Bible verses with short thoughtful essays and questions for meditation.
Looking for God Over Your Shoulder
Bible verses with short thoughtful essays and questions for meditation.
English
A Service of Release and Renewal
A worship liturgy for closing a grief and loss study or support group series.
A Service of Release and Renewal
A worship liturgy for closing a grief and loss study or support group series.
Dementia-Friendly Faith Communities
Resources for churches striving to become more sensitive to the needs of persons with dementia.
Dementia-Friendly Faith Communities
Resources for churches striving to become more sensitive to the needs of persons with dementia.
Silver Chalice Tasks
Simple to more complex ideas for programs to earn the designation of Silver Chalice Ministry.
Silver Chalice Tasks
Simple to more complex ideas for programs to earn the designation of Silver Chalice Ministry.
Older Adult Luncheon Program Checklist
Steps for starting a monthly luncheon program.
Older Adult Luncheon Program Checklist
Steps for starting a monthly luncheon program.
Addressing Food Insecurity in the U.S.
Facts and perspectives for beginning food consciousness and supply community work.
Addressing Food Insecurity in the U.S.
Facts and perspectives for beginning food consciousness and supply community work.
Fruits of the Spirit
The Galatians passage is taken day by day for personal thought.
Fruits of the Spirit
The Galatians passage is taken day by day for personal thought.
Mental Wellness and Older Adults
A collection of actions and teaching tools for offering presence and support of mental health for all.
Mental Wellness and Older Adults
A collection of actions and teaching tools for offering presence and support of mental health for all.
Honoring Loved Ones Over the Holidays
There are many ways offered here to recognize and celebrate collectively, the lives of those who are gone.
Honoring Loved Ones Over the Holidays
There are many ways offered here to recognize and celebrate collectively, the lives of those who are gone.
Blue Christmas Liturgy
Loneliness and sadness grow for many over the holidays. honoring the lives of those who are gone can ease these emotions.
Blue Christmas Liturgy
Loneliness and sadness grow for many over the holidays. honoring the lives of those who are gone can ease these emotions.
Silver Chalice Recognition Liturgy
When the Silver Chalice designation has been awarded, celebrate with the whole congregation in worship.
Silver Chalice Recognition Liturgy
When the Silver Chalice designation has been awarded, celebrate with the whole congregation in worship.
Church Building and Program Accessibility
Simplified assessment tool for church building accessibility.
Church Building and Program Accessibility
Simplified assessment tool for church building accessibility.
August 11 Refugee & Immigration Resources
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
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
A Statement on the Rights of Older Adults
Learn why there is a call to churches for action on behalf of the rights of older adults.
A Statement on the Rights of Older Adults
Learn why there is a call to churches for action on behalf of the rights of older adults.
Next Steps: Solidarity with Immigrants Beyond General Assembly 2025
Resources to help Disciples live into the work of supporting Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylum Seekers following Emergency Resolution GA-2570.
Next Steps: Solidarity with Immigrants Beyond General Assembly 2025
At General Assembly 2025 in Memphis Disciples passed GA-2570 “RESPONDING TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ATTACK ON IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, AND REFUGEES.”
This emergency resolution denounces the United States federal government’s mass detention and deportation campaign, as well as the egregious human rights violations being committed against those who are being detained and deported. It also denounces the government’s disregard of the civil and human rights of immigrants, migrants, and refugees, as demonstrated through the current Administration’s attacks on humanitarian protection and due process, ongoing funding freezes, and the infringement on the religious rights of houses of worship to welcome and provide charity services to all people, regardless of their citizenship status. It calls on all settings of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, including General Ministries, Regions, and local congregations to provide additional support for Immigrant Welcoming and sanctuary congregations, and calls for prophetic action in solidarity with immigrants, migrants, and refugees in light of the current increase in anti-immigrant policies being implemented by the United States federal government.
You can read the full text of the Emergency Resolution here.
Disciples Home Missions, Week of Compassion, and Obra Hispana collaborated on a “Stand in the Gap” Vigil at General Assembly 2025 where Disciples processed to the Immigration Courthouse in Memphis (hidden in plain sight, mere blocks away from the Convention Center). In front of the building that houses the Immigration Court we held a Prayer Vigil that included scripture readings, testimonials, and an invitation to bring this work back home with us to our local communities. Using silhouette cutouts to represent the siblings in the Christ who could not gather in that space (because they have been deported, detained, or forced into the shadows) we embodied our faith in front of the Immigration Court.
In an effort to help folks bring this kind of witness back home with them, the event organizers are sharing:
- The Full Script from the Prayer Vigil
- Next Steps: Solidarity with Immigrants Beyond General Assembly
- Contact information for DHM, WoC, and Obra
- Additional, anonymized testimonials from the Prayer Vigil
Please feel free to use these materials, adapt them to your setting, or create materials that work best for your context.
Beyond General Assembly: Justice Resolutions Passed at GA in Memphis
The point of a General Assembly resolution is not to simply pass the resolution, but to equip and encourage Disciples to go even deeper in addressing these issues. Here is a listing of Justice Resolutions passed by the General Assembly 2025 in Memphis and some additional resources that can be shared.
Beyond General Assembly: Justice Resolutions Passed at GA in Memphis
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.
The point of a General Assembly resolution is not to simply pass the resolution, but to equip and encourage Disciples to go even deeper in addressing these issues.
Here is a listing of Justice Resolutions passed by the General Assembly 2025 in Memphis and some additional resources that can be shared.
