National Council of Churches – National Council of Churches

Three Ecumenical Organizations Release Unprecedented Letter

The National Council of Churches (NCC) joined with Christians Uniting in Christ (CUIC) and Christian Churches Together (CCT) in issuing a letter to congregations across the United States. The letter issues “an invitation to join together in witnessing to the resurrection of Jesus for all in the United States to see.”

NCC Grateful for Life and Witness of Rev. Dr. Joseph Echols Lowery

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Like anybody, I would like to have a long life.” His trusted deputy, a great leader in his own right, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Echols Lowery, had that long life and we are all blessed because of it. Rev. Dr. Lowery passed away on Friday at the age of 98. The National Council of Churches is grateful for his witness and all he did for human rights and for God’s world.

Joint Statement of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in USA and the Council of Churches of Cuba

We are only days away from Easter 2020, the most important celebration of Christianity, and the world is going through a crisis of inestimable implications that affects all edges of life on the planet.

In Historic Statement, Ecumenical Organizations Across the World Stand Together to Protect Life

In a historic joint pastoral statement released on 26 March, the World Council of Churches, Regional Ecumenical Organizations, and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) affirmed the urgency of standing together to protect life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Time of COVID-19, Mass Incarceration Endangers Lives

The global COVID-19 pandemic brings with it a moral imperative to pay special attention to incarcerated persons. With over 2.3 million people in jails and prisons in the United States and hundreds of thousands in detention centers, these communities, including the staff working in these facilities, are particularly vulnerable to the impact of the COVID-19 virus. People in prison are in close proximity, living in compromised sanitary conditions, and have limited access to resources to meet CDC recommended hygiene routines. The impact on already vulnerable communities, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, is exacerbated by these living conditions.

Use of RSV/NRSV for Church Services

During this time of National Emergency due to the COVID-19 virus, the National Council of Churches (which owns the rights to both the RSV and NRSV) has temporarily revised our permissions policy. Churches that livestream or broadcast their church sermons during the National Emergency declared for COVID-19 may use the RSV/NRSV without any special permission requirements.

O God of All

O God of all people, big and small, black, white, yellow, red, brown and every hue of the rainbow, young and old, all gender and orientations, and all nations and parts of this celestial ball, we praise you for the magnificent display of diversity and uniquenesses.

Matthew 12:15-21, NRSV

As the whole world is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are posting Daily Bible Readings from the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching, Spring 2020, for your inspiration and encouragement. Jesus, God’s Servant Messiah 15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, 16 and he ordered them not to make […]

The Church and COVID-19

As we embark upon a series of conversations in which we will attempt to understand how this adaptation is taking place, my guest today is a pastor and leader in Washington DC who had already taken steps to connect people beyond those gathering in the sanctuary. Rev. Dr. Christopher Zacharias joins us to describe how he and his congregation are adapting to offer ministries when the beautiful building his congregation normally gathers in is now off-limits. If you’re struggling with this challenge also, you’ll want to listen in today.

Since 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has served as a leading voice of witness to the living Christ. The National Council of Churches is a diverse covenant community of 38 member communions and over 35 million individuals –100,000 congregations from Protestant, Anglican, historic African-American, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Living Peace traditions – in a common commitment to advocate and represent God’s love and promise of unity in our public square. NCC works with secular and interfaith partners to advance a shared agenda of peace, progress, and positive change.

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