The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has announced its newly elected leadership and the launch of #WeWillNotBeSilent, a year-round campaign amplifying the church’s prophetic voice in the public square.

As part of NCC’s ongoing commitment to public theology and advocacy, #WeWillNotBeSilent is being launched to encourage Christians to come together, regardless of denominational affiliation or tradition, to speak with moral authority on issues of justice, especially those affecting the most vulnerable in our society. Drawing from NCC’s 75-year legacy of public witness, the campaign represents an opportunity to respond to the current divisive social and political climate with justice, love, and a unified voice grounded in Christian principles and the call to be Christ’s ambassadors. The year-round campaign is geared toward being a sustainable movement rather than a moment of activism.

The initiative provides member congregations with a platform to amplify their witness, access advocacy tools, and join with millions of Christians nationwide in coordinated action. It also underscores the church’s role as the nation’s moral conscience, defending the vulnerable and speaking out against injustice.

“The #WeWillNotBeSilent campaign draws on the diversity among Christian traditions, liturgical and charismatic, traditional and contemporary, and will show that when we raise our voices together, positive change can happen,” said Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC president and general secretary..

New NCC leaders were elected during the combined Christian Unity Gathering and 75th anniversary celebration in Boston in mid-October. Also during the gathering, NCC recognized distinguished award recipients whose contributions have strengthened ecumenical and interreligious collaboration across member denominations and in the broader society.

“For seven and a half decades, NCC has remained a steadfast voice for Christian unity and a catalyst for public witness and ecumenical collaboration across traditions,” said Bishop McKenzie. “Even as we celebrate the many accomplishments of NCC over the years, we recognize there is much more work to be done. Our collective witness is needed now more than ever.”

Newly installed NCC officers include: His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as governing board chair; Rev. Terri Hord Owens of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as vice chair; Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as immediate past chair; Rev. Eddie Aleman of the Reformed Church in America as treasurer; and Dr. Kimberly Brooks of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as secretary. Their leadership reflects NCC’s ongoing commitment to visible unity, faithful presence, and collaborative ministry.

During the Boston meetings, NCC presented several prestigious awards to distinguished honorees, recognizing their excellence in ecumenical and interfaith leadership. The 2025 NCC award recipients are:

J. Irwin Miller Award for Excellence in Ecumenical Leadership: Recognizing lay leaders who demonstrate a commitment to church unity and who, by living out this commitment through action in the world, have been witnesses to justice and other values affirmed by our common faith in Jesus Christ.

• Kyriaki Karyogianes Fitzgerald, PhD, theologian, psychologist, author, and founder of St. Catherine’s Vision, an organization for seminary alumnae.
• Cassandra Carmichael, executive director for the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.

Gwynne Guibord Award for Excellence in Interreligious Leadership: Honors church leaders who have worked closely with leaders of many faiths and traditions to explore and uphold the experience and presence of the holy body.

• Rev. Margaret Rose, deputy to the presiding bishop for ecumenical and interreligious relations, The Episcopal Church, retired. She serves as interim rector at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church on New York’s Upper West Side.

President’s Award for Excellence in Faithful Leadership: Celebrates faith leaders who have made commendable contributions, as well as rising younger faith leaders, to reward, promote, and encourage faithful, risk-taking leadership.

• Bishop John R. Bryant, senior bishop, AME Church (retired), who has been active in ecumenical spaces for decades, demonstrating faithful risk-taking leadership.
• Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., presiding bishop, First Episcopal District of the AME Church, which includes churches from Eastern Pennsylvania throughout New England and Bermuda.
• Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, NCC associate general secretary, director for International Affairs, and director of both Faith and Order and Interreligious Relations and Collaboration.
• Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, North American president, World Council of Churches, national senior associate and strategist for Pan African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World based in Washington, D.C., and NCC ecumenical representative for the National Baptist Convention, USA.

“These honorees exemplify the best of ecumenical leadership, collaboration, and faithful service,” said Bishop McKenzie.