Tune in as George Reed, our Executive Director here at the NC Council of Churches, explains the legislative process in North Carolina. How can "ordinary citizens" get involved? What strategies can we use to be as effective as possible? Listen as George crams 25 years of experience into one jam-packed hour.
Showing results for death penalty take action grassroots advocacy toolkit death penalty take-action grassroots-advocacy-toolkit
More Wind Energy, Not Less
It is becoming a national trend for politicians to “divide and conquer” by attacking the wind industry while supporting other forms of clean energy. This is fracturing the renewable energy community as folks […]
Knowing the Truth
Remarks delivered by Jennifer Copeland at a November 15 press conference in Fayetteville opposing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Roughly half the people in this country, give or take six hundred […]
Mental Health Advocacy
Together, we will learn ways that our health, faith, and overall well-being intersect. A foundation of our wholeness is mental health, which includes our individual and community-wide mental health. Our […]
2019 Legislative Seminar
Click here to register. Please register by Monday, March 25 to guarantee lunch. Whether you are new to grassroots advocacy or have been engaged in this critical work for some […]
New Report: NC’s Infant Mortality Rate Lowest in State History
North Carolina has cause to celebrate – our 2010 infant mortality rate is the lowest ever, down 11.4 percent from 2009. According to the NC State Center for Health Statistics, […]
Raleigh Report — House Votes to Gut Racial Justice Act
The House of Representatives has voted 73-47 to gut the Racial Justice Act. The vote was on S 416, a bill originally about using tire retreads on school buses. The […]
Seven Risk Factors to Monitor Your Health
Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for Americans? In fact, more than 800,000 people die a year (one in three overall deaths). The American Heart Association (AHA) lists […]
2024 Lenten Guide: Easter Sunday
Excerpted from 2024 Lenten Guide: Terror and Amazement, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Isaiah 25:6-9 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for […]
General Assembly Convenes; Action Needed
The 2011 General Assembly convened Wednesday for its long session. The politics of this session will be unlike any we have ever known because Republicans are now in the majority in both the House and Senate, and the Governor – with a veto – is a Democrat. We’ve not been here before.
Also in this Raleigh Report: Photo ID to Vote, Health Care Reform, State Budget and more.
People of Faith Must Speak Up
We can't speak up for poor people without speaking up to the powerful, writes Rev. Joel Edwards, director of Micah Challenge International. PEOPLE OF FAITH MUST SPEAK UP! Please take action today... and invite you friends and family to join you!
Courage & Compassion in the Time of Coronavirus
The work of faith-based climate action is important to us because we know that we cannot Iove our neighbors without addressing climate change and environmental injustice. The same can be […]
Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
Join NC Interfaith Power & Light’s congregational lay and faith leaders network on March 21 at the NC General Assembly in Raleigh for the third Annual Faith Voices for Clean […]
Overdose deaths on the rise in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — As the world begins to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re learning more about the collateral damage. This week, NCDHHS leaders announced 2020 […]
Voices of Moral Mondays: It Takes A Village to Eat Breakfast by Stephen Boyd
The NC Council of Churches is proud to publish a brand new e-book collection of testimonies from Moral Mondays. With 32 short vignettes from North Carolinians across the state, Voices of […]
Open Enrollment Ends March 31
As the end of open enrollment on March 31 approaches, little time remains to take advantage of advanced premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies on Healthcare.gov. You have 10 days […]
Peace-related Events Around the State
Hello friends, There are a couple of upcoming events I wanted to let you know about in the Raleigh area, Charlotte and Greensboro. •Thursday, October 7 at 5 PM — please join us […]
Affirming NC’s Public Investments — An Opportunity for Action
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 […]
Anti-Muslim Bigotry is Wrong
Lowe’s home improvement stores confirmed last week that, in response to agitation from an anti-Muslim group, they had pulled their advertising from TLC’s All American Muslim, a reality TV show […]
North Carolina UCC Receives Heart Defibrillator Through Health and Wellness Program
UCC News
Parkway United Church of Christ is now ready to take action if someone in the building shows signs of a heart attack. Through the North Carolina Council of Churches' Strive to Revive program, the Winston-Salem congregation qualified for a free automated external defibrillator (AED) and CPR training, and the Rev. Craig Schaub made sure his church took advantage of the opportunity.
