| Anti-Voting Schemes, Helping Yemen, and NCC Seeks Director of Communications
NCC Newsletter July 22, 2022 |
| | | Critical Briefing on Dangerous New Anti-Voting Schemes |
| | | On July 15, 2022, the NCC joined Faiths United to Save Democracy (FUSD), a nonpartisan, multi-racial, interfaith, and intergenerational group of diverse leaders; and the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) in co-hosting a virtual briefing conducted by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) entitled “Critical Briefing on A Dangerous New Anti-Voting Scheme.” Faith leaders from around the country heard from both the LDF and Michigan Secretary of State, Honorable Jocelyn Benson.
The briefing was conducted by LDF President & Director-Counsel, Janai Nelson, and Voting Rights Counsel, Amir Badat. They provided participants with the tools to counteract voter obstruction and election sabotage during the general election and beyond. The briefing helped to answer questions including:
• What is the correct legal response to this reported intrusion into the voting process?
• What might poll chaplain training look like to address this alarming plan?
• What legal remedies are available at the polls during such challenges?
The briefing also highlighted federal and state legal remedies addressing voter obstruction, intimidation, and disinformation at the polls.
During the briefing, NCC Interim President and General Secretary, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, offered an opening prayer and encouraged churches to register and download the NCC Voter Empowerment Guide to receive an action plan, outreach ideas, scripture verses, prayers, and links to important information from the Voter Toolkit. The NCC "Voter Empowerment 2022 Resource Guide: A Church-based Action Plan" focuses on monthly calls for action on the second Sunday of each month, “Check-up Sundays,” culminating in “Turn Out Sunday” on November 6th before the midterm elections on November 8th.
When the resource guide was released, Bishop McKenzie stated, “The NCC Voter Empowerment Resource Guide provides ways for our member denominations and their local congregations to actively engage in encouraging participation in the basic human right of voting, Polling places and voter identification procedures have changed. Many voters have been removed from the voter rolls. With more than 35 states changing their voting laws and requirements since the 2020 election, churches must be trustworthy vessels and carry accurate information to their members so that they know how to exercise their right to vote.”
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| | | | CUG Registration is Coming Soon! |
| | | The inspiration for this year's Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) theme, "The Challenge of Change: Serving a Never Changing Christ in An Ever-Changing World," arises from two passages of scripture:
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 NRSVue; and
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSVue.
Together, we will spring forth to do a new thing! Session topics will include Christian leadership in unchartered waters, the impact of trauma, responding to humanitarian crises, the future of faith formation, how to uproot racism/Christian nationalism/White supremacy, and how to deal with domestic unrest and dramatic change.
Registration will be opening in August! The annual event will be held virtually to make it easier to attend, provide scheduling flexibility, eliminate travel barriers, reduce the event’s carbon-footprint, and be more inclusive. The fee to attend on the Whova platform will be $25 per attendee. The recorded sessions will be available within Whova for viewing for a period after the event.
Save the dates on your calendar so you don't miss CUG 2022!
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| Summer of Reparatory Justice Video Series
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| This summer, get prepared for action in support of reparatory justice. Continuing on July 27, set aside time every other Wednesday at 7pm ET to view one session of our collaborative Reparatory Justice webinar series which is available on YouTube.
July 27 – Reparations and the Intersection with Voting Rights
August 10 – Reparatory Justice 101, Part 1
August 24 – Reparatory Justice 101, Part 2
September 7 – Housing, Land, and Debt
September 21 – Black Maternal Health – Followed by Live Q&A
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| | | | | Take Action to Help Yemen |
| | The NCC joins Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) in asking for action to help the people of Yemen. The seven-year Saudi-led war and blockade in Yemen have resulted in what the United Nations has described as one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.
In an Action Alert CMEP reports:
"Over 16 million people are food insecure, and malnutrition rates for women and children are higher in Yemen than almost anywhere else in the world. From the beginning, the coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, has had the backing of the United States, the U.K., France, and Canada. In 2019, bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate passed a Yemen War Powers Resolution, which was ultimately vetoed by then President Trump.
