The Senate’s version of the budget is on the move, and it has been crafted to gain the support of enough House Democrats to overturn a gubernatorial veto. (Senate Republicans […]
The questions surrounding immigration policy have sparked an intense debate across the United States, including in North Carolina, where I live and work. Society remains divided on specific policies, but we also remain divided about some of the even bigger questions. For example, what does it mean to be “American”? Are immigrants generally intruders to be feared or new neighbors to be welcomed? And what values should our immigration policies reflect? This debate, in part, is about who “they” are and who “we” are.
The seven individuals who were arrested at the General Assembly on Tuesday showed great courage and commitment to social justice. They spoke for those who often have no voice, were […]
As I write this note, it is 12:30PM and I’m sitting comfortably in my office at the NC Council of Churches. At 3PM, though, I will be in the gallery […]
At a recent House judiciary committee focused on legislation to do away with the 2009 Racial Justice Act, Seth Edwards, president of the North Carolina Association of District Attorneys, insisted […]
Friends of the Council are encouraged to participate in one or both of the following community events, each of which is designed to help you take better care of your health
HB115 is expected to come before the NC House for a vote on Wed, May 25, 2011. HB115 establishes the Health Benefits Exchange (where individuals and small businesses in need of health insurance can purchase […]
The office of Rep. Garland Pierce, who is also a Baptist pastor, sent me the following message in italics about an opportunity to come to Raleigh and express your opposition […]
Our friends at the Living Healthy Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP) would like to invite members of your congregation to take advantage of their FREE online workshop – Better Choices, Better Health™ – which is designed to help individuals self-manage their chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, chronic pain, anxiety, etc.). Specifically, the workshop can help you and the people you care about
Building community is the most effective (though perhaps least dramatic) way to resist divisive rhetoric that demonizes the ‘other.’ It is much easier to caricature people we don’t know. It is hard not to challenge stereotypes when one’s own personal experience and relationships contradict them.
Rev. William Barber, president of the NC NAACP, organizer of the HKonJ movement (of which the NC Council of Churches is a partner), and pastor of the Greenleaf Christian Church in […]
Our friends at Body & Soul, a faith-based health initiative, are offering a free Webinar to clergy and congregants who are looking for creative ways to be more physically active during church events and services.
June 23, the first day of the Wild Goose Festival, is 50 days away, and excitement is definitely building. Tickets are on sale and volunteers are needed. Read on for more information…
The work of the North Carolina Council of Churches goes on year-round, and we appreciate every donation that supports it. We would welcome those who value the Council’s work to […]
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Our Creator, Christ our brother, all who live in love […]
Watch highlights from our 2011 Legislative Seminar, including: Distinguished Service Award, Faith Active in Public Life Awards and Closing Session.
In the wake of devastating storms that have affected North Carolina and this region, let us keep in our prayers those who have died and the hearts that mourn them, […]
Friends of the NC Council of Churches in Western North Carolina will be fasting on Good Friday in solidarity with the poor, and in recognition that budgets are moral documents. They call upon Congressman Shuler to work with his colleagues find a way to balance the federal budget that does not place the burden for doing so on the shoulders of those vulnerable Americans who are least able to bear that burden.
For churches and other nonprofits in Raleigh that wish to grow a community garden but currently lack the land space to do so, your dream may soon become a reality […]
Much of the structural work of Christian unity goes on in national dialogues between or among leaders in two or more denominations. These dialogues have produced several important agreements of […]
Sunday April 3 was a beautiful day, a perfect day for a Solarbration. The sun was shining. The trees were budding, and there was music in the air. Rev. Joe […]
With a $3 billion state budget deficit and high unemployment, you would think that lawmakers would have better things to do than invent meaningless new amendments to the state Constitution. Freshman Representative Kelly Hastings (R-Gaston) has introduced legislation for a constitutional amendment to make English the official language of North Carolina.
Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina recently interviewed George Reed about the current legislative session and about the Council’s upcoming Legislative Seminar. Their conversation is an […]
This is an article I wrote for www.patheos.com on why the church needs art… A few months ago, my wife’s grandmother, known to the family as Grandma Polly, came to […]
More than two dozen public health organizations, including the Council’s very own Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) Initiative, gathered together for Chronic Disease Legislative Awareness Day on Wednesday, March […]
A recent study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University found a link between religious activity and obesity in men and women who, at the start of the study, were between […]
Please join us for the 3rd Annual Jack Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry: Saturday, April 9, 2011 Avent Ferry United Methodist Church 2700 Avent Ferry Road Raleigh, NC 9:00 a.m. […]
Three bands, three faiths, three nationalities. This fall there will be a free concert on the campus of NC State University. The Abraham Jam will tentatively feature The Sound of […]
Last Saturday I got to meet Cecilia. She used to work in North Carolina’s tobacco fields, but that left her with health problems. A mother of five children, now she’s […]
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation – in partnership with the North Carolina Council of Churches, Center for Environmental Farming Systems, North Carolina PTA, and North Carolina Recreation and Park Association – is looking for “Community Sparkplugs” to help build a healthier North Carolina. So, what exactly is a Community Sparkplug?
