2021: A Year in Review
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Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

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Rural Life

Join Us for the PHW Faith and Health Summit
Join Us for the PHW Faith and Health Summit
Oct 5, 2017
Michelle Peedin, Program Coordinator, Partners in Health and Wholeness

Join Us for the PHW Faith and Health Summit

On Thursday, October 19th Partners in Health and Wholeness will host our 2017 Faith and Health… Continue Reading

July 25 Update — Senate Health Care Vote Appears Likely Today
July 25 Update — Senate Health Care Vote Appears Likely Today
Jul 25, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

July 25 Update — Senate Health Care Vote Appears Likely Today

It appears that the U.S. Senate will vote today on some sort of health care action.… Continue Reading

Gov. Cooper Speaks Up for Protecting NC’s Coast
Gov. Cooper Speaks Up for Protecting NC’s Coast
Jul 24, 2017
Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

Gov. Cooper Speaks Up for Protecting NC’s Coast

Governor Roy Cooper has announced his strong opposition to offshore drilling and seismic blasting along North… Continue Reading

Wood Pellet Plant Would Be Environmental Injustice
Wood Pellet Plant Would Be Environmental Injustice
Jul 22, 2017
Michelle Peedin, Program Coordinator, Partners in Health and Wholeness

Wood Pellet Plant Would Be Environmental Injustice

More than 10,000 individuals and 50 organizations have signed a petition asking Governor Cooper to revoke… Continue Reading

Rising Up with Richmond County
Rising Up with Richmond County
Jul 1, 2017
Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

Rising Up with Richmond County

“Biomass” may sound like a clean idea, but it actually means cutting down and turning trees… Continue Reading

Heal the Sick
Heal the Sick
May 24, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Heal the Sick

For more than two decades, the NC Council of Churches has called for access to health… Continue Reading

Budget’s Big Picture: A Crumbling Core
Budget’s Big Picture: A Crumbling Core
May 19, 2017
Steve Ford, Former Volunteer Program Associate

Budget’s Big Picture: A Crumbling Core

So, the question as always comes down to one of vision. The elected chieftains who decide… Continue Reading

Shepherds of Creation
Shepherds of Creation
May 8, 2017
The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Shepherds of Creation

Sermon preached on May 7, 2017 at Church of the Nativity, Raleigh. When I was in… Continue Reading

Efforts to Cut Health Care Continue in Congress
Efforts to Cut Health Care Continue in Congress
Apr 24, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Efforts to Cut Health Care Continue in Congress

The public is opposed to efforts to replace the Affordable Care Act, but some members of… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — April 17, 2017
Raleigh Report — April 17, 2017
Apr 17, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — April 17, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills BUDGET AND TAXES H 540, Teachers &… Continue Reading

New Push for Broader Medicaid, Better Health
New Push for Broader Medicaid, Better Health
Apr 14, 2017
Steve Ford, Former Volunteer Program Associate

New Push for Broader Medicaid, Better Health

North Carolina’s failure under Republican leadership to improve low-income residents’ access to health care via the… Continue Reading

Speak Out Against Anti-Climate Executive Order
Speak Out Against Anti-Climate Executive Order
Mar 29, 2017
Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

Speak Out Against Anti-Climate Executive Order

This week, Donald Trump issued an executive order to turn back the clock on the climate progress… Continue Reading

2017 Legislative Seminar — Thank You plus Worship and Awards Presentation Online
2017 Legislative Seminar — Thank You plus Worship and Awards Presentation Online
Mar 28, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

2017 Legislative Seminar — Thank You plus Worship and Awards Presentation Online

For those who could not be with us at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Raleigh,… 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

Increased Costs in NC Under Health Care Repeal
Increased Costs in NC Under Health Care Repeal
Mar 22, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Increased Costs in NC Under Health Care Repeal

With a House vote on the plan to appeal the Affordable Care Act as early as… 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

Ethical Debates on Industrial Agriculture
Ethical Debates on Industrial Agriculture
Feb 21, 2017
Michelle Peedin, Program Coordinator, Partners in Health and Wholeness

Ethical Debates on Industrial Agriculture

An ethical debate is a bit of a juxtaposition. As we know, ethics are a set… 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

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

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

PHW Mini-Grants Now Open
PHW Mini-Grants Now Open
Jan 7, 2017
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Mini-Grants Now Open

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting mini-grant applications. Congregations who were certified… Continue Reading

Partners in Health and Wholeness Grant Cycle Opens January 6
Partners in Health and Wholeness Grant Cycle Opens January 6
Jan 5, 2017
Chris Pernell, Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness

Partners in Health and Wholeness Grant Cycle Opens January 6

PHW-certified congregations across North Carolina are eligible to apply for a mini-grant to assist in furthering… Continue Reading

The Rural Oasis: Conetoe Family Life Center
The Rural Oasis: Conetoe Family Life Center
Dec 28, 2016
The Rev. Jessica Stokes, Associate Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, Mental Health Advocacy

The Rural Oasis: Conetoe Family Life Center

The amount of grassroots, efficient, and sustainable Kingdom work happening in North Carolina is astounding. People… Continue Reading

The Council Welcomes Your End-of-Year Gift
The Council Welcomes Your End-of-Year Gift
Dec 26, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Council Welcomes Your End-of-Year Gift

Looking ahead to 2017, there is much more work for the Council to do than we… Continue Reading

