| | | Faith Leaders to Gather in Solidarity for Haitian Community, Sept. 22 | | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Ohio Council of Churches, other national bodies, local congregations, and faith communities are partnering with Bishop William J. Barber, II, Senior Lecturer and President of Repairers of the Breach, Founding Director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, for prayer and a press conference on September 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Greater Grace Temple, 380 W. Leffel Lane (parking lot) Springfield, Ohio. This gathering's purpose is to stand in solidarity with the Haitian community and the citizens of Springfield to call for an end to the malicious attacks and lies stemming from false claims made by former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets belonging to residents. | | CUG 2024 Speaker Lineup | | We are pleased to announce our speaker lineup for the 2024 Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) from Oct. 15-18! If you haven't registered and booked your hotel room for this year's ecumenical gathering, don't delay any longer! Join us for a time of edification and fellowship with these prominent leaders from across the nation: Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology, Emory University Rev. Carol Devine, Faith Director for Blessed Tomorrow of ecoAmerica Bishop Joseph Warren Walker, III, Senior Pastor of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn. Rev. Monique Crain Spells, Vice President for Mission, Advocacy, and Programs and Dir. of Christian Education/Faith Formation, Disciples Home Missions Revs. Drs. Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes, co-pastors of The Double Love Experience Church and authors of "Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections on the Work of Liberation" Bishop Carroll A. Baltimore, Creation Justice Ministries, President Emeritus of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. Rev. Jenny Phillips, Director of Environmental Sustainability, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church Rev. Caleb Cray Haynes, Co-Founder of Nazarenes for Creation Care His Grace Bishop Anthony (Vrame) of Synada, Archmandrite Nativity-Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
Don't miss these dynamic speakers at this year's CUG! For any questions, please email cug@nationalcouncilofchurches.us. | | | Last Call: CUG Hotel Deadline, Sept. 21 | | Don't miss the last chance to book your hotel room at Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport for the 2024 Christian Unity Gathering. The deadline is today, September 21, 2024.
Take advantage of this opportunity and reserve your room at this special rate! Share the news with your network of educators, advocates, preachers, seminarians, and emerging faith leaders! | | | | NCC Attends Archbishop Elpidophoros Lecture at the Catholic University of America | | From left: Matthew Markay, NCC Project Coordinator, with Fr. Nicolas Kazarian, Ecumenical Officer and Director of the Department on Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, at the The Catholic University of America on September 19, 2024. | | His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, delivering a lecture on "The Council of Nicaea: Challenges and Opportunities for the Church Today" at The Catholic University of America on September 19. | Matthew Markay, NCC Project Coordinator, attended a lecture on "The Council of Nicaea: Challenges and Opportunities for the Church Today," given by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, at The Catholic University of America on September 19. His Eminence spoke about the Council of Nicaea and the upcoming celebration of the 1700-year anniversary of the first ecumenical council. He also stressed the importance of ecumenism in our world stating, "We have more in common than we hold differently." The event was hosted by the Institute for Study of Eastern Christianity.
According to the Institute for Study of Eastern Christianity, "The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD, remains definitive for Christianity, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the Church today. Maintaining doctrinal purity amid modern pressures and addressing contemporary issues through ancient canons are significant challenges. However, Nicaea’s legacy also offers opportunities to enhance ecumenical relations, as the shared Nicene Creed provides a common foundation for dialogue with other Christian Churches. The celebration of the 1700th anniversary of this historical common ground can foster understanding and cooperation, potentially leading to greater unity among Christian communities. The principles of unity and orthodoxy from Nicaea can thus inspire the Orthodox Church in its mission and witness in the contemporary world."
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros is the future Chair of the NCC Governing Board and is currently serving as Vice Chair. Markay was also able to connect with Fr. Nicolas Kazarian who serves as the Ecumenical Officer and Director of the Department on Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Kazarian also serves on the executive committee for the NCC Governing Board. | | Consultation at Union Seminary Forges New Path for Uniform Lessons Series | | From left: Tammy Wiens (NCC); Lindsay Black (David C. Cook); Tajuan Kyles (AME Zion); Foluke Ola (Nigerian Baptist Convention); John Hill (Cross and Crown); Beth Herrinton-Hodge (PCUSA); Becky Davis (Union Seminary faculty). Student participants not pictured include Melissa White, Grace Kim, and Brianna Burton. | A leadership team representing the Committee for the Uniform Lessons Series (CUS) met with a small group of Christian Education (CE) students from Union Seminary in Charlotte, NC, last week for a two-day writing workshop.
