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Gun Violence Pandemic, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Setback for Religious Freedom NCC Newsletter July 8, 2022 |
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| More Must Be Done on Gun Violence |
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On July 4, a day that families and friends often gather to relax and enjoy parades and fireworks, picnics and barbecues, the scourge of gun violence again thrust itself into our consciousness. In Highland Park, Illinois, a person with a high-powered rifle shot into crowds gathered to watch the town’s parade. Seven people were killed. Seven lives were cut short. Seven families were left to mourn unthinkable tragedy. Dozens of others were wounded by gunfire. Hundreds were scarred by the fear of being shot. Our prayers are with those families who were impacted by the shooting.
But it doesn’t stop there. In Philadelphia during the fireworks show, shots were fired, and two police officers injured. In Orlando, people panicked and ran when firecrackers were mistaken for gunshots. Along the National Mall in Washington, families scatter when sounds typically associated with celebration spark panic of possible gunshots.
Elsewhere, the gun violence pandemic continued in neighborhoods that don’t get the same attention from national media. In Chicago, 10 were killed and 60 others wounded in multiple incidents over the holiday weekend. In rural Rustburg, Virginia, a man was shot in a church parking lot. In Wharton, Texas, a 9-year-old boy was killed when he was caught in the crossfire of a gun battle.
The United States is suffering from a pandemic of terroristic gun violence. Sports events, political protests, festivals, parades – any public event – now come with a sense of dread that maybe this gathering will become the latest target of an active shooter. Indeed, these public spaces join places of worship – churches, synagogues, mosques, and gurdwaras – as targets. Growing political polarization and easy access to guns are proving to be a deadly and traumatizing mix. Without bold action, we risk this becoming the new normal. Constant fear, repeating tragedy, lost lives.
The recent gun safety bill signed into law would do little to prevent radicalized people from getting weapons and targeting those whom they hate. Indeed, the new law may not have stopped the shooter in Uvalde, Texas, from obtaining the gun used in that horrific massacre. While the increase in mental health resources provided in the bill is helpful, other parts of the bill are more harmful. The school security measures, including threat assessments, have been shown to have a racially disparate impact, resulting in a disproportionate number of black and brown children being subject to exclusionary discipline and arrests for non-criminal, low-level offenses.
Rather than double down on gun culture, and thereby neglect to build up an already traumatized population, we need to adopt common-sense approaches for reducing the firepower that can be used to kill the innocent.
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| Join the NCC Voter Empowerment Campaign |
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| 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! |
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| 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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| The NCC Congratulates this Year’s Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom |
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The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA congratulates all the recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the nation’s highest civilian honor, and it recognizes individuals for their contributions to the betterment of the country and world in which we live.
This year’s honorees, in addition to their significant personal accomplishments in their chosen fields, are noted for their defense of religious freedom and human rights; advocacy for economic justice and access to healthcare; stands against torture and for gun violence prevention; dedication to civil rights and immigration reform; commitment to gender equity and youth development; and promotion of good governance and voter participation. Each of these areas reflects values upheld by the NCC.
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| Among the recipients, we celebrate with those whose ministries have intersected with that of our organization. Sr. Simone Campbell, a powerful voice within the Washington faith-based advocacy community, has worked with the NCC for many years. One of the original “Nuns on the Bus,” she has been a valued partner on countless public policy issues. Indeed, for her work “with leaders of many faiths and traditions to explore and uphold the experience and presence of the holy,” last year the NCC presented her with the Gwynne Guibord Award for Excellence in Interreligious Leadership. |
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Fr. Alex Karloutsos, a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, an NCC member communion, has served the Orthodox Church for more than 50 years. Representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, he has worked tirelessly to lift the voice of the Church in a host of settings, counselled several US presidents on issues of critical importance to church and society, and conferred with ecumenical and interfaith leaders worldwide on moral, spiritual, and pastoral matters of common concern. Reflecting on this honor, and noting its confluence with the Archdiocese’s centennial celebration, Archbishop Elpidophoros, head of communion and NCC governing board member, expressed joy at this “moment [of] tremendous pride.”
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The NCC would also like to take the opportunity to take note of another recipient, Mr Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father who is being honored for his affirmation of religious freedom. Who can forget his moving and noble defense of his son, who died a war hero, his family, and his faith against anti-Muslim slurs? While the NCC has not worked directly with Mr Khan, we note that this recognition by the President is an affirmation of the witness to be made against Islamophobia, a witness we also seek to make especially through our National Muslim-Christian Dialogue and our partnership with the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign.
This is also a witness we seek to make more generally, against all racial, ethnic, religious, and other forms of discrimination and violence, through our ACT Now to End Racism initiative and other programs. It is on this foundation – against bigotry and hate, and for the inclusion and love of all – that we stand to applaud all the recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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| NCC Reflect on Supreme Court Decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton Religious Freedom Case |
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| The US Supreme Court released numerous decisions in June. Among the more consequential cases decided by the Supreme Court this term was the case of a football coach in Bremerton, Ore. who lost his job after praying during a school activity. In April, NCC signed on to a brief supporting the Bremerton School District's decision, agreeing that the public prayer during a school event violated the religious liberty of students who did not identify as Christian. Several students' parents' reported that their children had felt pressured to join the prayer to avoid antagonizing their teammates or the coach. NCC's position is in line with its long history of advocating for a strong firewall between church and state to ensure that people of all faiths feel welcome and are able to exercise their beliefs free from intimidation. NCC and its partners were disappointed at the Supreme Court's decision against the Bremerton School District.
NCC joined with a larger number of other denominations, interfaith partners, and religious freedom organizations in support of the Bremerton School District including the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Church of Christ, Central Conference of American Rabbis, American Jewish Committee, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Union of Reform Judaism, Anti-Defamation League, Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. |
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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. Set aside time every other Wednesday at 7pm ET beginning July 13 to view one session of our collaborative Reparatory Justice webinar series which is available on YouTube.
July 13 – Racial Wealth Gap Simulation
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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| Webinar on Interfaith Support for Organized Labor: The PRO Act |
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| American labor law is broken: too often, workers who try to exercise their right to organize face retaliation and reprisals. That’s why faith leaders from dozens of denominations and organizations have lined up in support of the PRO Act, which would protect workers seeking to organize a union and get a voice on the job. Join us for a one-hour webinar hosted by Catholic Labor Network and hear several of those faith leaders explain why they are calling for passage of the PRO Act. |
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| COVID-19 Pandemic Response: New Toolkit |
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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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If you find our newsletter informative, please forward it to friends and colleagues!
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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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