Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) Blogs

Office of Public Witness

Raising a Prophetic Voice through the Social Justice Policy of Presbyterians Since 1946

PCUSA Joins Over 100 Organizations in Letter Calling for Halt in Weapons Sales to Israel

October 22, 2024 Dear Senators, We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to cosponsor and vote in favor of the four joint resolutions of disapproval introduced by Senators Sanders, Welch, and Merkley regarding several specific major arms sales to the government of Israel. The joint resolutions of disapproval would suspend particular transfers of types of weapons… Read more »

PCUSA Joins Letter to Presidential Campaigns Calling for Concrete Steps to Increase Humanitarian Aid and End the Violence in Gaza

**The below letter was sent to both the Harris and Trump Presidential campaigns ** October 15, 2024 We write as U.S. Christian faith leaders deeply concerned by the continuing injustice, suppression of rights, and disregard for international law that has endured for decades in Israel/Palestine. Nearly a year has passed since the escalation in violence… Read more »

Join Solidarity Sunday for Gaza: July 21st

On Sunday, July 21st, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and its 35 member denominations and communions, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), call upon congregations in the U.S. and worldwide to pray for peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East as part of Solidarity Sunday. In early July, CMEP will provide resources to shape… Read more »

PCUSA joins 20 Faith Groups Lifting Up the Dire Humanitarian Situation in Cuba and Calling for a Change in US Policy

May 9th, 2024 Dear President Biden, We write to express our deep concern regarding the plight of the Cuban people.   The combined effects of failed U.S. foreign policies and Cuban economic policies have created dire humanitarian conditions on the island. It is crucial for your administration to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism… Read more »

Lack of US Gun Control Contributes to Violence Abroad

This article was researched and written by Madalyn Sailors, our 2023 Summer Fellow for International Issues In July, the Mexican government continued its efforts to hold U.S. gun manufacturers responsible for facilitating the trafficking of weapons to drug cartels across the U.S.-Mexico border. It urged a U.S. appeals court to revive a $10 billion lawsuit… Read more »

A Day in the Life: Nancy Smith-Mathers Provides a Heartwarming Account of a Recent Visit to the United Nations

For God calls us to walk by faith, not by sight. What follows is a testament to the faith, dedication, and selflessness PC(USA) Mission Co-Workers Nancy and Shelvis Smith-Mathers have toward working tirelessly to end the current crisis in South Sudan. We walked into the meetings not knowing what to expect.  Usually, when we present… Read more »

Title 42 has ended, but U.S. Asylum Policy is Still Unwelcoming

On May 11, the Biden administration lifted the Title 42 rule that has governed U.S. asylum policy for more than three years. Title 42 was a COVID era policy that excluded migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. While Title 42 is changing, the administration’s approach to migration is not. The administration continues to pair expanded… Read more »

An Update on the Office of Public Witness: Issue Priorities, Ecumenical Advocacy Days, and Summer Interns

By Jimmie Hawkins The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has empowered the Office of Public Witness to provide a ministry of advocacy on the federal level on both international and domestic policy positions. The Office of Public Witness serves as a resource for Presbyterians to lift a prophetic voice addressing issues of injustice globally. In Washington, OPW engages with… Read more »

Take Action to End Gun Violence Now!

It has happened again! This time the city of Nashville has been added to the list of cities and universities that have had to endure the unimaginable pain of losing loved ones to gun violence. It is unthinkable that six children of God were murdered at Covenant Presbyterian Church: The Covenant School. Just last month… Read more »

PCUSA Joins 20 faith groups calling for Cuba to be taken off State Sponsors of Terrorism List

March 13, 2023 Dear President Biden, As national religious denominations and faith-based organizations in the United States with ties to Cuban religious communities and the Cuban people, we write to express our deep concern for the effects that current U.S. policy is having across Cuba – on our Cuban partners and the general population.  We… Read more »