friends at Presbyterian Disaster Assistance recently highlighted the migration ministry
El Refugio in Georgia. The ministry combats the isolation and dehumanization of immigration detention by providing hospitality, visitation, support, and advocacy.

Faith in Action: Toolkits and Advocacy Guides

WoC & Obra Hispana: Operation Cacti: Compassion Care Project
A partnership of Obra Hispana and Week of Compassion, Operation Cacti is an educational and biblical resource designed for families, pastors, and churches being directly affected by the current immigration policies and for those who seek to be in solidarity with them.

CWS: Take Action to Stop Collective Punishment of Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Use this tool from Church World Service to easily reach out to your members of US Congress and urge them to oppose the dehumanizing, xenophobic policies of the administration that target individuals only because of the country they were born.  

RCUSA Talking Points: Rapid Response Messaging to the USCIS Memo Ordering the Review and Re-Interview of All Biden-Era Refugee Arrivals
In response to the recent US Citizenship and Immigration Services memo that ordered a “review and re-interview” of all refugees who entered via the US Refugee Admissions Program during the Biden administration, Refugee Council USA created this rapid response guide.

Congregational Toolkit: Supporting Immigrants and Welcoming Strangers
The North Carolina Council of Churches designed this toolkit to equip faith leaders and congregations with practical resources to respond to the current immigration enforcement landscape. It provides talking points, worship materials, a congregational litany, Scripture references, and actionable steps your community can take to support immigrant neighbors.

In the Know: Explainer Articles from Trusted Partners

GlobalRefuge.org: Understanding the Expansion of the Sweeping Travel Ban
Global Refuge strongly condemns the Trump administration’s decision to dramatically expand its travel ban, escalating a policy first announced in June that already restricted entry for nationals from 19 countries. The new proclamation broadens those restrictions to 39 countries worldwide, further limiting lawful travel and migration through a sweeping mix of full and partial entry bans.

RefugeeRights.org: Explainer on New Trump Admin Policies Impacting Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Afghan Nationals, and Immigrants from Travel Ban Countries
This downloadable resource from the International Refugee Assistance Project lists each of the policies from the Trump Administration and answers questions about their general impact.

Additional Resources from Disciples Home Missions and our Partners

Sign-up for Disciples Advocate to connect, share, and stay informed on justice issues.

Sign-up for Church World Service’s Daily “State of Play” Email Updates to stay informed.

Download the Advocacy App 5 Calls: Connect with Your US Congressional Representatives.

DHM & WoC Video: A Conversation on Refugee & Immigration Issues

Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel Video: What Your Church Should Know

Discover the Full List of Refugee & Immigration Resources @ DHM’s Website

DJAN & DC4PW Resource: Narrative, Memory, and Resistance

Know Your Rights: In Your Home, on Judicial vs. Administrative Warrants, and with ICE Protocols and Policies for Churches

Follow Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM:
Web | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads

Congregational Toolkit: Supporting Immigrants and Welcoming Strangers

Nov 21, 2025
This Congregational Toolkit from the North Carolina Council of Churches is designed to equip faith leaders and congregations with practical resources to respond to the current immigration enforcement landscape. It provides talking points for leaders, worship materials, congregational litany, Scripture references, and actionable steps your community can take to support immigrant neighbors.

Congregational Toolkit: Supporting Immigrants and Welcoming Strangers

by Brian Frederick-Gray

From the North Carolina Council of Churches: Congregational Toolkit Supporting Immigrants and Welcoming Strangers.

This Congregational Toolkit is designed to equip faith leaders and congregations with practical resources to respond to the current immigration enforcement landscape. It provides talking points for leaders, worship materials, congregational litany, Scripture references, and actionable steps your community can take to support immigrant neighbors.

You are welcome to use these resources in worship, study, and community action.

November 2025 Refugee & Immigration Resources

Nov 20, 2025
Includes news updates, theological reflections, toolkits, advocacy guides, and explainer articles to keep you informed on refugee and immigration issues.

