| Another Police Shooting, Gun Violence, Oak Flat, and Intentional Listening NCC Newsletter April 22, 2022 |
| | | | As we cannot allow yet another shooting of an unarmed Black man by a police officer to pass without recognizing the weight of this tragedy, we share part of the prayer offered last Saturday by Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland Tune, NCC Chief Operating Officer, for the NCC's Holy Week of Prayer series:
"We are triggered by yet another unnecessary death by police of an unarmed Black man, this time in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are weary of the ways in which racial hatred and vitriol continue to erode the fabric of this nation, making the promise of America seem to be a dream deferred for far too many. We pray for the loved ones of Patrick Lyoya and all those who know the pain they are experiencing right now. We pray for our nation to break this confluence of systemic racism, inhumanity and violence by police who are supposed to protect and serve. We pray for Black and Brown communities, too often plagued by violence and many of whom believe we are not safe, including and especially with law enforcement. Lord, have mercy."
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| | | Gun Violence on Easter Sunday
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| | NCC Director of Communications and Development, Cynthia Griffiths, has written about the increase in gun purchases and violence in the article, "Gun Violence Increases as the Thread of Society Unravels," which is reproduced below:
"The shootings across America, including several mass shootings on Easter Sunday in Pittsburgh, PA; Furman, SC; Baldwin, LA; Miami, FL; Portland, OR; Philadelphia, PA; and Sacramento, CA are part of a worsening plague of gun violence in the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the number of shootings that killed or injured at least four people is much higher than it was at this point just a few years ago.
Because of the plethora of guns, small incidents, insults, and grievances that in the past would end in a scuffle or fist fight now end in a shooting death. Simple disputes among people gathered together in public lead to several people injured or killed. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, gun sales surged in 2020 and 2021 while a perception that the government could not protect people also grew. Stressors have grown between people during a time of isolation from their support systems.
We cannot allow ourselves to accept daily shootings as routine. In addition to enacting laws to stop the public health crisis of gun violence (see the policies and statements adopted by the NCC Governing Board regarding gun control), our nation must also make funding for mental health resources a priority in order to expand mediation services, mentoring programs, counseling centers, and access to therapists and case managers in our communities." |
| | | This Month's Spiritual Practice: Intentional Presence and Intentional Listening
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| | Rev. Sheila Spencer shares her spiritual practice of "Intentional Presence and Intentional Listening" as part of the NCC's "Spiritual Practices to Sustain Our Spirit-Led Work for Justice" Series.
Rev. Sheila Spencer serves as Interim President of Disciples Home Missions for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Co-Convener of the Christian Education Faith Formation Leadership Development Table.
The series is presented by the Christian Education, Faith Formation, and Leadership Development (CEFFLD) Convening Table of the National Council of Churches. In this monthly series, the CEFFLD Convening Table of the NCC shares personal stories of practices that have nourished them for the long haul of justice ministries. Faithful action in our communities, regions, countries, and the world, is sustainable when we are spiritually fed by the same Spirit that prompts us to bring Christ's love and justice to bear in our world. Each monthly segment shares a testimony of how a specific practice has been helpful for the faith formation or leadership development of an individual or congregation. The series will share resources (e.g., books, website, articles, videos) that give readers/viewers a chance to learn more about the practice and to use these tools to move forward in faithful efforts toward justice. We hope this series will show connections across faith traditions that have some similarities in practices, helping to build stronger bridges of understanding around commitments to shaping spiritual lives and communities to be agents of peace and justice in the world.
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| | | | Protect the Sacred Oak Flat |
| | Today, on Earth Day 2022, the NCC joins with our partners to stand for the religious freedom of our Indigenous neighbors, the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the other tribes who hold sacred the land of Chí’chil Biłdagoteel, loosely translated as “Oak Flat” in English.
The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) has published ways to get involved and advocate to stop the federal government from giving this sacred land to a mining company which plans to use mining practices that will destroy the land, creating a crater 1.8 miles in diameter.
The NCC has joined in sending a letter to Congress to request their support for the Save Oak Flat Act (H.R. 1884), which would prevent Resolution Copper (a joint venture of two foreign mining companies) from altering the status quo and permanently destroying a sacred sanctuary.
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| | | Find the Daily Bible Reading on NCC's Social Networks |
| | | The Committee on the Uniform Series (CUS) welcomes all NCC members and independent publishers to be full partners in the work of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through the use of the Guide for Lesson Development, the premier Bible study curriculum outlines for all ages, and the Home Daily Bible Reading materials. We are sharing the Home Daily Bible Reading through our social network accounts and we invite you to spread the word with us each day on Twitter and Facebook. The verses are taken from the NRSV Updated Edition, released by the NCC last year which is now available on Kindle. |
| | | Ecumenical Advocacy Days Starts on Monday |
| | The 2022 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice (EAD) is next week, April 25-27, 2022. The annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists will delve deeply into the pressing issues of the day and speak truth to power on Capitol Hill. This year's theme is "Fierce Urgency: Advancing Civil & Human Rights" and the virtual event features over 30 workshops along with evening sessions on poetry and documentary films.
The program starts with an opening worship on Monday morning led by ecumenical leaders and with a sermon from Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III. The program will include denominational gatherings and three days of presentations by such partners as Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Co-Convener of the National African American Clergy Network, and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. Tuesday afternoon will focus on two legislative asks in preparation for virtual lobby meetings on Wednesday afternoon. The event promises to be a full three days.
While at EAD, be sure to check out the NCC sponsor booth in the exhibit hall and "drop by" our booth for a virtual visit! |
| | | | | Watch the Moral March on Washington Video |
| | The June 18, 2022 Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls has shared a video in advance of this year's gathering of poor and low-wealth people, state leaders, faith communities, moral allies, unions, and partnering organizations. Watch to learn why the NCC joins them in saying we cannot be silent anymore about poverty and then make your plans to "get on a bus to Washington."
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| | | | COVID-19 Pandemic Response |
| | Poor Peoples Campaign Pandemic Report |
| The Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) has been working with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to fix the glaring omissions in the data on poverty, income, and occupation related to COVID-19 outcomes. Their effort was launched to consistently collect and disseminate the correct data. The result is their digital report, "A Poor People’s Pandemic: Mapping the Intersections of Poverty, Race and COVID-19." The report includes an interactive dashboard and additional resources such as data files, county-level snapshots, and a statement from the PPC Health Justice Advisory Committee.
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| | | | | Vaccination rates among pregnant women, children, teens, and young adults are relatively low, despite the risk that COVID poses and the effectiveness of the vaccines. Data from a recent study suggests that 2-dose vaccination could prevent up to 74% of hospitalizations from the Omicron variant in children ages 5–11.
Churches can help by sharing this information to encourage vaccination. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has produced a short video encouraging American Indian/Alaska Native parents to protect their children 5 and older by getting them vaccinated. Children are sacred! Let’s do what we can to protect them.
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| | | | Each week, the NCC offers a faith-related Wordle. We've customized the games to be religion-based in each Friday's newsletter. Instructions on how to play can be found 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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| | | To All in our Orthodox Communions Who Celebrate This Sunday |
| | This greeting uses a photo of Ukrainian Easter eggs, known as pysanky, which are decorated using the wax-resist (batik) method. |
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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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