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Civil Liberties

Early Voting and Amendment One

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Early voting is now under way for North Carolina’s May 8 primary. Between now and May 5, you can vote if you are already registered, and you can register and vote at the same time (one-stop voting) if you are not already registered. To find out the places and hours for early voting in your […]

Early Voting and Amendment One

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Early voting is now under way for North Carolina’s May 8 primary. Between now and May 5, you can vote if you are already registered, and you can register and vote at the same time (one-stop voting) if you are not already registered. To find out the places and hours for early voting in your […]

Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Durham Herald-Sun

Pilgrim United Church of Christ will host a community series this month on “Faith and the Marriage Amendment,” about the proposed North Carolina Amendment 1. If the ballot measure passes May 8, the only valid domestic union recognized by the state will be marriage of a man and a woman. Read more: The Herald-Sun - Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

Durham Herald-Sun

Pilgrim United Church of Christ will host a community series this month on “Faith and the Marriage Amendment,” about the proposed North Carolina Amendment 1. If the ballot measure passes May 8, the only valid domestic union recognized by the state will be marriage of a man and a woman.

Read more: The Herald-Sun – Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

Both sides gear up in N.C. gay marriage fight

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Washington Post

WILMINGTON, N.C. — As the only Southern state without a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, North Carolina is the next battleground, with religious groups on both sides bracing for a high-stakes fight on May 8. Against a recent string of gay-marriage victories in California, Washington state and Maryland, North Carolinians will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment on May 8, the same day as the state Republican primary. Same-sex marriage has been illegal in the Tar Heel State since 1996; Minnesota also has a marriage amendment planned for a vote in November.

Both sides gear up in N.C. gay marriage fight

The Washington Post

WILMINGTON, N.C. — As the only Southern state without a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, North Carolina is the next battleground, with religious groups on both sides bracing for a high-stakes fight on May 8.

Against a recent string of gay-marriage victories in California, Washington state and Maryland, North Carolinians will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment on May 8, the same day as the state Republican primary.

Same-sex marriage has been illegal in the Tar Heel State since 1996; Minnesota also has a marriage amendment planned for a vote in November.

Compromising values

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh News & Observer

We would not have chosen to be a part of an issue like this, but we are. The world is watching North Carolina to see what we will do. There is compelling evidence that conspiracy to commit kidnapping and torture were committed by Johnston County's Aero Contractors. The state should investigate these claims and determine their validity.

Compromising values

Raleigh News & Observer

We would not have chosen to be a part of an issue like this, but we are. The world is watching North Carolina to see what we will do. There is compelling evidence that conspiracy to commit kidnapping and torture were committed by Johnston County’s Aero Contractors. The state should investigate these claims and determine their validity.

Council Working with Coalition to Defeat Marriage Amendment

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Since 2004, the NC Council of Churches has officially opposed a constitutional amendment defining marriage. Put simply, the Council’s board does not believe discrimination has a place in our state or federal constitution. For that reason, we are working with other organizations in the Coalition to Protect All NC Families to oppose the amendment that […]

Council Working with Coalition to Defeat Marriage Amendment

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Since 2004, the NC Council of Churches has officially opposed a constitutional amendment defining marriage. Put simply, the Council’s board does not believe discrimination has a place in our state or federal constitution. For that reason, we are working with other organizations in the Coalition to Protect All NC Families to oppose the amendment that […]

Racial Justice Act and Fracking — Make Your Voice Heard on Two Critical Issues

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The General Assembly has returned for another mini-session, this one scheduled to last a couple of days. (The one in early November concerned itself with revising the newly re-drawn districts for the US House of Representatives and the state Senate and House after it was discovered that thousands of NC residents had been completely left […]

Racial Justice Act and Fracking — Make Your Voice Heard on Two Critical Issues

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The General Assembly has returned for another mini-session, this one scheduled to last a couple of days. (The one in early November concerned itself with revising the newly re-drawn districts for the US House of Representatives and the state Senate and House after it was discovered that thousands of NC residents had been completely left […]

