| | | This Lenten Season, Let's Commit to Do, Love, Walk | | Each week during the Lenten season, the National Council of Churches will highlight focal areas for prayer, contemplation, and service based on Micah 6:8 (NRSVue):
He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Focal topics include poverty, reparations, democracy, community advocacy, and more. Follow the topics on all of our social media accounts and share your story using the hashtags #DoLoveWalk and #Micah6v8. | | NCC Supports Clergy in Tennessee Protesting Lack of Action on Gun Control | | Activists sit in at Tennessee House Speaker's office. (Photo credit: Mike DuBose, United Methodist News) | NCC supports clergy members who held a sit-in at House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s office in the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on Tuesday, April 4, to urge the legislature’s support for gun reform in the wake of last’s week’s shooting at a Nashville Christian school. Six people—three children and three adults—were gunned down on Monday, March 27 at Covenant School.
Rev. Stephen A. Green, National Council of Churches Community and Civic Engagement Consultant, joined representatives from several of NCC’s member communions in making their voices heard. | | Rev. Stephen A. Green (center) praying with other faith leaders. (Photo credit: Mike DuBose, United Methodist News) | Rev. Green remained in Tennessee for a few more days to join a protest at the capitol on Thursday, April 6, protesting the expulsion of three Democratic members of the Tennessee legislature—two African-American men and one White female—for disrupting a legislative session on March 30 in support of a student-led protest outside the house chambers. | | Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville (above left), was expelled by a 72–25 vote largely along party lines, with one Republican voting against expulsion. Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis (above center), was expelled by a 69-26 vote. Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville (above right) was not expelled with the yeas falling one vote shy of the required 66. Asked why she was not expelled, Rep. Johnson, who is White, suggested “(i)t might have to do with the color of our skin.”
Expulsion has only been used twice in Tennessee since the 1800s. Members of the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee legislature have said the trio’s actions amount to an insurrection. There were no hearings or investigation prior to Thursday's expulsion votes. | | NCC Interim President/General Secretary Honored by Department of Health and Human Services, Women's History Month | | | | NCC, Harvard Partner on Reparations Campaign | | The NCC in partnership with the William Monroe Trotter Collaborative at Harvard University hosted a Journey to Jubilee Community Breakfast in Harlem, New York. This event gathered faith leaders, community leaders, and scholars for a transformative conversation on reparative justice and democracy. Scholars from Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Kennedy School shared highlights from their research on local, state, and federal initiatives for reparations and invited community members to engage in ideas for implementing reparative justice in their community. Journey to Jubilee is an initiative of the National Council of Churches USA to encourage President Biden to act on an Executive Order for reparative justice by Juneteenth, June 19, 2023. Faith leaders are invited to join the NCC in Washington, DC for a Prayer Vigil and March to the White House. For more information visit https://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/anti-racism-resources/reparations/ | | | Rep. Clyburn reintroduces legislation to close the “Charleston Loophole” | This Congress, H.R.2403, the Enhanced Background Checks Act was reintroduced by Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-SC). The legislation addresses a weakness in federal gun law known as the “Charleston Loophole,” which allows people to legally buy guns before a criminal background check is complete. In the case of the massacre at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and in a growing number of mass shootings around the country, perpetrators of violent acts who are prohibited from purchasing firearms can buy guns by default after three business days. These “default proceed” gun purchases put guns in the hands of people with extensive criminal histories, ranging from convicted felons to domestic abusers, to fugitives from justice.
According to a fact sheet released by Congressman Clyburn’s office, “the Enhanced Background Checks Act extends the initial background check review period from 3 business days to 10 business days. After the initial 10 business day period, if a background check has not been completed, a purchaser may request an escalated review by the FBI.” NCC supports the Enhanced Background Checks Act which will make our communities safer. We urge you to contact your Member of Congress and ask them to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 2403. Click here to act now! | | | | Prepare now to participate in the NCC's Spring Governing Board events, beginning on Monday, May 15, 2023, with a special, sponsored luncheon for the Governing Board and the new Health and Wellness Task Force, and ending at noon on Tuesday, May 16. All events will be held at the National City Christian Church, Thomas Circle. Hotel reservations can be made at: The Madison Hotel 1177 15th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 Book your reservations by April 24, 2023, using the following link. https://book.passkey.com/e/50515911 Monday, May 15, 2023 10:00a–11:15a Health and Wellness Task Force Meeting - Members Only 11:00a–12:45a Sponsored Luncheon for Governing Board & Health and Wellness Taskforce - Members Only 1:00a–5:00p Governing Board Business Session - Members Only 5:30p–6:45p Dinner - Members Only 7:00p–Anniversary Launch Worship Service - Open to the Public Tuesday, May 16, 2023 8:00a–12:00p Governing Board Business Session - Members Only 12:30p Box Lunch - Members Only 1:00p–3:00p Policy Roundtable - Members Only | | Syria and Turkey Still Need Our Help! | | Aerial photo of collapsed buildings and destruction in Hatay, Turkey | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) continues to mourn the loss of thousands of lives in Turkey and Syria following a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the region in the early hours of Monday, February 6. To date, the death toll has reached more than 53,000 people.
NCC is urging congregations in the US to join the global community in praying for and supporting those impacted. You can view many opportunities to give on NCC's website. | | | Ecumenical Advocacy Days Registration Open | | | | | |
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