WorldHope Corps

For those who support marriage equality, today marks a moral milestone for monogamous, same-gender-loving all-but married couples.  POTUS base his view on the Golden Rule that Jesus taught: Transcript : Good Morning America interview today on ABC News: I have to tell you, as I said, I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue. I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally... And, I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient.   That that was something that would give people hospital visitation rights and other elements that we take for granted. And I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people, the word marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth.   But I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who...

Call to Action:  99% Spring Training       With the goal of training 100,000 people this Spring in community organizing and non-violent direct action, the 99% Spring coalition hopes to gather a critical mass of people power to “draw a line in the sand and say ‘No More!” to the corporations and wealthy power brokers who collectively have hijacked our democracy. Given last year’s Supreme Court decision granting corporations and superpacs legal provisions to spend unlimited money to influence the political process, I personally agree that its time to demand a “separation of Corporation and State.”  (See my earlier posts on  OWS    for why I have supported this original and primary goal of Occupy) A broad-base coalition of national organizations (initiated by Occupy Wall Street and MoveOn.org) invited community activists to today’s training session in various cities across the country. Several friends and supporters of Communities of Shal...

We attended Pacific Beach United Methodist Church today which began a six week Season of Epiphany series on Science and Spirituality, including weekly opportunities to "eat with a scientist" in the congregation and discuss with them how they integrate their scientific discoveries and their Christian faith.  Today's scriptural lesson and sermon was on the Star the Magi studied and followed from Babylon to Bethlehem. (Matt 2:1-12). "In the ancient world scholars believed that there was a direct correspondence between signs in the heavens and events on the earth,"  Pastor April Heron explained, " that cosmic events had early counterparts, that if there was a new star there had to be a new king.  The Magi were the scholars of their day, capable of careful observation and sustained study.  They sought to understand the relationship between the heavens and the earth, the spiritual and the material. They welcomed the counsel of others and were open to the messag...

Rev. Jesse Jackson Joins United Methodist Leaders at Occupy Service What do Drew, Jesse Jackson and Newt Gingrich have in common? Here are two video clips from Drew Today , the university’s online news channel, illustrating the political spectrum of faculty, students and alumni:  ( http://drew.edu/today )   Prayers and Protest Social justice is integral to the mission of the Theological School and its Shalom initiative, so it wasn't so out of the ordinary that they led last Sunday’s worship service at Occupy Wall Street in New York City, led by Drew's Communities of Shalom. The surprise came when Rev. Jesse Jackson joined them. Video Journalist Ted Johnsen has the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCauwTMKUSU&feature=youtube_gdata Alumnus Propels Gingrich toward White House With only a few weeks to go before the presidential primaries, Newt Gingrich is emerging as the GOP frontrunner. We thought that was a good reason to reprise ...

Jesse Jackson support Obery Hendricks speaking at OSW Dr. Obery Hendricks, Professor of New Testament Intepretation at New York Theological Semianry, Scholar in Residence at Columbia University, and author of The Politics of Jesus, attended the Occupy Advent service with Jesse Jackson and was invited to speak. “ Treat the people’s needs as holy...” is one of seven strategies Jesus used to “ give a voice to the voiceless” and “expose the workings of oppression” —to challenge the established order of things. Hendricks is Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary and author of the book The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted . The 7 Political Strategies of Jesus are these: Treat people needs as holy. Give a voice to the voiceless. Expose the working of oppression. Call the demon by name. Save your anger for the mistreatment of others. Take blows without ret...

Friends of Shalom, As National Director, following the lead of my Dean at Drew, I have identified myself and Communities of Shalom with www.OccupyFaithNYC.com  --a multifaith coalition of religious leaders and faith-based organizations in metro New York in direct  solidarity with and support of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. Personally, I have visited Occupy camps in three cities and participated in three multifaith services at Zuccotti Park, and joined a dozen clergy and religious leaders who led the Occupy March across the Brooklyn Bridge on November 17--the second month anniversary of the movement. On Sunday, December 4, Communities of Shalom will host and lead the weekly multifaith service at Zuccotti Park.  Our theme is Occupy Advent and we have tremendous support from Drew University and United Methodist leaders in New York, including Bishop Jeremiah Park of the York Annual Conference who will make a statement of support. I write you today to invit...

Jubilee Angel Advent is a good time to Occupy. I have been following, participating, and blogging about the OccupyWall Street movement for several weeks now, and I am ready to recommend some specific solidarity actions during this Advent season. I'm calling on Ministers of Shalom, designated Shalom Zones, Communities of Shalom, Belivers Without Borders, and other faith-based groups and people of good will, to find creative ways to "seek shalom in the community where you have been sent" (Jeremiah 29:7).   I'm asking you to consider one or more of the following prophetic acts of kindness, hospitality, justice and advocacy in behalf of the so-called "99 %" during Advent--in the spirit of God's Shalom: 1. Open the doors of your church , community center, or home to some Occupiers for a warm meal, hot shower, or even for an overnight rest.  Several shalom zones and prophetic churches already have done this, including Church of the Village and Judson ...

On this 60th day of Occupy Wall Street, protestors camping at Zuccotti Park were removed by force early this morning, many arrested, as frustration escalates.  Early morning photos of Un-Occupying the Park Direct Actions for the two-month anniversary of the movement are being organized:  OccupyFaithNYC.org   Let us pray that this anti-greed and pro-economic reform movement does not turn violent.   And let us hope and pray that OccupyFaith finds new ways to support the highest ideals of OccupyWall Street and similar demonstrations around the world. Eric Jackson, M.Div. at Drew, leads prayers at Occupy Wall Street Latest News and Photos from  New York Times Latest News and Photos from  Los Angles Times

Today is the 58th day of Occupy Wall Street, my fifth time to occupy with faith.   Three worship services on Sunday is certainly enough prayer, praise and protest for one day. The Path Train from Hoboken delivered me to Christopher Street in the West Village which was an easy walk to the Church of the Village: A Progressive United Methodist Church.   “Bishop J” is senior pastor (who had set up several shalom zones when he was Bishop for New Jersey Annual Conference.   It was stewardship Sunday and the economic theme was “lend your heart, invest your soul, maximize your ROI.”   I loved how the worship team performed a Broadway tune—“I’m into Money” complete with tap dancing and showmanship. The gospel text was the Parable of the Talents and the Separation of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25:14-30).   District Superintendent St. Clair Samuel preached a very fine radical stewardship message on God’s ownership and our stewardship of has been entrusted to our care....

Minister Michael Ellick is a good and faithful pastor at Judson Church in Greenwich Village.  He also is a gifted and courageous community organizer.   Fully active in OWS since its inception, and contributing faith-based solidarity and support, Michael instigated OccupyFaithNYC within the first month of the movement. Michael, Eric Jackson, and several members of Judson captured national public attention on October 9 by bringing a   Golden Calf  to the protest movement on Wall Street.  Michael also is a gifted community organizer, bold as well as gentle, able to speak truth to power, and also give a cup of cold water in the spirit of Jesus.  Watching him in action, whether leading a direct action on the streets or facilitating a strategy meeting at the church, his Conservative Baptist roots, Union Theological School training, and seven years of study under a Tibetan Buddhist Teacher prepared him for prophetic leadership “in such a time as thi...