Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

Honor Students and Teachers with a Public Education Sabbath

Mary Elizabeth Hanchey, Program Associate for Legislative Advocacy and Interfaith Outreach · August 21, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Public schools stand in the breach between chaos and a thriving society.

Public schools offer our thriving students and our struggling students the challenges, enrichment, and nurture they need to grow into adults who think, observe, assess, and solve problems.

Public schools offer arts education, physical education, and diverse community, which research shows builds resilience.

Public schools serve children whose families do not speak English, whose homes do not have enough food, who have no transportation, and who have no other access to interventions that can change their lives.

Public schools serve children who love to read and do complicated math and learn new languages and play music with their peers.

Public schools give children the skills to read and reason that support the study of holy texts, the ability to lead in communities of faith, and the ability to articulate the mystical, life-changing experiences which grab them in the thin places and flow forth from their precious souls.

And in North Carolina, public schools struggle to overcome the negligently insufficient funding they receive from the state, from counties, and even from the federal government.

This is a season in which the tenacity of our public schools and those faithful servants who labor in them must be nourished by faith communities who know and champion the value of public education.

In this season where students, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, janitors, support staff, nurses, psychologists, counselors, and volunteers all begin a new year, faith communities have a powerful opportunity to hold public schools in the light of love.

We invite you to use this resource to plan a Public Education Sabbath in your own faith community, and to encourage those who gather to support the stated needs of the public schools, and to advocate on behalf of the schools to those in leadership who have the power to make things better.

Please also consider joining NC Faith Leaders for Public education, a network that will support these efforts across the state. You can learn more by visiting www.ncchurches.org/ncflpe.

May this be our prayer: that the God who formed and loves every child, who grieves over their suffering and whispers courage in the midst of their struggle, would embolden us all; that we would not shrink in the face of hard things; that we would sustain our commitment to strengthening our schools by showing up, by advocating, and by speaking truth in the face of injustice. May God be our gumption and our redeemer.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Public Education

Mary Elizabeth Hanchey, Program Associate for Legislative Advocacy and Interfaith Outreach

About Mary Elizabeth Hanchey, Program Associate for Legislative Advocacy and Interfaith Outreach

Mary Elizabeth Hanchey is a Tarheel in every sense of the word. She was born in the mountains of North Carolina and has also lived down east and in the Tidewater region. But she has spent most of her life in the triangle. Mary Elizabeth moved to Durham in 1989 and attended college at UNC Chapel Hill.
Mary Elizabeth has earned a law degree from UNC and a Masters of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. (The cognitive dissonance is real, but she remains a light blue Tarheel). She is thrilled to bring together her legal training, theological education, and yearning for mercy, justice, and soul freedom in her work on behalf of the NC Council of Churches.
Mary Elizabeth lives in Durham with her husband and three children. In her spare time she looks for permission forms, homework, and activity information for said children, all of whom attend Durham Public Schools. She also enjoys gardening, yard work, and cooking. She attends Watts Street Baptist Church where she has taught music to children for nearly two decades.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

‘Sound Basic’ Truths About Our Schools
Let Justice Roll: Sustain the Veto
Raleigh Report – April 29, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

Honor Students and Teachers with a Public Education Sabbath

Latest Tweets

It's a beautiful day in the Triangle. Are you getting ready for that spring weather? 🌿🌺🍀 We are too!! Go to our store and check out our amazing tank tops quoting our motto: "Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice." ncchurches.org/store… pic.twitter.com/oAZr…

About 15 hours ago

TOMORROW! Join us with Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman on Faith Communities Supporting Democracy. There is still time to register. Follow the link >>> ncchurches.org/event… pic.twitter.com/RO2O…

Yesterday

Tomorrow! Make sure to register and join this important conversation on Climate and Health. bit.ly/LancetRSVP twitter.com/The_SEAP…

Yesterday

Action Alert!! The pro-LGBTQ Equality Act has been reintroduced into the new Congress, and the House is poised to vote later this week. Follow the link to sign the petition and tell your representative: Pass the Equality Act now >> act.faithfulamerica.…

About 2 days ago

Join us and @NCIPL this Friday for "The Faithful Work of Environmental Justice." We will discuss the importance of the environmental justice movement in NC, the realities of environmental racism, and more. Follow the link to register! ncchurches.org/event…

About 3 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Dr. Julian's work was instrumental to the public health community. We carry his passion as we continue reckoning with our past so that we may continue building the beloved community. Learn more about Dr. Julian's legacy at pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ju…. #BlackHistoryMonth @novapbs pic.twitter.com/JJsm…

About 11 hours ago

Join Faith in Harm Reduction TODAY at 4 p.m. for the launch of their virtual Roundtable series! The first roundtable centers on the Black church and needs, opportunities, and challenges for harm reduction in that context. Register below: secure.everyaction.c… #MindfulTogether

About 14 hours ago

Do you still need access to health insurance coverage this year? Open enrollment through the health insurance marketplace began on Feb. 15 and ends on May 15. Visit @HealthCareGov to learn more about what this means and how to enroll: healthcare.gov/cover…

About 2 days ago

Pauli Murray's work was rooted in building community that affirms individuals through true equality and justice for all. Learn more about Pauli Murray by visiting the @PauliMurrayCntr Twitter page or website at paulimurraycenter.co…. #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/klug…

About 3 days ago

Although Henrietta Lacks' cells revolutionized medical research, their use was done so without her consent. Her story highlights the racial inequities that have and continue to exist in our healthcare systems. Read more here: nature.com/articles/… #BlackHistoryMonth @nature pic.twitter.com/rJAt…

About 6 days ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @EPA EPA is proud to join our agency partners as we tackle the climate crisis and build a healthier, cleaner, more equitable future for all. Let’s do this! whitehouse.gov/brief…

About a day ago

RT @EPA Proud to be back! @EPA will be there every step of the way, as we tackle the climate crisis, advance climate justice, and create a healthier future for all Americans. twitter.com/WhiteHou…

About a day ago

RT @greenthechurch Tune into Environmental Defense Fund’s Instagram Live on Broadening & Growing the Environmental & Climate Justice Movement in celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth tonight at 6pmEST #EJ #Environmentalist #Environmental #ClimateChange #ClimateJustice #CleanEnergy #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/hBfn…

About a day ago

RT @greenthechurch If you’re passionate about what we do and can bring something unique to the team, get in touch! Email a cover letter, resume, and writing sample(s) to jennifer@greenthechurch.org. pic.twitter.com/CE44…

About a day ago

RT @interfaithpower .@RepDebHaaland: "I can promise you that if I am confirmed as Secretary we will be guided by science." The Senate act quickly to #ConfirmHaaland to ensure @Interior has a leader to fulfill its mission to follow science & protect our #PublicLands for future generations.

About 2 days ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine