Inside the National Council of Churches

Centennial Gathering slated for New Orleans Nov. 9-11
When the National Council of Churches and Church World Service gather in New Orleans' Marriott New Orleans Convention Center for their General Assembly this November 9-11, the meeting will mark a historic milestone for the ecumenical movement. One hundred years ago, representatives of Christian churches around the world gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland, for an unprecedented World Missionary Conference. The conference, which brought together missionary, faith and order, social activism and education streams of the churches, is considered the birth of the modern ecumenical movement. The anniversary is being celebrated worldwide, most recently back in June when more than 300 delegates and 100 other participants gathered in Edinburgh to celebrate this marker on the road to church unity and to imagine the future. The theme of the most recent gathering was, "Witnessing to Christ Today." This November 9-11 in New Orleans, the discussions of what it means to be ecumenical in the 21st century will continue at a centennial gathering that is part of the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches and Church World Service. The theme of the Centennial Gathering is "Witnesses of These Things, Ecumenical Involvement in a New Era." More.

House reduces sentencing disparity in cocaine drug crime
Faith leaders applauded House approval of legislation to reduce the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses. The House approved by voice vote "The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010," which passed the Senate in March. NCC General Secretary Michael Kinnamon called the current approach to sentencing crack versus powder cocaine unjust. "Its impact is devastating," he said. More.

NCC group to discuss the words we use to talk about God
A diverse group of Christians will gather in Chicago August 9-11 to talk about the language people use to talk about God and faith. The symposium, initiated by the NCC's Justice for Women Working Group, will discuss how to talk about God in ways that respect the sensibilities of people from a variety of Christian traditions. The conversation will focus on the language, images, and symbols used in worship and everyday life to talk about faith and God. More.

ECULINK, the online publication, returns at http://eculink.org

ECULINK, which for decades has kept tens of thousands of ecumenists informed about the mission and ministry of the National Council of Churches and other regional and local ecumenical organizations, is now available as an online publication. Stay up-to-date about the church unity movement and ministries that are important to you by following Eculink at its new address: http://eculink.org. More.

'Peace Among the Peoples' conference July 28-31 in Elkhart
"Peace Among the Peoples," is an ecumenical peace conference aimed at "overcoming the spirit, logic and practice of violence" slated for July 28-31 in Elkhart, Ind. Participants expect to play a role in developing the agenda of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation next May in Kingston, Jamaica, the culmination of the World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence. More.

Abraham Journeyed: a hymn to the refugee experience

Hymn writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette of Wilmington, Del., has produced a new text dealing with immigration, now here for free use by congregations. “Abraham Journeyed to a New Country” is set to the familiar Gaelic tune of “Morning Has Broken.” Examples of biblical immigrants like Abraham and Sarah, Ruth, and Jesus are featured in the five-stanza text, among the resources offered by the NCC/CWS Immigration Task Force. More |

Fifth annual Ecumenical Work Week in New Orleans Aug 1-7
Let’s continue this momentum in our rebuilding efforts this year for the much needed work in the New Orleans area from the affects of Hurricane Katrina that still exist. The NCC will host its 4th annual Ecumenical Work Week: Worship, Witness and Work in New Orleans August 1-7, 2010. We need you to join us to help those still affected by the hurricane, not only to assist in rebuilding their homes but to provide spiritual outreach. More.

US Student Christian Movement to be reborn October 8-11
The U.S. Student Christian Movement (SCM), which has lain dormant for more than 40 years, will be reborn October 8-11 at a historic gathering at Morehouse College. The organization, called the University Christian Movement, was known for its witness for civil rights and peace in the first half of the 20th century. The now resurgent group voted itself out of existence four decades ago. More.

2010 Yearbook and archival CD available at a savings of $20
The NCC's 2010 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches is on sale at a discounted price of $50 per copy. Also available is a historic CD archive of data appearing in editions of the Yearbook between 1916 and 2000. The Yearbook and the CD can be purchased together for $65, a savings of $20. See www.yearbookofchurches.org. (An earlier website, electronicchurch.org, is defunct.) More.

NCC EcoJustice offers new resource on the Gulf oil spill
The slow-motion tragedy of the gulf oil spill lays bare our collective failure as caretakers of God’s good creation. While unknown thousands of barrels of oil leak into the rich and diverse ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico, how are we as Christians called to respond? While it is easy to express anger and cast blame at the companies who owned, operated and profited from the deep sea exploration, we must also reflect on our own complicity. More.

NCC: Court has not negated need for gun violence laws
The National Council of Churches finds the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision on gun ownership to be "disappointing," but stresses that the ruling does not negate the possibility of enacting laws to reduce gun violence. The court ruled that citizens have a right to keep handguns in their homes for self-protection but did not declare whether state and city laws against gun possession are constitutional under the Second Amendment. More.

Faith groups call for a policy to safely regulate chemicals
Faith-based organizations at the national and state level are calling on Congress to establish a comprehensive chemical policy to protect both people and the environment. The NCC, GreenFaith, the Union for Reform Judaism, and faith-based organizations in ten states today released their new "Interfaith Statement for Chemical Policy Reform." The statement calls for federal chemical policy that protects people and all life on Earth. More.

Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer film and book coming 2011
A little known 2000-year-old Christian prayer, still used by monks and nuns in far away caves and monasteries, is the subject of a documentary feature film and book slated for early 2011. Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer focuses on the prayer, Kyrie Eleison ("Lord Have mercy") that is thought to have been first practiced by the Apostles. The search for the prayer is a project of Father John McGuckin and Dr. Norris J. Chumley. More.

Governing Board letter urges new federal policy for schools
The NCC has urged President Obama and members of Congress not to lose sight of the fact that public schools are the basic institution for educating the nation's children, and the government must support public schools as guarantors of each child's right to an education. In a pastoral letter, the NCC Governing Board urged the nation's leaders to help craft a system of education that looks upon children as unique and valuable individuals. More.

Women's Ministries fistula stories curriculum expanded
Challenging persons of faith to "explore faith in action, educate your community about maternal health, and walk in solidarity with your global sisters, NCC Women's Ministries has announced an expansion of its curriculum on fistula. Around the globe, a woman dies in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications every 90 seconds. One of those injuries is Obstetric Fistula. More.

NCC television: compelling new angles on familiar themes
Wars, natural disasters and humanity’s four-footed friends. These topics are no strangers to U.S. television viewers, but programs offered this season by the National Council of Churches add new dimensions to familiar themes. A conscientious objector wins The Medal of Honor … Animals are ministers to their human friends … People going home to the devastated Gulf five years after Katrina. It’s television you won’t want to miss. More.

NCC plans 'long term engagement' for renewal of Haiti
The NCC, responding to the "pressing needs of Haiti and the deep sense of call to respond," is calling representatives of its member communions to a meeting on April 6 to begin planning for "our long term engagement with the renewal and recovery of the people and nation of Haiti." The invitation was sent to the ecumenical officers of the NCC's 36 member communions and to denominational specialists in Haiti ministries. More.