Press Statements

“There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that hurry to run to evil,
a lying witness who testifies falsely,
and one who sows discord in a family.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 NRSVue

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) extols the signing of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act by President Joe Biden on March 29, 2022. The long-overdue Act has made lynching a federal hate crime offense. The bill imposes criminal penalties ranging from a fine to up to 30 years in prison for anyone who conspires to commit “a hate crime offense that results in death or serious bodily injury or that includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.”

The Act’s namesake, Emmett Till, was a 14-year-old boy when he was murdered in 1955 while visiting his relatives in Mississippi. He was kidnapped and beaten before his body was dumped in the Tallahatchie River. Historians note that even though clear evidence indicated two white men committed the crime, an all-white jury did not find the men guilty after only one hour of deliberation.

The NCC cannot ignore the fact that it took the United States over a century to outlaw lynching. The first antilynching legislation was introduced in 1900 by Rep. George Henry White of North Carolina, the only Black lawmaker at the time, but it never advanced out of committee. U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush, a sponsor and negotiator of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, noted that over 200 attempts have been made since that time to pass an antilynching law.

For America to take more than 100 years to make the terrorism of lynching illegal speaks volumes about the racism that permeates every part of our society. We cry out in anguish when we see the historical evidence that lynchings were public spectacles commemorated with photographs on postcards, often with white Protestant churchgoers participating, and recognize that the trauma and threat of these acts continue each day. Although the worst of the Jim Crow era of lynching has ended, we know current-day lynching still manifests itself in America. We witness the continuation of racial lynching in America when a Black teen, Travon Martin, is killed while walking home after buying iced tea and candy; a Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, is killed while jogging; and a Black woman, Rekia Boyd, is killed when socializing with friends in a park.

As part of our ACT Now to End Racism initiative, the NCC challenges our member denominations and our communities to join in truth-telling, leading to actions that right the wrongs, and, with God’s grace, bring healing and wholeness to all people and unity to the nation. We hail the signing of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act as a long-overdue recognition of the wrongs that were committed and a move toward a new era of truth-telling.

Although we cannot erase the terror that lynching has imposed on every Black American since the end of chattel slavery, we call on our churches to acknowledge this pain from our nation’s past while taking an active role in the process of healing and joining the fight for justice in every present instance of lynching. We pray that the unending strength from our faith in Christ will unify us in this struggle and bring us to victory over racial violence.

You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13 NRSVue

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) cries out in anger and despair as we witness the brutal war in Ukraine. We condemn Russia for invading and murdering the people of Ukraine without provocation.  

The horror of Russia’s missiles and bombs – that have destroyed and completely leveled entire cities and towns including homes, houses of worship, medical facilities, offices, and utilities – has now been compounded by the evidence of mass murder by the Russian army against Ukrainian civilians during the occupation of their communities. With the retreat of the Russian military from around Kyiv, evidence has mounted from credible sources of torture, rape, and mass graves filled with entire Ukrainian families killed and people bound while executed.  

Lord, have mercy on all who have been brutally murdered and suffered through these attacks. Bring comfort to their remaining family, to their compatriots, and to all who are traumatized by this terror.  

We continue to look on in horror at the assault on the Ukrainian people. As the war escalates, Ukrainians remain trapped without any means of survival or humanitarian corridors of escape due to Russia’s refusal to provide safe passage out of cities like Mariupol.  

Lord, watch over those who are fleeing for their lives and bring them to safety. 

The Russians who have committed these atrocities in Ukraine must be brought to justice. We call upon international bodies, including the United Nations, to investigate and punish war crimes committed by Russia. We commend the International Criminal Court for actively investigating the situation and beginning to collect evidence based on the referrals by many of its members to investigate any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person. The NCC asks the United States to fully support this investigation by the International Criminal Court.

In light of the continuing evidence of these human rights violations, we applaud the United Nations General Assembly for voting to suspend Russia from its Human Rights Council.

In addition, under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Article 7, when the acts being documented in Ukraine are proven to constitute crimes against humanity, in addition to Russia being held accountable, Russian individuals should also be held criminally responsible for “any prohibitive acts committed including murder, extermination, deportation or forcible transfer of population, torture, sexual violence, persecution against an identifiable group, and enforced disappearance of persons, and inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.” 

Lord, reign justice down upon us. 

The NCC calls on President Joe Biden, all elected leaders, and all corporations to further the sanctions against the Russian government and all those who hold any power or influence within its government. Every possible effort must be taken to stop Russia from this continued massacre. 

Lord, give us the moral courageto sacrifice our worldly goods to protect those who are under siege. 