Support North Carolina’s Faithful Voice for Justice, Unity, and Peace
Support North Carolina’s Faithful Voice for Justice, Unity, and Peace
Dec 18, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Support North Carolina’s Faithful Voice for Justice, Unity, and Peace

We are living in unsettling times. Progress we once thought inviolable now feels threatened. One constant… Continue Reading

Join in the Support of Belhaven’s Pungo Hospital
Join in the Support of Belhaven’s Pungo Hospital
Dec 16, 2016
The Rev. Jessica Stokes, Associate Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, Mental Health Advocacy

Join in the Support of Belhaven’s Pungo Hospital

Community leaders continue to work endlessly to save the Pungo Hospital in Belhaven. Please join clergy… Continue Reading

Advent Guide Focuses on Peace
Advent Guide Focuses on Peace
Nov 10, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Advent Guide Focuses on Peace

The NC Council of Churches has never taken peace for granted. Indeed, along with our work… Continue Reading

Community Contributes to Our Wholeness
Community Contributes to Our Wholeness
Nov 10, 2016
The Rev. Jessica Stokes, Associate Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, Mental Health Advocacy

Community Contributes to Our Wholeness

Partners in Health and Wholeness ambitiously endeavors to work for and toward issues of mind, body,… Continue Reading

NC Council of Churches Stands with Standing Rock
NC Council of Churches Stands with Standing Rock
Nov 6, 2016
Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

NC Council of Churches Stands with Standing Rock

Many of us have been following with great interest the resistance of Native Americans in North… Continue Reading

Dia de los Muertos: Honor for the Dead; Justice for the Living
Dia de los Muertos: Honor for the Dead; Justice for the Living
Nov 2, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Dia de los Muertos: Honor for the Dead; Justice for the Living

By Nina Voli, Duke Divinity School Intern Historically, the celebration of Halloween has its origins in… Continue Reading

USDA Approves Emergency Food Benefits for Matthew Victims Through 10/26
USDA Approves Emergency Food Benefits for Matthew Victims Through 10/26
Oct 24, 2016
Chris Pernell, Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness

USDA Approves Emergency Food Benefits for Matthew Victims Through 10/26

Residents in 18 counties impacted by Hurricane Matthew are eligible for emergency food benefits through a… Continue Reading

PHW Certification Deadline Extended to November 15
PHW Certification Deadline Extended to November 15
Oct 14, 2016
The Rev. Jessica Stokes, Associate Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, Mental Health Advocacy

PHW Certification Deadline Extended to November 15

The Partners in Health and Wholeness program originally had an October 31 deadline for our 2016… Continue Reading

NCIPL Hosts Katharine Hayhoe, World-Renowned Climate Scientist
NCIPL Hosts Katharine Hayhoe, World-Renowned Climate Scientist
Apr 3, 2016
Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

NCIPL Hosts Katharine Hayhoe, World-Renowned Climate Scientist

NCIPL is hosting Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, world-renowned climate scientist and educator with a deep faith in God, the first… Continue Reading

“Aquí Estamos, Here We Are” Art Show Opening Reception
“Aquí Estamos, Here We Are” Art Show Opening Reception
Jan 28, 2016
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

“Aquí Estamos, Here We Are” Art Show Opening Reception

Join us for an opening reception to see the work of Pulitzer Prize winning photographer José Galvez… Continue Reading

Coffee Cups and Jesus
Coffee Cups and Jesus
Nov 12, 2015
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Coffee Cups and Jesus

Jesus does not care about your latte. Your frappuccino, cappuccino, or mocha, either. At least, he… Continue Reading

Grant to Help HCFANC & Council Work on Medicaid Expansion
Grant to Help HCFANC & Council Work on Medicaid Expansion
Oct 28, 2015
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Grant to Help HCFANC & Council Work on Medicaid Expansion

Health Care for All NC and the NC Council of Churches have received a grant from… Continue Reading

A New Heaven
A New Heaven
Jul 10, 2015
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

A New Heaven

“Joy, can you still dance. Now that I just heard about the Charleston shooting, can you… Continue Reading

Come to the Table Conference Feeds the Soul
Come to the Table Conference Feeds the Soul
Jun 4, 2015
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

Come to the Table Conference Feeds the Soul

“It’s like a mini-family reunion” said one participant about the Come to the Table Conference that… Continue Reading

Bills Wink at Polluters, Abusers
Bills Wink at Polluters, Abusers
May 28, 2015
Steve Ford, Former Volunteer Program Associate

Bills Wink at Polluters, Abusers

For a boatload of lofty, noble and wise sentiments, look no farther than the opening fanfares… Continue Reading

Prayers Today on Workers’ Memorial Day
Prayers Today on Workers’ Memorial Day
Apr 28, 2015
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Prayers Today on Workers’ Memorial Day

A few weeks ago, The News & Observer published an article entitled “Many NC workers’ death… Continue Reading

Second Edition of “Come to the Table Guidebook” Released
Second Edition of “Come to the Table Guidebook” Released
Mar 10, 2015
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Second Edition of “Come to the Table Guidebook” Released

In 2008, the first “Come to the Table Guidebook” was released. Claire Hermann, Laura Beach, and… Continue Reading

A Guide to the Christian Food Movement
A Guide to the Christian Food Movement
Mar 3, 2015
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