The workshop was directed by Dr. Rebecca Davis, Associate Professor of CE, and Director of the Center for Excellence in Christian Education housed on the Union Seminary campus. Dr. Davis introduced her propositional methodology to CUS at its annual meeting earlier this year and based on the positive feedback of Christian publishers and their curriculum development team members who participated in the event, the CUS Executive Committee decided to revise the template of its Guide to Curriculum Development.
The Guide, produced through the CUS ecumenical partnership, provides curriculum writers an annotated teaching outline on which member communions and publishing partners base their Sunday School publications for disciples of all ages. Recognizing the significant shifts in the landscape of the Church and the world around us, the Committee decided a recalibration of the resources it provides to denominations and publishing houses would expand the usefulness of the Guide.
Adapting Dr. Davis’ propositional teaching method for use in the CUS Guide gives users a fresh approach to teaching and curriculum writing. The writing team is excited about the potential for added depth and richness to the new template. Dr. Tammy Wiens, the NCC’s Director of Christian Education, shared her excitement for the shift, commenting that the new template, “infuses the Guide with an expectation that the Holy Spirit is present at every level of development so that writers, teachers, students—everyone who has a hand in the learning—will be exposed to Scripture in a way that kindles deeper discipleship and prompts faithful living.”
The hope now is to equip a wider group of CUS participants in the use of the new template, which will be the agenda for the next annual meeting, set for March 10-14, 2025, on the Union Seminary campus in Charlotte. | | NCC Stands Firm in Calling for Communities to Continue Voter Registration | “Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13, NRSVUE
National Voter Registration Day was this week. This day is a crucial event for our democracy, especially given the increasing polarization, misinformation, voter suppression, and other societal injustices. This day is dedicated to amplifying voices nationwide through voter registration—a commitment NCC continues to uphold.
This year, we released resources such as the NCC’s Voting Matters 2024 Election Empowerment Guide. We also created a voter registration status check page in partnership with Feel Good Action and launched the NCC Freedom Summer campaign. This campaign, honoring the 60th anniversary of Mississippi Summer—a landmark movement to desegregate Mississippi’s political system and register Black voters—aimed to educate, engage, and empower people of faith this election season. The NCC conducted virtual and in-person ecumenical worship services and voter workshops across key states, held virtual Bible studies to discuss the theological basis for voting, and partnered with local churches, prominent leaders, and national organizations to register and empower voters, continuing the spirit of that pioneering movement. These efforts exemplify NCC’s commitment to equity, advocacy, justice, collaboration, and service in the public square.
Sixty years later, the need for a fair and just voting process remains critical. As Election Day approaches, the risks of not voting become more consequential. Equitable voter registration is essential for safeguarding our democracy and ensuring that compassionate and effective leaders are elected.
Though National Voter Registration Day has passed, the charge to prepare for the upcoming election continues. NCC remains steadfast in encouraging its member communions to go above and beyond, empowering their congregations to register and vote their values this critical election season. We must not grow weary in doing good to ensure every voice is heard and every vote is counted. | | Join Repairers of the Breach for Moral Monday Season of Prayer and Action, Sept. 30 | | Join Repairers of the Breach for Moral Monday Season of Prayer and Action at Saint John's Church, Lafayette Square, 1525 H St NW in Washington, D.C., 20005, for a prayer vigil and press conference on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EST. This event will feature faith leaders from various traditions, led by Bishop William J. Barber, II, Senior Lecturer and President of Repairers of the Breach, Founding Director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School. | | 2024 Voices of Faith, Votes for Justice Campaign's Calendar of Events | | You're invited to Arizona Faith Network's (AFN) "Voices of Faith, Votes for Justice" campaign's upcoming calendar events! These sessions were developed to empower, inform, and mobilize communities.
View AFN's Faithful Voting in AZ web page for the calendar and explore a list of voting related events and Faith Community Resources. | | | DHS Protecting Places of Worship Weeks of Action Virtual Events Continue | | The DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will hold the Protecting Places of Worship Weeks of Action Virtual Events from September 16-27, 2024, in partnership with DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, DHS Office of Partnership Engagement, DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Justice and other federal partners. These virtual workshops will provide resources to help places of worship in securing their communities. | | | Nolan Williams Jr., Releases Newest Civic Anthem | | Nolan Williams Jr., founder and CEO of NEWorks Productions, released a new civic anthem, "Rise Up and Fight." Watch and share this powerful call to action that encourages everyone to vote. | | Critical Conversations with Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Continues | | | Join the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc, for the "Critical Conversations: What's at Stake Series" that highlights the implications of Project 2025's implementation. Join the next conversation that seeks to educate and equip attendees to make informed decisions to ensure the preservation of freedom and democracy.
Monday, September 23 — What’s at stake if the Departments of Justice and Defense are eliminated? (with Rev. Dr. Anthony Bennett and Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher) | |
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