David LaMotte, the Council's Consultant for Peace, celebrated Father's Day last Sunday with his four-year-old son and 82-year-old dad. David then traveled to Raleigh with his father so that the Rev. Dr. John LaMotte could become one of those arrested at Moral Monday. Having … [Read more...] about David LaMotte: Celebrating Dad’s Day By Taking Mine to Jail
Abraham Jam Poets Announced
The Abraham Jam is a concert and poetry event taking place at Duke's Page Auditorium at 7:30 on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011. It will feature artists of the three Abrahamic Faiths—Islam, Judaism and Christianity. All three of the main musical performers are … [Read more...] about Abraham Jam Poets Announced
Abraham Jam Web Site Launched
I'm happy to announce that a beautiful new student-designed web site for the Abraham Jam has been launched. Please check it out at www.abrahamjam.com. You can find the updated list of event sponsors, links to the artists pages and the latest news on the event there. This is … [Read more...] about Abraham Jam Web Site Launched
Interfaith Event – Your Opinion?
There is an exciting event coming up at Duke University's Page Auditorium on November 16, 2011. Three acts from the three Abrahamic faiths will share music and poetry at a free interfaith concert event for Triangle college students (or others if they care to … [Read more...] about Interfaith Event – Your Opinion?
Wild Goose Festival a Great Success
The Wild Goose has flown, at least for the 2011 season. The overwhelming consensus among attendees of the inaugural Wild Goose Festival is that it was quite a successful experiment. People traveled from as far away as Scotland and New Zealand to be part of the event, and … [Read more...] about Wild Goose Festival a Great Success
Gardens of Forgiveness film and discussion
Monday, June 6th from 7-8pm Christ Episcopal Church 120 East Edenton Street Raleigh, NC 27601-1014 (919) 834-6259 The Reverend Lyndon Harris, Executive Director of Gardens of Forgiveness and the priest in charge of Saint Paul’s Chapel at ground zero will be speaking about … [Read more...] about Gardens of Forgiveness film and discussion
3rd National Restorative Justice Conference
The Third National Conference on Restorative Justice will bring together academics, community leaders, educators, faith leaders, judges, politicians, policy makers, practitioners and concerned community members to explore the use of restorative justice principles and practices. … [Read more...] about 3rd National Restorative Justice Conference
Why I Am in Jail
As I write this note, it is 12:30PM and I'm sitting comfortably in my office at the NC Council of Churches. At 3PM, though, I will be in the gallery at the NC Legislature, and by late this afternoon I may find myself in jail. [Editor's note: David was arrested on Tuesday … [Read more...] about Why I Am in Jail
Building Interfaith Community
The recent TAMCAT (Toward A Moral Consensus Against Torture) conference brought together regional and national activists of various faiths to speak out regarding the immorality of torture, and to learn from each other about the issue. The conference was well-attended, in … [Read more...] about Building Interfaith Community
Wild Goose Tix & Volunteering
June 23, the first day of the Wild Goose Festival, is 50 days away, and excitement is definitely building. The speakers list is incredible (Vincent Harding, Jim Wallis, Phyllis Tickle, Jim Forbes, etc.) The musicians list is amazing (Michelle Shocked, David Wilcox, T-Bone … [Read more...] about Wild Goose Tix & Volunteering
Good Friday Fast for Hunger
The following Op-Ed was published in the Asheville Citizen-Times on Sunday, April 17, signed by many friends of the NC Council of Churches in Western North Carolina. If you would like to sign on to participate in the fast this Friday, please go to the Facebook page for the … [Read more...] about Good Friday Fast for Hunger
Why the Church Needs Art
This is an article I wrote for www.patheos.com on why the church needs art... A few months ago, my wife's grandmother, known to the family as Grandma Polly, came to the end of a long and fascinating life. I was asked by the family to preach at the funeral. I struggled with … [Read more...] about Why the Church Needs Art
Jack Crum Conference Focuses on School Diversity
Please join us for the 3rd Annual Jack Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry: Saturday, April 9, 2011 Avent Ferry United Methodist Church 2700 Avent Ferry Road Raleigh, NC 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The Jack Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry is an annual ecumenical gathering … [Read more...] about Jack Crum Conference Focuses on School Diversity
Interfaith Concert @ NC State moved to Fall
Three bands, three faiths, three nationalities. This fall there will be a free concert on the campus of NC State University. The Abraham Jam will tentatively feature The Sound of Reason, a Muslim duo from Canada; Aliza Hava, a Jewish singer/songwriter based in New York; and David … [Read more...] about Interfaith Concert @ NC State moved to Fall
NCCC Signs Anti-Bigotry Pledge
In response to Rep. King's hearings on the radicalization of Islam in the United States, an organization called Muslim Advocates, based in Washington, DC, created a web site, whatunitesus.us, built around a simple pledge: Whether for political gain or public notoriety, … [Read more...] about NCCC Signs Anti-Bigotry Pledge
Wild Goose Festival
The North Carolina Council of Churches is thrilled to co-sponsor the Wild Goose Festival this June, at Shakori Hills Farm, just outside of Pittsboro, NC. The festival celebrates uncommon ground in justice, spirituality, and the arts. It will offer a remarkable lineup … [Read more...] about Wild Goose Festival
School Diversity Sign-On Statement
The North Carolina Council of Churches invites your signature on the statement below in support of school board policies which support diversity. Signatories: Rev. S. F. James Abbott Rev. Marty Aden Elder Julie Alexander Deacon Bobbie Armstrong Reverend Regina … [Read more...] about School Diversity Sign-On Statement
Anti-Torture Conference
On March 25 and 26, 2011, the Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina will be hosting a conference on torture. The conference, titled 'Toward a Moral Consensus on Torture," is sponsored by the Duke Human Rights Center, the National Religious Campaign Against … [Read more...] about Anti-Torture Conference