A Guide to the Christian Food Movement

In these opening years of the twenty-first century, the need for a more sustainable food system… Continue Reading

Elon Come to the Table – Inclement Weather Update
Elon Come to the Table – Inclement Weather Update
Feb 24, 2015
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Elon Come to the Table – Inclement Weather Update

RAFI has posted information on its website about pending weather decisions for the Come to the… Continue Reading

Giving Thanks for Christmas Trees
Giving Thanks for Christmas Trees
Dec 10, 2014
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Giving Thanks for Christmas Trees

This time of year we give thanks for many things — including our families, our health,… Continue Reading

Council Post-Election Road Shows to Charlotte and Asheville
Council Post-Election Road Shows to Charlotte and Asheville
Nov 7, 2014
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Council Post-Election Road Shows to Charlotte and Asheville

What do Tuesday’s elections mean for North Carolina? How can people of faith in the state… Continue Reading

PHW Faith and Health Summit: Appreciation, Connection, and Moving Forward
PHW Faith and Health Summit: Appreciation, Connection, and Moving Forward
Oct 16, 2014
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Faith and Health Summit: Appreciation, Connection, and Moving Forward

Months of planning and networking for the Partners in Health and Wholeness Faith and Health Summit… Continue Reading

2014 Faith & Health Summit: Registration Deadline Extended
2014 Faith & Health Summit: Registration Deadline Extended
Sep 29, 2014
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

2014 Faith & Health Summit: Registration Deadline Extended

The deadline to register for the 2014 Faith and Health Summit has been extended until this… Continue Reading

Blessed in the Small Things
Blessed in the Small Things
Aug 30, 2014
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

Blessed in the Small Things

The Bible states in Zechariah 4:10, “Do not despise the day of small things.” I have… Continue Reading

NC’s Plan to Improve Health in Rural Communities
NC’s Plan to Improve Health in Rural Communities
Aug 22, 2014
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

NC’s Plan to Improve Health in Rural Communities

I had the pleasure of serving on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s (NCIOM) Task Force… Continue Reading

2014 Faith & Health Summit – Register Now!
2014 Faith & Health Summit – Register Now!
Aug 10, 2014
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

2014 Faith & Health Summit – Register Now!

Please join the North Carolina Council of Churches at the 2014 Faith and Health Summit, which… Continue Reading

Another Spirit-filled Weekend with Partners in Health and Wholeness
Another Spirit-filled Weekend with Partners in Health and Wholeness
Jul 24, 2014
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

Another Spirit-filled Weekend with Partners in Health and Wholeness

Partners in Health and Wholeness co-hosted a youth conference on Saturday, July 12, with Empowering Word… Continue Reading

In the Media: The Moral Urgency of Farmworkers
In the Media: The Moral Urgency of Farmworkers
May 29, 2014
Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

In the Media: The Moral Urgency of Farmworkers

A few weeks ago, Human Rights Watch published a report on child labor in tobacco farming.… Continue Reading

‘Tis the Season for Local Food
‘Tis the Season for Local Food
May 6, 2014
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

‘Tis the Season for Local Food

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Wait, isn’t that a line from a Christmas… Continue Reading

Farmworkers — God’s Family Supplying Our Food
Farmworkers — God’s Family Supplying Our Food
Apr 15, 2014
Sandy Irving, Volunteer Program Associate

Farmworkers — God’s Family Supplying Our Food

We have all heard about farmworkers who supply us with cheap food but cannot afford food for… Continue Reading

Welcome Jennie Wilburn
Welcome Jennie Wilburn
Apr 8, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Welcome Jennie Wilburn

I am delighted to announce that our Governing Board has elected Jennie Wilburn to the position… Continue Reading

Gardening With a Purpose
Gardening With a Purpose
Feb 25, 2014
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

Gardening With a Purpose

Recently, I received a notice from a local community garden organizer about a grant opportunity sponsored… Continue Reading

PHW Book Club Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Eleven
PHW Book Club Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Eleven
Dec 12, 2013
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Book Club Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Eleven

Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. You can officially sign-up here.… Continue Reading

PHW Book Club Discussion: Animal,Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Nine
PHW Book Club Discussion: Animal,Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Nine
Nov 28, 2013
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Book Club Discussion: Animal,Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Nine

Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. You can officially sign-up here.… Continue Reading

PHW Bookclub Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Six
PHW Bookclub Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Six
Nov 7, 2013
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Bookclub Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Chapter Six

Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. You can officially sign-up here.… Continue Reading

An Uncomfortable Ministry
An Uncomfortable Ministry
Oct 17, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

An Uncomfortable Ministry

I was both excited and nervous as I unpacked my boxes in the parsonage to begin my first year as a pastor. It had been a busy day with people coming in and out of the house, but after a while I was sitting alone and I looked around my new home trying to decide how I was going to arrange my furniture. As I moved and pushed my furniture about, I felt prompted to look out through the front door to observe the community in which I would be living. I peered out of the window and there was a house diagonally across the street that caught my attention.

Capital’s End-of-Summer Fallout
Capital’s End-of-Summer Fallout
Sep 6, 2013
Steve Ford, Former Volunteer Program Associate

Capital’s End-of-Summer Fallout

Call it the year of North Carolina’s Big Right Turn. A conservative General Assembly, with a… Continue Reading

Fracking on Your Property Without Your Permission?
Fracking on Your Property Without Your Permission?
Sep 6, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Fracking on Your Property Without Your Permission?

