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Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

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Civil Liberties

Defenders of Rights; Defenders of Privilege
Defenders of Rights; Defenders of Privilege
Sep 30, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Defenders of Rights; Defenders of Privilege

At many levels, Americans are confronting issues of race relations and racial justice with an intensity… Continue Reading

Regaining our Faith in Democracy
Regaining our Faith in Democracy
Sep 11, 2017
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Regaining our Faith in Democracy

In surveys conducted during the months leading up to the 2016 election, large numbers of Americans… Continue Reading

Rights Advocacy At Risk
Rights Advocacy At Risk
Aug 3, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Rights Advocacy At Risk

The optics, as they say, are terrible. But in a state whose motto is “To Be… Continue Reading

Police Brutality is not a Joking Matter
Police Brutality is not a Joking Matter
Aug 3, 2017
Andrew Hudgins, Program Associate for Operations

Police Brutality is not a Joking Matter

By Andrew Hudgins, NCCC Program Associate for Operations, for The Resistance Prays News: In a speech… Continue Reading

Anti-LGBTQ Policies Impact Us All
Anti-LGBTQ Policies Impact Us All
Jul 27, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Anti-LGBTQ Policies Impact Us All

Wednesday’s federal-policy-by-tweet announcement that children of God who are transgender could no longer serve in the… Continue Reading

America’s Role in Torture — Beginning the Path to Forgiveness
America’s Role in Torture — Beginning the Path to Forgiveness
Jul 9, 2017
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

America’s Role in Torture — Beginning the Path to Forgiveness

With so many issues confronting us, our nation’s involvement in acts of torture is fading from… Continue Reading

Gerrymander Remedy: Redraw, Now
Gerrymander Remedy: Redraw, Now
Jun 14, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Gerrymander Remedy: Redraw, Now

The Republicans who took control of North Carolina’s General Assembly with the elections of 2010 were,… Continue Reading

UPDATE — High Court to NC: Draw Those Districts Fairly
UPDATE — High Court to NC: Draw Those Districts Fairly
Jun 8, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

UPDATE — High Court to NC: Draw Those Districts Fairly

UPDATE In separate, party-line votes on June 8, the state House and Senate rejected Gov. Cooper’s… Continue Reading

Sanctuary as a Sacred Act
Sanctuary as a Sacred Act
Jun 2, 2017
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Sanctuary as a Sacred Act

Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Under President Trump’s recent executive orders, many… Continue Reading

Shock Waves from High Court ‘Nuke’
Shock Waves from High Court ‘Nuke’
Apr 8, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Shock Waves from High Court ‘Nuke’

Our national politics are in an ugly place, driven by an accelerating cycle of suspicion, accusation,… Continue Reading

Swallow Hard: H.B. 2’s Less-than-Ideal ‘Repeal’
Swallow Hard: H.B. 2’s Less-than-Ideal ‘Repeal’
Apr 1, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Swallow Hard: H.B. 2’s Less-than-Ideal ‘Repeal’

Call it a head-on collision between politics and principle. Is anyone surprised that politics prevailed? Yet… Continue Reading

UPDATE: Trumpcare Just Got Worse — Call Before Today’s Vote
UPDATE: Trumpcare Just Got Worse — Call Before Today’s Vote
Mar 24, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

UPDATE: Trumpcare Just Got Worse — Call Before Today’s Vote

Thank you for every call, email, and letter to Congressional leaders that led to today’s decision… Continue Reading

Who Would Choose to be Poor or Sick?
Who Would Choose to be Poor or Sick?
Mar 13, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Who Would Choose to be Poor or Sick?

Around the release of the alt-health plan currently making its way through Congress, several elected leaders… Continue Reading

2017 Legislative Seminar: Advocate in NC as well as DC
2017 Legislative Seminar: Advocate in NC as well as DC
Mar 6, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

2017 Legislative Seminar: Advocate in NC as well as DC

The political situation at the national level has occupied the time and attention of many faithful… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — February 28, 2017
Raleigh Report — February 28, 2017
Mar 1, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — February 28, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills ENVIRONMENTAL CARE H 171, Change Exclusion for… Continue Reading

Let Loving One Another Become Our Norm
Let Loving One Another Become Our Norm
Feb 23, 2017
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Let Loving One Another Become Our Norm

Yesterday morning, the Sandra P. Lerner Jewish Community Day School in Durham received a bomb threat.… Continue Reading

Johnson Amendment: Name Games and Far-reaching Impact
Johnson Amendment: Name Games and Far-reaching Impact
Feb 17, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Johnson Amendment: Name Games and Far-reaching Impact

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director I came to North Carolina in 1978 to work with… Continue Reading

Answering your Questions about Sanctuary
Answering your Questions about Sanctuary
Feb 16, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Answering your Questions about Sanctuary

President Trump’s recent executive actions impacting refugees and immigrants have faithful people increasingly interested in how… Continue Reading

Repealing the Johnson Amendment Means Pulpits for Sale
Repealing the Johnson Amendment Means Pulpits for Sale
Feb 11, 2017
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Repealing the Johnson Amendment Means Pulpits for Sale

Remarks delivered by Executive Director Jennifer Copeland at HKonJ 2017. Picture this on the marquee in… Continue Reading

Whispers and Shouts
Whispers and Shouts
Feb 11, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Whispers and Shouts

Sometimes God whispers. Whether through hymns or homilies or kids dancing their way down the aisle… Continue Reading

Refugees Welcomed, Not Banned
Refugees Welcomed, Not Banned
Feb 10, 2017
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Refugees Welcomed, Not Banned

Last in a series of three blogs. Above all, these strangers bring to us the Christ.… Continue Reading

Walls Demonstrate Hostility, not Hospitality
Walls Demonstrate Hostility, not Hospitality
Feb 7, 2017
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Walls Demonstrate Hostility, not Hospitality

Second in a series of three blogs. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for… Continue Reading

Speak Against Vitriol; Stand for Values
Speak Against Vitriol; Stand for Values
Jan 30, 2017
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Speak Against Vitriol; Stand for Values

For more than 80 years the NC Council of Churches has stood for essential human rights… Continue Reading

Blessed not Blocked or Banned
Blessed not Blocked or Banned
Jan 30, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Blessed not Blocked or Banned

This Sunday’s Gospel reading was the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12. Jesus says blessed nine times, but he… Continue Reading

Getting Back to Our Normal: Some Suggestions for the Long Haul
Getting Back to Our Normal: Some Suggestions for the Long Haul
Jan 27, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Getting Back to Our Normal: Some Suggestions for the Long Haul

Our friend Rob Schofield over at Policy Watch wrote a column on Tuesday that was as… Continue Reading

Let’s Keep Marching
Let’s Keep Marching
Jan 23, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Let’s Keep Marching

At another time in my life, I would not have spent most of Saturday occupying my… Continue Reading

A Letter to President Trump
A Letter to President Trump
Jan 20, 2017
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

A Letter to President Trump

Dear Mr. Trump, You ARE my president. I did not vote for you, but you were… Continue Reading

Speak Out on Cabinet Nominees
Speak Out on Cabinet Nominees
Jan 10, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Speak Out on Cabinet Nominees

Groups at the state and national level continue to mobilize around concerns about President-Elect Donald Trump’s… Continue Reading

Seeds of Change in a Momentous Year
Seeds of Change in a Momentous Year
Dec 31, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Seeds of Change in a Momentous Year

As we watched the egregiously unqualified Donald Trump campaign for and win election to the White… Continue Reading

Post-Election Travesty Targets the Governor
Post-Election Travesty Targets the Governor
Dec 15, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Post-Election Travesty Targets the Governor

The ugly truth can’t be evaded or denied: North Carolina’s General Assembly, in the grip of… Continue Reading

Wise Leaders Would Answer the Call for Justice and Righteousness
Wise Leaders Would Answer the Call for Justice and Righteousness
Dec 15, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Wise Leaders Would Answer the Call for Justice and Righteousness