November 2025 Refugee & Immigration Resources

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Seeking to be a source of trusted information/resources for local congregations, Regions, and ministry partners, Justice & Advocacy Ministries offers the following curated list of
toolkits, articles, and action items about refugee and immigration ministries.

In the News: Updates on Important Stories

Charlotte Church Goers Flee Border Patrol Raid: ‘We Thought Church was Safe’  Newsweek shares the story of members of a church in Charlotte, North Carolina who fled to nearby woods on November 15 after masked federal agents arrived and detained one congregant, amid the ongoing immigration crackdown taking place in the city.

Faith Groups Condemn All Time Low Refugee Resettlement Goal  
Guided by diverse faith traditions, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition shares collective alarm that the current administration has drastically slashed the refugee resettlement program and abandoned refugees fleeing persecution and war. The IIC stands against the exclusion of any refugee simply because of who they are, where they come from, or what they believe.

A Refugee’s Deportation Rattles a Deeply Conservative Town   
The Guardian shares the story a refugee from Bhutan who went to church, got married and started an auto shop in Twin Falls, ID. An arrest record got him caught in the ICE dragnet.

Faith Voices: Theological Reflections on Current Events

US Catholic Bishops Issue Special Message on Immigration
The US Catholic Bishops meeting at the Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, MD issued a Special Message addressing their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States. It marked the first time in twelve years the US Conference of Catholic Bishops invoked this particularly urgent way of speaking as a body of bishops.

Neighbors Not Enemies: Remembering Injustice and Resisting Its Return
In this powerful reflection, CWS’s Associate Director of Policy, Kimiko Hirota draws connections between her family’s history and the renewed use of the Alien Enemies Act. As immigrant communities face mass detention and deportation today, she calls on Americans to remember past injustices and resist their return by demanding dignity, oversight and lasting legislative change.

The Faith Built from Walking Through the Darien Gap: Assisting Refugees and Immigrants in Northern Montana In Sojourners, Rebecca Miller (Board Chair of Valley Neighbors of the Flathead in Montana) shares this testimony, “For me right now, action is prayer. A lot of my life was receiving content and learning. Now is the time to use all that and put it out in something that, hopefully, is useful.”

Faith in Action: Toolkits and Advocacy Guides

NILC: How to Find a Loved One After a US Immigration Arrest  
A thorough guide from our partners at the National Immigration Law Center that will help you look for someone who was taken by immigration officers and may be facing deportation.
Available in 10 Languages: Arabic | Chinese – Simplified | Chinese – Traditional | English | Haitian Creole | Korean | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese

Action Resource from DHM: Sample Scripts to Respond to the Historically Low Refugee Resettlement Number from the FY 2026 Presidential Determination
Now is an urgent time to call on our elected leaders and urge them to call on the administration to reverse course and restore the refugee admissions program for the most at-risk refugees around the world. Use these sample scripts to contact your two US Senators and one US Congressperson.

Civil Rights Toolkit: Speaking Out Despite Government Censorship and Threats
From the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights this provides a clear, tested framework for messaging about civil rights that empowers you to speak from your core values.

NFAP Policy Brief: Economic Impact of the Trump Admins Immigration Policies

In the first analysis to project the short-term and long-term impact of the Trump administration’s policies on immigration, the National Foundation for American Policy finds that the policies will significantly lower the US GDP while substantially increasing the federal debt.

In the Know: Explainer Articles from Trusted Partners

American Immigration Council: Why Is It So Hard to Become a US Citizen?
It’s a question often directed toward undocumented immigrants living in the United States: “Why don’t they just get in line?” This article from theAmerican Immigration Council explains that there is no “line” available for most immigrants and that the pathway to American citizenship for the vast majority is long, complex, and financially draining.

Data for Progress: Strong Majority of Voters Continue to Back Refugee Program
New polling data from Refugee Advocacy Lab, Refugees International, and Data for Progress shows that a large majority of voters support the US having a refugee program and oppose many of the Trump administration’s recent anti-immigrant policies.

