As we celebrate 90 years of faithful work for justice and equity this year, we’re sharing stories of 90 Years Rooted in Faith that reflect the heart of the North Carolina Council of Churches. Each month, you’ll hear from staff and long-time friends of the Council as they highlight the transformative impacts we’ve had on our community and our vision for the future. Stay tuned for these inspiring reflections throughout the year!
by: Bridget Brown Johnson, Past-President of the North Carolina Council of Churches Governing Board and a member of St. Paul The Apostle Parish (Catholic Diocese of Charlotte)
I often think about how the North Carolina Council of Churches has been an ecumenical witness for all of us and to all people of faith enabling us to speak out for ourselves and our brothers and sisters. When I originally joined the Council in the mid-1980s, one of the primary issues was protesting capital punishment through the Council’s program area, “People of Faith Against the Death Penalty,” which later became a stand-alone organization. Other issues were justice for our farmworkers in the fields picking the crops and Medicaid expansion so all children in the state would have access to healthcare. Women’s Rights were long recognized within the Council—I was the board president after all—but they weren’t as readily recognized in society. One of our wonderful staff members, Sister Evelyn Mattern, always pushed us to work for change on that matter and several others about which she was passionate.
As I reflect on that work during the days of my early involvement forty-one years ago, I am struck by how many of those issues are still major concerns. All these years later, our current elected leaders ignore the racial discrimination in the death penalty, ignore the plight of farmworkers, and threaten curbing Medicaid spending. Meanwhile, reasonable advocacy for peace is being abandoned. They pay scant attention to world hunger, world peace, or economic justice. Thus, the work of the Council is as important as ever.
I am proud of the Council and the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, for continuing to speak boldly about justice matters and stand in solidarity with other faith groups and non-profit partners. I am particularly grateful for our recent stand to protect our immigrant neighbors.
As the Council celebrates its 90th year of advocacy, I remember all the dear friends I met while serving the aims of God’s justice, several of whom have gone on to join the “company of saints.” I know that they are with us in spirit.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bridget Brown Johnson
Bridget Brown Johnson was President of the Council’s Governing Board from 1999 to 2001, She served on the Executive Director Search Committee in 1999 and 2015 and was a member of the former House of Delegates being one of the two original delegates from the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte beginning in the 1980’s.
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