Well folks I have been thinking about this for some time now and I have concluded that it is now time to "pull the plug" on this blog. I simply do not have the energy to continue posting thoughts, ideas, videos and pictures any longer.
I remember my initial excitement in entering the blogosphere. I was energized by the notion that you could just post any thing you wanted and make any statement you wanted and some people would actually read it - and in rare circumstances they would comment on it.
The motivation for the title of the blog was based on John Robinson's quote that "God hath more light and truth to break forth from God's Word"...the notion of continuing or ongoing (progressive) revelation that has been much of the impetus for the "Still Speaking" Initiative of the United Church of Christ.
Rather than being something I looked forward to doing - posting on the blog has become "chore-like" - and when things get to that point its time to stop. I will keep the blog up for a few more weeks - and then I will hit the "delete" the blog button and this text will disappear into wherever things like this disappear to.
Thanks for reading this blog. May God's peace be with us all. God is Still Speaking.
11/4/09
10/27/09
10/26/09
Cleveland Plain Dealer article
Cleveland and UCC are a perfect fit for each other
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
The first time I moved to Cleveland in 1994, I had visited the city only once before as a delegate to the United Church of Christ's General Synod in 1987, where we voted to begin the process of relocating our national offices from New York City to Cleveland.
This month, the UCC is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the implementation of that wise decision.
My first visit to Cleveland 22 years ago afforded me a limited but positive experience of the city - mostly of downtown. Little did I know that, a little more than six years later, I would be relocating to Cleveland to work at our na tional offices at 700 Prospect Ave.
Not long after making Cleveland my home, I visited the box office at the historic Cleveland Music Hall and Public Auditorium to purchase tickets for an upcoming concert and, while waiting in line, I noticed a simple brass plaque on the wall, which read: "On June 25, 1957, the United Church of Christ was founded in this hall. "
While this date is of historical importance to our members, the idea that the UCC's founding could be of significance to the history of Cleveland had not occurred to me. However, seeing this historical marker brought me to a new awareness of our place in this city.
In 2007, our denomination threw a yearlong party to commemorate that occasion when, in 1957, the Congregational Christian Churches in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church would join hands here in Cleveland. It marked the first time in U.S. history that two church bodies from unrelated Protestant traditions would unite, not based on absolute doctrinal agreement but out of a shared commitment to visible Christian unity.
Photographs of that historic event show a procession of clergy and laity marching from Public Square to the Music Hall, where the ceremony took place.
Since 2000, I have spent time away from Cleveland - living and serving in New York - but I have come to a deep appreciation and fondness for Cleveland. This is a city that is culturally rich and socially diverse, with a broad range of artistic, recreational and educational activities. This city is affordable with an excellent public transportation system.
These are among the reasons why the UCC made the move here 20 years ago, and why 200 members of our national staff are proud today to call Cleveland our home.
While Cleveland is the birthplace of our denomination, this was not the major reason why we voted to make the move here. But I can't help wondering if Cleveland is simply the place of our belonging, the city that sustains us in doing God's mission, a community that affirms the racial, cultural and theological diversity and openness that the UCC itself has come to represent.
Two weeks ago, I moved to Cleveland yet a second time, this time to serve as the UCC's general minister and president. I am glad that this is our church's home and my new home once more.
Surely, much has changed since my first visit to Cleveland, yet the vibrant spirit of this resilient metropolitan area remains and for that I am thankful.
Black is the new general minister and president of the Cleveland-based United Church of Christ, which has 1.1 million members, 5,300 congregations and 350 health and human service institutions in all 50 states. The UCC's downtown facilities include a nine-story office building, the Amistad Chapel and the Radisson Hotel at Gateway.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
The first time I moved to Cleveland in 1994, I had visited the city only once before as a delegate to the United Church of Christ's General Synod in 1987, where we voted to begin the process of relocating our national offices from New York City to Cleveland.
This month, the UCC is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the implementation of that wise decision.
My first visit to Cleveland 22 years ago afforded me a limited but positive experience of the city - mostly of downtown. Little did I know that, a little more than six years later, I would be relocating to Cleveland to work at our na tional offices at 700 Prospect Ave.
Not long after making Cleveland my home, I visited the box office at the historic Cleveland Music Hall and Public Auditorium to purchase tickets for an upcoming concert and, while waiting in line, I noticed a simple brass plaque on the wall, which read: "On June 25, 1957, the United Church of Christ was founded in this hall. "
While this date is of historical importance to our members, the idea that the UCC's founding could be of significance to the history of Cleveland had not occurred to me. However, seeing this historical marker brought me to a new awareness of our place in this city.
In 2007, our denomination threw a yearlong party to commemorate that occasion when, in 1957, the Congregational Christian Churches in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church would join hands here in Cleveland. It marked the first time in U.S. history that two church bodies from unrelated Protestant traditions would unite, not based on absolute doctrinal agreement but out of a shared commitment to visible Christian unity.
