| | | | Holy Week Prayers for Peace: Crisis in Haiti | | | Behold God's Realm This Lenten Season | | | | Hidden Figures: Celebrating Former NCC President, Elenie K. Huszagh | | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) continues to spotlight women who have shaped the history of its work and impacted countless lives in doing so. This week, NCC highlights the life and legacy of former NCC President, Elenie K. Huszagh (2002-2003). Huszagh's roots are in Portland Oregon, where she was born in 1937, as a first-generation Greek-American. She later graduated from John Marshal Law School of Chicago, in 1963 and became a prominent attorney with a legal practice in the Windy City. Her faith was evidenced in her love and devoted service in the Greek Orthodox Church, where she was a member of the Archdiocesan Council and served on several committees, including the esteemed legal committee during the restructuring of the Archdiocesan charter. Huszagh was also the president of the parish council of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Glenview, IL, and served as the legal counsel for the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and United Hellenic American Congress. Elenie Huszagh was an NCC General Board member and served on the official National Council of Churches delegation to churches of the Middle East-Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Syria, and Cyprus. She was actively involved in NCC, including participation in NCC's USSR study tour and other programs. She later became the first Greek Orthodox woman and layperson to be installed as President of NCC, which occurred during the historic NCC 50th anniversary held in Cleveland, Ohio. Elenie passed away on July 11, 2014, at age 77. NCC celebrates the service, dedication, and impact of Elenie Huszagh. Read more about the life of Elenie Huszagh here. | | Women's History Month:
Septima Poinsette Clark | | | Save the Date: Spring Governing Board May 2024 Meeting | | | Aspen Institute Hosts Faith Leaders for Congressional Forum | | Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC President and General Secretary, Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, NCC Senior Associate General Secretary and Advocacy Director, and notable attendees including NCC Governing Board Member Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith and Senator Chris Murphy (Conn.) at the Aspen Institute's Religion & Society Program. | The Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program hosted a group of about 25 faith leaders—including NCC’s President and General Secretary, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, and Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Senior Associate General Secretary and Advocacy Director—for a day-long Congressional Forum on March 19 that explored the intersection of faith and politics. NCC Governing Board Member Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith was also in attendance.
Forum speakers included Senator Chris Murphy (Conn.), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), and Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver (Missouri), who was a United Methodist pastor for more than 35 years, along with journalists, political scientists, researchers, and policy experts. Dialogue on issues such as food security, environmental justice, the changing religious landscape, and the upcoming 2024 election gave participants an opportunity to think more deeply about the ways faith can be a force for good in the world and help address the many global challenges faced.
The Aspen Institute is a global organization that seeks to solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world by driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action. The Religion and Society Program was launched in 2012 to ignite change through convening, catalyzing, and researching the challenges and opportunities at the convergence of religion, culture, and justice. A newer program, the Racial Justice and Religion Initiative, launched in May 2023. Its goal is to help build understanding regarding religion’s role in racial justice work by providing educational opportunities that exist at the intersection of race and religion. | | NCC Joins Advocacy for Equity Commitments in the WHO Pandemic Accord | NCC is among 100 faith-based organizations and leaders to sign a letter calling for World Health Organizations and governments worldwide to commit to ensuring that all populations are protected from future pandemics. This letter was delivered during the negotiation meeting in Geneva for the UN member states' international agreement, the Pandemic Accord, which would strengthen pandemic response, preparation, and prevention efforts.
Read more about this initiative and access the letter here. | | Ecumenical Symposium to Honor
Fr. John Crossin's Legacy | | | | The Washington Theological Consortium is hosting a symposium, the Ecumenical Future Symposium, honoring renowned Catholic ecumenist, Fr. John Crossin, on Thursday, April 18 from 6:30 – 9 p.m at at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, D.C. This symposium will include a panel discussion on Crossin's last book, Moving Into the Ecumenical Future: Foundations of a Paradigm for Christian Ethics. Read more about this upcoming commemorative event and register here. | | Register for Upcoming National Faith and Climate Forum | | Mark your calendar and register here for National Faith + Climate Forum on April 16 from 12:00 pm – 5:15 pm ET | 9:00 am – 2:15 pm PT. It offers local, in-person watch parties and engagement opportunities. We warmly invite all individuals of faith to participate.
Engage your congregation, gather with clergy, and foster a collaborative community event is streamed live, showcasing national faith leaders. | | | |
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