HK on J March
The Historic Thousands on Jones St. (HK on J) rally and march will take place on February 12 in Raleigh. A coalition of nearly a hundred social justice and community development organizations, including the North Carolina Council of Churches, have banded together to promote this … [Read more...] about HK on J March
MLK Event and Bulletin Insert
I am honored to have been asked to preach this year at the unity service held by Martin Street Baptist Church and Pullen Memorial Baptist Church here in Raleigh in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The two churches worship together each year on the Sunday before MLK Day, and … [Read more...] about MLK Event and Bulletin Insert
Military-Industrial Complex Conference
In 1961, at the end of his presidency of the United States, President Dwight Eisenhower gave a farewell speech in which he popularized the term "Military-Industrial Complex." This is an excerpt from that speech: In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition … [Read more...] about Military-Industrial Complex Conference
The Tortured Truth
The following article was originally published on NC Policy Watch. This article has also appeared in the Durham Herald-Sun and on Patheos.com. In recent days, the Internet has been abuzz with revelations brought to us by the latest "Wikileaks" disclosure. Thousands of leaked … [Read more...] about The Tortured Truth
New Start Ratification
I strongly encourage people of faith who feel so led to contact their senators and urge them to support ratification of the New START treaty, which will reduce the US and Russian stockpiles by 30% and allow on-the-ground inspections, suspended last year as the START I treaty … [Read more...] about New Start Ratification
Proper 29 – an open letter to preachers
In light of data recently released in the Wikileaks documents regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a group of pastors, priests, theologians and seminarians has issued a call to preachers to address the acts of violence detailed in those documents, and their failure to live … [Read more...] about Proper 29 – an open letter to preachers
What Democracy is Not
This is a video blog I shot yesterday while my toddler was taking his nap. Just a few thoughts about voting, not voting and the significance of each. Peace, David LaMotte Program Associate for Peace NC Council of Churches … [Read more...] about What Democracy is Not
Upcoming events in Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville
Hi friends, I’ll be speaking and singing at several events in the next few weeks, and thought I would let you know the details. Peace Lunch — Raleigh Thursday, Nov. 4 NC State Campus - NCSU Talley Student Center, Room 3118 1:10 - 2:10 pm 919-834-5184 ex 23 This is a lunch … [Read more...] about Upcoming events in Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville
Dr. Rynne to speak on Gandhi, Jesus and Nonviolence
Dr. Terrence Rynne is the founder of the Marquette University Center for Peacemaking. His new book “Gandhi and Jesus, the Saving Power of Nonviolence” examines the intersections between the life of Jesus and the teachings of Gandhi. He has three presentations coming up in North … [Read more...] about Dr. Rynne to speak on Gandhi, Jesus and Nonviolence
Activists call for an end to war in Afghanistan
News14 Carolina recently featured a peace vigil held in downtown Raleigh in conjunction with the nine-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. The NC Council of Churches co-sponsored the event, and David LaMotte spoke during the vigil. News coverage of the vigil … [Read more...] about Activists call for an end to war in Afghanistan
Vigil marks 9 years of Afghan war
BY KATELYN FERRAL, Raleigh News & Observer RALEIGH -- A coalition of North Carolina faith and justice groups marked the passage of nine years in the U.S. war in Afghanistan on Thursday with a call for peace and a vigil for dead servicemen and Afghans. N.C. Peace Action, … [Read more...] about Vigil marks 9 years of Afghan war
Ride Sharing to Critical Issues Seminar
People of faith from across the state will be traveling to the NCCC Critical Issues Seminar in Greensboro on Thursday, October 14. The topic for this year's seminar will be "Loving God’s Creation: Fully Integrating Creation Care with the Church’s Mission and Ministry," and we … [Read more...] about Ride Sharing to Critical Issues Seminar
Urgent Calls to North Carolina Senators Are Needed
Friends and colleagues in the work of peacemaking have three urgent reasons to call North Carolina senators: Yesterday the New START treaty left the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with 14-4 support. It will likely come up for a vote very soon, and neither of the NC … [Read more...] about Urgent Calls to North Carolina Senators Are Needed
Building and Burning Down
At the time of this writing, Thursday the ninth of September, the minister in Florida who had planned to burn Korans two days from now has called off the event, or “stunt,” as President Obama rightly referred to it. That’s good news. Tremendous damage has already been done, and … [Read more...] about Building and Burning Down
International Day of Prayer for Peace, Sept. 21
In 1981 the United Nations declared September 21 to be the International Day of Peace in an effort to give focus to those working for peace around the world and encourage ceasefires. In 2001, in response to an initiative from the World Council of Churches, the United Nations also … [Read more...] about International Day of Prayer for Peace, Sept. 21
Social Justice and Mainline Protestants
Last month I received an email from Deborah Arca Mooney, a writer and editor with Patheos.com, asking if I would be willing to write an essay for an upcoming series on the future of Mainline Protestantism. I was a bit intimidated by the short list of "prominent thinkers and … [Read more...] about Social Justice and Mainline Protestants
Nice to Meet You
Three weeks ago today I had my first day at the NC Council of Churches as the Associate for Peace. The first item on my to-do list was to attend a staff meeting, and the second was to attend an Open House here at the new Council offices in West Raleigh Presbyterian. I was … [Read more...] about Nice to Meet You
