council news Archives - NC Council of Churches

In Thanksgiving for the Life of Bill Smith

I learned Tuesday morning of the passing of Bill Smith. I knew of Bill long before coming to the NC Council of Churches. He had been the state director of the Baptist Student Union before I came to work for the Baptist State Convention in 1978, but he was still remembered warmly by the progressive Baptists I had the most contact with. He was ahead of his time, leaving the Baptist denomination and becoming a [...]

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NCIPL Leadership Transition

As I gaze out of my study window at the bright spring birds and budding trees, I am at peace with and excited about the changes unfolding at NCIPL. As some of you already know, after two years as paid staff, I made the transition to volunteer status on January 1, 2013. For the first quarter of this year, I retained the title of Co-Director with my inspirational and able partner, Susannah Tuttle, whom I supported [...]

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Council Awards to Be Presented at Legislative Seminar

A leader against economic injustice and two longtime advocates on the Council’s board have been chosen to receive the North Carolina Council of Churches’ highest honors.

Gene Nichol will receive the Faith Active in Public Life Award. Barbara Volk and Sydnor Thompson II will be recognized with Distinguished Service awards. All three will be presented at the Council’s 2013 Legislative Seminar which takes place April 11 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Raleigh.

Nichol is the [...]

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Program and Registration for 2013 Legislative Seminar

If you are interested in attending, but have not pre-registered, you may call our office at 919-828-6501 on Tuesday, April 9 until 5:00 p.m.

Gene Nichol, Director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the UNC-CH School of Law will be the lunch speaker at this year’s Legislative Seminar.The day’s topic for Nichol, who is also the school’s Boyd Tinsley Distinguished Professor, is “It’s Better Not to Be Poor in NC.”

The seminar takes [...]

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Important Upcoming Events for NC Social Justice Advocates

You probably already know that the General Assembly goes into session on Wednesday, January 30. They’ve already had a one-day organizational meeting. You probably also already know that this will be a difficult session for those of us who have worked for years (or even decades) for justice for all North Carolinians, especially the most vulnerable in our midst. Because of that, there are two important events I hope you’ll put on your calendars and plan [...]

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Speaking Up and Out Against Gun Violence

Across denominations and faiths, we have come together to speak out against gun violence and to call for meaningful change from our leaders. We enter this season of peace heartbroken by what our nation has lost and continues to lose on a daily basis. But we also enter this time committed to a better way, a safer path, and a true solution.

By adding our names to the NC Council of Churches’ sign-on statement we are affirming [...]

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Blessings of the Christmas Season

The staff and volunteer program associates of the North Carolina Council of Churches wish you a blessed and peaceful holiday with words by Sr. Evelyn Mattern. [...]

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2012 A Victory for NC and for PFADP

For the first time in the modern era, no one was sentenced to death in North Carolina during 2012. The milestone marks a victory for people throughout the state and for the organization People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, which began as a program of the North Carolina Council of Churches.

As PFADP, which is led by Executive Director Steve Dear, noted on its website:

North Carolina is well into its seventh year without [...]

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Date Change: Latino Pastor Dinner in Robeson Co.

Partners in Health and Wholeness will host a dinner to connect Latino pastors with free resources and grants for churches. It takes place Thursday, Dec. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Goodwin Heights Baptist Church, 704 Godwin Avenue in Lumberton. Please note this is a change in date from a prior announcement. The meeting will be conducted in Spanish and is free. Please e-mail Joy Williams, for more information. [...]

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The Passing of Bishop James McCoy

Last week, North Carolina lost a religious leader we hardly knew.

Bishop James McCoy had been named back during the summer to be the Presiding Prelate of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church. He took office here a couple of months ago, was officially installed only a couple of weeks ago, and passed last week.

I attended his service last Saturday at Livingstone College in Salisbury. I was representing the [...]

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Thankful for Your Support

From farmworkers to food; climate change to personal health; immigration to rural life; good government to peace.

The North Carolina Council of Churches continues to work toward a time when “the least of these” are recognized and valued as beloved children of God. When elected leaders work together for the common good. When health and peace are priorities, for us as individuals and for the planet. No other single faith-based organization in the state tackles [...]

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Blessings of the Thanksgiving Season

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing – words by Robert Robinson [...]

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Welcome Duke Divinity Interns!

We are delighted to welcome Justin Hubbard and Scott Schomburg, the Council’s interns from Duke Divinity School for 2012-2013. Justin received a Bachelor’s of Individualized Studies in Psychology, Sociology, and International Politics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. After working for a few years at the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Administration, he moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo. [...]

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The Passing of Carolyn King

Our friend Carolyn King passed on Tuesday evening after a long “medical adventure” (to use Sr. Evelyn Mattern’s term) with cancer. She and her husband Cy have been leaders in the work for peace and justice for decades. Because of that history, they received the Council’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009. If you didn’t know Carolyn, her obituary will give you a picture of her life. Even if you did know Carolyn, you’ll [...]

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Stop Hunger Now Meals Packaged with Help from Council Supporters

Young people from Charlotte had the opportunity to pack meals with Stop Hunger Now thanks to Council supporters. A meal-packaging event originally scheduled after the Council’s April Critical Issues Seminar in Winston-Salem had to be cancelled, but a number of those who had paid to participate allowed SHN to keep their registration fee and use it to pay for students to take part in the future.

In June, students active in Hands on Charlotte’s Volunteens Program were [...]

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