High on the granite façade of the North Carolina Supreme Court’s headquarters across from the Capitol in downtown Raleigh is engraved what can be seen as an inspiring and enduring […]
Excerpted from 2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry […]
Excerpted from 2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Ephesians 5:8-14 For once you were darkness, but […]
Excerpted from 2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Psalm 95 O come, let us sing to […]
Excerpted from 2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Genesis 12:1-4a Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from […]
We weren’t expecting it to be pretty – “it” being the launch of the N.C. General Assembly’s new session, with freshly emboldened conservatives eager to flex their muscles. The reality, […]
Excerpted from 2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 The Lord God took the man and […]
Excerpted from 2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Matthew 6:1-6 Beware of practicing your righteousness before […]
Years ago I preached for a friend in a “high church,” Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C.’s Capital District. As an aside, my students and I also were treated to a […]
The N.C. General Assembly gathered on Jan. 11 amid trappings of ceremony and good cheer to kick off its 2023 session. Then reality reared its head: At least in the […]
North Carolina Council of ChurchesPartners in Health and Wholeness ProgramImmediate Position Opening: Western Regional Associate DirectorJanuary 2023 40 hr/wk; 3 weeks paid vacation; paid sick leave, HSA contributionLocation: Western North […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Isaiah 60:1-6 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Psalm 148 Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!Praise him, all […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Psalm 96 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.Sing […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Psalm 71: 1-17 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to […]
Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Isaiah 2:1-5 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and […]
The N.C. Supreme Court – or at least a slim majority of its members – invoked its solemn duty to uphold constitutional rights when it agreed in a Nov. 4 […]
The central calling of an Advent ethic is waiting. But this waiting is not a passive or idle activity. The root word for wait is the same root word for […]
The following remarks were delivered by Eco-Justice Connection Director, Susannah Tuttle, during a gun violence prevention press conference on October 14, 2022, in response to the recent Raleigh mass shooting. […]
RALEIGH, NC – On September 13, 2022, the Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches approved an updated resolution on Reproductive Health. The resolution references a 1970 Council […]
GREENSBORO, NC — More than two years after the the nation’s shutdown due to COVID-19 and five years since the previous Faith and Health Summit, Partners in Health and Wholeness […]
Approved unanimously on September 13, 2022 by the Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches Whereas, in 1970, before the Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the U.S. Constitution protects a pregnant […]
As the proud parent of an Eagle Scout (Occoneechee Council), the announcement that Boy Scout organizers have invited former president George W. Bush to address the Scouts in the Raleigh area next week […]
The following remarks were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland at the #MapOurFuture: People Over Politics virtual town hall on Thursday, September 1, 2022. The event focused on Moore […]
The Council is excited to introduce you to one of our newest staff members, Stephenie Sanders. Stephenie joined us earlier this month in the position of Program and Engagement Administrator […]
The Council is excited to introduce you to one of our newest staff members, Arlecia Simmons. Arlecia joined us earlier this month in the position of East Regional Associate Director […]
The N.C. Council of Churches includes 18 denominations with churches large and small, urban and rural, black, brown, and white all across the state. One of the things we all […]
Prior to the 2020 elections, a representative from the Carter Center’s Conflict Resolution team reached out to the North Carolina Council of Churches. For the first time in its 40-year […]
Like it or not – and there are plenty of reasons to worry amid the familiar end-of-summer bursts of excitement – another school year will soon get under way. The […]
A tribute written by Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, North Carolina Council of Churches, and Isaac Villegas, Governing Board President, North Carolina Council of Churches. By now most of us have […]
What it is, why it happened, and what it means for clean energy. The Supreme Court finished its session by ruling against the EPA in a case against West Virginia, […]
The U.S. Supreme Court, as if rushing to settle old grievances, in recent weeks has thrashed about in a virtual frenzy of “originalism” – never mind the consequences for America’s […]
North Carolina Council of ChurchesPartners in Health and Wholeness ProgramImmediate Position Opening: Regional Associate DirectorJuly 2022 40 hr/wk; 3 weeks paid vacation; paid sick leave, HSA contributionHybrid Position, Travel required […]
North Carolina Council of ChurchesPartners in Health and Wholeness ProgramImmediate Position Opening: Program and Engagement AdministratorJuly 2022 40 hr/wk; 3 weeks paid vacation; paid sick leave, HSA contribution,Hybrid Position: 2-3 […]
Farmworker Advocacy Network Coordinator (Bilingual – Spanish/English) The Coalition Coordinator will be an employee of the North Carolina Council of Churches, which is a member of FAN and the fiscal […]
Today Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) released a faithful voter reflection guide in advance of the upcoming election season. The guide discusses many of the defining moral issues that are […]
Our week-long 2022 Critical Issues Seminar: The Ties that Bind Our Democracy was a huge success! The entire week of presentations has been profoundly impactful as we do our shared work to educate, inspire, […]
by The Rev. Dr. Conrad Pridgen, Governing Board President-elect, Presiding Elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2nd Episcopal District and The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, North Carolina […]
As I look out my window, I see azaleas in full bloom and the glorious bright green leaves of the trees have leafed out all across North Carolina. I am […]
The following remarks were delivered by the Executive Director, Jennifer Copeland, during a memorial service and press conference at the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh commemorating Workers Memorial Day. Click here to view […]
The following remarks were delivered by Executive Director, Jennifer Copeland, during one of the four gun violence prevention vigils that occurred across North Carolina on April 24, 2022. The following […]
The colossal dispute over the proper financing of North Carolina’s public schools that has played out over 28 years is heading to a showdown before the state Supreme Court – […]
This March, during Women’s History Month, we are highlighting four Community Superstars. These incredible women are local leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in their communities […]
This March, during Women’s History Month, we are highlighting four Community Superstars. These incredible women are local leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in their communities […]
This March, during Women’s History Month, we are highlighting four Community Superstars. These incredible women are local leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in their communities […]
This Raleigh Report was written by Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, in collaboration with Matt Rossi, Duke Divinity School intern. The past two years have revealed not only how vulnerable we […]
This March, during Women’s History Month, we are highlighting four Community Superstars. These incredible women are local leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in their communities […]
Four months after the N.C. General Assembly enacted a new alignment of the districts in which our state’s congressional representatives are chosen, the gavel has come down: That district map […]
This February, during Black History Month, we are highlighting 4 amazing Community Superstars. These incredible people are local Black leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in […]
This February, during Black History Month, we are highlighting 4 amazing Community Superstars. These incredible people are local Black leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in […]
This February, during Black History Month, we are highlighting 4 amazing Community Superstars. These incredible people are local Black leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in […]
Christians often use the season of Lent to focus on the basics. Some of us practice denial of certain luxuries and others practice the addition of spiritual disciplines. The point […]
This February, during Black History Month, we are highlighting 4 amazing Community Superstars. These incredible people are local Black leaders in North Carolina who have been doing amazing work in […]
Cowards perpetrate fear and sow discord. Such cowards are hard at work this week creating havoc on our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As an organization founded in 1935 […]
Among all the issues and challenges confronting North Carolina as 2022 gets under way – overcoming the pandemic, easing rural poverty, alleviating environmental threats, improving access to health care, on […]
The following remarks were delivered by Executive, Jennifer Copeland, during the public launch of the North Carolina — Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (NC-TJRC) on January 20, 2022. To watch […]
The following remarks were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, during a vigil on January 11, 2022 calling on the Biden administration to close the Guantanamo Bay […]
Americans this first week of January are recalling how close to the brink of disaster our nation’s democratic system came one year ago, when a violent mob seeking to keep […]
The following remarks were delivered by Executive Director, Jennifer Copeland, on January 5, 2021 at a Gun Violence Prevention press conference. View the live stream here. When individual rights are at […]
Isaiah 43:1-7 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called […]
John 1:(1-9), 10-18 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, […]
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to […]
Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.You have multiplied the […]
The Rev. Amelia Stinson-Wesley, PastorMemorial United Methodist Church, Charlotte, N.C.Member, N.C. Council of Churches Governing Board In early November, Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlotte, we were asked if we […]