Additional Resources from DHM and our Partners

Sign-up for Disciples Advocate to connect, share, and stay informed on justice issues.
Sign-up for Church World Service’s Daily “State of Play” Email Updates to stay informed. Download the Advocacy App 5 Calls: Connect with Your US Congressional Representatives.

DHM & WoC Video: A Conversation on Refugee & Immigration Issues

Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel Video: What Your Church Should Know

Discover the Full List of Refugee & Immigration Resources @ DHM’s Website

Visit Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM’s Webpage

Know Your Rights: In Your Home and Judicial vs. Administrative Warrants
and ICE Protocols and Policies for Churches

Follow Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM:
Web | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads

WHOLE Disciples: A Movement to Eradicate Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence

Oct 27, 2025
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Justice & Advocacy Ministries would like to take this opportunity to amplify resources from our friends and colleagues at WHOLE Disciples. WHOLE Disciples Missions is "to help the church, across all its expressions, to recognize its responsibility to help prevent domestic violence as it concerns the elderly, spouses, intimate partners, children and others in the household and the church."

WHOLE Disciples: A Movement to Eradicate Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence

by Brian Frederick-Gray

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Justice & Advocacy Ministries would like to take this opportunity to amplify resources from our friends and colleagues at WHOLE Disciples.

WHOLE Disciples Missions is “to help the church, across all its expressions, to recognize its responsibility to help prevent domestic violence as it concerns the elderly, spouses, intimate partners, children and others in the household and the church.”

At the General Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa in 2019 we passed Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution GA-1928 “A Call to See and Respond to the Crisis of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence. You can read the full resolution here.

At the General Assembly meeting in Memphis, Tennessee in 2025 we affirmed that commitment when we passed the Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution GA-2514 “Commitment to the Thursdays in Black Campaign: A Global Movement for a World Without Gender-based Violence. You can read the full resolution here.

Learn more about WHOLE Disciples by downloading the resource linked above, and/or by watching the 2021 Webinar shared below. You can also visit Tethered1.org to find additional resources, training modules, and information.

October 2025 Refugee & Immigration Resources

Oct 23, 2025
Includes Action Alerts from Church World Service as well as information updates from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Data for Progress, the New York Times, the American Immigration Council, the Federal News Network, CivilRights.org, ImmigrantJustice.org, and more.

October 2025 Refugee & Immigration Resources

by Brian Frederick-Gray

 Seeking to be a source of trusted information/resources for local congregations, Regions, and ministry partners, Justice & Advocacy Ministries offers the following curated list of
toolkits, articles, and action items about refugee and immigration ministries.

Refugee Program Updates During the US Government Shutdown

There are currently no refugees being resettled in the U.S. and tens of thousands of refugees who were approved for resettlement when the Trump administration’s ban took effect are still stranded overseas.

Trump Administration Plans to Cut Refugee Admissions to a Record Low
President Trump reportedly signed a Presidential Determination that would slash the refugee program to a historic low of 7,500 refugees with many slots reserved for white South Africans. Last year’s refugee resettlment cap was 125,000. The record low for any other President is 60,000.

Faith Leaders Condemn Administration Efforts to Abandon Historic US Refugee Program In a press release Church World Service alongside its fellow Covenant Members condemned White House efforts to abandon the US Refugee Program, and issued this statement as a rallying cry for the nation’s faith communities to unify in the name of the stranger and the sojourner.

Background: Congressional Consultations Required by the Refugee Act of 198
At this time, no refugees can be resettled because the administration failed to conduct appropriate consultations with Congress before setting a Presidential Determination (PD) on Refugee Admissions as it is required to do under the Refugee Act of 1980, CWS explains.

Strong Majority of US Voters Continue to Support the Refugee Program
New polling from Refugee Advocacy Lab, Refugees International, and Data for Progress shows that a large majority of voters support the U.S. having a refugee program and oppose many of the current administration’s recent anti-immigrant policies.

