Church and African American history are inseparable
Treading stony miles and enduring the unborn hopes of the national experience, African Americans and American churches share a common history. Sometimes they walked together, as when Congregationalists defended the rebellious slaves of the Amistad in 1841 or when ecumenical leaders joined hands with Martin Luther King, Jr., in the 1960s. Sometimes they walked apart, as when Richard Allen turned his back on demeaning segregation in 1794 and founded Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. And many times they merely declined to reach out to one another, willfully separated by race and culture and class. Each year in February these historical realities are studied and acknowledged. In 2010,  the American landscape has changed remarkably and Jim Crow is but an unpleasant if all too recent memory. But it's difficult to celebrate either African American history or church history without realizing that the land where neighbors live in peace with justice is still an unrealized promise. This year we feel closer to that hope, and as we celebrate those who went before us to lead us to the Promised Land, may people in all churches join in a common prayer: "Thou who has by thy might, led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray." More.

NCC urges consideration of a "moral" federal budget
The National Council of Churches has joined with other faith groups in calling for the federal budget to address the deep of issues of poverty, and care for those hit hardest by the economic recession. The statement is in response to 2010’s first unemployment figures released February 5, which show another 20,000 jobs lost in January and an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent. More.

Feb. 14 Remembrance Day for Coptic Orthodox martyrs
Coptic Orthodox Christians are asking their sisters and brothers in other churches to join in a day of prayer and remembrance February 14 following the January murders of six young Coptic Orthodox men in Nag Hammadi Egypt. Seven people were murdered -- six Coptic Orthodox Christians and a Muslim police officer -- following a midnight Divine Liturgy January 7 in Nag Hammadi, Qena, in Upper Egypt. More.

World Day of Prayer on March 5 celebrates Cameroon
The World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March, this year on March 5. This year’s focus is Cameroon. Throughout the entire day, prayers are lifted up from all over the world, beginning with the first sunrise and ending at the last sunset.  For additional information and resources, read more here.

Goldman Sachs bonuses: a modest proposal for Haiti
The crisis facing Haiti today goes beyond anything yet thought or imagined, write theologians George Hunsinger and Michael Kinnamon. Ten billion dollars could make an inestimable difference.  So could eight billion—half of the recently scaled-down bonus figure announced by Goldman Sachs. Which gives our theologians a modest idea -- and a golden opportunity for Goldman Sachs. Read more.

Teams in Haiti respond amid losses beyond endurance
Days after the January 12 earthquake that devastated Haiti, as heavy aftershocks continue to jangle nerves and threaten lives, relief teams are working around the clock to provide food, water, medicine and shelter for survivors. Church World Service and the NCC's 36 member communions -- including millions of individuals in their congregations -- are deeply engaged in relief efforts. Read more.

Clarification: Baptists arrested in Haiti are not ABCUSA
Baptists arrested for child trafficking in Haiti are not members of churches affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA). Some media sources have labeled these individuals as "American Baptists." While the people involved are Baptists from the United States, they are not members of the denomination known as ABCUSA. ABCUSA currently has missionaries doing ministry in Haiti, but they are not involved in this incident. More.

Kinnamon remarks on the 65th Holocaust remembrance
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps at the close of the Second World War in Europe. The NCC General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, was invited to address B'nai B'rith in New York as a part of interreligious responses to the United Nations Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. The text of Kinnamon's remarks can be found here.

Spotlight on Poverty carries Kinnamon commentary
NCC General Secretary Michael Kinnamon's commentary on poverty and region appears in the current Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a foundation-led, non-partisan initiative aimed at ensuring that our political leaders take significant actions to reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the United States. Kinnamon's copyrighted essay on God and the poor can be read here.

Obama urged to show 'active leadership' for health care
The Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President of the National Council of Churches, has joined more than twenty religious leaders to urge President Obama to show "active and public leadership" to persuade Congress to pass a health care reform bill. The letter implored Mr. Obama "to make it plain to all Americans that the decisions of Congress have moral consequences. Letting this life-line lapse would be a failure of historic proportions." More.

Annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 19-22 in D.C.
This is a good time to register for the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days, which is meeting March 19-22 in Washington under the theme, "A Place to Call Home, Immigrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons." With millions homeless in Haiti and across the globe, the theme has a special urgency and participants will have an opportunity to press that point with their Congressional Representatives. Register here.

NCC supports nation-wide healthcare reform call-in
With health care reform stalemated in Congress, it's time for people of faith to act. Starting Monday, January 25, raise your voice along with hundreds for thousands of people for health care reform by calling your congressional representatives.  Members of Congress can be reached toll-free at 866-699-9243, courtesy of the SEIU Faith Initiative, or via the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. More.

Devastation in Haiti calls for 'unprecedented response'
NCC General Secretary Michael Kinnamon is urging an "immediate and generous response" to calls for aid following the earthquake in Haiti. "The destruction around Port-au-Prince is so massive it can't yet be measured," Kinnamon said. "What is clear is that the toll in lives and property will go beyond our ability to comprehend it. The situation has few precedents in our lifetimes, and our response to it must also be unprecedented." More

Haitian anguish leads to a prayerful hymn by Gillette
Placing international anguish over Haiti at the cross of Jesus has resulted in a sadly lyrical hymn by a noted Presbyterian pastor and ecumenist. The Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, who with her husband, Bruce, is pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Del., has written, "In Haiti There is Anguish," sung to the tune of, "Beneath the Cross of Jesus." Read More.

'Circles of Names' campaign extended through March
The "Circles of Names" campaign to support women's ministries and gender justice programs in NCC member communions has been extended through March Women's History Month. The campaign gives donors opportunities to support ongoing and future work by honoring women who have made a difference. Participants may submit the name of a woman who is or has been influential in their faith life More.

Earthday 2010 resources ready for download or order
The 2010 Earth Day Sunday Resource, Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship is available now to help congregations prepare for and celebrate stewardship of God’s Creation in their house of worship. The 12-page booklet, produced by the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program, has Bible studies, worship outlines and practical suggestions for "greening" your church. More.

NCC offers guidelines for avoiding H1N1 influenza virus
The NCC has issued flu prevention guidelines for congregations that includes both standard hygiene activities and unusual worship practices. Members of congregations are urged to use hand sanitizers, clean door knobs and hand rails, and fill candy dishes with individually wrapped candies. But during the flu season, they are also encouraged to stop shaking hands and hugging one another during the traditional "passing of the peace." More.

Faith groups advocate green jobs for those in poverty
Citing a shared tradition of justice and compassion, the faith community,  is organizing across the country to call on government officials to create new, sustainable and green job opportunities for persons living in poverty. Thirty-four national faith organizations representing the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities will hold public events across the country to encourage government officials to act. More.

NCC Women's Ministries offer fistula education program
Women’s Ministries at the National Council of Churches has announced a pilot program for young women exploring the connections between faith and action, through the lens of obstetric fistula, a birth injury affecting more than 2 million women worldwide.  Sponsored by the UN Foundation, this project seeks to bring faith communities into the campaign to end fistula in this generation. Read more.

CC issues brochure on dangers of Christian Zionism
"Christian Zionism" is a dangerous movement that distorts the teachings of the Church, fosters fear and hatred of Muslims and non-Western Christians, and has negative consequences for Middle East Peace. A new brochure, Why We Should Be Concerned About Christian Zionism, by the NCC (in English and Spanish) is now available as an educational tool  for groups who want to share these warnings with their members. More.