| | | | Visit NCC's 2024 Election Resource page, a living library of toolkits, prayer guides, and more, to equip and empower people of faith to cast their ballot competently and confidently this election season and beyond. Share this valuable information with your network!
If you'd like to feature your member denomination's resources, contact us at info@nationalcouncilofchurches.us. Help your community vote in faith, not fear! | | In addition to accessing this ever-growing library of election resources, don't forget to share with NCC how you have worked to be "vote ready" this election season! Use #voteready and #votingmatters when you tag us on social media to share how you're practicing civic engagement this election season. | | | | | | NCC Attends Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Honoring of Yulia Navalnaya | | Tony Kireopoulos, NCC Associate General Secretary, pictured with Yulia Navalnaya, chairperson of the Human Rights Foundation, and widow of Alexei Navalny, martyred Russian human rights advocate. | Tony Kireopoulos, NCC Associate General Secretary, attended the annual Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Annual Athenagoras Human Rights Award Banquet at the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel in New York City on October 19. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, NCC Governing Board Vice Chair, and Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presented Yulia Navalnaya, chairperson of Human Rights Foundation, the prestigious Anthenagoras Humans Rights Award. This event also commemorated her husband, Alexei Navalny, martyred Russian Human Rights advocate, who along with Navalnaya, displayed courage in the face of death. Previous awardees include former President Jimmy Carter; Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate; Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Nobel laureate; Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, Nobel laureate, and others. Among the more than 600 Archons and guests in attendance at this prominent event were His Grace Bishop Anthony (Vrame) of Synada, Director of Holy Cross Orthodox Press and Adjunct Associate Professor at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, who was also a guest speaker at the recent Christian Unity Gathering held earlier this month, and Rev. Dr. Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, Ecumenical Officer and Director, Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, NCC Governing Board Member. Guest speakers included Serge Schmemann, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist of the New York Times. | | | NCC Affirms Commitment to Environmental Justice in Abridged Statement | | On the 20th anniversary of the NCC's statement, “God’s Earth is Sacred: An Open Letter to Church and Society in the United States,” The NCC Governing Board has voted to approve an abridged and updated version of the statement to affirm its commitment to environmental justice. Their action stands as a pledge of continued partnership with sister organization, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM), which partnered with the NCC's Christian Education, Faith Formation, and Leadership Development (CEFFLD) convening table to draft the statement. The Governing Board expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts of CEFFLD and CJM in bringing attention to some of the issues underscored as absent from the 2004 statement. The 2024 version gives fresh attention to the intersectionality of environmental justice and racial-economic justice and underscores present-day concerns for biodiversity, resilience, and adaptation. Early in the process, CEFFLD also consulted with Cassandra Carmichaels of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment and someone who worked with the NCC on the 2004 version of the statement presented. | | | NCC Among More than 100 Organizations Implores Senate to Suspend Arm Sales to Israel | Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, and Jeff Merkley introduced the four resolutions providing for congressional disapproval related to major arms sales to Israel's government. NCC joined more than 100 organizations in signing the Israel Joint Resolution of Disapproval Letter to the US Senate. This letter, led by the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), urges the Senate to vote in favor of four resolutions to block major arms transfers to Israel. | | | | | | Tree Seedling Planted on Behalf of NCC CUG Awards | | | | Win $50K EcoAmerica's American Climate Leadership Award | | Apply or nominate an organization or climate leader for ecoAmerica's American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA) for a chance to win $50,000 for their successful local or national climate change efforts. Categories include general, youth, and honor. The application deadline is January 6, 2025. | |
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