In February 2021, President Biden promised to end U.S. support for the 'offensive operations' in Yemen. Despite this promise, the United States continues to provide critical forms of military support, including maintenance and spare parts to the Saudi-led coalition and is directly contributing to the ongoing suffering of the Yemeni people. Congress must hold the Biden Administration accountable and demand an immediate end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Congress has never authorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen."
We join with CMEP in urging those who care about this humanitarian crisis to contact their Senators and ask them to cosponsor the Yemen War Powers Resolution to bring stability to the Yemeni people. |
| | | | Circle Of Protection Calls for Health Insurance for the Poorest Families |
| In order to win US Senator Joe Manchin’s crucial vote, Senate Democrats are moving toward a smaller budget reconciliation package that will focus almost entirely on health care. President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer expect the bill to include lower prescription costs in Medicare and a continuation of premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance.
In a letter to the White House and every Senator, the Circle of Protection urged that the bill also help the two million low-income people who now have no health insurance because their state governments decided not to accept the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.
The letter signed by the Coordinating Committee of the Circle of Protection, which includes Bishop McKenzie, states, "We are focusing on action to close the Medicaid coverage gap, because we understand that this is the most important poverty-focused investment that might be included in the health-focused reconciliation bill that comes to the Senate floor. Extending Medicaid is a humane, cost-effective investment in the future of our nation, and this investment would especially benefit people of color." |
| | | | White House Conference on Hunger, Health, and Nutrition |
| | The NCC has long been concerned with matters relating to poverty. This has included working with such organizations as the Circle of Protection, the Poor People’s Campaign, and Bread for the World. While addressing food insecurity has been part of this work, the reality of worldwide hunger has grown exponentially with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest agricultural producers. And although hunger affects vulnerable populations around the world, we cannot forget those living with food insecurity here in the US. For this reason the NCC holds out hope for constructive outcomes of the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Health, and Nutrition.
In an opinion piece published by The Hill, Abby J. Leibman, President & CEO of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and Noreen Springstead, Executive Director of Why Hunger, note, "The first and only White House conference on hunger was convened by President Richard Nixon in 1969, and it yielded federal food programs that continue to provide a safety net for all Americans when troubled times strike close to home. Through the broad expansion of programs like SNAP and free school lunches, this conference led to a period of unprecedented progress against hunger and malnutrition. But exclusionary policies and draconian cuts to federal programs in the 1980s reversed that trend, fueled by and further perpetuating racism (like the offensive “welfare queen” trope), low wages, and corporate control of our food and farming systems."
This September, the Biden-Harris Administration will host the Conference with the goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
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| | | | Resolutions at Baptist World Alliance Gathering Include Reparations |
| | The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) General Council approved four resolutions during the final session of their 2022 Annual Gathering. The first two resolutions addressed the state of war, violence, and political unrest in the countries of Ukraine and Myanmar and the latter two arose in response to the Gathering’s racial justice focus.
The resolution on slavery reparations “acknowledges important local, national, and global conversations about chattel slavery, its enduring generational impacts, and the possibilities of reparations to repair the damage for wealth stolen from centuries of forced labor” and puts forth “the biblical basis for reparations.”
In the press release from the Gathering, Karl Johnson, BWA First Vice President, is quoted as stating, “I want to say something about this moment. I learned from Lee Spitzer [BWA Historian] that this body has passed some 60 resolutions dealing with racism and racial justice in the past, but not one has ever been passed on the subject of reparations. Today is a historic day in the life of the Alliance.” |
| | | NCC Seeks a Director of Communications |
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The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has been a leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States since its founding in 1950. The 37 NCC member communions — from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches — include 30 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.
The Director of Communications is responsible for managing the public relations work of the NCC. This position will be located in the NCC’s Washington D.C. offices.