GA-2513 – Resolution Concerning Disability Justice and Inclusion in all Ministries within the Christian Church
Read the Resolution
Learn More about Disciples Access
GA-2514 – Commitment to the Thursdays in Black Campaign: A Global Movement For A World Without Gender-Based Violence
Read the Resolution
Learn More about the Thursdays in Black Black Campaign
GA-2515 Opposing Project 2025 And Other Policies That Are Inconsistent With Our Commitment to Justice, Mercy, and Compassion For Our Neighbors
Read the Resolution
Learn More with FactCheck.org’s “Guide to Project 2025”
Learn More with Snopes.com’s “The Facts About Project 2025”
GA-2520 – Calling the Church to Affirm the Sovereignty and Self-Determination of our Canadian Siblings
Read the Resolution
Learn More about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada
GA-2568 – Emergency Resolution Concerning the Moral Crisis of Federal Budget Priorities in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill
Read the Resolution
Learn More with USAFacts.org’s “What’s in the Bill”
GA-2570 – Emergency Resolution Responding to the US Federal Government’s Attack on Immigrants, Migrants, And Refugees
Read the Resolution
Next Steps: Solidarity with Immigrants Beyond General Assembly 2025
GA-2571 – Affirmation of the World Council of Churches call to “End Apartheid, Occupation, and Impunity in Palestine and Israel,” and of solidarity with Palestinian people as we struggle for an end to genocide
Read the Resolution
Read the UCC’s General Synod “Declaration for an End to Genocide in Palestine
Disciples Advocate Email Edition: July 2025
DHM is excited to present the relaunched Disciples Advocate -- a Platform for Connecting, Creating Greater Awareness, and Empowering Action for Justice
Disciples Advocate Email Edition: July 2025
Circles of Awareness and Care-Green Chalice Resource
Men Uplifting Men Video and Discussion Guide
In this video and accompanying discussion guide, you will learn about and engage the importance of relationships between men. In the video Rev. Dr. Alex Ruth, Director of Disciples Men, discusses the “friendship recession,” serving as a starting point for discussions on the barriers to building healthy male relationships as well as the benefits of […]
Men Uplifting Men Video and Discussion Guide
In this video and accompanying discussion guide, you will learn about and engage the importance of relationships between men.
In the video Rev. Dr. Alex Ruth, Director of Disciples Men, discusses the “friendship recession,” serving as a starting point for discussions on the barriers to building healthy male relationships as well as the benefits of friendships between men.
Please also download the accompanying discussion guide to facilitate conversations following watching the video.This discussion guide is designed to accompany the Men Uplifting Men Video which discusses the “friendship recession.” Please download the discussion guide to facilitate small group conversations after watching the video.
Click on any of the Men Uplifting Men Video links to open the YouTube video in a new browser. The video runs approximately 20 minutes.
Have you heard? Children Worship & Wonder is expanding!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Foundation, Disciples Home Missions will continue to expand the influence of Children Worship Wonder & Welcome by focusing on these goals: • Reducing financial barriers for interested congregations • Increasing our welcoming of those with various dis/abilities • Attending to the needs of a more diverse church […]
Have you heard? Children Worship & Wonder is expanding!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Foundation, Disciples Home Missions will continue to expand the influence of Children Worship Wonder & Welcome by focusing on these goals:
• Reducing financial barriers for interested congregations
• Increasing our welcoming of those with various dis/abilities
• Attending to the needs of a more diverse church
• Increasing worship participation through music
Meet Rev. Laura Ann Phillips, the new director, and learn more!
What is the Silver Chalice Ministry? A Resolution.
Silver Chalice Ministry is a program dedicated to helping congregations support and celebrate older adults (65+). It encourages churches to lift up the wisdom, gifts, and needs of aging members through intentional programming and care. Explore how your ministry can grow by honoring the older adults in your midst.
What is the Silver Chalice Ministry? A Resolution.
Silver Chalice Ministry is a program dedicated to helping congregations support and celebrate older adults (65+). It encourages churches to lift up the wisdom, gifts, and needs of aging members through intentional programming and care. Explore how your ministry can grow by honoring the older adults in your midst.
World Refugee Day 2025 Resource List
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls on June 20th each year and honors the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. Introductions to World Refugee Day UNHCR World Refugee Day […]
World Refugee Day 2025 Resource List
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls on June 20th each year and honors the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
Introductions to World Refugee Day
UNHCR World Refugee Day Webpage
The United Nations Refugee Agency publishes an annual guide describing World Refugee Day. You’ll learn about the significance or World Refugee Day, its history, and tangible ways that you can take action. This year’s World Refugee Day theme is “Solidarity with Refugees.”
We Are All America: Interactive Map of World Refugee Day Events
Our colleagues at We Are All America are joining forces with local leaders, partners, and advocates to host a series of events that celebrate refugee communities, engage elected officials, and educate the public about how to take action. Check out their interactive map!
Refugee Council USA: Who are Forcibly Displaced People?
Refugee Council USA offers a term dictionary of different populations that are forced to flee: Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced People, Stateless Persons, Humanitarian Parolees, Special Immigrant Visa Holders, and those with Temporary Protected Status.
Stories that Inspire Action
Week of Compassion: Worship Resources and a Faithful Conversation
Our colleagues at Week of Compassion have put together a list of World Refugee Day materials that include worship resources, a message from Rev. Grace Kozac, and a recorded conversation with Pastor Jean-Baptiste Ilondo on being a refugee who is serving others who are refugees.
Church World Service: World Refugee Day 2025
Behind every policy are people waiting to rebuild their lives. Our partners at Church World Service have developed a resource that allows you to meet a few of them and hear what our communities could lose if we do not act to protect refugees and refugee resettlement work.
International Rescue Committee: Every Number has a StoryThere are over 123 million people displaced around the world. Each one has a unique story. This World Refugee Day our partners at the International Rescue Committee invite you to meet displaced people from Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Burundi, and Syria.
JUNETEENTH 2025 RESOURCE
