Remarks delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director of the NC Council of Churches, at the Workers’ Memorial in Raleigh on April 26, 2019. Genesis 5:1-5 This is […]
INTRODUCED BILLS CRIMINAL JUSTICEHB 781 – Limitations on Use of Solitary Confinementactually contains several items related to prisons: Solitary confinement couldn’t be used for inmates with serious mental illness unless […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and […]
The people of North Carolina pay federal taxes. Our tax dollars help fund the 90 percent federal match on Medicaid expansion enrollees for states that have expanded Medicaid under the […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my […]
Remarks delivered at the Witness for Peace footwashing ceremony at the gates of Aero Contractors earlier today. Every year, all over the world, millions of Christians spend six intense weeks […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and […]
The Council is hiring a full-time Fund Development Coordinator. The full job description is posted below and at this link. Position: Fund Development Coordinator COUNCIL DESCRIPTION With more than eight […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and […]
INTRODUCED BILLS CRIMINAL JUSTICE HB 587 – Repeal Death Penalty would abolish the death penalty, and all prisoners currently on Death Row would be resentenced to life imprisonment without parole. […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. […]
INTRODUCED BILLS CRIMINAL JUSTICE/PRISON REFORM HB 460/SB 545 – Fair Chance Hiring would require state agencies to reduce barriers to hiring people with a criminal history. Specific provisions include: Prohibits […]
What is the NC 100-mile challenge? It’s an initiative launched by North Carolina State Parks to encourage everyone to get outside and explore our trails and waterways. North Carolinians can […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ […]
Today is the kickoff for National Farmworker Awareness Week (NFAW) – a week of action (March 25-31) for members of our community to raise awareness about farmworker issues. Student Actions […]
INTRODUCED BILLS ECONOMIC JUSTICE HB 422/SB 234 – Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Days is similar to the paid sick leave provisions of HB 46. (See RR, February 26.) Introduced […]
The following words were delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland on Friday, March 22 as the opening invocation of the North Carolina Association of Educators State Convention. Gracious and loving […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with […]
The following remarks were delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland at a press conference earlier today on Medicaid expansion and raising awareness of the opioid crisis. In 1935 the North […]
Why was the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry 0n Torture convened, and what did it conclude after 18 months of investigation? Have state and local officials looked the other way […]
The following remarks were delivered by Jennifer Copeland as the opening invocation to the Raising Wages press conference held in the press room of the NC General Assembly this morning. […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I […]
Update: This position has been filled. The Council is hiring a full-time Director of Finance and Administration. The full job description is posted below and at this link. COUNCIL DESCRIPTION […]
We are a few weeks out from the 2019 Special General Conference of the United Methodist Church, a gathering many of us were anticipating since 2016. In truth, we were […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where […]
Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C. Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their […]
North Carolina’s role in torture has come in the form of a government-private contract with a jet service located in Johnston County. When people hear about it for the first […]
INTRODUCED BILLS ECONOMIC JUSTICE HB 46 – Economic Security Act of 2019HB 46 is a collection of issues long of concern to workers and worker advocates. Specific provisions would: Increase […]
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to specify that the court ruling does not address the status of the law enacted in December to comply with the state constitution’s […]
Each time the Council holds its bi-annual Legislative Seminar, we honor those whose public lives reflect their faith commitments. The Faith Active in Public Life Award calls attention to someone […]
The 2019 Long Session of the General Assembly is now in full swing. As a result of last November’s elections, Republicans maintained majorities in both Senate and House but lost […]
The Partners in Health and Wholeness Collaborative, Renewal, and Mini-Grant applications are now open! Each year in our state, thousands of people are diagnosed with preventable diseases. By making a […]
Closing remarks made by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland at the Council’s Public Education Summit on Friday, January 25. The Council placed a billboard along I-40 last summer, echoing the attention […]
The decade-long struggle for truth and justice got a welcome boost this weekend with a powerful opinion piece in the News & Observer. The writer, former N.C. resident and Capitol […]
Article published January 11, 2019 by Antionette Kerr with Public News Service NC regarding NC Interfaith Power & Light’s efforts to increase community engagement with North Carolina’s Clean Energy Plan. […]
Excerpted from My Soul Magnifies the Lord, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany celebrates God’s presence with humanity through the person […]
Excerpted from My Soul Magnifies the Lord, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches. This post contains the scripture passages and reflections on their application. […]
