It’s Just the Way We Are.

Thomas, Jaramillo arrested at White House while attempting to deliver anti-war petitions

After ignoring three warnings from police, the Rev. John H. Thomas and the Rev. Linda Jaramillo were arrested at 12:58 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Oct. 10, for refusing to leave a no-protest zone near the White House gate.

The two national UCC officers were attempting to deliver a Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War, along with 60,000 endorsing signatures.

~United Church News, October 11^th, 2007 (for complete article, click HERE)

It’s just the way we are. The Rev. John H. Thomas is General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ (USA) and the Rev. Linda Jaramillo is the Executive Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ. They expected to be arrested. But, they are not the first U.C.C. national officers to be arrested while witnessing for Justice and Peace; and I am certain they will not be the last.

The United Church of Christ, founded in 1957 by the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Long before the merger, these predecessor denominations were active in issues of justice and peace. A (very) few of these include civil and human rights, economic justice, peacemaking, integrity of creation, racial justice, etc. Throughout its history—from early engagement in the movement to abolish slavery to modern campaigns for civil rights and social justice to the rights of women, children, the poor, gays, and lesbians—the United Church of Christ in every setting of the church has been engaged in ministries of compassion, advocacy and reconciliation.

Am I pleased to be an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ? I certainly am. I only wish that I had been in front of the White House yesterday that I, too, might be a peacemaker and have been arrested along with Rev. Thomas and Rev. Jaramillo.

Other Blogs & Sites Comment:

Extraordinary Witness

Ethic Daily.com

John Thomas seeks arrest at White House

Anti-war UCC pastors vow to risk arrest

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

ucc officials arrested outside white house

I encountered this quiz this morning and I suppose my results are on subject enough to add it to this post:

You Are 9: The Peacemaker

You are emotionally stable and willing to find common ground with others. Your friends and family often look to you to be the mediator when there is conflict. You are easy going and accepting. You take things as they come. Avoiding conflict at all costs, you're content when things are calm. At Your Best: You feel connected, trusting, and fulfilled. You feel at peace with your place in the world. At Your Worst: You compromise your values to make sure peace is maintained. You give in to bullies. Your Fixation: Harmony Your Primary Fear: Causing conflict Your Primary Desire: To preserve things as they are Other Number 9's: Marge Simpson, Ronald Reagan, Audrey Hepburn, Jerry Seinfeld, and Abraham Lincoln.

What Number Are You?