| Celebration, Summer Advocacy, Summer Webinars, and a New Film NCC Newsletter July 15, 2022 |
| | | NCC Celebrates and Congratulates Joseph Crockett upon his Retirement from Friendship Press |
| Family, friends, and colleagues gathered this week in Philadelphia, and online, for a retirement celebration for Rev. Dr. Joseph V. Crockett, who served as CEO of Friendship Press, the publishing arm of the National Council of Churches USA. In this position, Joseph carried on the legacy of the Revised Standard Version (1947) and New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (1989), with the adoption by the NCC governing board of the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition in 2021. The NCC is custodian of this legacy, and holds the copyright of these widely respected versions of the biblical text.
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| Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins (Christian Church / Disciples of Christ) and Bishop W. Darin Moore (African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church), respectively the President and Vice President of the Friendship Press board, were both present to celebrate and offer words of thanks for Joseph’s service. Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, NCC Governing Board Chair, and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC Interim President and General Secretary, both sent letters of congratulations.
Joseph joined the NCC staff in 2012 as Associate General Secretary for Education and Leadership Ministries, and took the helm of Friendship Press in 2018. When he first joined the NCC, he stated: “It seems as though my entire life journey – formation by family and church, education, professional resume and social networks – has prepared me for work with the NCC as a catalyst for Christian education and advocate for public education."
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| He has certainly built well upon this foundation, and perhaps exceeded his own hopes and expectations when he moved into his position at Friendship Press. More than one person present at the celebration remarked how his work on the NRSVUE, done in collaboration with a wide array of biblical scholars and in association with the Society of Biblical Literature, and with the leadership of Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, past president of the Friendship Press board and chair of the NCC’s Bible Translation and Utilization Committee, will reach millions of people as its publication continues in the coming years.
Reflecting on this accomplishment, in comments delivered at the gathering, Dr. Tony Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary for Faith & Order and Interfaith Relations, remarked: “This is indeed a marvelous capstone to a truly meaningful career!”
The National Council of Churches USA expresses its profound gratitude to Joseph, and we wish him and his family God’s continued blessings as he moves into this new chapter in his life.
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| | | Struggle for Justice Continues Even in Summer |
| While many take the summer as an opportunity to slow down, vacation, and rest, faith-based justice advocates continue their work. NCC, working in conjunction with its numerous faith and civil society partners, is hoping that this summer sees new gains in the criminal justice reform movement.
Several bills are currently being considered in the Senate. One in particular, the EQUAL Act, has a chance to reduce the racial impact of federal drug laws. Passed in 1986, in the midst of the panic of the crack epidemic sweeping cities, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act created penalties for crack cocaine that were equal to those penalties for 100 times that amount of powder cocaine. This meant that for a 5 year mandatory minimum sentence, one had to only posses 5 grams of crack cocaine compared to 500 grams of powder cocaine. This disparity was one of the main drivers of the mass incarceration of people of color. The rate of incarceration for African Americans quintupled following the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act while incarceration of whites remained constant. In 2010, the Fair Sentencing Act addressed this disparity, but only reduced the drug quantity ratio between powder and crack cocaine to 18:1 from the original 100:1.
The EQUAL (Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law) Act would eliminate the disparity entirely. Not only would the law apply to current and future cases of drug possession, but it would provide the opportunity for people incarcerated under the old laws to petition a judge for a reduction in sentence, in some cases resulting in their release. The EQUAL Act would, after 35 years, return a bit of fairness to the justice system.
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| | | | Join the NCC Voter Empowerment Campaign |
| | | The NCC is an ally of the voter campaigns created by several of our denominations and we are now inviting additional churches to join the NCC Voter Empowerment 2022 campaign and take action on the local church level each month until Election Day. Churches can play a pivotal role in encouraging each voter to create a plan to vote and make their voice heard.
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. The Guide is meant to be used by churches as a companion to the Voter Toolkit produced by our partner, Faiths United to Save Democracy, which details voter information for all 50 states.
Register and download the Voter Empowerment Guide to receive the action plan, outreach ideas, scripture verses, prayers, and links to important information from the Voter Toolkit.
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| | | | Save the Date for CUG and Bring New Things Into Being! |
| | | 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 soon! 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.
Plan to be at 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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| | | | | Religions for Peace USA Upcoming Webinar on The Great Replacement Theory |
| | Religions for Peace USA will hold a webinar on August 18 at 2pm ET titled "The Fear of 'The Great Replacement Theory' and Impact on Society." Join a discussion of how the fear of "The Great Replacement" has provided motivation for many heinous attacks on racial and religious minorities and what should be the role of religious communities in dispelling this myth perpetuated by white supremacist groups. Dr. Carmen Celestini will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Celestini is a post doctoral fellow at The School of Religion at Queen's University studying the role of overlapping belief systems of Christian religion and conspiracy theories and how these beliefs impact politics and extremism. Registration will be available soon at https://rfpusa.org/latest-news/ |
| | | | New Film Examines Use of Solitary Confinement in US Prisons |
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The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) has produced a new film in time for Torture Awareness Month this June entitled Torture in Our Name. In this compelling 35-minute documentary for faith audiences, filmmaker Matthew Gossage showcases the tenacity and resilience of people who have faced the torture of solitary confinement first-hand and are working to end it once and for all. The film traces the stories of campaigns in Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York in which survivors of solitary and their allies have mounted successful legislative campaigns in their respective states, with New Jersey and New York being the first two states in the nation to legislate bans on long-term isolated confinement.
Through poignant interviews with survivors whose stories have caused lawmakers to take notice, as well as faith community leaders who share their own journeys of finding their voice in the movement, this film will leave you and your religious community inspired to get engaged. Let your light shine and find your place in the movement.
National Council of Churches is a member of NRCAT.
Tune in and prepare for your call to action. It’s time to say “no more” to the torture of solitary confinement, Torture in Our Name. You can watch the film at www.nrcat.org/TortureInOurName-Film. For more information, contact Laura Markle Downton, NRCAT’s Director of Faith and Community Engagement, at ldownton@nrcat.org, or call (202) 853-9009. |
| | | | COVID-19 Pandemic Response: New Toolkit |
| This toolkit has resources for organizations and individuals that want to help increase confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among adolescents children ages 5–17 and their parents/guardians. It includes information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and new, culturally tailored materials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) COVID-19 public education campaign.
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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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Your gifts helps us build a more just and equitable community that chooses grace over greed, love over hate, and faith over fear.
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