Remarks delivered by Jennifer Copeland at a December 15 press conference in Raleigh on the General… Continue Reading

UPDATE — Urgent Action Required: Let GA Members Hear from You
UPDATE — Urgent Action Required: Let GA Members Hear from You
Dec 15, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

UPDATE — Urgent Action Required: Let GA Members Hear from You

The NC NAACP has called for a People’s Assembly at 4:30 p.m., today, Thursday, December 15,… Continue Reading

The Cuban Church in a Post-Castro World
The Cuban Church in a Post-Castro World
Dec 1, 2016
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

The Cuban Church in a Post-Castro World

In September, I had an opportunity to travel to Cuba with Witness for Peace as part… Continue Reading

A Troubling Choice, Yet Glimmers of Hope
A Troubling Choice, Yet Glimmers of Hope
Nov 11, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

A Troubling Choice, Yet Glimmers of Hope

Those of us aligned with the Council of Churches share a political outlook whose priorities include… Continue Reading

At Campaign Trail’s End, Voters Rule
At Campaign Trail’s End, Voters Rule
Oct 27, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

At Campaign Trail’s End, Voters Rule

As the 2016 campaign season grinds along the final stretch toward Election Day on Nov. 8… Continue Reading

Information for Voting in Eastern NC
Information for Voting in Eastern NC
Oct 20, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Information for Voting in Eastern NC

Those impacted by Hurricane Matthew in the eastern part of the state still want to vote,… Continue Reading

Keeping Sacred Spaces Sacred: A Recap of the Week
Keeping Sacred Spaces Sacred: A Recap of the Week
Oct 4, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Keeping Sacred Spaces Sacred: A Recap of the Week

In September, the Council had the opportunity to partner with Americans United for Separation of Church… Continue Reading

Sore Afraid
Sore Afraid
Sep 23, 2016
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Sore Afraid

We are “sore afraid.” But not like the shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem on the… Continue Reading

Proposed H.B. 2 Deal Falls Short
Proposed H.B. 2 Deal Falls Short
Sep 19, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Proposed H.B. 2 Deal Falls Short

Who can blame North Carolina’s restaurant and hotel operators for wishing the whole House Bill 2… Continue Reading

Bad Law vs. Big Games
Bad Law vs. Big Games
Sep 17, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Bad Law vs. Big Games

When ultra-visible organizations with major economic leverage press for political change, sometimes the right thing to… Continue Reading

Governor in the Glare
Governor in the Glare
Jul 29, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Governor in the Glare

There was a time, back in the range of 2008, when Pat McCrory looked as though… Continue Reading

Beyond Pulse: Vigilance, Tolerance
Beyond Pulse: Vigilance, Tolerance
Jun 17, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Beyond Pulse: Vigilance, Tolerance

Let’s face it. We, that would be all of us who proudly claim the title of… Continue Reading

Tar Heel Beacon of Tolerance
Tar Heel Beacon of Tolerance
May 13, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tar Heel Beacon of Tolerance

Take heart, fair-minded North Carolinians. The state’s not-always-pristine but still vaguely operative image as a place… Continue Reading

Beyond Bathrooms: Jobs, Fairness
Beyond Bathrooms: Jobs, Fairness
Apr 13, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Beyond Bathrooms: Jobs, Fairness

North Carolina’s House Bill 2 – rammed through the General Assembly and signed into law in… Continue Reading

Christian Ethics and HB2: Gushee, Spearman, and Meyer to Speak
Christian Ethics and HB2: Gushee, Spearman, and Meyer to Speak
Apr 9, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Christian Ethics and HB2: Gushee, Spearman, and Meyer to Speak

The Council is joining EqualityNC and the Equality Federation to bring noted Christian ethicist David Gushee to… Continue Reading

Tell the Truth, Make Amends, Live Better
Tell the Truth, Make Amends, Live Better
Mar 13, 2016
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Tell the Truth, Make Amends, Live Better

Remarks offered at the March 9, 2016 Vigil on Breaking the Silence on Torture co-sponsored with… Continue Reading