On a blustery March day that saw snow flurries up in the mountains, more than a hundred people gathered at Black Mountain’s First Baptist Church to talk about food, faith […]
Last week, we received a registration for our Legislative Seminar from Frances Creech. “Mother Creech,” as we refer to her here in the office, is the mother of Jimmy Creech, […]
It has been quite a journey, but thanks to the vision and leadership of Rev. Joe Hoffman, a member of the Council’s Governing Board, First Congregational United Church of Christ […]
In response to Rep. King’s hearings on the radicalization of Islam in the United States, an organization called Muslim Advocates, based in Washington, DC, created a web site, whatunitesus.us, built […]
The North Carolina Council of Churches is thrilled to co-sponsor the Wild Goose Festival this June, at Shakori Hills Farm, just outside of Pittsboro, NC. The festival celebrates uncommon […]
The Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches has voted unanimously to join the Citizens for Responsible Health Care Coalition — a diverse group of non-profits who will advocate […]
First Oregon, and now Washington state is on its way to a coal-free energy future. On Saturday, March 5, 2011, an agreement was reached and legislation was passed to phase […]
How should we understand the often painful dissonance between our convictions as Christians and the wild range of values we see in our culture in America today? That question was […]
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to preview a new bilingual book called Listen to the Children: Conversations with Immigrant Families by Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier. It’s a valuable resource for any faith community that works with immigrants. With a practical focus and many examples from daily life, Listen to the Children offers guidance in the midst of troubled times. Here’s an interview I conducted with the author.
On Friday and Saturday last week, about 180 people gathered at the 2011 Come to the Table conference in Winston-Salem. Bringing together pastors, lay leaders, experts in the fields of hunger and sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurs, farmworker advocates, and many others. Conference workshops were held on Friday, with site visits and practical tours on Saturday.
Prospect Presbyterian Church in Mooresville has received the North Carolina Council of Churches’ first Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) Gold Certificate for their commitment to better health. Rev. Joanne […]
Sojourners, a leading publication on the intersection of faith, politics and culture, ran a Feb. 16 blog about the upcoming conference opposing torture and being co-sponsored by the Council in […]
Tomorrow, the NC Council of Churches’ Rural Life Committee will convene our third biennial Come to the Table Conference. With meetings across the state over the next three weeks, the conference offers resources for faith communities working to relieve hunger and support local farms.
We are disturbed by increasing reports of NC landowners who are signing over some of their property rights to energy companies looking for new sources of natural gas. In addition to the environmental damage caused by accessing this natural gas, we are concerned that in many cases landowners are not fully aware of their rights and how these contracts will impact the use of their land in the future.
The following information comes from our friends at Rural Advancement Foundation International. Visit this page for more complete information.
There was a great turnout for Saturday’s HKonJ5. Thanks to all of you who attended and marched.
Watch video of HKonJ here.At their December meeting, members of the Council’s Governing Board elected new officers to lead the organization. Stan Kimer has been elected president. He replaces Jean Rodenbough, a […]
As a representative of faith-based health in North Carolina, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the 26th Annual Emerging Issues Forum in downtown Raleigh on February 7th and 8th, […]
In an effort to honor creation and be more mindful of our resources, the NCCC will be reducing the number of Church Council Bulletins printed. If you are receiving a […]
For the North Carolina Council of Churches, 2010 was a year of change and of celebration. In February, the Council staff moved into offices in West Raleigh Presbyterian Church. […]
On Wednesday, February 2, Cardinal Roger Mahoney visited UNC-Chapel Hill to highlight the Catholic Church’s position on immigration issues. Cardinal Mahoney, who represents the archdiocese of Los Angeles, delivered a message entitled “For Goodness Sake: Why America Needs Immigration Reform.” In an auditorium filled with about 200 students, professors and fellow Catholics, Cardinal Mahoney urged the audience to consider the contradictory messages contained in our broken immigration system. It is as though the U.S. has two giant billboards at our southern border with Mexico. One sign says “No Trespassing,” while the other says “Help Wanted.”
Please join us and people of faith across North Carolina in committing to diversity in North Carolina schools by signing this statement.
