Several weeks ago there was a controversy over videos showing the inhumane treatment of ill cattle at a butchering facility in Chino.  The videos led to a massive recall of beef.  As I've been doing interfaith meals over the last two years, I've become more aware of the use of kosher meat in the Jewish tradition and hallal meat in the Islamic tradition -- two practices that have much in common. Underlying these traditions is that the animals possess life given by God and if they are to be slaughtered, it should be done in the most humane way possible.  It occurred to me

As I mentioned in my DC letter, I recently finished "Head and Heart" by Gary Willis. Willis has written often on American history and won a Pulitzer for his book on Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.  In this book he traces the history of the influence of religion on America as a back and forth movement between evangelical fervor and "enlightenment" thought, i.e., a view that seeks to be highly rational, emphasizing tolearance of various opinions.  So, for example, the revolutionary period followed a time of a religious revivalism known as the "Great Awakening

Trip to Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2007

In September, I received an invitation from Lois Capps, to attend a “Central Coast Faith Leaders Day on the Hill.”  I was one of twenty faith leaders (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish, including four African-Americans) from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties invited to be part of a day-long series of conversations between us and representatives of Congress exploring the role of faith and politics in approaching issues such as the environment, social justice, and peace and pluralism at home and abroad.

GPC continues to do many things to serve Christ, from nurturing children and youth to creating intergenerational worship services to building houses in Mexico and bakeries in Ghana. This work grows out of our faith and the sharing of our personal spiritual gifts. It is made possible by the funds we all contribute to the church week-by-week and month-by-month.

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