Trump’s Anti-Muslim Bluster
Trump’s Anti-Muslim Bluster
Dec 14, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Trump’s Anti-Muslim Bluster

In the game of bridge, when a trump card is played to win a trick, that’s… Continue Reading

Statement on the Supreme Court’s Same-Gender Marriage Decision
Statement on the Supreme Court’s Same-Gender Marriage Decision
Jun 26, 2015
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Statement on the Supreme Court’s Same-Gender Marriage Decision

We celebrate today’s Supreme Court ruling with our gay brothers and sisters who wish to marry… Continue Reading

Refugees Find Hope in Meeting With Each Other
Refugees Find Hope in Meeting With Each Other
Jun 17, 2015
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Refugees Find Hope in Meeting With Each Other

By Wayde Marsh, Duke Divinity School Intern Storytelling is a central piece of community organizing because… Continue Reading

Veto Overriders Flex Their Muscles
Veto Overriders Flex Their Muscles
Jun 6, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Veto Overriders Flex Their Muscles

North Carolina’s General Assembly has muddled through many undistinguished moments since conservative Republicans took charge four… Continue Reading

Religious Freedom or Using Religion to Justify Discrimination?
Religious Freedom or Using Religion to Justify Discrimination?
Apr 2, 2015
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Religious Freedom or Using Religion to Justify Discrimination?

Discussions in recent days of so-called religious freedom bills in Indiana, Arkansas, and now North Carolina… Continue Reading

Keep the Light Shining on CIA Conduct
Keep the Light Shining on CIA Conduct
Dec 11, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Keep the Light Shining on CIA Conduct

Perhaps you can fight fire with fire, but you can’t – or shouldn’t – attempt to… Continue Reading

Judgeships Crowd Ballot with Bubbles
Judgeships Crowd Ballot with Bubbles
Oct 24, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Judgeships Crowd Ballot with Bubbles

For people who enjoy voting, North Carolina’s upcoming election promises to be a real treat. Federal,… Continue Reading

The Ruling on Same-Gender Marriage
The Ruling on Same-Gender Marriage
Oct 13, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

The Ruling on Same-Gender Marriage

The immediate impact of the most recent court decisions regarding marriage is that same-gender couples who… Continue Reading

Changes Affecting Voting Rights Bulletin Insert
Changes Affecting Voting Rights Bulletin Insert
Oct 3, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Changes Affecting Voting Rights Bulletin Insert

Because of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, some information in the Council’s voter bulletin… Continue Reading

Voting Rights — Questions Remain
Voting Rights — Questions Remain
Oct 2, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Voting Rights — Questions Remain

October 9, 2014 Update: On October 8, the US Supreme Court handed down the final word… Continue Reading

Educating the Littlest and the Least
Educating the Littlest and the Least
Sep 25, 2014
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Educating the Littlest and the Least

Recently, several counties in North Carolina have begun passing resolutions discouraging undocumented children, including unaccompanied minors,… Continue Reading

David Gushee on “The State of Things” and in Raleigh — Tuesday
David Gushee on “The State of Things” and in Raleigh — Tuesday
Jun 21, 2014
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

David Gushee on “The State of Things” and in Raleigh — Tuesday

Tune in to WUNC’s “The State of Things” on Tuesday, June 24, to hear David Gushee ahead… Continue Reading

Please Thank Sen. Burr
Please Thank Sen. Burr
Apr 4, 2014
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Please Thank Sen. Burr

Please join us in thanking Sen. Burr for his vote to release portions of the Senate… Continue Reading

Please Call Senator Burr
Please Call Senator Burr
Mar 25, 2014
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Please Call Senator Burr

A vote is imminent on releasing the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on torture, and… Continue Reading

Faithful Activism — Part 1
Faithful Activism — Part 1
Feb 27, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Faithful Activism — Part 1

I had two conversations recently with members of a congregation which was voting on whether or… Continue Reading

HKonJ 2014 — Saturday, February 8
HKonJ 2014 — Saturday, February 8
Jan 12, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

