“Outside agitators.” The very term reminds those of us of a certain age of the Civil Rights Movement, when anybody coming from outside the South to suggest that the South’s segregation and treatment of African-American citizens was somehow un-American, un-constitutional, un-Christian. And they could be dismissed (or worse) because they were an “outsider.”
So it is especially disconcerting to hear Gov. Pat McCrory describe those of us coming to Moral Monday rallies as “outsiders.” And [...]
Continue reading Moral Mondays Are Home-Grown
A funny thing happened to House Bill 998, the Tax Simplification and Reduction Act, on its way through the state Senate.
It got simplified.
House Republicans had approved the bill in an effort to make good on their party’s pledges to cut taxes and shrink government. With Republicans holding strong majorities in both the House and Senate, and with the governor’s office also in GOP hands, there hasn’t seemed much reason to doubt that some [...]
Continue reading Tax Reform: Not So Simple
Faith leaders from across the state and from different traditions continue to speak out in support of Moral Mondays, the weekly NC NAACP-led demonstrations in Raleigh.
Within days of each other, the heads of Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and United Methodist judicatories in North Carolina and seven Jewish leaders in the Triangle issued statements of support based on their religious convictions.
The first letter read in part:
The Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler of Union [...]
Continue reading Faith Leaders Voice Support for Moral Mondays
The North Carolina Council of Churches has partnered with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Foundation to provide more than $90,000 in Healthy Eating Equipment grants to twenty places of worship in our state. These equipment grants will be used to increase access to healthy, local foods – for example, for the purchase of canning and cooking supplies, to expand church-sponsored community gardens, to provide storage for healthy foods at food [...]
Continue reading Twenty Congregations Receive Funding to Increase Access to Healthy, Local Foods
A person’s health is not only determined by genetics, their level of physical activity or how many fruits and vegetables they consume, but also underlying factors like poverty, education and housing. In North Carolina, we use tier county designations provided by the North Carolina Department of Commerce to signify the economic health of a community. The 40 most economically disadvantaged counties are Tier 1, the next 40 are Tier 2, and the wealthiest counties in [...]
Continue reading Underlying Factors Contributing to Poor Health
The Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR) is blessed to have a kitchen/restaurant facility which serves the entire community on different occasions. There is also the community’s school garden that is taken care of and well-groomed by the students, parents, teachers and staff of Al Iman School, which is one of the schools situated in the IAR complex. There is the weekly Friday sale of fruits and vegetables to its members. The IAR has a multi-purpose [...]
Continue reading PHW Success Story – Islamic Association of Raleigh
Faith leaders in Asheville are adding their voices to those outraged by the actions of NC legislators. Rev. Joe Hoffman, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ and an NC Council of Churches board member, is joining his colleagues as well as those from the non-profit community there for a press conference on Monday, May 20. Anyone interested in participating can contact him at revjoehof@uccasheville.org or on his cell at 828-777-8729.
In addition, he [...]
Continue reading Faith Leaders for a Just Society in Asheville
Who said change is easy? Or that it can only come as a result of well-meaning adults’ efforts? Well, a youth group in New Orleans, called the “Rethinkers”, would beg to differ. They saw a problem (unhealthy foods served in school) and made a difference [...]
Continue reading Rethink What You Eat
Since 2010, beginning with the spring growing season, Ward Street Mission United Methodist Church has implemented a concept called, “House Gardens Greening Project”. The concept is simple. Instead of having a “community garden” at one site at the church, we have created a “community of gardens” at individual homes around the Ward Street Mission Community.
We deliver 4x8ft raised bed gardens, build them on site, fill them with compost donated by the City of High [...]
Continue reading PHW Success Story – Ward Street Mission UMC, High Point
Rev. Linda Walling, Executive Director at Faithful Reform in Health Care and Nicole Dozier, Assistant Project Director at the NC Health Access Coalition offered this compelling and insightful workshop on the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”) at our 2013 Legislative Seminar. You can download and listent the podcast above. [...]
Continue reading Implementing the Affordable Care Act: Legislative Seminar Workshop
First Baptist Church in Lumberton – under the leadership of Dr. TR Murray and PHW Liaison Jay Leggette – is participating in the Partners in Health and Wholeness Certification Program, demonstrating their commitment to health as a practice of their faith. They serve healthier food and beverage options at church meetings and events, maintain tobacco-free buildings, and incorporate physical activity into weekly worship services. First Baptist, located in one of NC’s unhealthiest counties, recognizes the [...]
Continue reading PHW Success Story – First Baptist, Lumberton
With the passage of deadlines for the introduction of most bills, there’s been a flurry of new legislation. This issue of Raleigh Report will cover some of these new bills, with others to come in the next issue. [...]
Continue reading Deadlines Pass – Raleigh Report April 22, 2013
Today marks the beginning of a very important journey for our state – a journey toward better health for all North Carolinians. A Healthier NC is a statewide campaign/challenge to engage 1 million North Carolinians in 15 hours of activity, to transform lives and to lose 10 million pounds.
Congregations are already showing their commitment to health as a practice of their faith by participating in the NC Council of Churches’ Partners in Health and [...]
Continue reading A Healthier NC: It’s All Up to Us!
We are grateful to all who attended the 2013 Legislative Seminar. It was a wonderful day, graciously hosted by St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Raleigh. From the powerful and prophetic speakers to the opportunity for 200 faithful advocates for social justice to be together, we appreciate your participation.
Over the next several weeks, we will be posting podcasts, videos, pictures and resources from the Legislative Seminar as many of you who took part [...]
Continue reading 2013 Legislative Seminar
Speaking to 200 social justice advocates, Gene Nichol delivered a powerful luncheon address at the Council’s 2013 Legislative Seminar held April 11 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Raleigh. He received the Council’s Faith Active in Public Life Award at the Seminar for his “courageous, dedicated, humane and compassionate witness in the political arena.” Rev. George Reed, the Council’s Executive Director, introduced Nichol by saying in part, “To know Gene is to see the embodiment of Catholic social teaching about social justice and the common good.” [...]
Continue reading Gene Nichol: It’s Better Not to Be Poor in North Carolina
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