This weekend, February 11-13 is the second annual National Preach-In on Global Warming. Sponsored locally by NC Interfaith Power & Light (a program of the North Carolina Council of Churches), […]
Protecting the Common Good Let justice roll down like waters… Amos 5:24 Additional information is now available about the Council’s Legislative Seminar taking place on April 5. You can still […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness is offering a yearly certification process to congregations across the state. As of January 1, 2011, congregations can now achieve all three levels of certification – Bronze, Silver and Gold – and receive recognition from the Council and their respective judicatories upon completion of the program.
The North Carolina Council of Churches is a member of the Together NC Coalition. In light of the current state budget crisis, the coalition is offering concerned citizens one way […]
Inclusive Health – a nonprofit organization created by the state to provide affordable health insurance to people with pre-existing medical conditions – offered a free webinar to clergy and other […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness held an informational session/training at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Goldsboro on Saturday, January 29. The event was a follow-up to the PHW Clergy Breakfast […]
The celebration of the Council’s 75th anniversary in 2010 was a timely reminder of the rich history behind this organization and an affirmation of the bright future ahead of it. Program associate Chris Liu-Beers has collected some of both in this slideshow that explains beautifully how the NC Council of Churches got its start as well as where it’s going.
Torture conference logoOn March 25 and 26, 2011, the Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina will be hosting a conference on torture. This two-day event aims to equip participants to understand the arguments against torture and to prepare them for anti-torture advocacy within their own communities, trusting that the greatest protection against the U.S. government’s use of torture is a shared understanding that torture is always wrong.
You are invited to attend “Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation on February 21 in Greensboro, NC.
Today I’m happy to announce the launch of a new project by the Council’s Farmworker Ministry Committee. The Building Hope Project connects volunteer groups with farmworker families to build small chicken coops and greenhouses. These low-cost structures help families save money and supplement their nutrition. A recent study in North Carolina found that nearly half of farmworker families don’t have enough food year-round. The good news is that with a modest commitment of volunteer time and money, your congregation can make all the difference. Jesus said to his followers, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”
The Historic Thousands on Jones St. (HK on J) rally and march will take place on February 12 in Raleigh. A coalition of nearly a hundred social justice and community development organizations, including the North Carolina Council of Churches, have banded together to promote this event for the last several years.
I hope you had a chance to see NC People this past weekend. I was honored to be invited to be one of Bill Friday’s “people.” It actually started as part of the Council’s 75th anniversary last year, though it didn’t make it to the airwaves (an outdated term, if ever there were one) until now. Bill Friday celebrated his 90th birthday last summer. Even if you are new to the state, the hoopla surrounding his birthday would have made you aware that he is one of the state’s giants. I don’t know that there’s anybody alive today who is more respected or beloved or who has had more impact on the state for a longer period of time.
A bulletin insert with an excerpt from Dr. King’s prophetic sermon at Riverside Church is available for download here. The Council’s David LaMotte will be preaching at Martin Street Baptist in Raleigh on Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, January 16.
NC Council of Churches Executive Director George Reed appeared as Bill Friday’s guest on UNC-TV’s NC People on Friday, January 7. The program also aired Sunday, January 9. George spoke with Mr. Friday about the Council’s past as well as its future, discussing the Council’s work for social justice and the role faith communities and people of faith can play.
The North Carolina Council of Churches welcomes the Fourth Jurisdiction of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement as its newest member. The group becomes the 18th denomination which has chosen to […]
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NC Council of Churches Executive Director George Reed has been chosen to receive the 2011 Luke Mowbray Ecumenical Award by the American Baptist Churches USA. The honor is given to […]
Stan Kimer, newly elected Council president, was interviewed on WUNC’s The State of Things on January 6. In his conversation with host Frank Stasio, Stan spoke about the Council and its work, including priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Listen to the interview by clicking here.
Mildred Fry passed away on December 23, seven months shy of her 100th birthday. Mildred was the first woman to be elected president of the NC Council of Churches. It […]
The MIC @ 50 conference will take place on January 14-16, 2011, on the campus of Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. There is no charge to attend. The purpose of the event is to bring the MIC back into the spotlight as a key factor shaping our society and public life.
Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina – the same group that brought to us the Maintain, Don’t Gain Holiday Challenge – has developed health-related bulletin inserts for the faith community. These inserts provide short, easy-to-read messages on a variety of health topics such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease and stroke.
In February of 2010, over 50 congregations in North Carolina were some of over 400 congregations in 40 states participating in a national Preach-In on Global Warming. Here’s how you can participate in the coming year.
