| | Newsletter
January 27, 2023
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| | | NCC Seeks to Build Better Relationships with National and Regional Councils |
| | The State and Regional Council of Churches held its annual retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico recently under the leadership of the Rev. Jack Sullivan, of the Ohio Council of Churches. The group met to discuss common concerns and issues facing the various faith-based organizations from diverse areas including New York, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kentucky, Ohio, and more.
Bishop Vashti McKenzie, NCC’s Interim President/General Secretary has been working over the past few months to increase greater dialogue and engagement with local council of churches. She has addressed the Virginia and Minnesota councils and has worked closely with the New York Council of Churches in the aftermath of the Tops Market massacre in Buffalo, New York.
“The National Council of Churches has a great interest in solidifying ways to increase engagement with local and regional council of churches to mutually support each other’s mission,” said Bishop McKenzie, at the retreat in a beautiful casita setting. “We share in the common bond of a united Christian witness in a very divisive world. Let’s find new ways to use our collective wisdom and gifts for positive social change.”
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| | NCC Partners with Harvard to Build Faith-based Reparations Campaign
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| NCC has entered an historic partnership with Harvard Kennedy School’s William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for social justice to develop a faith-based campaign for reparations as a client in the course, Creating Justice in Real Time: Visions, Strategies, and Campaigns.
The William Monroe Trotter Collaborative aims to support innovative and inspiring partners to strengthen the reparations movement. Under its umbrella, a team of Harvard students will be assigned to provide research and resource development support to the NCC in developing Journey to Jubilee, a campaign for reparative justice and democracy reform through racial healing and transformation.
Journey to Jubilee will launch February 1, 2023, in commemoration of Black History Month.
To read the full press statement, click here. |
| | | NCC Endorses Reparations Study Bill |
| | NCC Joined nearly 200 other faith based and civil society organizations in endorsing Senator Cory Booker’s reintroduction of a bill call for the formation of a commission to study reparations proposals for African Americans. Senate bill S 40 is a companion bill to HR 40 reintroduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the House.
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| | | The Church of the Brethren Co-hosts Exhibition Featuring Nigerian Diaspora Artists |
| | The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy is working with the Nigeria Working Group in partnership with PEN America, Search for Common Ground, Amnesty International USA, NIDOA DC Metro, and Washington City Church of the Brethren to host an art exhibition on February 3.
The opening will be from 3p–8p, with a discussion at 6p featuring Nigerian Diaspora Artists focusing on peacebuilding, civic engagement, and human rights. Diaspora, community, activists, and policymakers in conversation with artists can envision a flourishing future defined by freedom, peace, and wellbeing for all. These artists engage critical topics of human rights, civic engagement, and peacebuilding.
Given Nigeria’s prominence in Africa, and as critical bilateral partner of the US and its upcoming elections an invitation is extended to all to attend and promote this event with your networks.
Click here for the registration link. The exhibit will also be viewable from February 7–10 by appointment. |
| | | FEMA Reaching Out to Alabama and Georgia Residents Impacted by Weather Events |
| | The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reaching out to connect people in Alabama and Georgia impacted by recent storms, tornadoes, and other weather events with resources that are available to assist them.
President Joseph Biden declared that federal disaster assistance would be made available to the State of Alabama to supplement state and local response efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes on Jan. 12, 2023.
FEMA also continues to support recovery efforts in California, Georgia, and a number of other areas impacted by disasters. Information on current disaster operations can be found at Current Disasters | FEMA.gov.
As of January 23, individuals and households in the following designated Alabama counties are eligible to apply for financial and direct services: Autauga, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, and Hale. Click here to apply for assistance, or learn more about the Individual Assistance program.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can apply for disaster assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are going door-to-door in impacted neighborhoods to help individuals apply for FEMA assistance. Using mobile technology, DSA personnel can help survivors apply for assistance, update a FEMA application, and answer questions about federal assistance. DSA teams wear FEMA attire and have federal photo identification badges. There is no charge for service.
In addition to this information, FEMA has developed some Tools to Recover | FEMA.gov. FEMA has collected frequently used tools and information to help you communicate and get started with the recovery process.
Other Resources:
- Disaster-Related FAQs — Get answers to frequently asked questions about disaster assistance, emergency shelters, flood insurance and more.
- FEMA in Your Language — FEMA’s website has information and materials available in languages other than English. Disaster survivors can find translated information about disaster assistance programs, emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities, and flood insurance.
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| | Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)’s 2023 Scholarships Applications Are Now Open!
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| The following scholarship opportunities are available to students who demonstrate leadership ability through exemplary community service and academic talent.
High School Junior & Senior Scholarship
• CBC Spouses Essay Contest
Undergraduate Scholarships
• Ally Financial Public Policy
• CBC Spouses Education Scholarship
• CBC Spouses Performing & Visual Arts Scholarships
• NREI HBCU Scholarship
• Stephen Feinberg Multi-Year Scholarship Program
Doctoral/Graduate Studies Scholarships
• Ally Financial Law Multi-Year Scholarship
• CBC Spouses Education Scholarship
• CBC Spouses Performing Arts & Visual Arts Scholarships
• NREI HBCU Scholarship
• Stephen Feinberg Scholars Scholarship Program Program
For more information regarding scholarship qualifications and application closing dates, please visit cbcfinc.org/scholarships or email us at scholarships@cbcfinc.org.
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| | Did you know the NCC has dozens of publishing partners who work to bring editions of the RSV, NRSV, and NRSVue to the market? Watch this space each week for occasional news about licensing partners as they release new products into the market.
Today’s featured licensee is Hendrickson Publishers! You can find an exciting range of affordable editions here: https://www.hendricksonrose.com/authors/national-council-of-churches/14957
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| | | Creation Justice Ministries Releases 2023 Lenten Resource |
| This guide is designed to help you and your community take time during the Lenten season to learn, reflect, repent, ask God for forgiveness, and take concrete steps to change course in order to better care for creation.
Use of this resource is encouraged as a way to deepen your spiritual practice during the Lenten season and to commit to taking meaningful actions to care for God's creation.
For more information, click here.
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| | | | | American Baptist Churches USA and ABC Burma Issue Call to Prayer |
| | American Baptist Churches USA and the American Baptist Churches Burma Refugee Commission are issuing a Call to Prayer for Burma (Myanmar) for a special prayer service at 8:30 PM ET on Tuesday, January 31. (The service will be live in Burma at 8:00 AM local time, and live in Thailand at 8:30 AM local time.) This prayer service is being held to observe the second anniversary of the military coup in Burma. American Baptists and mission partners are invited to join together as we set aside one hour to lift up prayers for the people of Burma via Zoom.
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 marks the second anniversary of the Military coup in Burma (Myanmar.) Since the coup in 2021 thousands have been killed, over 10,000 have been arrested and over half a million people have been displaced. Many churches from various backgrounds have been destroyed. There continues to be a great need for humanitarian aid. The Burma Refugee Commission members have worked with other groups to ensure the passage of the Burma bill, a U.S. government bill signed into law December 23, 2022. American Baptists continue to work alongside partners to advocate for freedom, peace and justice in Burma.
For more information, click here. |
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