HKonJ 2014 — Saturday, February 8

It’s now just four weeks until this year’s HKonJ People’s Assembly. There is nothing more important for… Continue Reading

A Year of Setbacks, Pushbacks
A Year of Setbacks, Pushbacks
Dec 29, 2013
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

A Year of Setbacks, Pushbacks

At the close of a momentous year for politics and public policy in North Carolina –… Continue Reading

NC Faith Leaders Call on Sen. Burr for Report’s Release
NC Faith Leaders Call on Sen. Burr for Report’s Release
Sep 19, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

NC Faith Leaders Call on Sen. Burr for Report’s Release

More than 190 faith leaders from across North Carolina have sent a letter to Senator Richard Burr,… Continue Reading

Lessons in Liberty: A Guide to Religion and Constitutional Law in NC Schools
Lessons in Liberty: A Guide to Religion and Constitutional Law in NC Schools
Jul 22, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Lessons in Liberty: A Guide to Religion and Constitutional Law in NC Schools

Click here to download now. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, in partnership with the… Continue Reading

Lessons in Liberty: A Guide to Religion and Constitutional Law for NC Government
Lessons in Liberty: A Guide to Religion and Constitutional Law for NC Government
Jul 22, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Lessons in Liberty: A Guide to Religion and Constitutional Law for NC Government

Click here to download now. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, in partnership with… Continue Reading

The Nation is Watching NC and Moral Mondays
The Nation is Watching NC and Moral Mondays
Jul 12, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Nation is Watching NC and Moral Mondays

The impact of Moral Mondays continues to extend beyond North Carolina. Two recent articles and an… Continue Reading

Closer to Voter ID
Closer to Voter ID
Jun 27, 2013
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Closer to Voter ID

North Carolina Republican leaders who were waiting for a signal from the U.S. Supreme Court to… Continue Reading

Why I Went to Jail for Justice on June 24, 2013
Why I Went to Jail for Justice on June 24, 2013
Jun 25, 2013
Sandy Irving, Volunteer Program Associate

Why I Went to Jail for Justice on June 24, 2013

NCCC Volunteer Program Associate Sandy Irving was arrested at the June 24 Moral Monday. Thirty-five years… Continue Reading

Bishop Tonyia Rawls — Why She Chose to Be Arrested at Moral Monday
Bishop Tonyia Rawls — Why She Chose to Be Arrested at Moral Monday
Jun 13, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Bishop Tonyia Rawls — Why She Chose to Be Arrested at Moral Monday

Bishop Tonyia Rawls, a member of the NC Council of Churches Governing Board and founding pastor… Continue Reading

Faith Leaders Voice Support for Moral Mondays
Faith Leaders Voice Support for Moral Mondays
Jun 11, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Faith Leaders Voice Support for Moral Mondays

Faith leaders from across the state and from different traditions continue to speak out in support… Continue Reading

Through the Eyes of Faith
Through the Eyes of Faith
Jun 5, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Through the Eyes of Faith

Rep. David Price (Binkley Baptist Church, Chapel Hill)

Religious ideas are crucial, both to understanding this history and to dealing with its current manifestations. Realism as to people’s sinfulness and will‐to‐power figured directly in the Constitution’s checking of political power—Madison in The Federalist sounds like a good Calvinist—but taking such beliefs to the extreme can erode all trust and hobble democracy. As for current politics, as Jim Wallis asks in his new book, why should Christians believe in sinless markets any more than they believe in sinless governments?

Were You at the March on Washington?
Were You at the March on Washington?
Jun 3, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Were You at the March on Washington?