We cannot ignore the hypocrisy of the Russian lie about invading Ukraine to remove the Nazis. That any nation would use such a lie against any country, and in this case a country with a Jewish head of state, is abhorrent to us.  

Lord, liberate us from evil and deception. 

As Christians with interfaith partners, we know that all of our religions seek peace. We also lift up our joint efforts at peacemaking.  

Lord, bring peace to Ukraine. Help us to find a way to create your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  

On this historic day, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) commends the US Senate for confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. Since the formation of the Supreme Court in 1790, there has never been a Black woman on the court. This historic confirmation reflects the diversity of our nation and is long overdue.

Since 2018 when the NCC began the A.C.T. Now to End Racism initiative, we have been committed to eradicating the entrenched racism that grips the United States and paralyzes our ability to see every human being as equal. We hold that diversity on our benches is a necessity because it increases the trust we have in our courts and ensures everyone is represented in judicial decision-making.

“As the National Council of Churches continues our work to end racism and advance civil rights, we welcome Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court. With her undeniable credentials, we know she will bring the wisdom and experience needed at this time in our nation. Today is a day to celebrate our diversity as we work to become the Beloved Community we envision.” – Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, NCC Governing Board Chair and Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:9 NRSV

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) commends President Joseph Biden’s nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. We affirm her well-rounded qualifications and professional legal experience and denounce the overtly racist and sexist commentary that has infiltrated the public square and sought to debase this process and reject our Beloved Community.

Since 2018 when the NCC began the A.C.T. Now to End Racism initiative, we have been committed to eradicating the entrenched racism that grips the United States and paralyzes our ability to see every human being as equal. Since the formation of the Supreme Court in 1790, there has never been a Black woman on the court. In order to have equal justice for all, the court must reflect the diversity of our nation. This historic nomination is a long overdue step toward that goal.

We recognize the nomination of a justice with undeniable credentials, who has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after graduating with honors from Harvard College and Harvard Law School where she was an editor on the law review, clerking for three federal judges, and serving as a federal trial court judge. As Christians centered on the love of God for all, we proclaim the necessity of having a justice with a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race, religion, class, immigration status, or any other ways they might be marginalized, which Judge Brown Jackson did as a public defender when she represented indigent criminal defendants. We celebrate that her background means that she will bring a different lens to the judiciary.

The NCC has long worked to end the mass incarceration crisis, reform sentencing guidelines, and transform the nation’s criminal legal system, as it is deeply rooted in racism. We commend Judge Brown Jackson’s service as vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission when it sought to reduce the penalties for crack cocaine that were 100 times more severe than for powder cocaine, which was an NCC priority at the time.

The NCC holds that diversity on our benches is a necessity because it increases the trust we have in our courts and ensures everyone is represented in judicial decision-making. As the NCC works toward the advancement of civil rights, expanded health care access, and the protection of our voting rights, we support every justice who elevates these basic human rights.

We pray for each senator to put partisan politics aside and vote for justice for all. May our nation use this opportunity to embrace and celebrate our diversity as we strive to be the Beloved Community we envision.

Every word of God proves true;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Proverbs 30:5 NRSV

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) denounces the recent announcements from the government of Azerbaijan indicating that it plans to defile Armenian Christian monuments in the region of Nagorno-Karabagh and erase the evidence of their Armenian origin.

Since the early 1990s, Karabagh was governed as an independent Armenian republic, but in 2020 Azerbaijan attacked the region, waging a war that took the land as its own. As we know, this armed warfare displaced thousands of Armenians from their homes, which they lost along with hundreds of Armenian monuments.

In early February, the Azeri Minister of Culture announced his government would form in Azerbaijan a working group of experts in Albanian history and architecture that would be tasked with the goal of removing “false” traces left by Armenians on Albanian religious temples. The Culture Minister’s statement referenced a theory that Armenian inscriptions in churches on Azerbaijani territory are not original but were late additions to churches built under Caucasian Albania, an ancient Christian kingdom that ruled part of the territory that is today Azerbaijan. This theory has been broadly dismissed by mainstream scholars.

With full acknowledgement of the history of the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century, the NCC cannot ignore this new threat to the Armenian people. We cannot turn a blind eye to the similarities in tactics employed in all historical genocides. To erase a people’s history is to erase their existence, and it betrays a disdain for their very lives and survival as a people.

With this overwhelming connection to the evil that has been unleashed in all genocides, the NCC affirms its solidarity with the people of Armenia against this threat to their very being through the destruction of their history. We stand in witness to the existence of their ancient Christian churches and condemn the decimation of their Christian heritage. 

