Justice & Witness Ministry Team

Ministry Team Contact: Karen Kulm, Chair, Email

The Justice and Witness Ministry Team provides the focus and support for the Conference and local churches to actively participate in ministries of compassion, advocacy and reconciliation.

If you are interested in serving on the Justice & Witness Ministry Team please download a job description.

Visit the Justice & Witness Ministry Team blog: Rolling Justice

Statement of Purpose
Do Justice, Seek Peace, Build Community

Justice and Witness Ministry shall encourage the conference and local churches to engage in direct action as prophetic voices for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.

Our Vision

Help local churches and their congregants identify and examine all facets of justice, peace and environmental issues affecting their communities, and facilitate a discernment of God’s call to act in response to these issues.

Offer the local churches and their congregants the information, resources, training, models and frameworks for direct action.

Raise awareness throughout the conference of issues, events and calls for action.

Lift up and celebrate the justice and peace activities and programs being carried out by the local church and its individual members.

Assist local churches and their congregants to understand that engaging in direct action is a way to grow and live their faith.

2011 Spring Assembly Resolutions

Resolution Affirming Workers’ Rights to Form Unions and Bargain Collectively

Resolution for Transitioning from Coal Energy to Renewable Energy

Justice and Witness Grants

The Justice and Witness Ministry Team can provide modest funding to local churches, groups or individuals in support of activities that advance the local church or Conference involvement in justice and witness issues.

Click here for a grant application form

Justice and Witness Award

The CPC Board of Directors established a permanent Conference award for Outstanding Achievement on behalf of Justice and Witness. The award is granted by the Board upon recommendation by the Justice and Witness Ministry Team. The award has the following parameters:

Shall be granted by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Justice and Witness Ministries Team.
Shall be presented at the Annual assembly of the Conference, but not necessarily every year.
Shall recognize both clergy and laity who have significantly contributed to Justice and Witness ministries within the Central Pacific Conference and the United Church of Christ in general.
Shall be recorded on a permanent plaque located in the Central Pacific Conference offices and an individual award shall be presented to the recipient.

Click here to download the nomination form

Working Groups

Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Concerns and the Church

ONA Conference Consultants: Joyce Liljeholm, email and Karen Kulm, email

The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) Concerns and the Church Working Group (GLBT Concerns) serves all the churches in the Conference, to assist them in welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons into the full life, leadership and ministry of the church. GLBT Concerns publicizes resources and opportunities available at the local, regional, and national level. It informs member churches of opportunities for witness and advocacy in the community, including legislative hearings and Pride festivals.

The WG offers three education programs:

Moving Toward Openness – An opportunity for adults to study GLBT issues in a faith context and to consider becoming an Open an Affirming (ONA) church.
Bridging Our Differences – An opportunity for youth and adults to dialogue about GLBT issues in a faith context.
We Are All God’s Children – An opportunity for ONA churches to study transgender issues in a faith context.

Contact the Conference Office to request any of these programs.