On a hot Wednesday afternoon in August 1963, thousands of Americans from all parts of the… Continue Reading

Jailhouse Justice
Jailhouse Justice
May 28, 2013
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Jailhouse Justice

For all the Christian emphasis on forgiveness and redemption, many if not most churchgoers likely are… Continue Reading

Moral Mondays Continue in June
Moral Mondays Continue in June
May 25, 2013
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Moral Mondays Continue in June

Moral Mondays continue (though they will take the day off on Memorial Day). This week’s protest… Continue Reading

Discriminatory Bill Won’t Deliver on Driving Permits for Undocumented Immigrants
Discriminatory Bill Won’t Deliver on Driving Permits for Undocumented Immigrants
May 21, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Discriminatory Bill Won’t Deliver on Driving Permits for Undocumented Immigrants

North Carolina’s own Arizona-style, anti-immigrant bill is still alive in the House, but your voices can… Continue Reading

Moral Mondays – Clergy Issued Special Invitation for May 20
Moral Mondays – Clergy Issued Special Invitation for May 20
May 15, 2013
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Moral Mondays – Clergy Issued Special Invitation for May 20

As many of you already know, Rev. William Barber and the state NAACP are organizing weekly… Continue Reading

Believing in Goodness and Mercy After a Very Hard Week
Believing in Goodness and Mercy After a Very Hard Week
Apr 19, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Believing in Goodness and Mercy After a Very Hard Week

It has been a difficult week for anyone who lives from a place of compassion. For… Continue Reading

Interfaith Call-in Day to Prevent Gun Violence April 9
Interfaith Call-in Day to Prevent Gun Violence April 9
Apr 8, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Interfaith Call-in Day to Prevent Gun Violence April 9

The National Council of Churches, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and others are sponsoring an… Continue Reading

Rush to the Right Continues (Raleigh Report, April 5, 2013)
Rush to the Right Continues (Raleigh Report, April 5, 2013)
Apr 6, 2013
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Rush to the Right Continues (Raleigh Report, April 5, 2013)

        Voter Suppression & Campaign Finance Other New Bills Commentary Tax Fairness Public… Continue Reading

U.S. Senate Expected to Take Up Gun Legislation
U.S. Senate Expected to Take Up Gun Legislation
Apr 2, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

U.S. Senate Expected to Take Up Gun Legislation

Next week, the United States Senate is expected to take up legislation intended to curb gun… Continue Reading

National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath — March 15-17
National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath — March 15-17
Mar 12, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath — March 15-17

If ending gun violence were easy, nightmares like Sandy Hook would never happen. Young lives would not… Continue Reading

Resources for Voting Rights Sunday
Resources for Voting Rights Sunday
Mar 12, 2013
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Resources for Voting Rights Sunday

As you probably know, the Voting Rights Act is being challenged in the US Supreme Court,… Continue Reading

Program and Registration for 2013 Legislative Seminar
Program and Registration for 2013 Legislative Seminar
Feb 18, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Program and Registration for 2013 Legislative Seminar

If you are interested in attending, but have not pre-registered, you may call our office at… Continue Reading

What’s Wrong with Photo ID?
What’s Wrong with Photo ID?
Jan 31, 2013
George Reed, Former Executive Director

What’s Wrong with Photo ID?

One of the most insidious proposals coming up in the General Assembly session is the one… Continue Reading

Interfaith Call-In Day to Prevent Gun Violence Feb. 4
Interfaith Call-In Day to Prevent Gun Violence Feb. 4
Jan 28, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Interfaith Call-In Day to Prevent Gun Violence Feb. 4

Gun violence has long been an issue of concern for the North Carolina Council of Churches.… Continue Reading

Lectionary on Gun Violence
Lectionary on Gun Violence
Dec 15, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Lectionary on Gun Violence

The horror of what has occurred in Connecticut is unimaginable, and the days ahead will be… Continue Reading

2012 A Victory for NC and for PFADP
2012 A Victory for NC and for PFADP
Dec 7, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

2012 A Victory for NC and for PFADP

For the first time in the modern era, no one was sentenced to death in North… Continue Reading

Our Responsibility to Vote
Our Responsibility to Vote
Oct 25, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Our Responsibility to Vote

Our middle son and I went to early vote on Saturday, taking advantage of his visit… Continue Reading

Help Needed to Fight Repeal of the Racial Justice Act
Help Needed to Fight Repeal of the Racial Justice Act
Jun 26, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Help Needed to Fight Repeal of the Racial Justice Act

