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Christian Unity Gathering 2024 |
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NCC Attends Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Celebration |
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Dignitaries hold Springfield Illinois National Monument sign at Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Celebration in Springfield, Illinois, on Oct. 9.
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Austin Randolph, president of the NAACP in Springfield, Illinois, shares remarks at the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument celebration on Oct. 9. |
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Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) delivers Congressional remarks at the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument celebration on Oct. 9. |
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Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, speaks during the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Celebration on Oct. 9. |
On Wednesday, October 9, the U.S. Department of the Interior with the National Park Service and local, state and national elected officials from Springfield, Ill., hosted a ceremony to celebrate the recent establishment of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Springfield, Illinois. President Biden’s designation of this new National Park Service site will protect the archeological treasures near Madison and 9th Streets where racial violence erupted in 1908. The Monument will also commemorate the history associated with the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Civil Rights Movement. Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, NCC’s senior associate general secretary and director of advocacy, attended the celebration for NCC and as chair of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, of which NCC is a member. Dr. Copeland-Tune attended meetings with members of Congress and the White House to advocate for the national designation. NCC President and General Secretary Bishop Vashti McKenzie was present in the Oval Office when President Biden signed the national monument designation in August. |
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(From left) Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, NCC senior associate general secretary and director of advocacy; Rev. Susan Phillips, pastor and head of staff of First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Illinois; and Julianna Stratton, lieutenant governor of Illinois, at the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Celebration on Oct. 9. |
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(From left) Illinois Senator Dick Durbin; Rev. Susan Phillips, pastor and head of staff of First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Illinois; and Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, NCC senior associate general secretary and director of advocacy, at Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Celebration in Springfield, Illinois, on Oct. 9. |
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NCC Accompanies President Biden as He Announces New EPA Rule |
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Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC president and general secretary, boards Air Force One to travel with President Joe Biden and others to Milwaukee in October 2024. |
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(From left) Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin secretary of state, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC president and general secretary, Tony Evers, Wisconsin governor, and Michael Regan, EPA administrator, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in October 2024. |
Faith, environmental, and education leaders were invited by President Joe Biden to travel with him on Air Force One to Milwaukee, Wisconsin as he announced this week a new rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that imposes the strictest limits to date on a neurotoxin that poses a public health crisis for infants, children, and adults. It’s been ten years since the Flint, Michigan water crisis and the new rule is an aggressive attempt to replace lead pipes nationwide over the next ten years. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC’s president and general secretary, joined Rebecca "Becky" Pringle, president of the National Education Association; Timothy Male, executive director of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center; Michael Regan, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and others aboard Air Force One.
At the Department of Public Works field office in Milwaukee, the new rule, which will also add jobs and create a job training hub in the area, was applauded by the city’s mayor, Cavalier Johnson, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. The crowd heard about the devastation caused by lead in drinking water, which impacts children, families, the education system, and their future. Lead can also cause cardiovascular issues in adults and is classified as a carcinogen. |
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President Joe Biden at the Milwaukee Department of Public Works field headquarters on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. |
"The National Council of Churches expresses deep concern over the public health crises caused by lead contamination in drinking water, highlighting its detrimental impact on the health and future of infants and children,” stated Bishop McKenzie. “The presence of lead not only threatens the well-being of our youngest but also endangers adults, as it has been linked to cardiovascular issues and cancer, necessitating urgent action and accountability."
The President also said that the new EPA rule is an environmental justice breakthrough for disadvantaged communities that have long borne the brunt of lead poisoning.
The National Council of Churches’ Christian Unity Gathering begins next week in Nashville, Tennessee, from Oct. 15-18, 2024, and will address environmental justice issues. This year’s theme, “Equitable Futures: Paving the Way for Environmental and Economic Justice,” will explore the intersection of ecological sustainability and socio-economic equity. Among the presenters are Jerry Lawson, EPA; Dr. LaToya Myles, NOAA; and Rev. Carol Devine, Blessed Tomorrow. |
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Join NCC in being vote ready this election season and beyond. NCC's voter empowerment page includes tools and information to help people of faith prepare to vote their values in confidence and competence. This library includes: NCC's Voting Matters 2024 Election Empowerment Guide Information on how to check your voter registration status What's at risk this election season Why voting is a health matter Additional resources from our partners
In addition to accessing these resources, share with NCC how you are "vote ready" this election season! Snap a photo of you participating in civic engagement, tag NCC on social media, and use #voteready or #votingmatters. |
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Pittsburgh Rally Recalls Sacrifices Families Make for Each Other "I Vote Because of the Dedication My Family Modeled for Me" |
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Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, NCC senior associate general secretary and director of advocacy, speaking at the Nuns on the Bus & Friends rally at historic Freedom Plaza in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in October 2024. |
By Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune "I don’t do buses. Call it the remnants of trauma from having ridden buses from my home in Mt. Vernon, NY, to my undergraduate school in Syracuse. The last time I voluntarily boarded a bus was when I moved from New York to Washington, D.C., and I'd never planned to get on one again.