Upcoming Webinar- Congregational Energy Savings Analyses
If you are interested in reducing your congregation’s utility bills, increasing your congregation’s efforts to care for creation, and taking a positive action in response to climate change, we invite […]
Discriminatory Bill Won’t Deliver on Driving Permits for Undocumented Immigrants
North Carolina’s own Arizona-style, anti-immigrant bill is still alive in the House, but your voices can help defeat this bill. Click here to take action now. Recently, House Bill 786 was amended […]
Join the Fast for Immigrant Families
In these waning days of 2013, when the outlook for winning comprehensive immigration reform looks rather bleak in the short term, many of you have been asking me: what can we do?
While the pace of progress on immigration reform has been appallingly slow, we need to keep speaking up and taking action to show elected officials that this movement isn't going away. I will be participating in the North Carolina Fast for Immigrant Families on December 17.
Here is a detailed invitation by our friends at FaithAction International House.
National Farmworker Awareness Week
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 […]
Gospel Power vs Institutional Sin: Exploring Approaches to Challenge Corporate Injustice and Poverty
Join the Methodist Federation for Social Action of the North Carolina Conference for this conference exploring some of the strategies institutions use to take from the poor to enrich the […]
NC Churches Highlight Solar Panels During Faith Climate Action Week
Duke Energy’s solar panel rebate program expires this year, and faith groups such as the North Carolina Council of Churches and Interfaith Power and Light are urging churches across the state to […]
Food Day Flash Mob a Success
Experiencing Food Day across the nation was a big success. Many people came together to celebrate healthy, sustainable, affordable, and fair food. The real success, that we can have a […]
Time to Take a Knee
It has been nearly fourteen months since Colin Kaepernick first knelt during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner prior to the start of his team’s games. The decision not […]
“You don’t have to take my word for it.”
The Critical Issues Seminar has come and gone, and with it goes the end of my internship with the NC Council of Churches. The Council was not the sort of […]
Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
Join NC Interfaith Power & Light’s lay and faith leader network for our Advocating with Compassion Day at the North Carolina General Assembly. Meet with your elected officials to hear their visions for […]
The Moral Evil of Torture: Awareness and a Call to Action
This past Tuesday evening, the Council co-sponsored an event on the topic “Coming to Terms with Torture: Truth, Accountability, and Renunciation” at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh. The primary speaker […]
Partners in Health & Wholeness Worship Aid
Welcome to our worship resources for Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW). PHW is an ambitious program of the North Carolina Council of Churches designed to help people of faith to see health — their own health — as an issue of faith and to take action that will lead to healthier and more abundant living.
Care of Creation Taking Off in the Pacific Northwest – NC Should Follow their Lead!
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 […]
Remembering Public Schools with Prayer and Action
Schools across North Carolina are opening in the face of substantial budget cuts. All those touched by public education are affected; in particular, children and families who have the least also […]
The Tbilisi Chalice Goes Home
The church of which I’m a member, Pullen Memorial Baptist in Raleigh, has had a partnership for many years with First Baptist Church in Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia (formerly part of the Soviet Union). The pastor with whom we’ve had the closest contact, Malkhaz Songulashvili, has now become the Archbishop for Baptists in Georgia. (You did not read that wrong. Baptists in the Republic of Georgia have bishops and an archbishop!) Malkhaz was at Pullen on November 13 to preach and lead in the celebration of Eucharist.
Malkhaz has been courageous in his advocacy and practice of nonviolent action as Georgia has gone through its “Rose Revolution,” which moved Georgia away from authoritarian government and toward democratic reform. The Church of England honored his leadership in September 2005 when he was awarded the Lambeth Cross by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Theological Conference on Public Policy — April 12
The call to people of faith through Moral Mondays continues to be felt. On April 12, a daylong conference takes place at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7000 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh. […]
Task Force Seeks Input on NC’s Climate Plan
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. […]
Katharine Hayhoe: Prayer Breakfast
Join Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, the Evangelical Environmental Network, and NC Interfaith Power & Light in prayer on this year’s Global Day of Prayer for Climate Action. Register here.
Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace 2016: Maundy Thursday
The Pilgrimage takes place statewide throughout Holy Week. The Council is coordinating Maundy Thursday activities. 2 p.m. Presentation at Auditorium at Student Action with Farmworkers 3 p.m. Walk to Durham […]
Celebrating Earth Day & Youth Voices for Climate Action
Join the NCIPL Youth Leader’s Initiative (YLI) and the NC Council of Churches’ Eco-Justice Connection Program for a conversation and celebration of youth in the movement for climate and environmental […]
A Faithful Call to Climate Action
Join us alongside southeastern faith leaders for a unified call to care for all creation. During this event, participants will learn about the importance of building power together for our […]
Peacemaking Summit to Prevent Gun Violence
Gun Violence Prevention What You Can Do to Advocate for Change Join us for a Peacemaking Summit to raise awareness on what can be done to prevent gun violence and […]
Creation Care Funding Opportunity for North Carolina Churches
Would you like tools to equip your faith community to care for and restore our ecosystems? Do you want to inspire your church to honor the interconnectedness of all Creation? […]
David LaMotte: Celebrating Dad’s Day By Taking Mine to Jail
David LaMotte, the Council’s Consultant for Peace, celebrated Father’s Day last Sunday with his four-year-old son and 82-year-old dad. David then traveled to Raleigh with his father so that the […]
How Faith Communities Can Get Involved in Closing the Healthcare Coverage Gap
Are you part of a faith community who wants to get more involved in advocating for proper healthcare but don’t know where to start? This guide provides facts, scripture, talking […]
Nursing student fears fiancé’s ICE detention amid NC courthouse arrest
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A coalition of North Carolina clergy and immigrant advocates gathered outside the Guilford County Courthouse Tuesday morning to denounce recent immigration enforcement actions and announce a new courthouse monitoring […]
PHW-Certified Congregation Receives Funding to Improve Access to Healthy Foods
Love Fellowship Believers – a PHW Silver-Certified Congregation located in Greensboro and under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Kevin Webb – was awarded a Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities Youth Advocacy […]
Public Education Advocacy Day Event Details
This page will be updated as new details emerge about plans for the day. Watch for information from the NC Council of Churches and our partners. Teach-in: Advocating for Public […]
DREAM Sabbath Takes Off in NC
Across North Carolina, congregations are participating in this year's groundbreaking national event called the DREAM Sabbath 2011. Sponsored by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, the DREAM Sabbath is a month-long opportunity to integrate stories of DREAM students into prayers, readings, reflections, or study sessions as a way to help educate and spread awareness of DREAM students and their hopes to attain full recognition of their contributions to our communities. Over 300 congregations nationwide are participating.
2014 Faith & Health Summit: Registration Deadline Extended
The deadline to register for the 2014 Faith and Health Summit has been extended until this Friday, October 3. More than 200 people have already reserved their space at this […]
Universities Take a Hit with Loss of Ross
Photo by Dan Sears, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina system’s Board of Governors, in telling system President Tom Ross in January that he […]
High Court’s Double-Take on Districts
There’s certainly no guarantee that the U.S. Supreme Court, in sending North Carolina’s election district scheme back to the state Supreme Court for review, eventually will find that the General […]
We Are Love Warriors
The exhilaration of Easter is fading into memory, and we are left with more routine matters. Unfortunately, the matters that are becoming more and more commonplace have frightening implications: tweets, threats, […]
Breathe Easy: Efficient Buildings and Healthy Air
Join Breathe Again Collaborative for a webinar teaching participants practical strategies for lowering your utility bills, saving money, and reducing pollution. Featured speakers include Jerry Lawson, National Manager, ENERGY STAR at […]
That Resolution
We all do it and well we should–start the new year resolving to do better. Maybe it’s eat better, exercise more, or work less. The resolution itself quickly takes a […]
Taking Away Health Care
Despite evidence that the Affordable Care Act is more popular and more needed than ever, some Republicans in Congress have proceeded with partisan plans to repeal Obamacare while dismantling Medicaid […]
Advent: A Call to Action
The themes of Advent are particularly resonant and difficult this year. For me, this is in light of two major events, the recent election and the recent birth of my […]
Putting Our Faith into Action: Supporting Farm Workers in North Carolina
Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the […]
Public Education Advocacy and Faith: Why The Church Should Care
The United Methodist Advocates for Public Schools (UMAPS) team from Saint Francis United Methodist Church and the NC Conference and Pastors for NC Children invite you to join us for […]
Council hires new Program Coordinator for Immigration Advocacy
The North Carolina Council of Churches must replace our veteran Immigration Program Director, Jennie Belle, who will become the Faith Community Organizer for the national organization, Church World Service. Over […]
Public Education Day of Advocacy Suggested Messages
1. GLEAN COMMUNITY IDEAS! If you are on Facebook, we encourage you to visit the Association of Educators Facebook page for your district. We have seen good ideas on the […]
Legislators to Take Up Voter ID
The News & Observer
Few issues so starkly divide red and blue America than proposals to require voters to produce photographic identification when they go the polls - a debate that is set to begin this week in the North Carolina legislature.
