Inside the National Council of Churches

Historic interfaith summit denounces anti-Muslim bigotry
A high ranking group of U.S. interfaith leaders, including the general secretary of the National Council of Churches, assembled in Washington to condemn plans in Florida to burn the Holy Qu'ran on Saturday, and to decry incidents of violence committed against innocent Muslims. The leaders noted the "anti-Muslim frenzy" that has existed in the U.S. since plans were announced to build an Islamic Community Center in Manhattan two blocks from Ground Zero. But the uproar over the community center is only one aspect of the overall problem of anti-Islamic attitudes and actions across the country, the leaders said. In a press conference following the summit, NCC general secretary Michael Kinnamon said, "we denounce anti-Muslim bigotry. We identify ourselves with religious tolerance." The Rev. Richard Cizik, president of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, bluntly told Christians who were expressing anti-Muslim views or threatening to burn the Qu'ran, "you bring dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ." The Rev. A. Roy Medley, general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, said, "Some of the most offensive statements about Islam, unfortunately, have been from the Baptist community." Yet Baptists "were born of persecution, in England, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," and Roger Williams founded Rhode Island as the first geo-political entity based on religious unity, Medley said. "That is why religious liberty is very dear to us." Read More.

NCC repeats condemnation of church plans to burn Qur'an
The National Council of Churches reiterated its statement of August 11 condemning plans by a Florida church to burn the Qur'an on September 11.
On the eve of Ramadan, the NCC and its Interfaith Relations Commission called upon Christians and persons of other faiths to express respect for Muslims and Islam. The August 11 statement expressed dismay over recent out outbreaks of Islamophobia and anti Muslim sentiments. More.

Centennial Gathering slated for New Orleans November 9-11
When the National Council of Churches and Church World Service gather in New Orleans' Marriott New Orleans Convention Center for their General Assembly this November 9-11, the meeting will mark a historic milestone for the ecumenical movement. One hundred years ago, representatives of Christian churches around the world gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland, for an unprecedented World Missionary Conference. More

Khandi Alexander narrates NCC Katrina update on NBC
“Coming Home,” narrated by actress Khandi Alexander of HBO’s Treme, delves into the relationships that have formed between these volunteers and the grateful residents they’ve helped. The documentary -- alternately heart-wrenching and deeply inspiring -- is presented by the National Council of Churches and produced by the Presbyterian Church (USA) on many NBC stations beginning August 29. More.

The power of language used to describe God is explored
A diverse group of Christians gathered August 9-11 to explore the power of language Christians use to talk about God and one another. The goal, said the NCC's Ann Tiemeyer, was to explore how language can be used to extend the hospitality of the church's mission. Participants represented a broad spectrum of ages, races, cultural backgrounds, gender, sexual orientations, abilities, denominations/communions, and professional fields. More.

Kinnamon supports building of a mosque at Ground Zero
For thousands of families, New York's Ground Zero is holy ground. Thousands lost someone they love in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The emotional investment in Ground Zero cannot be overestimated. That is precisely why Ground Zero must be open to the religious expression of all people whose lives were scarred by the tragedy: Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, and more. And Muslims. Read More.

August issue of Eculink is now online at http://eculink.org

ECULINK, which for decades has kept tens of thousands of ecumenists informed about the mission and ministry of the National Council of Churches and other regional and local ecumenical organizations, is now available as an online publication. Stay up-to-date about the church unity movement and ministries that are important to you by following Eculink at its new address: http://eculink.org. More.

US Student Christian Movement to be reborn October 8-11
The U.S. Student Christian Movement (SCM), which has lain dormant for more than 40 years, will be reborn October 8-11 at a historic gathering at Morehouse College. The organization, called the University Christian Movement, was known for its witness for civil rights and peace in the first half of the 20th century. The now resurgent group voted itself out of existence four decades ago. More.

2010 Yearbook and archival CD available at a savings of $20
The NCC's 2010 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches is on sale at a discounted price of $50 per copy. Also available is a historic CD archive of data appearing in editions of the Yearbook between 1916 and 2000. The Yearbook and the CD can be purchased together for $65, a savings of $20. See www.yearbookofchurches.org. (An earlier website, electronicchurch.org, is defunct.) More.

NCC EcoJustice offers new resource on the Gulf oil spill
The slow-motion tragedy of the gulf oil spill lays bare our collective failure as caretakers of God’s good creation. While unknown thousands of barrels of oil leak into the rich and diverse ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico, how are we as Christians called to respond? While it is easy to express anger and cast blame at the companies who owned, operated and profited from the deep sea exploration, we must also reflect on our own complicity. More.

NCC: Court has not negated need for gun violence laws
The National Council of Churches finds the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision on gun ownership to be "disappointing," but stresses that the ruling does not negate the possibility of enacting laws to reduce gun violence. The court ruled that citizens have a right to keep handguns in their homes for self-protection but did not declare whether state and city laws against gun possession are constitutional under the Second Amendment. More.

Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer film and book coming 2011
A little known 2000-year-old Christian prayer, still used by monks and nuns in far away caves and monasteries, is the subject of a documentary feature film and book slated for early 2011. Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer focuses on the prayer, Kyrie Eleison ("Lord Have mercy") that is thought to have been first practiced by the Apostles. The search for the prayer is a project of Father John McGuckin and Dr. Norris J. Chumley. More.

Governing Board letter urges new federal policy for schools
The NCC has urged President Obama and members of Congress not to lose sight of the fact that public schools are the basic institution for educating the nation's children, and the government must support public schools as guarantors of each child's right to an education. In a pastoral letter, the NCC Governing Board urged the nation's leaders to help craft a system of education that looks upon children as unique and valuable individuals. More.

Women's Ministries fistula stories curriculum expanded
Challenging persons of faith to "explore faith in action, educate your community about maternal health, and walk in solidarity with your global sisters, NCC Women's Ministries has announced an expansion of its curriculum on fistula. Around the globe, a woman dies in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications every 90 seconds. One of those injuries is Obstetric Fistula. More.