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: Aleta Payne, Senior Editor at Faith & Leadership and Former Deputy Executive Director of the North Carolina Council of Churches
As I watch, heartsick, the claiming of Christianity by people whose actions run counter to my beliefs, I have a lot of questions, among them “Who formed you?”
What has led you to believe as you do?
My faith calls me to a liberative vision for the world, rooted in abundance, justice, mercy and grace. One where we privilege the vulnerable, challenge empire, and recognize Mary of the Magnificat as mother of us all.
We might disagree on some of the specifics of how we get there, but if that’s not canon in your world view, my question remains, “Who formed you?”
Because the North Carolina Council of Churches formed me.
Like any “good” Episcopalian, I’ve read a lot of books and taken a lot of classes on all sorts of topic related, directly and indirectly, to my faith. I have also been blessed beyond measure to be rooted in a vibrant parish with excellent clergy and a community of believers who have deeply enriched my spiritual life.
But when I think about the core of my spiritual formation – how I came to believe what I believe and how I act on it, I would give as much credit to the Council as to any other single part of my life.
I worked for the Council for about 16 years in a variety of roles, starting when the offices were in what was then the Methodist Building, and the space was so compact that they literally had no place for me to sit. I was a remote worker before that was a thing.
For most of my time, George Reed was the executive director, modeling a style of collaborative leadership that has shaped my interaction with others – personally and professionally — ever since. Jennifer Copeland’s leadership has coincided with a crucial time for faith-based institutions in our nation, when Christianity has been threatened from within and without, and the well-being of churches has been exponentially challenged by COVID. Through all of that, the NCCC continues with its vital 90-year-old mission.
Over my decade-and-a-half with the Council, I had the great honor of working with more colleagues than I could name who taught me about policy through a faith lens and how to talk about and advocate for a more just North Carolina. They helped me understand the Biblical imperative behind the positions we took and the information we offered.
They taught me so much about belief, solidarity and constancy, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds – and Lord knows I’m leaning into that right now. And they taught me about grace, generosity of spirit, and the importance of humor in a world that seems hard-wired for sorrow more often than joy.
When people ask me how I’m doing in these heartbreaking, infuriating times, I typically respond with, “I’m doing as well as the world will allow.”
The place I feel steadiest is in my faith. And that is because the North Carolina Council of Churches formed me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aleta Payne
Aleta Payne began her work with the North Carolina Council of Churches in 2001 as Communications Associate. After a few years away, she returned in 2009 as Development and Communications Director and later became Deputy Executive Director in 2014. She is now Senior Editor at Faith & Leadership, where she combines her background in newspaper and magazine journalism with her experience in faith-based nonprofits, including the Council and Johnson Service Corps.
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