Vote Your Values and Take a Friend
Remarks delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland at a press conference with the NC NAACP in Raleigh on October 13. Vote your values is a rallying cry issued early and […]
Taking a Stand for the Vulnerable
To raise the voices of NC’s faith community on behalf of poor and vulnerable people in NC, please sign on to the letter below. We will be releasing this letter to the media and sending it to the NC’s Congressional Delegation.
2021 Saw Record Number of NC Overdose Deaths
Advocates and faith groups are calling for more investments in harm reduction across the state, as new provisional data shows overdose deaths have increased statewide by 26%. It is estimated more than […]
Unity in Action against Islamophobia in the Wake of the Orlando Murders
By Fady Hanna, Duke Divinity School Intern The tragic mass murder in Orlando this past weekend is yet another reminder of the challenges that we as Americans must rise to […]
Ideas for Action
There are many ways for your congregation to get involved: Learning More Sign up for our immigration updates. Pick up free copies of the NC Council of Churches’ new Bible […]
Bringing Hope to the Climate Crisis through Faith and Action: Eco-Justice Workshop with Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
The scale and urgency of climate change requires our generation to reassess our lives, repurpose our religious practice and reorient our assets in ways that align with our covenant with […]
Fair Courts Day of Action
At noon of Wednesday, January 10, the NC General Assembly will convene for a session in which judicial reform is expected to be a hot topic. Legislators conspicuously have been […]
Understanding the Big Picture of Women’s Health: A Call to Action for Men and Women
Join the N.C. Council of Churches to learn more about the erosion of women’s health and the potential for restrictions on reproductive health. Panelists will offer different perspectives, all of […]
Faith in Action: Trauma-Informed Disaster Recovery
While the immediate focus following a disaster is often on recovery efforts, understanding the deep impact of trauma is critical to offering effective, compassionate, faithful support. This webinar, led by […]
Faith In Action: Navigating and Responding to the Opioid Crisis through the Lens of Faith
Reverend calls for action at Jazz and Race Symposium in Greenville
Fighting the evil of racial injustice requires the energy and improvisational skill of a jazz musician, a minister and leader of faith-based groups in North Carolina told guests at an […]
Faith in Action Opioid and Mental Health Workshop – Goldsboro
Faith in Action-A Narcan Training-Concord Christian Church
Faith Leaders Weekend of Action
NC progressive faith leaders denounce Border Patrol actions in Triangle, Charlotte
A coalition of North Carolina faith leaders representing more than a dozen denominations denounced U.S. Border Patrol operations across the Triangle and in Charlotte during a virtual conference Thursday. “We […]
2019 Medicaid Expansion Advocacy Day
On February 27, 2019, North Carolinians from the mountains to the sea will join together in Raleigh to tell our lawmakers that we want to close the health insurance coverage […]
Abraham Jam — Take a Look!
Thanks to all of those who supported Abraham Jam and the wonderful performers who made it happen. We hope to have links to additional video from the concert soon, but for now, here's a sneak peek provided by the Duke Chronicle.You can also listen to Frank Stasio's interview with musicians David LaMotte, Dan Nichols, and Dawud Wharnsby from the Nov. 16 edition of WUNC's The State of Things.
Tax Cuts Take Shape
It could be said that the elephant – symbol of the Republicans who control North Carolina’s General Assembly and governor’s office -- has labored and brought forth a mouse. But this is a mouse with sharp teeth.
After weeks of effort, the legislature’s Republican majorities and Gov. Pat McCrory have agreed on a spate of changes to the state’s tax laws centered on cuts in personal and corporate income taxes. The cuts aren’t as deep as some conservatives wanted. Still, they will sap revenues that finance the entire portfolio of state programs and services.
Lectionary: Hunger (Proper 16)
Date: Proper 16 - Aug. 25, 2013
Topic: Hunger
Focus Text: Isaiah 58:9b-14
God does not say here, “The poor you have with you always, so relax, take your time, pay your bills, balance your budget, play the lottery, fill up the SUV, take a vacation, and, if there are any crumbs left on the table, offer pennies to the hungry.” Rather, God clearly gives feeding the hungry top priority on the daily agenda of God’s people rather than fighting terrorism and protecting one’s job security, life insurance, college savings program, or retirement investment.