Faith Groups Outraged at Lowest Refugee Admission Goal in US History  
Guided by diverse faith traditions, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition shares collective alarm that the current administration intends to drastically slash the refugee resettlement program and abandon refugees fleeing persecution and war. The IIC stands against the exclusion of any refugee simply because of who they are, where they come from, or what they believe.

TAKE ACTION: Stand with Stranded Refugees  
This action alert from our friends at Church World Service allows you to contact your two US Senators and one Representative and urge them to call on the administration to reverse course and restore the refugee admissions program for the most at-risk refugees around the world.

Immigration & Asylum Updates During the US Government Shutdown

What a Government Shutdown Means for the Immigration System 
A thorough explainer article from the American Immigration Council that details why ICE actions as well as many US Citizenship and Immigration Services programs will continue during the Government Shutdown, while some immigration court activities may not.

DHS Keeps Paying 70,000 Law Enforcement Officials amid Gov’t Shutdown
The administration is doubling down on its plans to keep paying some federal law enforcement employees, while many government workers go without pay, the Federal News Network reports.

Federal Agents use Tear Gas Against Communities in Violation of Judge’s Order NYT reports,despite an order from a federal judge largely prohibiting the use of “less lethal” weapons against protesters and reporters, federal agents continue to use crowd control munitions.

Civil Rights Toolkit: Speaking Out Despite Government Censorship and Threats
Document from the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights provides a clear, tested framework for messaging about civil rights that empowers you to speak from your core values.

NIJC Explainer: What You Need to Know about Operation “Freaky Friday
On October 2, a widely circulated email reported a forthcoming ICE operation called “Freaky Friday.” This operation appears to pressure certain vulnerable immigrant children in federal care, and possibly some previously detained young people, to give up their legal rights and applications for humanitarian protection and to agree to depart the US. NIJC offers a thorough explainer.

TAKE ACTION: Urge Elected Officials to Condemn the DHS Plan to Incentivize Unaccompanied Children’s Departure  
This action alert from our friends at Church World Service allows you to contact your two US Senators and one Representative and urge them to condemn DHS’s plan to incentivize children to leave the U.S. and to support programs and services that keep children safe.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Your State and Elected Officials to Stand with Refugees and Other Newcomers in the Wake of SNAP Cuts  
We need our state and local leaders to proactively respond to the SNAP cuts set to impact our local communities; particularly refugees and asylum seekers. Take action to urge your state officials to take steps to ensure the most vulnerable can continue to put food on the table.

Additional Resources from DHM and our Partners

Sign-up for Disciples Advocate to connect, share, and stay informed on justice issues.

Sign-up for Church World Service’s Daily “State of Play” Email Updates to stay informed.

Download the Advocacy App 5 Calls: Connect with Your US Congressional Representatives.

DHM Toolkit: Godmothers of the Disappeared Weekly Prayer Vigil Resource

Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel Video: What Your Church Should Know

Discover the Full List of Refugee & Immigration Resources @ DHM’s Website

Visit Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM’s Webpage

Know Your Rights: In Your Home and Judicial vs. Administrative Warrants

Follow Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads

“Hey, Imago Dei!”

Sep 24, 2025
“Hey, Imago Dei!” is an intergenerational experience guide for churches and families to widen the gaze of children, so that they may see God in a vast number of ways all around them.

“Hey, Imago Dei!”

by Curtis Dixon

“Hey, Imago Dei!” is an intergenerational experience guide for churches and families to widen the gaze of children, so that they may see God in a vast number of ways all around them.

Godmothers of the Disappeared Vigil

Sep 4, 2025
Brian Frederick-Gray reflects on the Godmothers of the Disappeared Vigil he attended in Los Angeles and shares the Toolkit built to empower others to share this prophetic witness in their community.

Godmothers of the Disappeared Vigil

by Brian Frederick-Gray

The Godmothers of the Disappeared have gathered every Tuesday for months now.

