Wisconsin Conference Video Listing
To order, contact Carol at the Conference or call
608-846-7880 for availability.
THE AMISTAD REVOLT
33
minutes Color Stereo 1995
Narrated and illustrated story about slave revolt upon the
Spanish ship "Amistad" in 1839 and subsequent incarceration and trial of
Africans held as property in Connecticut. Three years later, the Supreme Court ruled that
the 35 survivors were entitled to their liberty and free to return to their homeland of
Sierre Leone. Abolitionists would organize to raise public awareness and funds for their
return. The revolt helped build the movement against slavery in the U.S. although the
Civil War (1865) would be its final turning point. In following years, a Mendi Mission was
established in Africa, the American Missionary Society formed in the U.S and the
Congregationalists ordained their first black pastor.
WELCOMING THE CHILDREN: A Child Advocacy Guide for Churches
24 minutes Color Stereo 1994
Working from a Biblical mandate, how can churches welcome
and work with children? With an introduction by Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's
Defense Fund, the video offers concrete suggestions about who children are, what their
needs are in today's world and how churches can implement ideas which will play a
supportive role in their lives. A short study guide is included for small group
discussion.
TO WALK TOGETHER: An Introduction to the History of the UCC
22 minutes Color Stereo
Video outlines the four streams which joined to form the United Church of Christ:
Congregational, Christian, Reformed and Evangelical with background information on each
one. Would be suitable for use in confirmation classes, new member groups and others who
are curious about the history of the United Church of Christ.
THE COLOR OF FEAR
90
minutes Color Stereo 1993
Eight men of diverse cultural backgrounds gather to discuss racism in America.
Material is challenging and enlightening for any group willing to embrace an honest
discussion about privilege and discrimination in an effort to improve race relations.
Recommended for adults in a facilitated group. The Wisconsin Conference owns the video but
not the copyright, so use is limited by an agreement included in packet. In depth
facilitators are also available from the production company. For more details, contact the
Wisconsin Conference.
A JOYFUL FEAST FOR ALL
12
minutes Color Stereo 1994
Features a discussion by pastors, adults and especially children about inviting
children to the Lord's table for communion. Includes information about how to educate and
prepare both children and adults.
THE HANDS OF THE STEWARD
19:38 minutes Color
Stereo 1987
We are called to be good stewards of all God's creation in a wide variety of ways.
We often define stewardship in terms of money and our identity grows out of what we
possess instead of what we can give. God's mission doesn't have clear cut boundaries
between the sacred and secular. We are charged with stewardship to self, family, neighbors
and social systems, earth and space, justice and peace, church and above all to the good
news of the gospel. This video would help stimulate discussion about broadening our images
of stewardship.
THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY CONFRONTS THE DEATH PENALTY
25:24 minutes Color Stereo
This video offers a blunt look at capital punishment. Featuring Sr. Helen Prejean
who has worked with death row inmates, it tackles the cultural rationale for legal
executions and provides facts about who gets executed, how and why. The discussion
revolves around secular issues until near the end when the church is confronted with its
stand on life and death. The images are graphic and not recommended for children or youth.
This would be a good discussion starter for any group willing to grapple with this timely
yet historic issue.
ONE IN THE SPIRIT: LOVE LETTER: AN ESSAY ON LOVE BY ROBERT FULGHUM
28 minutes Color Stereo
What is love? A sense of home and well being. An active giving of concern for
another. Weddings mark the act of getting married; marriages begin at "I do" and
continue to be created throughout a couple's life. Robert Fulghum, a Unitarian minister,
shares insights on love and four couples offer their stories of building fairly
traditional marriages. This video is often used by our Marriage Enrichment team to
stimulate discussion as couples, usually veteran marriage partners, revisit their
relationships.
AMERICA! THE HOMELESS - 3 part series
28 minutes each Color Mono 1991
THE NEW FACES OF HOMELESSNESS - Part 1
WILL THE SUN COME OUT TOMORROW? - Part 3
Although this is a series (and we have misplaced Part 2) each of these videos can
stand alone as a presentation. Produced by Barbara Fryman of the UCC, the videos use
footage and stories of homeless people to put a human face on who is homeless and why.
What used to be an adult male homeless problem has grown to include an alarming number of
single women with children and youth. The average age of shelter inhabitants is 29; many
are high school educated. The reasons why include poverty, illness, abuse, age, mental
capacity and the list goes on. The video tries to stress the fine line any of us face
between a paycheck and poverty and offers valuable suggestions for what the church and
individual members can do to be part of a solution for America.
