I have been on the road for most of the past month beginning with four days of meetings with the General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table to set the 2009-12 general church budget. I have been through this process twice now and let me assure you it is not pleasant. I hope and pray we as a church can do better.

Joe Kim is a past Ethnic Young Adult Intern (2005 and 2006) with the General Board of Church and Society. Joe was selected as one of two young adults to address the East Ohio Annual Conference session in June 2007.

GBCS celebrates a legislative win as the U.S. House of Representatives adopts a measure to allow women and men better access to contraception to prevent the spread of AIDS and other diseases, prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions.

An open letter to Congress opposing final passage of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, S. 1348, in its current form.

Women of the Book: A Jerusalem Collage
A group of Israeli and Palestinian women, committed to finding common ground through storytelling and authentic dialogue, have published a book reflecting on their journey. These women are claiming the peaceable kingdom and are transforming Jerusalem in small, but mighty ways. To order, go to the resources page on the ICCI Web site: www.icci.org.il . Cost: $25.00.