Inside the National Council of Churches

The passage by the House of Representative of a weakened and "dangerous" bill on violence against women has been deplored by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic violence Against Women. The passage of the bill, which the Task Force said "weakens or deletes entirely some of the vital improvements ... passed by the Senate last month by a resounding bipartisan vote," would have the effect of endangering vulnerable victims, according to the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, program director of the National Council of Churches Women's Ministries Program. The member communions of the National Council of Churches and other faith groups have actively supported the renewal and strengthening of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, Tiemeyer said. The Act, which creates an office within the Department of Justice to develop federal policies around issues relating to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, has been scheduled for reauthorization since 2011. Read More.

Kinnamon heads for familiar turf: a theological classroom

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, former National Council of Churches general secretary, has accepted a three-year academic post at Seattle University. Kinnamon, who left the NCC last year for health reasons, will be the Spehar-Halligan Visiting Professor in Ecumenical Collaboration and Interreligious Dialogue at the university's School of Theology and Religious Studies. Read More.

How would you 're-envision' the NCC? Take this survey

The National Council of Churches has undertaken a significant process toward transformational change. God is calling us anew to be signs of the visible unity in diversity we have received in Christ. The Task Force on Re-envisioning and Restructuring the NCC seeks your views and ideas for moving toward this future. Please take a few moments to complete this survey before April 20.

Easter meditation: Why Christians put their hope in Christ
The NCC’s Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos reflects that in our secular society, the Easter message seems over-the-top. In some societies, marked by inter-communal violence, it seems unnecessarily dangerous. In other societies, burdened with extreme poverty, it seems quite inconsequential. And yet, our Faith is based on this one event, on this man’s resurrection from the dead. Read More.

Resurrection Service and Divine Pascha Liturgy on NBC

The NCC, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission invite Easter worshippers to witness the Orthodox Christian Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy of Pascha. The service will be broadcast on many NBC stations on April 8 and on April 15, when Pascha is celebrated in most Orthodox Christian churches. Read more.

Uniform Series curriculum celebrates 140 years of service

Each Sunday, thousands of church schools open their bibles to the same passage to study the word of God. That's more than a coincidence: it's called the "uniform principle." Common bible lessons have been prepared by the National Council of Churches' Committee on the Uniform Series for 140 years next month. "It's the ultimate form of ecumenical cooperation," said the Rev. Dr. Roderick Lewis of the CME Church. Read More.

NCC moves to eliminate racial disparity in maternal health

The NCC is moving forward in the development of a project to eliminate racial disparities in maternal health. The project, "Due Season: A Faith-Filled Roadmap Toward Eliminating Racial Disparities in Maternal Health," will develop congregational materials exploring the intersection of maternal health and race within the U.S. and moving people to advocate for change. Read More.

Yearbook: churches struggling with finances, membership

Churches continue to feel the effects of "the Great Recession" as contributions dropped $1.2 billion, according to the NCC's 2012 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. Membership trends in denominations remain stable, with growing churches still growing and declining churches still declining, reports Editor Eileen Lindner. Read More.