The controversial issue of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or fracking, has many angles here in… Continue Reading

Act Now – New Food Safety Regulations Will Harm Small Farmers
Act Now – New Food Safety Regulations Will Harm Small Farmers
Sep 4, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Act Now – New Food Safety Regulations Will Harm Small Farmers

Ever heard of the Food Safety & Modernization Act? It’s a 2011law that’s meant to help… Continue Reading

Fred Bahnson: On Food & Faith in the Washington Post
Fred Bahnson: On Food & Faith in the Washington Post
Aug 2, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Fred Bahnson: On Food & Faith in the Washington Post

American spirituality is discovering itself anew as people of faith reconnect with the land. As I’ve traveled the country I’ve met fellow Christians who are falling in love with their faith all over again, and in every instance this love affair is tied to a place. Not a lofty cathedral directing the worshipper’s thoughts heavenward; these places draw the eyes—and the hands—down to earth, back to the soil from which Genesis tells us we were formed, and which we’re called to “tend and keep.” Our first and most basic human task, I’ve come to learn, is to care for the garden.

So begins Fred Bahnson’s recent op-ed article in the Washington Post. If you don’t know Fred already, you should. He’s a gifted speaker and writer, a thinker and theologian, but most importantly, he’s a gardener. After working for years with Anathoth Community Garden in Cedar Grove, NC, he now directs the new Food, Faith, and Religious Leadership Initiative at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

Laurinburg Presbyterian Lets People Grow Food on its Property
Laurinburg Presbyterian Lets People Grow Food on its Property
Jul 9, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Laurinburg Presbyterian Lets People Grow Food on its Property

The Fayetteville Observer

Sam Thompson was looking for a sunny spot to plant tomatoes. He ended up leading an award-winning community revolution. Thompson, an elder at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, pitched the idea of a community garden to the church six years ago. What began as a creative use for otherwise empty church property was recently awarded an equipment grant by the North Carolina Council of Churches and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. “We’re using the grant funds to dig a well,” Thompson said. “Wouldn’t you know this would be the wettest June in years.”

Piney Grove Baptist Ministries Helped with Healthy Eating Equipment Grant
Piney Grove Baptist Ministries Helped with Healthy Eating Equipment Grant
Jul 3, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Piney Grove Baptist Ministries Helped with Healthy Eating Equipment Grant

Mt. Airy News

Piney Grove Baptist Church’s food ministries recently got a boost from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC) in the form of a $5,000 healthy eating equipment grant. The effort is a partnership between BCBSNC and the North Carolina Council of Churches to provide equipment for 20 faith-based organizations to bring healthier food to their members and communities. More than $90,000 in equipment grants are being used to provide canning and cooking supplies, expand church community gardens and increase storage for fresh produce.

Twenty Congregations Receive Funding to Increase Access to Healthy, Local Foods
Twenty Congregations Receive Funding to Increase Access to Healthy, Local Foods
Jun 11, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Twenty Congregations Receive Funding to Increase Access to Healthy, Local Foods

The North Carolina Council of Churches has partnered with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of… Continue Reading

PHW Success Story – Ward Street Mission UMC, High Point
PHW Success Story – Ward Street Mission UMC, High Point
May 1, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

PHW Success Story – Ward Street Mission UMC, High Point

Since 2010, beginning with the spring growing season, Ward Street Mission United Methodist Church has implemented… Continue Reading

PHW Funding Opportunity – Webinar Posted
PHW Funding Opportunity – Webinar Posted
Feb 27, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

PHW Funding Opportunity – Webinar Posted

Partners in Health and Wholeness, in partnership with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC… Continue Reading

PHW Book Club Discussion: Eating Well Week 1 (Overview)
PHW Book Club Discussion: Eating Well Week 1 (Overview)
Feb 21, 2013
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Book Club Discussion: Eating Well Week 1 (Overview)

Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. Through it, we hope… Continue Reading

PHW Launches Book Club
PHW Launches Book Club
Feb 14, 2013
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

PHW Launches Book Club

Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. Through it, we hope… 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

Looking for Community Sparkplugs for a Healthier Wilson County
Looking for Community Sparkplugs for a Healthier Wilson County
Jan 7, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Looking for Community Sparkplugs for a Healthier Wilson County

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and The Rensselaerville Institute are looking for individuals with project ideas for creating a healthier Wilson County. Projects will be implemented over the next 6 months and must focus on increasing physical activity and/or access to and consumption of fresh produce.

Selected Community Sparkplugs and their teams will receive the following: a $3,000 grant (simple application process), individualized help to create an action plan and set project results, support and coaching over the next 6 months, and an opportunity to become part of a growing network of Community Sparkplugs across North Carolina.

Come to the Table Eastern Regional Conference
Come to the Table Eastern Regional Conference
Dec 18, 2012
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Come to the Table Eastern Regional Conference

Details:
Monday February 4th, 2013
8:30am – 4:30pm
Kinston Community Council for the Arts
Kinston, NC

The conference includes plenaries, topical breakout sessions, lunch, and networking opportunities. Registration Fee: $0-15 (sliding scale fee structure).

Come to the Table Piedmont Regional Conference
Come to the Table Piedmont Regional Conference
Dec 18, 2012
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Come to the Table Piedmont Regional Conference

Details:
8:30 – 5:00pm
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
UNC-Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

The conference includes plenaries, topical breakout sessions, lunch, and networking opportunities. Registration Fee: $0-15 (sliding scale fee structure).