On Tuesday August 19, 2025 I was blessed to be with them at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles for their weekly Godmothers of the Disappeared Vigil.

They have been gathering at 300 Los Angeles Street to bear witness against the escalating attacks on immigrants. These attacks have grown into a full blown crisis where ICE agents abduct community members and detain people, often without due process, without access to lawyers or meaningful communication with their families.

The organizers of this local event are now working to build out similar Godmothers of the Disappeared Vigils in cities all over the United States. Click the “Download” button to see the “Toolkit for Action” that can fully equip you and your community to host an Vigil.

In setting the context for their prophetic witness, the Godmothers of the Disappeared describe the work like this:

As organizers, we are students of history and learn from the legacy of prophetic witness of those who came before us. In 1982, mothers and their supporters in Argentina, whose loved ones had been taken away by a military dictatorship, began a weekly vigil in the Plaza de Mayo, asking for the disappeared to be returned alive. We continue that tradition in response to the current taking away of asylum seekers and other immigrants without due process and without letting their families know where they are.

Now, amid the ICE raids and militarization in Los Angeles, every Tuesday at noon, women faith leaders and supporters have gathered in front of the Federal Building wearing pink bandanas and holding daisies and other flowers – symbols of peace, resistance, and remembrance.

We are the Godmothers of the Disappeared, and now we’re calling on Mothers and Godmothers and all those who are willing to stand in solidarity with immigrants across the country to take action.

Holding daisies, processing around the Federal Building (which houses an ICE Office, Immigration Courthouse, and a Detention Center, among other federal agencies) the vigil leaders give testimony about those who have been taken from their community. On this day (and every Tuesday) we sing, we pray, we demand the release of those being abducted, detained, deported, and disappeared by the US Government, and we urge ICE agents and other officials to stop participating in the persecution of immigrants. The vigil ends with the same ritual every week — those in attendance gather in a circle and then one by one lay down their flower, offer a silent word of personal prayer, and then rejoin the circle of those committed to working for justice.

The Vigil began months ago with five people praying together outside the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. On the late August day that I was there over 100 people took part in the vigil. This is holy work; faithful and committed, powerful and empowering.

As the vigil has grown here in Los Angeles, the organizers are hoping that it will grow across the country. They are inviting you and your community to consider holding a similar event. They have prepared a Toolkit so that you will not have to be starting from scratch or have to re-invent the wheel. The toolkit includes:

  • Why Now? Setting the Context
    • Note to Speakers
  • Sample Vigil Program
  • Talking Points
  • A Sample Media Advisory
  • Downloadable Image Files for artwork depicting Family Separation

Find the complete toolkit for the Godmothers of the Disappeared Vigil here:

bit.ly/GodmothersofDisappeared

peace,
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
Director for Justice & Advocacy Ministries
Disciples Home Missions

August 11 Refugee & Immigration Resources

Aug 11, 2025
Includes Action Items for the August Congressional Recess, Follow-Ups from General Assembly 2025 in Memphis, and information updates from the Law, Religion & Rights Project, Human Rights Watch, the National Immigration Law Center, the UCC General Counsel, and more.

August 11 Refugee & Immigration Resources

by Brian Frederick-Gray

 Seeking to be a source of trusted information/resources for local congregations, Regions, and ministries, Justice & Advocacy Ministries offers the following curated list of toolkits, articles, and action items about refugee and immigration ministries.

Take Action and Lift Your Voice

Congressional Recess Advocacy Guide and Template
Senators and Members of Congress are back home for “August recess,” a period when they hold town halls, attend public events, and listen to their constituents. The congressional recess period is a vital moment to ensure your voice is heard by your elected officials in the US House of Representatives and Senate in support of refugees and immigrants. Church World Service has put together a great advocacy guide and template to help with this work.

Toolkit: Immigration Detention Oversight & Accountability
This toolkit from the National Immigrant Justice Center provides a step-by-step guide for members of Congress to plan visits to ICE detention facilities in their districts and engage in oversight. Share it with your US Congressional Representatives and urge them to take action now.