The following is from the NC Coalition for a Moratorium and the Carolina Justice Policy Center.… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — House Votes to Gut Racial Justice Act
Raleigh Report — House Votes to Gut Racial Justice Act
Jun 15, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — House Votes to Gut Racial Justice Act

The House of Representatives has voted 73-47 to gut the Racial Justice Act. The vote was… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report: Racial Justice Act Veto Override and Lobby Day to Stop Fracking Bill
Raleigh Report: Racial Justice Act Veto Override and Lobby Day to Stop Fracking Bill
Jun 4, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report: Racial Justice Act Veto Override and Lobby Day to Stop Fracking Bill

Two time-sensitive issues for advocates: 1) A vote to override the Governor’s veto of the Racial… Continue Reading

Church Council Bulletin, Spring 2012
Church Council Bulletin, Spring 2012
May 29, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Church Council Bulletin, Spring 2012

The Spring 2012 Church Council Bulletin includes photographs from the Council’s recent Critical Issues Seminar, an update on items of interest in the General Assembly’s short session, a statement on the passage of Amendment One, the Council’s spring appeal, and more.

Lifelong Commitments
Lifelong Commitments
May 28, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Lifelong Commitments

A couple of weeks ago, Steve Ford, editor of the editorial page of the Raleigh News… Continue Reading

Statement on Passage of Amendment One
Statement on Passage of Amendment One
May 9, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Statement on Passage of Amendment One

In light of yesterday’s vote to add a discriminatory amendment about marriage to our state’s constitution,… Continue Reading

Reed’s Full Radio Interview Against Amendment One
Reed’s Full Radio Interview Against Amendment One
May 7, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Reed’s Full Radio Interview Against Amendment One

Executive Director George Reed’s full interview with NC Policy Watch from Sunday is now available here. … Continue Reading

Reed Explains Council’s Opposition to Amendment One on Sunday Radio Show
Reed Explains Council’s Opposition to Amendment One on Sunday Radio Show
May 4, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Reed Explains Council’s Opposition to Amendment One on Sunday Radio Show

Hear George Reed explain the Council’s opposition to Amendment One on Sunday morning’s News & Views… Continue Reading

Keep Discrimination Out of the NC Constitution — Vote May 8
Keep Discrimination Out of the NC Constitution — Vote May 8
May 3, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Keep Discrimination Out of the NC Constitution — Vote May 8

Council Friends— I am writing you with a last-minute appeal to get to the polls for… Continue Reading

Clergy Engage Constitutional Amendment Debate
Clergy Engage Constitutional Amendment Debate
Apr 23, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Clergy Engage Constitutional Amendment Debate

Durham Herald-Sun

The ballot referendum that could cement the definition of marriage as “the only domestic legal union” into the state Constitution has turned a political debate into a religious one — and is mustering people of faith across North Carolina to the polls.

Early Voting and Amendment One
Early Voting and Amendment One
Apr 20, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Early Voting and Amendment One

Early voting is now under way for North Carolina’s May 8 primary. Between now and May… Continue Reading

Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1
Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1
Mar 13, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

Durham Herald-Sun

Pilgrim United Church of Christ will host a community series this month on “Faith and the Marriage Amendment,” about the proposed North Carolina Amendment 1. If the ballot measure passes May 8, the only valid domestic union recognized by the state will be marriage of a man and a woman.

Read more: The Herald-Sun – Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

Both sides gear up in N.C. gay marriage fight
Both sides gear up in N.C. gay marriage fight
Feb 23, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Both sides gear up in N.C. gay marriage fight

The Washington Post

WILMINGTON, N.C. — As the only Southern state without a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, North Carolina is the next battleground, with religious groups on both sides bracing for a high-stakes fight on May 8.

Against a recent string of gay-marriage victories in California, Washington state and Maryland, North Carolinians will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment on May 8, the same day as the state Republican primary.

Same-sex marriage has been illegal in the Tar Heel State since 1996; Minnesota also has a marriage amendment planned for a vote in November.