We once again demand that the Azerbaijani authorities allow United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) representatives to enter Armenian territories under their control, which they have refused to allow since the conflict in 2020. Experts must be permitted to take an inventory of significant cultural properties in order to begin safeguarding the region’s heritage. The formation of this working group in Azerbaijan makes the call to abide by the 1954 Convention for the Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict even more immediate and imperative.

The NCC calls for prayers for our Christian brothers and sisters in Armenia during this menacing threat to their very existence in history.

May the Lord guide and protect the people of Armenia, solidify the memory of their ancestors’ faith, restore their lives in the region, and incline us to spread the truth about the monuments in Nagorno-Karabagh, so that these important sites and artifacts can be preserved for generations to come. In Christ we pray. Amen.

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) joins with the World Council of Churches in an urgent call for peace for the people of Ukraine. We fervently pray that a diplomatic solution will be accepted, and that Russia will remove the troops on three sides of the Ukraine without resorting to a destructive and deadly conflict. Every possible means must be attempted to prevent the escalation of this confrontation into an armed conflict and the devastating threat of nuclear retaliation that it could bring to all the people of the world.

As the NCC has long upheld peacemaking as one of its core principles, we implore the US government to work tirelessly toward a strong response that protects the people of the Ukraine from harm without resorting to war. We agree with the use of diplomatic tactics instead of warfare, including the Biden administration’s use of a novel export control focused on Russian industries, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and civilian aerospace. We applaud President Biden’s efforts to diffuse the situation including his reassurance that the Ukraine will not be joining NATO in the near term. We support the US stance against the placement of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and encourage the enactment of a formal agreement prohibiting nuclear weapon placement by either NATO or Russia. Additionally, we call on the US to rejoin the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty and for Russia to return to compliance of that treaty, which will prohibit intermediate- and shorter-range land-based missiles and allow inspections to ensure compliance.

At this crucial moment, we pray for the safety of all who live in Ukraine and join with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, one of our member communions, in asking, “May God hear our loving petition and soften the hearts and minds of all, within and without Ukraine during these dangerous times.”

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Statement of the Council of Bishops of the UOC of the USA: Pray for Ukraine!

World Council of Churches Statement on Ukraine

“But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Amos 5:24 NRSV

American democracy is at an inflection point. Voting rights are again hanging in the balance and as the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) we are compelled to speak out about the urgency of passing critical legislation to ensure the right to vote in our nation. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which have now been combined and passed the House of Representatives, must also pass the Senate.

Our history compels us.

The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA adopted a Human Rights Policy Statement in 1963, setting forth general principles related to the inherent worth, rights and responsibilities of all persons. The statement recognizes:

“The right to full participation of the person in political and civic life, including the opportunity: to vote by secret ballot…the right to vote is a basic human right”

The NCC was also actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, including having our leaders march with the late civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Congressman John Lewis across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. We must remain vigilant and resolute to make sure the right to vote is protected.

Our faith compels us.

The 1963 statement also set forth our belief as Christians that “human beings are made in the image of God, that every person is of intrinsic worth before God, and that every individual has a right to the fullest possible opportunities for the development of life abundant and eternal. Denial of rights and freedoms that inhere in an individual’s worth before God are not simply a crime against humanity; they are a sin against God” (1963 Statement, using inclusive language.)

Throughout the years and at pivotal moments in history we have reaffirmed these beliefs and statement. This time is no different. We believe that the Church, other faith partners, and civil and human rights advocates must take a stand as the beloved community, articulated by Dr. King:

“An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (Dr. King, Jr, Letter from a Birmingham Jail)

Our conscience compels us.

When rights of one are denied, we are all impacted. We must stand together to ensure the full acceptance and citizenship for all in our society, guaranteeing and protecting each person’s human rights on an equal basis. The right to vote is the very center and core of a fair and free democracy. To deny access to the vote is to deny the very humanity and sacredness of those denied. We call upon the Administration and Congress to live up to the promises made by this nation’s founders when they asserted that all were created equal and pass voting rights legislation that will remove barriers to the ballot. We call for the passage of The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.

We call for the passage of these bills by any means necessary, including the end of the filibuster that has historically been used to block the voting rights of African Americans. The filibuster is a relic of the Jim Crow era and should not be allowed to upend voting rights now. In 1957, Senator Strom Thurman set the record for longest individual filibuster when he spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes to oppose the Civil rights Act of 1957. In 1964 Senator Richard Russell, Jr. led other political leaders to hold up passage of the Civil rights Act of 1964 for 60 working days.