Come to the Table Western Regional Conference
Come to the Table Western Regional Conference
Dec 18, 2012
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Come to the Table Western Regional Conference

Details:
Friday, March 15, 2013
8:30am-4:30pm
Southwestern Community College
Sylva, NC

The conference includes plenaries, topical breakout sessions, lunch, and networking opportunities. Registration Fee: $0-15 (sliding scale fee structure).

Sacred Potluck Challenge — Enter by Nov. 10
Sacred Potluck Challenge — Enter by Nov. 10
Oct 4, 2012
Allison Reeves Jolley, Former Outreach Coordinator - NCIPL

Sacred Potluck Challenge — Enter by Nov. 10

Entering into fall, notions of harvests and feasts abound. As people of faith, we are called… Continue Reading

Clean Air, Clean Water, Good Jobs
Clean Air, Clean Water, Good Jobs
Oct 2, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Clean Air, Clean Water, Good Jobs

Over the past few months, North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light has been a proud part… Continue Reading

United States Farmworker Factsheet
United States Farmworker Factsheet
Sep 19, 2012
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

United States Farmworker Factsheet

Farmworkers are some of our nation’s most vital workers, as their labor enables us to enjoy high quality, low-cost, fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. Despite farmworkers’ economic and cultural contributions to the communities where they live and work, they continue to be the some of the lowest paid, least protected, and unhealthiest workers in the United States.

Harvest of Dignity Film and Study Guide Now Available
Harvest of Dignity Film and Study Guide Now Available
Sep 17, 2012
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Harvest of Dignity Film and Study Guide Now Available

It’s been 50 years since Edward R. Murrow’s landmark documentary Harvest of Shame that examined the… Continue Reading

Registration for PHW Faith and Health Summit
Registration for PHW Faith and Health Summit
Aug 8, 2012
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Registration for PHW Faith and Health Summit

Friday, October 10, 2014; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Ardmore Baptist Church 501… Continue Reading

The Affordable Care Act’s Prognosis for Farmworkers
The Affordable Care Act’s Prognosis for Farmworkers
Jul 23, 2012
Daryn Lane, Former Student Action with Farmworkers Intern

The Affordable Care Act’s Prognosis for Farmworkers

Every day, about 243 agricultural workers suffer injuries that cost them work time; about five percent… Continue Reading

Local Farmers Supported by People of Faith
Local Farmers Supported by People of Faith
Jul 5, 2012
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

Local Farmers Supported by People of Faith

What do you think of when I say ‘faith and health’? Maybe a congregation exercising together… Continue Reading

Rio+20 and The Climate is Changed!
Rio+20 and The Climate is Changed!
Jun 19, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Rio+20 and The Climate is Changed!

One of my friends just posted this amazing YouTube video of Severn Suzuki who, at age… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report June 12 Update
Raleigh Report June 12 Update
Jun 12, 2012
Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

Raleigh Report June 12 Update

George Reed, Editor Robert L. Mason, Intern Associate Fracking Clean Energy and Economic Security Act Domestic… 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

Care of Creation Faith Message Has Legs on Capitol Hill
Care of Creation Faith Message Has Legs on Capitol Hill
May 8, 2012
Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

Care of Creation Faith Message Has Legs on Capitol Hill

Susannah Tuttle and I had the privilege of representing NCIPL at the annual meeting of Interfaith… Continue Reading

New Curriculum: Eating Well
New Curriculum: Eating Well
Apr 17, 2012
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

New Curriculum: Eating Well

This comprehensive, intergenerational curriculum focuses on the food we eat and why it matters. Featuring 7 lessons with Scripture, prayers, resources, and activities for young children through adults, “Eating Well” will challenge and inspire your church or community group. Download your copy today.

Deadline for Critical Issues Seminar Extended; Eva Clayton to Speak at Lunch
Deadline for Critical Issues Seminar Extended; Eva Clayton to Speak at Lunch
Apr 2, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Deadline for Critical Issues Seminar Extended; Eva Clayton to Speak at Lunch

The deadline to guarantee lunch at the 2012 Critical Issues Seminar has been extended to April… Continue Reading

Keynoter and Distinguished Service Award Recipient Announced for Critical Issues
Keynoter and Distinguished Service Award Recipient Announced for Critical Issues
Mar 26, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Keynoter and Distinguished Service Award Recipient Announced for Critical Issues

Alexia Kelley will deliver the keynote address for the North Carolina Council of Churches’ 2012 Critical Issues… Continue Reading

Annual Christian Educational Institute to be held in Dobbins Heights
Annual Christian Educational Institute to be held in Dobbins Heights
Mar 19, 2012
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Annual Christian Educational Institute to be held in Dobbins Heights

Richmond County Daily Journal

The Pee Dee Baptist Educational Congress, an auxiliary to the Pee Dee Baptist Educational Association, will conduct the Annual Christian Educational Institute from March 19 to 23, 2012, at the Pee Dee Educational Building in Dobbin Heights.

There will be classes for church officers and each department in the church.