But when I was invited to be one of the “friends” on the Nuns on the Bus & Friends 'Vote Our Future' tour, I couldn’t say no. The opportunity to visit several states to encourage and perhaps even inspire people to use the power of the vote to improve our communities and, dare I say, strengthen our democracy, was a chance I could not pass up.
My first stop on the tour was a rally at the historic Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I was asked to talk about why I’m on the Bus and the importance of voting. Reflecting on this became a “Sankofa moment” that made me think about the many sacrifices that have been made on my behalf. Sankofa is a Ghanaian saying that means to look back even as we go forward (my interpretation)."
Read the full blog article on the Nuns on the Bus & Friends “Vote Our Future” tour blog here. |
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Shaping Faith Generationally: World Student Christian Federation Conference |
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Attendees convening at the World Student Christian Federation in Washington, D.C., October 3-6. |
Matt Markay, NCC project coordinator, attended the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF-US) conference in Washington, D.C., October 3-6. This year's conference centered around "Embodied Faith: Christian Students Organizing for a New World."
For more than 125 years, the WSCF has supported student Christian movements worldwide that work to put their faith into action for justice and peace in their communities and globally. Like NCC, the WSCF is an ecumenical organization focused on uniting diverse students through shared faith values.
This past week’s conference included representatives from colleges and divinity schools, as well as former students now working for nonprofits or social work organizations. Speakers at this dynamic gathering included Cole Arthur Riley, New York Times bestselling author; Deepa Iyer, senior director of strategic initiatives at Building Movement Project; and Joe Davis, award-winning poet.
"The WSCF-US conference was a joy to attend! Meeting fellow prophetic young Christians from all around the country helped me grow in my faith. We spent days discussing what it means to be a Christian, organizing for social justice while also learning ways we can take care our our minds and our bodies during difficult times. I highly recommend this conference to any young Christian feeling called to the work of social advocacy," Markay said.
Learn more about the WSCF here. |
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Upcoming Trauma-Informed Disaster Recovery Webinar, Oct. 24 |
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Join the North Carolina Council of Churches (NCCC) for "Faith in Action: Trauma-Informed Disaster Recovery" with Roberta Borden Wilson, licensed trauma therapist, on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET. This webinar will equip participants with an understanding of the necessity of trauma-informed ministry. Register to learn how to support those who have experienced trauma, identify and respond to individuals facing trauma, and take steps to manage emotional wellness. |
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Pre-order New Release from Friendship Press 'Confronting Racism and White Supremacy
in the US' |
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Check out the latest book from Friendship Press! Confronting Racism and White Supremacy in the US ($24.99)
Confronting Racism and White Supremacy in the US: Twenty-First-Century Theological Perspectives is a collection of essays on contemporary issues in the ongoing fight against racial oppression and inequality in the US. Edited by Michael R. Fisher Jr., it includes contributions from ecumenical leaders, scholars of religion, and activists with insights about the role religion can and must play in advancing justice and equity. Originating with the Faith and Order Table of the National Council of Churches, this book offers constructive theological reflection for resisting racism and white supremacy.
Available October 15!
Pre-order at friendshippress.org. |
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Access MAZON's High Holy Days and Indigenous People Day Resources
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Explore MAZON's High Holy Days resources and read one of their latest blogs discussing the thematic connections between Indigenous Peoples' Day on Oct. 14 and Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival, which begins the evening of Oct. 16. |
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Join Maryland Poor People’s Campaign Upcoming Canvassing Event |
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Maryland Poor People’s Campaign is continuing its partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland to canvass poor and low-income communities in Maryland in an effort to reach infrequent voters. Spread the news with your community, and join this initiative in the following locations: |
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