Excerpted from My Soul Magnifies the Lord, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches. This post contains the scripture passage and reflections on its application. […]
At its most recent meeting the Council Governing Board unanimously endorsed Fair Districts NC’s Five Principles for Reasonable Redistricting Reform (RRR). The five RRR principles, shown at right, provide guidelines […]
Update: After this article was written, Gov. Cooper did veto House Bill 1029, as he was urged to do. He criticized the bill as potentially “devastating to the cause of fighting election […]
Excerpted from My Soul Magnifies the Lord, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches. This post contains the scripture passage, a brief commentary on the […]
Monday, December 10 marked the 70th anniversary of the United Nation’s International Human Rights Day. As we wait for the incarnation of God during this Advent season, we must also […]
Excerpted from My Soul Magnifies the Lord, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches. This post contains the scripture passage, a brief commentary on the […]
Last Saturday, NCIPL Director Susannah Tuttle and I had the opportunity to attend a conference entitled “Waste Not: Living the Low Carbon Life” in Raleigh. Leaders in the industries of […]
Excerpted from My Soul Magnifies the Lord, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches. This post contains the scripture passage, a brief commentary on the […]
The food that we consume as a part of the Thanksgiving holiday impacts the health of our climate and our communities. For this reason, we at NCIPL would like to […]
The first thing Gov. Roy Cooper did after he reported for work on Wednesday, Nov. 8, was to order up a generous new supply of red ink for his veto […]
As if we need to be reminded of the preponderance of guns and gun-related violence on our streets, we’ve had served up for us in the closing days before the […]
Public education is a critical issue for Christians, and the midterm elections provide a significant opportunity to vote with public education on our hearts – and in our minds. The […]
Sermon originally delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland on Sunday, October 21 at Community United Church of Christ in Raleigh. Right now there are thousands of people walking from Honduras […]
Earlier this year, a draft of the “public charge” rule was leaked. The final version from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was published in the Federal Register (October 10) […]
Remarks originally delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland at a press conference on Tuesday, October 16. We stand before you today as faith leaders supporting many traditions. We have joined […]
Every seat in the North Carolina General Assembly is being challenged in the upcoming election. Every person qualified to vote has a responsibility to show up at the polls on […]
On Monday, the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approved Eagle Solar & Light to become the first licensed solar electric generator lessor in North Carolina. The leasing of solar energy […]
Hurricane Florence is proving to be the most devastating extreme weather event in the history of North Carolina. Simultaneously, our state has been widely viewed as an outpost of climate […]
The following remarks were delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland at the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture’s press conference on Thursday, September 27. The press conference marked the […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW), an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is designed to bridge issues of faith, health, and justice. We partner with faith communities […]
Sign Me Up! That was the rallying cry of delegates at the AFL-CIO state conference. Of course, all of them—and I—had already signed up. We believe in the power of […]
Recently, two stalwart champions of justice, Christina Cowger and Allyson Caison, received the annual Joshua Heintz Humanitarian Award from the Robert H. Jackson Center in Syracuse, NY. The mission of […]
With every seat in the NC General Assembly being contested this year, the Nov 6, 2018 midterm will have effects lasting decades. Of the many issues at stake, recent polls […]
As the flood waters recede–slow as that is–our focus shifts from survival to recovery. Having weathered a few of these storms, now arriving with increased frequency, we know that recovery […]
The following prayer was delivered this morning as the opening invocation of the AFL-CIO North Carolina State Convention: God of majesty and wonder, you have said to us in one […]
It’s a truism that weather affects elections. Yes, many of us would slosh through a downpour if that’s what it took to get to the polls. But a cold, driving […]
Most people pay attention during presidential election cycles and many of them come out to vote. The numbers are not as healthy during midterm elections (40% v. 60%). In spite […]
The Trump Administration recently issued new rules regarding the length of short-term health insurance plans, temporary options available to individuals until they are able to enroll in the Affordable Care […]
The North Carolina Council of Churches announces a new peace initiative, N.C. No Torture, to encourage people of faith and seekers of justice to step into the role of “The […]
The Council is excited to welcome Sarah Ogletree as an intern with NC Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL) this academic year. Sarah is currently a student at Wake Forest University […]