Topic: Hunger
Focus Text: Isaiah 58:9b-14
God does not say here, “The poor you have with you always, so relax, take your time, pay your bills, balance your budget, play the lottery, fill up the SUV, take a vacation, and, if there are any crumbs left on the table, offer pennies to the hungry.” Rather, God clearly gives feeding the hungry top priority on the daily agenda of God’s people rather than fighting terrorism and protecting one’s job security, life insurance, college savings program, or retirement investment.
The NRA Takes Aim at Latinos
In a recent column for the Daily Caller, Wayne LaPierre – the official spokesman for the NRA and a recent witness in Congress – urges his readers to buy more […]
A New Vision of Justice
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland delivered the following remarks at a press conference on April 14, 2023, calling on Governor Roy Cooper to commute all death sentences in North Carolina. Click […]
Cash Bail Reform
As part of the N.C. Bail Reform Working Group, the Council has created a network of faith leaders (lay and clergy) across the state who are taking a dual approach […]
Gun Violence Prevention
The North Carolina Council of Churches is the primary convener of the N.C. Gun Violence Prevention Coalition. With our partners at North Carolinians Against Gun Violence (NCAGV), MomsRising, Moms Demand […]
Children and Gun Violence
Several times in the past decade, we have spoken out about the proliferation of guns and gun violence. In 1994, we noted why this is of concern to people of faith.
Gun violence, especially handgun violence, has increasingly become a cause for alarm in our nation and state. As Christians, we especially are disturbed. The way of Christ is a way of peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, and love for enemies. The spirit of Christ is sharply opposed to the spirit of violence and the instruments of violence. It is also opposed to the law of retaliation or responding to injury with injury. Christ rejected the use of violence in the pursuit of his mission, and when one of the disciples drew his sword in defense of Jesus, the Lord said, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:51-53).
Immigrant Rights
Immigrant rights is one of the defining civil rights struggles of our time. Our work at the Council focuses on providing faith-based resources for congregations and faith communities to think […]
And May We Be Changed
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 […]
Resources
We offer our resources for free because we want everyone to have access to them. But it takes a lot of time and effort to create these materials. If you’re […]
NC Council of Churches Legislative Seminar
Registration is open. The NCCC’s 2017 Legislative Seminar takes place Monday, March 27 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 4801 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and […]
Vaccine Inequity Threatens to Derail Meaningful Climate Talks
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 […]
Farmworkers
Farmworkers’ living and working conditions are dangerously inadequate. They face extreme poverty, endure dangerous working conditions, and struggle to enter into an immigration system that has historically targeted immigrants of […]
Raleigh Report – June 21, 2011
The 2011 session of the General Assembly adjourned around midday on Saturday, June 18. Legislative leaders and the media are trumpeting the efficiency of the session and the fact that this is the earliest adjournment since 1973. But that is misleading since they aren’t really finished with their work. The adjournment resolution calls them back into a special session on July 13. At that time, they will take up the thorny issue of redistricting as well as controversial bills from the just-ended session which remain in conference committees and any bills vetoed by the Governor.
Connecting the Dots in 2012
As 2012 begins to unfold, I am called to reflect on the amazing world wide pro-democracy movements that were birthed to everyone’s surprise in 2011. Three of the legislative advocacy […]
Food
The story of our food, how it is grown, by whom, where, under what circumstances, how it travels from farm to fork, and the transformations it undergoes has profound implications […]
Underage Drinking
Because early use of alcohol is such a causal factor in teen death and injury, there is reason for the faith community’s involvement in this issue. All faiths recognize the importance of one generation training and seeing to the needs of the next. Whether it is through the family or the “village,” the care of children and youth is a universal responsibility. The Hebrew Scriptures (for example, Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalm 78:1-8; Proverbs 22:6) reflect the importance of the older generation teaching the younger. Jesus’ words also reflect the importance of parents caring for their children. When he was looking for a stark example of God’s care for God’s children, Jesus asked, “If your child asks for bread, will you give a stone? If your child asks for a fish, will you give a snake?” (Matthew 7:9-10). Reducing underage drinking is consistent with the faith community’s long-standing concern for the well-being and full development of children and youth.
2011 Legislative Seminar
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 […]
The Oath of Citizenship
I witnessed my first naturalization ceremony a few weeks ago at the International Festival in Raleigh. Close to 300 people from dozens of different countries became citizens of the United […]
Jesus, Martin, and Gilles
A reflection on Jesus of Nazareth (out of which nothing good comes)¹, the life and death of Martin Luther King Jr., and the detention of Gilles Bikindou. Jesus. Martin. Gilles. […]