Photographs of that historic event show a procession of clergy and laity marching from Public Square to the Music Hall, where the ceremony took place.
Since 2000, I have spent time away from Cleveland - living and serving in New York - but I have come to a deep appreciation and fondness for Cleveland. This is a city that is culturally rich and socially diverse, with a broad range of artistic, recreational and educational activities. This city is affordable with an excellent public transportation system.
These are among the reasons why the UCC made the move here 20 years ago, and why 200 members of our national staff are proud today to call Cleveland our home.
While Cleveland is the birthplace of our denomination, this was not the major reason why we voted to make the move here. But I can't help wondering if Cleveland is simply the place of our belonging, the city that sustains us in doing God's mission, a community that affirms the racial, cultural and theological diversity and openness that the UCC itself has come to represent.
Two weeks ago, I moved to Cleveland yet a second time, this time to serve as the UCC's general minister and president. I am glad that this is our church's home and my new home once more.
Surely, much has changed since my first visit to Cleveland, yet the vibrant spirit of this resilient metropolitan area remains and for that I am thankful.
Black is the new general minister and president of the Cleveland-based United Church of Christ, which has 1.1 million members, 5,300 congregations and 350 health and human service institutions in all 50 states. The UCC's downtown facilities include a nine-story office building, the Amistad Chapel and the Radisson Hotel at Gateway.
10/25/09
Jungleland
The first time I heard Bruce Springsteen - I remember thinking to myself - now this is something I haven't heard before. I have seen him live and in concert about 15 times over the years. One of the most memorable concerts was at the Bottom Line in New York City when he released "Born to Run". I waited with some friends on the sidewalk to get standing room only tickets for the midnight show. He played for four straight hours that night - and I have been a fan ever since then. It's hard to believe he's 60 years old - still rocking and making great music.
10/20/09
Domestic Violence Month
I suppose there is a "month" for a lot of different causes. I haven't done much research on that but I have noticed that there are a lot of things that are dubbed "This and That" month.
Domestic violence shouldn't happen, period. No one should be subjected to domestic violence. Wouldn't that be wonderful in this imagined perfect world scenario? The statistics around this type of violence are more than alarming. One out of every four women will experience this type of violence at some point in their lifetime. Of the almost 3.5 million violent crimes committed against family members, 49% of these were crimes against spouses. In 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knows the perpetrator. 600-800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year and 80% of those are women and girls. The health care costs of domestic violence is estimated at 5.8 billion dollars per year.
Faith communities can make a difference in putting an end to domestic violence. Religious leaders can encourage their congregations to become aware of the issues and to take steps to addressing this kind of violence in their communities. The Faith Trust Institute offers some excellent resources. From their website are some suggestions about what religious leaders can do which include:
1. Work to change the conditions that perpetuate violence against women.
2. Give a sermon.
3. Create an environment of awareness by displaying books and brochures.
4. Host an information and awareness event with educational resources.
5. Arrange for a guest speaker for your congregation or community.
6. Implement a healthy relationships curriculum, like FaithTrust Institute’s Love—All That and More Curriculum, in your religious school and with your youth groups.
7. Support the safety and well-being of survivors.
8. Hold abusers accountable for their behavior.
9. Screen for domestic violence during premarital counseling.
10. Sign the National Declaration by Religious & Spiritual Leaders to Address Violence Against Women.
11. Get to know your local domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse service providers.
12. Provide training for staff and volunteers on how to recognize and respond to signs of abuse.
Silence allows this type of violence to continue.
Domestic violence shouldn't happen, period. No one should be subjected to domestic violence. Wouldn't that be wonderful in this imagined perfect world scenario? The statistics around this type of violence are more than alarming. One out of every four women will experience this type of violence at some point in their lifetime. Of the almost 3.5 million violent crimes committed against family members, 49% of these were crimes against spouses. In 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knows the perpetrator. 600-800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year and 80% of those are women and girls. The health care costs of domestic violence is estimated at 5.8 billion dollars per year.
Faith communities can make a difference in putting an end to domestic violence. Religious leaders can encourage their congregations to become aware of the issues and to take steps to addressing this kind of violence in their communities. The Faith Trust Institute offers some excellent resources. From their website are some suggestions about what religious leaders can do which include:
1. Work to change the conditions that perpetuate violence against women.
2. Give a sermon.
3. Create an environment of awareness by displaying books and brochures.
4. Host an information and awareness event with educational resources.
5. Arrange for a guest speaker for your congregation or community.
6. Implement a healthy relationships curriculum, like FaithTrust Institute’s Love—All That and More Curriculum, in your religious school and with your youth groups.
7. Support the safety and well-being of survivors.
8. Hold abusers accountable for their behavior.
9. Screen for domestic violence during premarital counseling.
10. Sign the National Declaration by Religious & Spiritual Leaders to Address Violence Against Women.
11. Get to know your local domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse service providers.
12. Provide training for staff and volunteers on how to recognize and respond to signs of abuse.
Silence allows this type of violence to continue.
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