If churches are to be peacemakers, Christians must first strive for unity in action for peace. Congregations must unite to break the culture of silence about the violence within church life and unite to overcome habitual disunity in the face of the violence within our communities.
World Council of Churches, An Ecumenical Call to Just Peace, Page 11
NCC’s Starter Kit for Teaching and Learning on Mass Incarceration
For over six decades, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has not only provided an opportunity for ecumenical cooperation among Christian communions, but also has effectively promoted peace and justice in Christ’s name. In more recent times, as the NCC has reconfigured itself to better address the needs of the twenty-first-century world, two key priorities of focus have been named, mass incarceration and interfaith relations with peacemaking.
To address these priorities, Convening Tables have been established, allowing smaller groups of representatives to utilize their time and expertise for the benefit of the whole. To this end, the NCC Convening Table on Christian Education, Ecumenical Faith Formation, and Leadership Development offers the following Starter Kit for Teaching and Learning on Mass Incarceration. This resource, developed over the past several months, is a toolbox replete with various offerings intended to inform and engage individuals, small groups, congregations, and classrooms alike.
To download this Starter Kit, please click here.
Black Lives Matter!
As part of the WCC Central Committee’s plenary session on the pilgrimage of justice and peace, Rev. Waltrina Middleton offered these remarks. To read, click here.
CCT Response to Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail
See & download document Click here.
CUIC Combating Racism
A variety of resources a
re available for combating racism on the CUIC website. Resources are added throughout the year. If you would like to see resources, please click here.
Disciples Reconciliation Ministry
In 1996, the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) approved the formation of a church-wide process to discern the nature of racism in North America and to develop ways of helping congregations address racism. In its first meeting, the Steering Committee (assigned to guide this process) agreed on the following three realities: Racism is a spiritual and theological dilemma as well as a social evil, 2) Racist practice exists throughout the life of the church and needs to be addressed (even as local and national issues of racism are addressed), and 3) Racism is a systemic problem with root causes that have developed over hundreds of years. It is a combination of racial prejudice and institutional or economic power. For more information, click here.
Timothy James, The Miracle of Love
DisciplesNet Worship #266, End Racism Sunday: The Miracle of Love,” 09.06.2015