Public schools stand in the breach between chaos and a thriving society. Public schools offer our thriving students and our struggling students the challenges, enrichment, and nurture they need to […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW), an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is designed to bridge issues of faith, health, and justice. We partner with faith communities […]
A summer of hectic twists and turns has made it increasingly clear: The N.C. General Assembly’s ruling Republicans have been driven by desperation. They must be desperately worried that their […]
The drive by Republicans who control the N.C. General Assembly to enhance their already formidable power, often at the expense of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, has been relentless. Why is […]
“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees”~Isaiah 10:1 The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) just finished its 2018 short session without passing legislation that would […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW), an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is designed to bridge issues of faith, health, and justice. We partner with faith communities […]
UPDATE: This position has been filled. The Council is hiring a half-time (20 hours per week) project coordinator to work with communities of faith to seek confession, repentance, and forgiveness […]
Depending on the context, it could be called poor sportsmanship. Or bullying. Or a flouting of democratic principles. Or even tyranny. Consider a situation in which a group of people […]
Have you noticed what happens when you step outside? Your breathing regulates, your mind clears, sometimes a solution to a thorny problem strikes in a eureka moment. The health benefits […]
Just this week, the president signed an executive order ending the separation of families, but this order does not change the fact that thousands of children were stripped away from […]
The current leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly – top members of the state House and Senate, all of them Republicans – rule with iron fists and aren’t squeamish […]
The North Carolina Council of Churches has unveiled our latest billboard. This time we set our sights on Public Education. The billboard is located on I-40 East at Mile Marker […]
By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Senate Bill 75 is on the move. It would put on this November’s ballot a constitutional amendment setting a maximum income tax rate of […]
The NC Council of Churches was recently awarded an eighteen-month grant to promote compassionate solutions, based on health and human dignity, to the opioid crisis in North Carolina. This work […]
North Carolina’s new state budget – now on a fast track to final enactment by the Republican-controlled General Assembly over Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto – represents a miserable failure […]
The North Carolina Council of Churches and its allies across North Carolina invite others to join the NC Sanctuary Coalition. We first announced plans for the coalition at a press […]
Keegan Cheleden will be with the Council full-time this summer as an intern through Duke Divinity School. She introduces herself below: My name is Keegan Cheleden. I grew up in […]
Dear Friends, Like Esther, the NC Council of Churches finds itself heeding the call “for such a time as this.” Unlike Esther, we do not need an uncle to persuade […]
Earlier this week, Mijente, a new political home for Latinx and Chicanx organizing, launched their “Abolish I.C.E.” tour in Seattle, Washington. The purpose of the tour is to rally support […]
The draft of a new rule from the Department of Homeland Security was recently leaked to the press. On top of all the new restrictions and regulations related to immigration […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW), an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is designed to bridge issues of faith, health, and justice. We partner with faith communities […]
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is […]
By George Reed, Retired Executive Director The North Carolina General Assembly re-convened for its 2018 “short session” on Wednesday, May 16. Under terms of last year’s adjournment resolution, the General […]
Hours after teachers marched on Raleigh to talk about funding needs for their schools, their students, and, yes, even themselves, a bill was introduced in the N.C. General Assembly to […]
Remarks delivered at the Community Conversation on Gun Violence on May 15, 2018 at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church. God knows that we are a violent people. It’s been this way […]
This morning marked a historic day as the Council hosted their first legislative prayer breakfast at the North Carolina General Assembly. In attendance were faith leaders from the Council’s 18 […]
What will change because of May 16? Because of the Day of Advocacy for Public Education in North Carolina? It was a day born of heart’s work, and bearing […]
On the day Public School educators, administrators, staff, and their supporters gathered to make their voices heard at the North Carolina General Assembly, filling the streets and filling the gallery […]
They suited up in their red t-shirts, hoisted their homemade signs and coursed like a river through the heart of downtown Raleigh. Destination: The headquarters of North Carolina’s General Assembly. […]
May is Mental Health Month. This offers intentional opportunity to think proactively about mental health, its impact on our lives and communities, and create ways to destigmatize related issues. I […]
When the news reporter approached me, I was milling about in the grass, adjusting my pastoral stole, preparing to be present with some of our local teachers at a press […]
Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW), an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is designed to bridge issues of faith, health, and justice. We partner with faith communities […]