Eating Well: A Lenten Practice
Eating Well: A Lenten Practice
Feb 15, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Eating Well: A Lenten Practice

As Lent quickly approaches, you may be thinking about a fast or discipline on which you… Continue Reading

Register for 2012 Critical Issues Seminar — “Eating Well: For Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet”
Register for 2012 Critical Issues Seminar — “Eating Well: For Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet”
Feb 10, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Register for 2012 Critical Issues Seminar — “Eating Well: For Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet”

To register for the 2012 Critical Issues Seminar and to choose your workshops, complete the form… Continue Reading

Announcing the “Eating Well” Curriculum!
Announcing the “Eating Well” Curriculum!
Feb 2, 2012
Leslie Ware, Anti-Torture Project Coordinator

Announcing the “Eating Well” Curriculum!

I’m pleased to announce the North Carolina Council of Churches has a new curriculum in the works!… Continue Reading

2012 Critical Issues Seminar — Eating Well for Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet
2012 Critical Issues Seminar — Eating Well for Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet
Jan 10, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

2012 Critical Issues Seminar — Eating Well for Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet

Everyone eats. How and from where we get that food, how much is available to us,… 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

Farm Bill and Your Health—What’s the Connection?
Farm Bill and Your Health—What’s the Connection?
Nov 8, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Farm Bill and Your Health—What’s the Connection?

Interested in healthy and affordable foods? Well, then you are interested in the Farm Bill. Check… Continue Reading

Radiation in Cigarettes
Radiation in Cigarettes
Oct 27, 2011
Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

Radiation in Cigarettes

This might strike you as surprising, as it did me, but radiation has been in cigarettes for more than forty years! We all have heard just how bad cigarettes are, but to know that they contain alpha particles on top of the other harmful substances is alarming, to say the least. And it is appalling to know that tobacco companies knew this and covered up the truth.

Christ the King, Year A
Christ the King, Year A
Oct 15, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Christ the King, Year A

In Ezekiel, we hear the cry of God for God’s sheep throughout the land and nations. As a shepherd, God makes connections across lands and regions where we have, time and time again, made divisions. For too long, we have defined health with a too limited view as to who my neighbor is and who my fellow sheep are.

The Daniel Fast is Not a Diet
The Daniel Fast is Not a Diet
Oct 13, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Daniel Fast is Not a Diet

I’ve been thinking about Daniel a lot lately. Daniel and his buddies were in the first… Continue Reading

Navigating the State Fair
Navigating the State Fair
Oct 6, 2011
Leslie Ware, Anti-Torture Project Coordinator

Navigating the State Fair

When the weather starts to cool, I begin thinking more and more about the North Carolina… Continue Reading

What’s in Season?
What’s in Season?
Sep 15, 2011
Leslie Ware, Anti-Torture Project Coordinator

What’s in Season?

I am a terrible meal planner. I frequently arrive at the grocery store without a plan… Continue Reading

Rural Life Committee Releases Statement on Hydraulic Fracturing in North Carolina
Rural Life Committee Releases Statement on Hydraulic Fracturing in North Carolina
Aug 23, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Rural Life Committee Releases Statement on Hydraulic Fracturing in North Carolina

The Rural Life Committee of the North Carolina Council of Churches has issued a statement supporting the ban on hydraulic drilling in the state. Citing the lack of research on horizontal hydraulic fracturing, the experiences of rural landowners affected by gas drilling, and the potential impacts on rural communities, the committee warned that the risk posed by “fracking” is unacceptably high. The committee also warned about the dangers of exploitation.

Raleigh News & Observer: Community gardens are in residents’ hands
Raleigh News & Observer: Community gardens are in residents’ hands
Aug 19, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Raleigh News & Observer: Community gardens are in residents’ hands

The Council has long been touting the benefits of community gardening in both urban and rural settings alike. Community gardens offer healthy local foods that are often more nutritious than their grocery-story or food-bank counterparts. Gardens also help community members become more active, and they are a great way for congregations, local organizations and neighborhoods to collaborate together. Last Sunday the Raleigh News & Observer highlighted this growing movement, using the example of Highland United Methodist Church.

Rural Life Committee Supports Ban on Fracking
Rural Life Committee Supports Ban on Fracking
Aug 18, 2011
North Carolina Council of Churches

Rural Life Committee Supports Ban on Fracking

The experiences of landowners in other states indicate that hydraulic fracturing can have profound negative impacts on rural communities. The Rural Life Committee of the North Carolina Council of Churches supports the current ban on hydraulic fracturing in North Carolina. The above concerns need to be addressed with careful attention to landowners’ property, landowners’ rights, and the care for creation’s gifts. Furthermore, we call on our member bodies and faith leaders to share reliable information about hydraulic fracturing with their communities. We believe that we are called by God to be good stewards of the good gifts of community, health, water and soil. Trusting in God, we refuse to trade this bountiful inheritance for the empty promises of energy that may be cheap in terms of dollars but which we know will be costly in terms of our livelihoods.

Proper 10, Year A
Proper 10, Year A
Jun 15, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Proper 10, Year A

It’s strange that despite earlier reforms, a country which took such richness from Appalachia left so little for the people. Great fortunes were built on the exploitation of Appalachian workers and Appalachian resources; yet the land was left without revenues to care for its social needs, like education, welfare, old age, and illness.