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted […]
Luke 3:7-18 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear […]
The following remarks are from Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, during a candlelight vigil on World AIDs Day to honor, remember, and celebrate the lives of those living with and lost […]
Philippians 1:3-11 I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in […]
Psalm 25:1-10 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies […]
How is it with your soul? This was the question asked weekly of those who gathered in the first Methodist societies organized by John and Charles Wesley while they were […]
In the rough and tumble realm of politics, it can be a hard call as to whether someone is standing firm on worthwhile principle or simply obstructing out of plain […]
Here in the last week of October, almost four months after a new state budget was supposed to have been in place and with multiple plot-lines coming to a head, […]
The following remarks were delivered by Executive Director, Jennifer Copeland, on October 11, 2021 at a press conference hosted by St. John’s MCC in front of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s […]
This Raleigh Report was written by Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, in collaboration with T. Anthony Spearman, President of the NAACP. Some have said the seeds of democracy were planted in […]
We are thrilled to introduce 3 Eco-Justice Connection Fellows that will be joining our NC Council of Churches Eco-Justice Connection team! We are excited about the developments these 3 fellows […]
A momentous clash between North Carolina’s General Assembly and the state’s judicial system looks to be coming to a head. At stake is the ability of the state’s public schools […]
Via our NC Interfaith Power & Light campaign, the NC Council of Churches is a part of the US Climate Action Network, a vital network of nearly 200 climate organizations […]
The staff of the NC Council of Churches is thrilled to welcome Heidi Peterson as our new Fund Development Director. Read more about Heidi: As an Indiana native, Heidi studied […]
The staff of the NC Council of Churches is delighted to welcome Sharon Jarrells and Brandy Murray to our team of social justice advocates. Sharon Jarrells has just joined our […]
The coronavirus – now rekindled in a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” – is forcing us yet again to adjust our daily routines and recalibrate our expectations of normalcy. Even people […]
**Chris Pernell Available for Interviews** Raleigh, North Carolina — In response to the $26 billion settlement that North Carolina and states across the country reached with Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, […]
THOMASVILLE, NC — This past Sunday, the Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) program of the North Carolina Council of Churches presented the inaugural 2021 Willona Stallings Award for Excellence […]
North Carolina legislators – offering what amounts to a snappy salute in the direction of Mar-a-Lago – are well on their way toward fixing an election law that’s anything but […]
The following remarks were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, at the Elizabeth City Solidarity Rally in Raleigh on June 1st, 2021. To watch the full video […]
The following remarks were presented by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, at a Takeover Tuesday rally against HB805, a bill that threatens our first amendment. The history of […]
The following remarks were presented by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, during the public gathering and clergy march in Elizabeth City after the recent death of Andrew Brown, […]
Recordings We hope you enjoyed the many informative conversations on so many vital topics last week. For those of you who could not make it to each one, we have […]
The following remarks were presented by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, during the Workers’ Memorial Day Service hosted by the NC State AFL-CIO. To view the live-stream, click […]
The following message was presented on April 27, 2021 in Elizabeth City by Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, after the life of Andrew Brown Jr. was abruptly taken […]
The following remarks were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland at the Minimum Wage Increase – Bill Introduction Press Conference, hosted by Raising Wages NC. To watch the full […]
This sermon on Genesis 2:5-15 is being offered to the Brooks-Howell Retirement Community this Earth Day, April 22, via Zoom by NCIPL & Eco-Justice Connection Program Coordinator, Sarah Ogletree. In […]
The North Carolina Council of Churches was founded in 1935, primarily for the purpose of addressing racial inequity and racial injustice, and we strive to do so to this day. […]
Say this much, at least, for those legislators who favor making it easier, not harder, for North Carolinians to vote: They’re not ready to surrender to their vote-suppressing foes. Even […]
Excerpted from Enough for All, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand […]
Excerpted from Enough for All, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are […]
Excerpted from Enough for All, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches. John 13: 1-17, 31b-35 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus […]
With Republican lawmakers throughout the land making “election integrity” a favorite cause and rallying cry, it likely was just a matter of time before some of their North Carolina counterparts […]