Compromising values
Compromising values
Feb 14, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Compromising values

Raleigh News & Observer

We would not have chosen to be a part of an issue like this, but we are. The world is watching North Carolina to see what we will do. There is compelling evidence that conspiracy to commit kidnapping and torture were committed by Johnston County’s Aero Contractors. The state should investigate these claims and determine their validity.

Council Working with Coalition to Defeat Marriage Amendment
Council Working with Coalition to Defeat Marriage Amendment
Jan 20, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Council Working with Coalition to Defeat Marriage Amendment

Since 2004, the NC Council of Churches has officially opposed a constitutional amendment defining marriage. Put… Continue Reading

Racial Justice Act and Fracking — Make Your Voice Heard on Two Critical Issues
Racial Justice Act and Fracking — Make Your Voice Heard on Two Critical Issues
Nov 28, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Racial Justice Act and Fracking — Make Your Voice Heard on Two Critical Issues

The General Assembly has returned for another mini-session, this one scheduled to last a couple of… Continue Reading

NC Marks Five Years Without an Execution
NC Marks Five Years Without an Execution
Aug 16, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

NC Marks Five Years Without an Execution

People of Faith Against the Death Penalty notes an important milestone for the state today. It has… Continue Reading

Truth to Power
Truth to Power
May 25, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Truth to Power

The seven individuals who were arrested at the General Assembly on Tuesday showed great courage and… Continue Reading

Why I Am in Jail
Why I Am in Jail
May 24, 2011
David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace

Why I Am in Jail

As I write this note, it is 12:30PM and I’m sitting comfortably in my office at… Continue Reading

Emergency Call to Action from Rev. William Barber
Emergency Call to Action from Rev. William Barber
May 12, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Emergency Call to Action from Rev. William Barber

Rev. William Barber, president of the NC NAACP, organizer of the HKonJ movement (of which the NC… Continue Reading

Faith in Focus: Forum to Examine Issue of Torture
Faith in Focus: Forum to Examine Issue of Torture
Mar 15, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Faith in Focus: Forum to Examine Issue of Torture

The Durham News

Experts in theology, religion and human rights will gather in Durham March 25-26 to discuss the use of torture in the U.S. and abroad and to prepare participants for anti-torture advocacy within their own communities.

Legislators to Take Up Voter ID
Legislators to Take Up Voter ID
Mar 15, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Legislators to Take Up Voter ID

The News & Observer

Few issues so starkly divide red and blue America than proposals to require voters to produce photographic identification when they go the polls – a debate that is set to begin this week in the North Carolina legislature.

Sojourners Blog on Anti-Torture Conference
Sojourners Blog on Anti-Torture Conference
Feb 18, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Sojourners Blog on Anti-Torture Conference

Sojourners, a leading publication on the intersection of faith, politics and culture, ran a Feb. 16… Continue Reading

Anti-Torture Conference
Anti-Torture Conference
Jan 24, 2011
David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace

Anti-Torture Conference

Torture conference logoOn March 25 and 26, 2011, the Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina will be hosting a conference on torture. This two-day event aims to equip participants to understand the arguments against torture and to prepare them for anti-torture advocacy within their own communities, trusting that the greatest protection against the U.S. government’s use of torture is a shared understanding that torture is always wrong.

Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation – A conversation on the Barmen Declaration
Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation – A conversation on the Barmen Declaration
Jan 24, 2011
Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation – A conversation on the Barmen Declaration

You are invited to attend “Christian Conviction and Cultural Accommodation on February 21 in Greensboro, NC.

Civil Liberties and the USA PATRIOT Act
Civil Liberties and the USA PATRIOT Act
Dec 2, 2002
North Carolina Council of Churches

Civil Liberties and the USA PATRIOT Act

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, mark a watershed in American history. Never before had such terrible events struck so many people within our national borders. Within weeks, the President had proposed and the Congress had overwhelmingly adopted the USA PATRIOT Act as a means of preventing future such terrorist attacks. At the time, some faith groups (including several with denominational ties to the member bodies of the North Carolina Council of Churches) voiced strong concern about the scope of the PATRIOT Act. The impact of subsequent Executive Orders has only increased this concern


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