Essential Functions
The Director of Communications will:
•Manage the Council’s public relations, brand and reputation, create and distribute press releases, action alerts, and marketing campaigns.
•Play a key and essential role in the creation of the Council’s public statements.
•Produce and edit an electronic newsletter and lead NCC’s social media efforts.
•Maintain contact with communications staff of NCC member communions and partners and strategize with them on matters of mutual interest and concern.
•Work closely with and regularly meet with the Council’s Communications Committee to develop communications strategies and execute programs to deliver communications objectives throughout the organization.
•Maintain contact with and develop strategic relationships with members of the secular and religious media to ensure the NCC has a high public profile.
•Maintain the NCC’s website and databases, ensure it is regularly updated and remains up to date technologically as well as create rich and creative content that is optimized for search engines.
•Be familiar with the NCC’s public policy positions and those of its member communions and represent the Council as directed.
•Assist in the preparation of the Council’s Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) including in preparing the program agenda, generating stories and media coverage, handling audio/visual needs and assisting with the logistics of the CUG.
•Ensure the Council’s communications ministry is carried out with sensitivity to gender, racial, economic, disability and intergenerational lenses.
•Equip, train and resource regional and local faith-based organizations related to the Council’s mission and priorities.
•Undertake other projects/work/functions that may be assigned.
•This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer (immediate supervisor) and President/General Secretary (head of NCC staff).
Essential Qualifications
•Degree in journalism, communications, or related field required.
•Demonstrated experience in managing a comprehensive strategic communications and media relations program to advance an organization’s mission and goals.
•Strong media relations skills desired.
•Superior oral and written communications skills.
•Knowledge of website design platforms, including WordPress.
•Previous website management experience.
•Experience working with Neon or other CRM systems is preferred.
•Training in theology and ecumenism is preferred.
•Passion for and experience in ecumenism and the work of the National Council of Churches.
•A track record of collaborative leadership and team building within complex religious organizations.
•A self-starter with project management skills, who is able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
•Integrity and an ability to establish and maintain trust amongst diverse constituencies and team members, and an ability to engage with proficiency with others in various leadership positions.
•Creativity, forward thinking, and technological savvy.
•Familiarity with the public policy positions of the NCC and member communions.
•A record of and ability to infuse race, gender, and economic equality with sensitivity to disability and intergenerational concerns, throughout the organization and its work in tangible, efficient and creative ways.
•Ability to manage and oversee a budget.
•Significant familiarity with community organizing techniques.
•Ability to make timely, intelligent decisions and take action after considering options and available information.
•Membership in an NCC member communion preferred.
Benefits
Annual salary includes 9% pension benefits, 22 days of paid vacation, and a significant health care insurance subsidy.
Procedure and Deadline
Send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via email by August 8, 2022 to: jobs@nationalcouncilofchurches.us.
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| | | | Midterm Campaign Coordinator at Faithful America - to organize social-justice Christians (particularly clergy and faith leaders) to speak out against far-right Christian nationalism during the 2022 midterm election season. See full position description.
Operations and Administrative Associate (Part-time) at Shoulder to Shoulder - to manage the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of Shoulder to Shoulder, and to assist in communications with members and external partners. This is a temporary, six-month contracted position with potential for future renewal, extension, or employment. Apply by August 1, 2022. See full position description.
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| | | COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Reduce Risk with a Booster |
| | This summer, churches can protect their communities and loved ones by encouraging COVID boosters, especially for those over age 50. Getting a booster helps reduce the risk from the worst outcomes of COVID and provides protection from variants that might be more contagious. Churches can share the link to this video from the We Can Do This campaign through their communication channels. |
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| | | Here's this week's faith-related Wordle! We've customized the game solutions to be religion-based each Friday.
If you have never played, click on the "Play" button and you will be able to find instructions by clicking the "i" for information.
Please share this newsletter with your friends, family, and faith community members who may enjoy completing these special Wordles! |
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