This is a moment for us to act. This is a moment when we must stand up and speak out as people of faith and conscience, calling on the Senate to end the filibuster and pass these critical pieces of voting rights legislation and ensure the right to vote. Indeed, as the song says, “we who believe in freedom shall not rest until it comes.” (Ella’s Song, Sweet Honey in the Rock) #VotingRightsAreHumanRights.

From NCC’s Governing Board:

“The right to vote is one of the markers of a democratic society. Protecting the right to vote is the duty of elected officials in order to preserve equality and inclusivity for ALL citizens.” – Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, NCC Governing Board Chair and Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

“As a nation, we are at a critical juncture in protecting our democracy. Fifty-six years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, many in this country still face racial disparities and inequalities in accessing the right to vote. I urge passage of The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. If enacted, it would do much to further the ELCA’s resolve to call upon local, state, and federal governments to guarantee the right to vote to all citizens and to discourage or eliminate all laws, ordinances or regulations that would have the effect of racial and ethnic discrimination in the exercise of that right. Please join me in praying for our Congress, our president, and members of the Supreme Court. In the words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, NCC Governing Board Vice Chair and Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

1 John 3:18 teaches us that we must love not only in word or speech but in truth and action. As Christians we must have the courage to not only speak truth but to mobilize to ensure that our human dignity is affirmed and protected through the ballot, and that we hold each other accountable for maintaining a society that reflects the limitless love of God through Jesus Christ.” – Rev. Terri Hord Owens, NCC Governing Board Treasurer and General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada

“I consider passage of the voting rights bill to be the single most important matter before congress right now. The very foundations of our democracy are being dismantled as red state legislators rewrite voting laws, giving new powers to state officials to overturn legitimate election outcomes and restricting voter access. The Senate must, by any means necessary, finish the work of the House and establish Federal protections for voting rights or be remembered throughout history as those whose failure to lead ended democracy as we knew it.” – Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, Past Chair of the NCC Governing Board and General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, National Ministries

“My prayer is that this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend will provide Members of Congress a moment of respite to reflect on the meaning of his life and the immensity of the struggle he and millions of others waged to secure the right to vote. If they truly do so, I believe they will return to Washington next week and vote to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.” – Mr. Jim Winkler, NCC President and General Secretary

“A near-sacred cornerstone of this ideal of democracy is the vote. The individual’s right to vote, and our respect for the collective will of the people expressed in their votes, are foundational to the temple that is democracy. The vote and the collective will of the people must be upheld as sacred and inviolate; it must be respected and protected, ‘that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.’ Let us be people of conviction and choose the promise that is before us.” – The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church

“The United Methodist Church advocates for free and fair elections, beginning with the sacred right to vote guaranteed to all adult citizens. Today the sacred right to vote is jeopardized by the increasing suppression of the vote for many citizens of the United States. We call upon the Senate to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S.4) and the Freedom to Vote Act (S.2747) in recognition and celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” – Bishop Sally Dyck, Ecumenical Officer for the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church

“The Church of the Brethren has asserted that, “We believe that government…can be strengthened by participation of its entire citizenry…[and] we support steps by our government to recognize the full enfranchisement of all of our citizens.” In both our church and the country in which we reside, we aim to make this a reality. Though this has been imperfect in practice, we strive and urge for full and just participation for all.” – Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy at the Church of the Brethren

“The voice of every citizen of our country in an election should matter to all of us. Because to exclude one segment is to threaten every segment. We urge the Senate to reject attempts to restrict voting of people of color, students and the elderly. Silence no one. Lift every voice!” – Bishop Francis Krebs, Presiding Bishop of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion

“Exercising the right to vote is foundational in a democracy. Our moral and civic values demand protection of access to voting for all citizens.” – Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath, African Methodist Episcopal Church

“It is very unfortunate and despairing that after more than 50 years after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. that this country will not stand up for the voting rights of all Americans. It is a sad day in this country’s history. We must never relent in our pursuit for justice!” – Rev. Dr. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of the Conference of National Black Churches and Governing Board Member

“Voting rights are human rights! Let’s stop voter suppression. Every citizen should have equal and easy access to vote. The Senate must pass The Freedom to Vote Act and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.” – Rev. Phil Tom, Executive Director of The International Council of Community Churches

Past NCC Statements:

NCC Statement One Year After the Attack on the US Capitol and 2020 Election
The Dangers of Christian Nationalism in the United States: A Policy Statement of the National Council of Churches
Resolution to Reaffirm Commitment to Voting Rights Act
Human Rights: The Fulfillment of Life in the Social Order