Action Alert: Urge Your Members of Congress to Support Refugees
Our partners at Church World Service have set up an Action Alert that will allow you to email your representatives and advocate for refugees and immigrants in your community

Guide: Trauma-Informed Engagement with Directly Impacted Individuals
As a faith partner that strives to center the voices and experiences of directly-impacted individuals, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition created this guide to help coalition organizations honor, empower, and respect those individuals that choose to collaborate and share their stories with us.

Follow-Ups from General Assembly

Justice Resolutions at General Assembly 2025
At General Assembly 2025 in Memphis, Disciples passed several important resolutions addressing justice issues. This is the General Assembly speaking to the church and inviting our members and ministries into deeper engagement with this work. This included passing the Emergency Resolution GA2570 “Responding to the US Federal Government’s Attack on Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees.”

Next Steps: Solidarity with Migrants Beyond General Assembly 2025
Disciples Home Missions, Week of Compassion, and Obra Hispana collaborated on a “Stand in the Gap” Vigil at General Assembly 2025 in front of the Immigration Court in Memphis (hidden in plain sight in an office building, mere blocks away from the Convention Center). As a planning guide for future local actions we have made the full script available for you to use.

Stay Informed on the Issues

Testimony: Answering God’s Call, No Matter the Cost
Disciples chaplain Rev. Elizabeth Diop was fired when she spoke out on behalf of a fellow chaplain at the Children’s Hospital who was detained by ICE. Rev. Diop’s powerful editorial frames the time as “What I lost when I spoke for a detained colleague, and why I’d do it again.”

Law, Religion & Rights Project: Report on Religious Liberty and Immigration
The latest report from the Law, Religion, and Rights Project at Union Theological Seminary is intended as a practical tool for houses of worship, civil rights advocates, faith-based organizations, immigration attorneys, and criminal defense lawyers. Check it out.

Human Rights Watch: “You Feel Like Your Life is Over” – Abusive Practices at Three Florida Immigration Detention Centers Since January 2025
With heartbreaking detail, Human Rights Watch chronicles the ways that detainees are subjected to degrading and dehumanizing treatment at 3 different Immigration Centers in Florida.

NILC: Explaining the Anti-Immigrant Policies in the “Big Beautiful Bill”  
On July 4, 2025 the budget bill known as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was signed into law. The law brings fundamental changes to federal immigration systems and other federal programs. This resource from the National Immigration Law Center zooms in on the law’s immigration-related provisions providing an overview and analysis of how each measure will work.

IRAP: Explainer on the 2025 Travel Bans
The International Refugee Assistance Project has written an explainer about President Trump’s most recent proclamation banning immigrant and nonimmigrant entry of nationals of twelve countries and limiting entry for nationals of another seven countries.

San Diego Diocese Assembles Volunteers to Accompany Immigrants in Court  
This article from the National Catholic Reporter details the “Faithful Accompaniment In Trust & Hope” (FAITH) program launched in San Diego by Catholic Bishop Michael Pham.  

UCC: Churches Must Review and Understand Requirements with Federal Grants
Important info for grant seekers: Guidance from the United Church of Christ’s Office of General Counsel regarding changes to the terms and conditions for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that now require recipients of the funding to fully cooperate with immigration officials, not engage in or promote programs that engage in DEI, and not participate in boycotts relating to Israel.

Additional Resources from DHM & our Partners

Sign-up for Disciples Advocate to connect, share, and stay informed on justice issues

Sign-up for Church World Service’s Daily “State of Play” Updates

Download 5 Calls: Connect with Your US Congressional Representatives

Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel Video: Know Your Rights

Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel Video: What Your Church Should Know

Discover the Full List of Refugee & Immigration Resources @ DHM’s Website

Visit Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM’s Webpage

Know Your Rights: In Your Home and Judicial vs. Administrative Warrants

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