It has been said before, but it bears repeating. Speaking to Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of New York City, Dana Trexler of Safe Horizon pondered:
In situations of abuse, people often ask:
“Why doesn’t she leave?”
Shouldn’t people ask:
“Why doesn’t he stop hitting her?”
Filed under Human Rights
They are scattered across the city, the Permanent Missions of the member states to the United Nations. I am still learning where they are.
Yesterday when my friend David Bowie and I left the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations we heard the chants of a demonstration. As we made our way up 44th Street toward Grand Central, the sound became louder. At the corner of 2nd Avenue, we saw the people – Syrians.
Men and women, old and young, under flying flags they called for justice and peace for their country.
From their courage and faith, hope leached into my heart as we stood and watched for a few moments. I waved and gave the peace sign as we passed by.
This evening David asked why the group had gathered there. Who did they hope to influence? Groups who come to the UN often do so on 1st Avenue – Ralph Bunche Park is a common location. We wondered if maybe they could not get a permit.
And then I looked up the address for the Permanent Mission of Syria. Sure enough – 820 Second Avenue – between 43rd and 44th – right across the street from where the crowd had gathered to make their witness. The people’s witness touched me; may their witness and the witness of their sisters and brothers in Syria touch their country’s leaders. May peace and justice prevail for Syria and for all peoples.
See you along the Trail.
Another one originally posted on Swords into Plowshares:
Presbyterian United Nations Ministry
It has been a long time since I have attended a Halloween party.
I did so tonight, joining nearly 200 adults and children to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
This program began in Philadelphia, the idea of Presbyterians Clyde and Mary Emma Allison who wondered “Why can’t kids collect food for starving children?”
In the sixty years since those orange cartons (decorated milk cartons were first used) have been used by children and adults to raise almost $160 million dollars.
Those funds are used by UNICEF to provide food, medicine, and education to help children thrive.
Monroe Allison, his wife Dianna, and UNICEF Jenny (all shown in the picture) attended the event to be recognized for his parent’s vision. Monroe attended the 219th General Assembly (2010) where UNICEF gave thanks for the role of his parents and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in creating and promoting Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
By participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, Presbyterians serve in the global neighborhood as disciples of Jesus who calls us to love one another.
What are you doing this Halloween?
The Office of Child Advocacy provides a bulletin insert on Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in color and in black and white.
Download Trick or Treaf for UNICEF story about the Allisons and the origins.
Find the resources needed to Trick or Treat for UNICEF.
I have not been posting as often as I hoped. I am still fighting with a cold.
Here’s one that I originally posted over on Swords into Plowshares:
There are two broad foci to the mission of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations:
Of course these foci are essentially and inextricably intertwined as events today affirmed.
A group of about twelve Presbyterians from Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado visited the office this morning. They were the first group of Presbyterian visitors that I had the privilege and joy to host.
As the Presbyterians from Denver gathered in our large conference room, a delegation of church leaders from Sudan met in our small conference room. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations helped with their visit based on long-standing Presbyterian involvement with our Sudanese sisters and brothers in Christ and on many statements of the General Assembly calling Presbyterians to work for and pray for a just peace in Sudan.
The Rev. Ramadan Chan, Secretary General of the Sudan Council of Churches, graciously agreed to speak with the Wellshire group.
He shared about the concerns that he and his colleagues share for their beloved country and the impending referendum in southern Sudan. He reiterated their view that violence and war might break out but it is not inevitable – that peace is possible if the nations of the world act swiftly and decisively to support peace and a fair and transparent referendum.
The Rev. Chan explained that he and the other church leaders from Sudan had two primary purposes for their visit. The first is to sound the alarm. They have done that in London with leaders of the United Kingdom. They are doing that in New York with the international community through meetings with Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, national missions at the United Nations, and international organizations and programs. They will do that in Washington, DC next week with leaders of the United States.
Their second purpose is to meet sisters and brothers in the churches of the United States – so we will know their story – we will hold them in prayer – we will advocate with our government.
When the Rev. Chan had finished, we joined in prayer led by the Rev. Chan and the Rev. Patricia Kitchen of Wellshire Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Chan then left for a lunch engagement.
We talked a bit more about the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and about ways that our lives as disciples of Jesus intersect with the work of the United Nations . . . through the season of prayer for Sudan, prayers for United Nations Day, participation in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, and the Red Hand Campaign to end the use of children as soldiers were discussed.
Our time ended with an invitation to Wellshire Presbyterian Church to return for a seminar at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. Looking forward to that day!
Photos by Ricky Velez-Negron of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