On November 29, 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama and the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships met with people of faith from across the country to discuss the […]
Friends, We look ahead to 2011 knowing we face many challenges and that our commitment to the work we believe in must be fortified and renewed. The environment in which […]
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This Prayer for Unity and monthly prayer calendar include by name the judicatories and congregations that are members of the North Carolina Council of Churches and the names of their current leaders. Your pryers for reconciliation are invited for all Christian bodies in and beyond the state.
Star-Child Star-Child, earth-Child, go-between of God, love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod, Street child, beat child, no place left to go, hurt child, used child, no one wants to […]
Thank you. More than 900 of you stood with us, adding your names to the call for light over darkness, love over hate. And we have no idea how many […]
NC Policy Watch
In recent days, the Internet has been abuzz with revelations brought to us by “Wikileaks” of comments that were never intended to be public. Meanwhile, George W. Bush is touring to promote his new book, enthusiastically admitting that he violated international and US law. As the US government calls for accountability for Mr. Assange of Wikileaks, it must consider the applicability of its own words to other situations.
We have been overwhelmed at the response to our brief statement regarding the protest planned for tomorrow’s service for Elizabeth Edwards. Already, as of midday on Friday, we’ve heard from more […]
The protesters from Kansas have come many miles to spread their hatred at Elizabeth Edwards’ memorial service. Let us be clear: the Bible calls us to kindness and respect for one another, and Jesus Christ preached throughout his life that we should love one another. The protesters’ appalling and repeated violation of the sacred services by which we honor our dead, along with their representation of themselves as messengers of Christ, are offensive and misrepresent Christian faith.
Faithful Reform in Health Care is still working hard to try to prevent the health care reform bill that has already passed from being dismantled by the new Congress (through […]
As December begins, we make the transition from a time of thanksgiving to a season of anticipation. The Council has much to be grateful for this year. Talented and dynamic […]
Today many of North Carolina’s faith leaders issued a statement calling on Congress to pass the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a bipartisan bill that provides a clear, earned […]
Earlier this year, we were looking for a way to engage North Carolina in a constructive conversation about immigration when we heard about a new documentary film that was being completed by the Durham-based filmmaker Charlie Thompson. This new film, called Brother Towns / Pueblos Hermanos, examines the themes of migration, work and family across thousands of miles. When we talked to Charlie about using the film as part of a statewide series, he was excited about the potential to connect with new audiences in congregations from Asheville to Wilmington.
I strongly encourage people of faith who feel so led to contact your senators and urge them to support ratification of the New START treaty, which will reduce the US and Russian stockpiles by 30% and allow on-the-ground inspections, suspended last year as the START I treaty expired, to resume.
The staff of the North Carolina Council of Churches wishes you grace, mercy and love in this blessed season of Thanksgiving.
We knew when David LaMotte joined the NC Council of Churches’ staff in July as program associate for peace that we were gaining someone with an international reputation for his […]
In light of data recently released in the Wikileaks documents regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a group of pastors, priests, theologians and seminarians has issued a call to preachers to address the acts of violence detailed in those documents, and their failure to live up even to the standards of Just War theory.
Congregations across the state are now taking part in the North Carolina Council of Churches’ Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) Certification Program, demonstrating that their bodies are God’s temple by eating healthier, being more physically active and reducing the impact of smoking on themselves and their neighbors.
At the most recent Brother Towns event, this past Monday, November 1st, the energy filled the Carolina Theatre. About 270 people from around the Durham area came to the screening. Each person was full of excitement and several large groups were in attendance. I have never seen so many people so happy to watch a documentary. Being my first viewing of the film, I was also very excited to see it.
The Council is delighted to welcome two Duke Divinity School interns who will be working on a variety of projects over the course of the school year. “It is always exciting for us to have Duke Div interns helping with the work of the Council,” said Executive Director George Reed. “Their energy and enthusiasm enhance all that we do.”
The Eastern Carolina District of the Virginia Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church USA is the newest member of the North Carolina Council of Churches. The addition of the group brings to 17 the number of denominations who have chosen to work with the Council on issues of social justice and Christian unity.
Dr. Katherine Shea, a physician with expertise in the link between climate change and human health, is the new director of North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light, a project of the North Carolina Council of Churches and a state affiliate of the national Interfaith Power & Light campaign.
This is a video blog I shot yesterday while my toddler was taking his nap. Just a few thoughts about voting, not voting and the significance of each.
I was struck, as I listened to remembrances from the past, that we really are seeing progress on issues of social justice. But it happens over a period of years or even decades. The issues we heard about at the Anniversary are difficult ones. They have produced years of frustration and sometimes what looked like complete failure. And yet . . .
Faithful Reform in Health Care – an interfaith organization that works to provide people of faith with accurate, timely information on health care reform and to engage us in the […]
I’ll be speaking and singing at several events in the next few weeks, and thought I would let you know the details.