THE PLAN OF WORK: The Educational Mission of the UCC
21 minutes Color Stereo 1985
Using ten different pieces of artwork created by Barbara Ortiz, this video
introduces the different areas of ministry in our educational plan. Because we are living
in a changing world, we need to search for different models which will meet the growing
needs of our congregations at all ages. Faith, family, worship, parish community life,
relationships and sexuality, vocation, higher education, science and technology, pluralism
and our outdoor ministries are briefly discussed and illustrated. An accompanying book is
available.
BIBLICAL WOMEN: Mirrors, Models and Metaphors (Video and Book)
55 minutes Color Stereo 1993
Divided into six separate segments, . Although it attempts to highlight women's
stories, this video's primary goal is to discuss different ways of reading Scripture in a
group setting and might be transferred to other stories. Methods are introduced then
illustrated. Each segment corresponds to an accompanying chapter of the book.
THUNDER ON THE RIGHT: Understanding Conservative Christians (Video and Book)
45 minutes Color Stereo 1990
The video, divided into 6 separate segments, begins by describing characteristics
of conservative Christianity, not as a critique but an attempt to understand one another.
The video then goes on to talk about Biblical authority, Christian identity, the Church
(ecclesiology), mission and outreach but uses a more positive focus of what the UCC
believes rather than a comparison of differences. Each segment corresponds to an
accompanying chapter of the book.
GOD, WHERE ARE YOU: Suffering and Faith (Video and Book)
55 minutes Color Stereo 1989
The video, divided into 5 separate segments, underscores that each of us
experiences suffering in our lives. Using the stories of six different people who have
encountered illness, chronic pain, divorce, homelessness, death and forced emigration,
suffering is brought into question and placed within the context of faith. The
accompanying book provides a biblical and theological foundation for each discussion.
NOBODY'S CHILD: A Generation Caught in the Middle (Video and Book)
50 minutes Color Stereo 1989
The video begins by showing how to diagram a genogram or a chart of family
relationships. Then it provides short dramatic sketches of several different relationships
a family might face as children become adults/parents and parents become elderly.
Discussion questions are provided at the end of each short skit. The book provides
biblical and theological background around the issues presented.
HEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL
A SIMPLE GIFT
16
minutes Color Stereo 1997
This video presents the stories of several people around the world
(Bosnia, Guatemala, Tanzania) who have benefited from the Heifer Project. The ravages of
war, poverty and drought force people to live on the margins. In supplying animals such as
cows, goats and camels as in these stories, people are given the means to survive and be
contributing members of their community. One story tells about a yearly calf which is
given to a family to provide them with milk and income. The entire village celebrates the
ritual of giving. The video concludes with a scene from New York as the children receive a
package of cheese from the farmer who has received the benefits of their offering. Real
people, real stories highlight our life of mission as a church and how we might become
part of this wonderful program. THE PROMISE
10 minutes Color 1995
This video is about the Heifer Project but is narrated by children
and is about children. It tells the story of one little boy whose family received a
buffalo. With the theme of "no one is too young to help," it shows how the
entire family takes care of the buffalo which was a gift from the Heifer Project. This
would be excellent to use with a Sunday School program to initiate a mission project tied
to the Heifer program.
RAISING VOICES, LINKING HANDS FOR CHILDREN: The National Observance of
Children's Sabbath
10
minutes Color 1998
The video asks for a spiritual recommitment to God's gift of
children. Marian Wright Edelman who heads the Children's Defense Fund, raises the effects
of violence and poverty on children as spiritual problems for all of us to consider. The
issue crosses religious and denominational lines of Protestant, Jewish, Catholic,
Buddhist, Hindu and Moslem. As faithful people, we have an obligation to minister to the
least among us and with 20% of children living in poverty, they certainly meet that
criteria. The video highlights a day of recognition called Children's Sabbath,
traditionally held in October. However, anytime would be the right time to acknowledge
children and the responsibility we have for protecting them.
BEYOND THE NEWS: MURDER CLOSE UP
36 minutes Color 1995
Through the voices of several people including Sister Helen Prejean
and Howard Zehr, a consultant on criminal justice issues, as well as family members of
murdered victims, this video explores the aftermath of violent crime and the death penalty
in particular. Using a lens of forgiveness, several positions are lifted and discussed in
this forthright and honest presentation. The video comes with a study guide and lends
itself to an adult study group.
ABORTION: FOR SURVIVAL
30
minutes Color 1989
This video uses the voices of men and women, mainly in the field of
women's health care and population management, to address the need for safe and legal
abortions. As a method of birth control, abortion has been used throughout the world for
thousands of years. Eliminating its availability drives women into dangerous, life
threatening circumstances which severely impact existing children. The current
anti-abortion atmosphere is also discussed, depicting violence and harassment as well as
reducing contraceptive research and availability. The video comes with study questions
developed by the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries.
Wisconsin
Conference UCC
4459 Gray Rd.