Ascension of the Lord, Year A
Ascension of the Lord, Year A
May 2, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Ascension of the Lord, Year A

As I look from my living room window at the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, I am compelled to rush to my car radio to listen to the news for further updates, if any are currently on! Tidbits of information from the streets come my way and it is shocking what I hear. Roads are flooded cutting off routes of escape from the city west toward Raleigh, east toward Kenly, and some say you can’t get through Rocky Mount.

Raleigh Report – April 4, 2011
Raleigh Report – April 4, 2011
Apr 4, 2011
Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

Raleigh Report – April 4, 2011

The drumbeat of bad bills continues. Suffice it to say that it’s a tough year for those of us who have advocated for public policy decisions promoting social justice, protecting vulnerable people, and caring for God’s creation. We can’t respond to every bad idea or bad bill. On many of these issues, we feel like we are butting our heads against a wall. Our tendency may be to throw up our hands in despair.

Building Hope, One Chicken Coop at a Time
Building Hope, One Chicken Coop at a Time
Mar 24, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Building Hope, One Chicken Coop at a Time

Last Saturday I got to meet Cecilia.  She used to work in North Carolina’s tobacco fields,… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – March 7, 2011
Raleigh Report – March 7, 2011
Mar 17, 2011
Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

Raleigh Report – March 7, 2011

Governor Bev Perdue on Saturday vetoed H 2, the misnamed “Protect Health Care Freedom” bill. (It should be called the “Freedom to be Uninsured and Unable to Get Health Care” bill.) The bill was an attack on federal health care reform and purported to remove North Carolinians from the mandated purchase of health insurance, which is the basis of federal reform which will move millions of uninsured Americans into the ranks of the insured.

Video from Come to the Table Conference
Video from Come to the Table Conference
Mar 17, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Video from Come to the Table Conference

On a blustery March day that saw snow flurries up in the mountains, more than a… Continue Reading

Garden of Promise Guarantees Commune With Nature
Garden of Promise Guarantees Commune With Nature
Mar 10, 2011
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Garden of Promise Guarantees Commune With Nature

Winston-Salem Journal

Some community gardens give each person a small plot of land that is theirs to cultivate for a fee.
But at the Community Garden of Promise, they weed together, plant together, mulch together and harvest together.

“This garden means fellowship to me, and the camaraderie we have with each other,” said Caroline Martin of Kernersville. “I love working in the dirt; it gets me closer to God. It’s one of the places I can meditate and relax. And I enjoy the fact that we help other people.”

NC Farmworker Institute
NC Farmworker Institute
Mar 3, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

NC Farmworker Institute

Join us at the 2011 Farmworker Institute and Networking Event. Purpose: Farmworker advocates across the state will have the opportunity to network, learn, and update each other on the latest issues that affect North Carolina farmworkers.

Report from Come to the Table
Report from Come to the Table
Feb 23, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Report from Come to the Table

On Friday and Saturday last week, about 180 people gathered at the 2011 Come to the Table conference in Winston-Salem. Bringing together pastors, lay leaders, experts in the fields of hunger and sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurs, farmworker advocates, and many others. Conference workshops were held on Friday, with site visits and practical tours on Saturday.

The Cost of Cheap Food
The Cost of Cheap Food
Feb 17, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

The Cost of Cheap Food

Tomorrow, the NC Council of Churches’ Rural Life Committee will convene our third biennial Come to the Table Conference. With meetings across the state over the next three weeks, the conference offers resources for faith communities working to relieve hunger and support local farms.

Landowners’ Rights and Mineral Leases in NC
Landowners’ Rights and Mineral Leases in NC
Feb 15, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Landowners’ Rights and Mineral Leases in NC

We are disturbed by increasing reports of NC landowners who are signing over some of their property rights to energy companies looking for new sources of natural gas. In addition to the environmental damage caused by accessing this natural gas, we are concerned that in many cases landowners are not fully aware of their rights and how these contracts will impact the use of their land in the future.

The following information comes from our friends at Rural Advancement Foundation International. Visit this page for more complete information.

Join the Building Hope Project
Join the Building Hope Project
Jan 21, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Join the Building Hope Project

Today I’m happy to announce the launch of a new project by the Council’s Farmworker Ministry Committee. The Building Hope Project connects volunteer groups with farmworker families to build small chicken coops and greenhouses. These low-cost structures help families save money and supplement their nutrition. A recent study in North Carolina found that nearly half of farmworker families don’t have enough food year-round. The good news is that with a modest commitment of volunteer time and money, your congregation can make all the difference. Jesus said to his followers, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”

2011 Western NC Come to the Table Conference
2011 Western NC Come to the Table Conference
Dec 1, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

2011 Western NC Come to the Table Conference

Join us for the Western North Carolina Come to the Table Conference: Communities of Faith Relieving Hunger and Supporting Local Farms. The two-day event will include workshops, networking opportunities, and a local lunch on Friday, Mar. 11th, and a breakfast snack and tours of local food ministries and projects on Saturday, Mar. 12th.

2011 Eastern NC Come to the Table Conference
2011 Eastern NC Come to the Table Conference
Dec 1, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

2011 Eastern NC Come to the Table Conference

Join us for the Eastern North Carolina Come to the Table Conference: Communities of Faith Relieving Hunger and Supporting Local Farms. The two-day event will include workshops, networking opportunities, and a local lunch on Friday, Feb. 25, and a light breakfast, speaker, and tours and service opportunities with local food ministries and projects on Saturday, Feb. 26th.