NC Marks Five Years Without an Execution

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

People of Faith Against the Death Penalty notes an important milestone for the state today. It has been five years since North Carolina carried out an execution. The Council has long been committed to abolitioning the death penalty and even gave PFADP a start organizationally. What has been accomplished is extraordinary, but the work is not […]

NC Marks Five Years Without an Execution

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

People of Faith Against the Death Penalty notes an important milestone for the state today. It has been five years since North Carolina carried out an execution. The Council has long been committed to abolitioning the death penalty and even gave PFADP a start organizationally. What has been accomplished is extraordinary, but the work is not […]

Truth to Power

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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 a visible presence for those our society often treats as invisible, and did justice as they walked humbly. We are grateful to our colleague, David […]

Truth to Power

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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 a visible presence for those our society often treats as invisible, and did justice as they walked humbly. We are grateful to our colleague, David […]

Why I Am in Jail

By David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace

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 the NC Legislature, and by late this afternoon I may find myself in jail. [Editor’s note: David was arrested on Tuesday around 4pm.] The […]

Why I Am in Jail

by David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace

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 the NC Legislature, and by late this afternoon I may find myself in jail. [Editor’s note: David was arrested on Tuesday around 4pm.] The […]

Emergency Call to Action from Rev. William Barber

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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 Goldsboro, has issued an update and call to action. It gives details about the multi-faceted assault on issues of racial equality and social justice in […]

Emergency Call to Action from Rev. William Barber

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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 Goldsboro, has issued an update and call to action. It gives details about the multi-faceted assault on issues of racial equality and social justice in […]

Faith in Focus: Forum to Examine Issue of Torture

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Durham News

Experts in theology, religion and human rights will gather in Durham March 25-26 to discuss the use of torture in the U.S. and abroad and to prepare participants for anti-torture advocacy within their own communities.

Faith in Focus: Forum to Examine Issue of Torture

The Durham News

Experts in theology, religion and human rights will gather in Durham March 25-26 to discuss the use of torture in the U.S. and abroad and to prepare participants for anti-torture advocacy within their own communities.

Legislators to Take Up Voter ID

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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.

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.

Sojourners Blog on Anti-Torture Conference

By Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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 Durham. The two-day event runs March 25 and 26, 2011, and is hosted by the Duke Divinity School. “Toward a Moral Consensus on Torture” is also sponsored by the […]

Sojourners Blog on Anti-Torture Conference

by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

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 Durham. The two-day event runs March 25 and 26, 2011, and is hosted by the Duke Divinity School. “Toward a Moral Consensus on Torture” is also sponsored by the […]

Anti-Torture Conference

By David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace

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.

Anti-Torture Conference

by David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace

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.

Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation – A conversation on the Barmen Declaration

By Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

You are invited to attend "Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation on February 21 in Greensboro, NC.

Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation – A conversation on the Barmen Declaration

by Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

You are invited to attend “Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation on February 21 in Greensboro, NC.

Civil Liberties and the USA PATRIOT Act

By North Carolina Council of Churches

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, mark a watershed in American history. Never before had such terrible events struck so many people within our national borders. Within weeks, the President had proposed and the Congress had overwhelmingly adopted the USA PATRIOT Act as a means of preventing future such terrorist attacks. At the time, some faith groups (including several with denominational ties to the member bodies of the North Carolina Council of Churches) voiced strong concern about the scope of the PATRIOT Act. The impact of subsequent Executive Orders has only increased this concern

Civil Liberties and the USA PATRIOT Act

by North Carolina Council of Churches

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, mark a watershed in American history. Never before had such terrible events struck so many people within our national borders. Within weeks, the President had proposed and the Congress had overwhelmingly adopted the USA PATRIOT Act as a means of preventing future such terrorist attacks. At the time, some faith groups (including several with denominational ties to the member bodies of the North Carolina Council of Churches) voiced strong concern about the scope of the PATRIOT Act. The impact of subsequent Executive Orders has only increased this concern