2011 Piedmont NC Come to the Table Conference
2011 Piedmont NC Come to the Table Conference
Dec 1, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

2011 Piedmont NC Come to the Table Conference

Join us for the Piedmont North Carolina Come to the Table Conference: Communities of Faith Relieving Hunger and Supporting Local Farms. The two-day event will include workshops, networking opportunities, and a local lunch on Friday, Feb. 18th, and tours and volunteer opportunities at local food ministries and projects on Saturday, Feb. 19th. Friday’s events will be hosted by Wake Forest University at the Benson University Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Living on an Ark
Living on an Ark
Oct 3, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Living on an Ark

Dr. Norman Wirzba, Duke Divinity School (Durham)

Now, imagine that God comes to you one day and says, “I need you and your family to gather all the animals living in North Carolina. I need you to feed them and protect them. I need you to build a floating farm and make sure they stay alive because the world around them is crumbling and dissolving. The places these animals have called home are disappearing, and I need you to make a home for them.” What would you say?

Proper 25, Year C
Proper 25, Year C
Sep 24, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Proper 25, Year C

North Carolina has the largest Native American population east of the Mississippi River – over 115,000 by the US Census’ 2008 estimate. NC has the fifth highest Native American population in the U.S.

Community Gardens Sprout in Triangle
Community Gardens Sprout in Triangle
Aug 4, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Community Gardens Sprout in Triangle

More and more North Carolinians are getting involved with community gardens. Through our Come to the Table program, the Council’s Rural Life Committee has been promoting this work for the past few years. We’ve been visiting gardens, leading workshops, sharing best practices, eating delicious local food and making friends across the state.

A Place To Lay Their Heads
A Place To Lay Their Heads
Jul 11, 2010
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

A Place To Lay Their Heads

During the spiritual journey that is the life of a Christian, each one of you involved in this study has come to the conclusion that part of being a follower of Christ is paying attention to the housing needs of all of God’s children. Some of you may be more aware of the problem of inadequate housing in your part of North Carolina than are the people who developed this study. Others of you had your interest peaked simply by the hands-on nature of FaithWorks, the rural home-building project of Habitat for Humanity and the North Carolina Council of Churches. Wherever you come into this study, you will find in its pages and in the discussions that result a biblical witness to the problem of inadequate housing.

Ownership of Agricultural Seeds
Ownership of Agricultural Seeds
Mar 20, 2010
North Carolina Council of Churches

Ownership of Agricultural Seeds

God gives people plants and seeds for farming as a gift in the first chapter of Genesis. Genesis tells us God created plants and their seeds, “each according to its kind,” called them good, and gave to humans to eat. For generations, farmers and gardeners have honored this gift, tending and improving their crops.

We, the members of the Rural Life Committee of the North Carolina Council of Churches, celebrate God’s gift of agricultural diversity and the good stewardship of that gift by generations of farmers. We support just and fair options for farmers and a secure food supply for those in need. We recognize that our actions affect people across the globe.

When addressing the concentration of ownership in agriculture and the development of genetically modified seeds, we consider: Who benefits? What are those benefits? What are the true costs? Who will pay them? Are there more sustainable, appropriate, cost-effective and just alternatives?

Being a Creature Means You Eat
Being a Creature Means You Eat
Oct 11, 2009
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Being a Creature Means You Eat

Ellen Davis, Duke Divinity School (Durham)

Reading the Bible is my line of work, yet for years I read past the first chapter’s detailed attention to the food supply, as have my fellow biblical scholars. I now realize that my profession’s obliviousness about food in the Bible points to a deep and worrisome difference between a modern cultural mindset and the culture that all the biblical writers represent. The difference comes down to this: for them, eating and agriculture have to do with God, and for us they do not.

Come to the Table
Come to the Table
Feb 12, 2009
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Come to the Table

This 40-page guidebook includes an overview of the theology and issues surrounding farming and food security in North Carolina, easy tools for identifying the needs and resources in your community, example projects, and a resource list.

Support for Farmers by Buying Locally and Encouraging Sustainable Farming
Support for Farmers by Buying Locally and Encouraging Sustainable Farming
Oct 16, 1990
North Carolina Council of Churches

Support for Farmers by Buying Locally and Encouraging Sustainable Farming

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the House of Delegates of the North Carolina Council of Churches work with State Government in the following ways to help North Carolina farmers and consumers:

Encourage the State to expand the “Goodness Grows in North Carolina” program with an emphasis on labeling products by their origin. Such labels will help consumers know that they are buying locally produced products, thus helping create markets and increasing the economic viability of farmers.

The Church and the Rural Crisis in North Carolina
The Church and the Rural Crisis in North Carolina
May 5, 1988
North Carolina Council of Churches

The Church and the Rural Crisis in North Carolina

We must rethink and rework not only the unjust and unwise practices of energy and capital-intensive, centrally-controlled and wealth-concentrating agribusiness production, but also its goals and assumptions, if we are to be true to creation theology and a just, participatory, and sustainable agricultural production system. Specifically, we must use more appropriate regenerative technology and alternative farming methodology in North Carolina if there is to be a future on the farm for many small and medium-income farmers who have survived in the past primarily by growing tobacco. Indeed, without the institution of a regenerative agricultural production system, future generations on all continents will risk the loss of even more of the scarce arable land, forests, species, aquifers, and energy sources at a time when the global population will be doubling every generation.


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