Press Statements

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 NRSV

November 19, 2021, Washington, DC – The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Build Back Better Act and urges the Senate to vote for its passage immediately. We firmly hold that the BBB Act will alleviate poverty and change the economic future for millions of low-income families who have been left behind for far too long.

Jesus told us that the kingdom of God belongs to the little children so the NCC embraces the BBB Act’s provisions that will create a brighter future for our children by providing universal pre-k for 3 and 4-year-olds and ensuring that childcare is affordable for many families so parents can work, look for work, or get job training.

One of the National Council of Churches’ 2021 priorities is to expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which most families use to cover the cost of food, housing, health care, and transportation, so we affirm its extension for one year in the BBB Act. We will continue to advocate for its permanent implementation.  

The NCC has called for the administration to address the health disparities that have been laid bare during the pandemic. As we have fully supported healthcare for all, we approve of the provisions in the BBB Act that will expand access to healthcare, including the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for up to 4 million uninsured people in states that denied them access to Medicaid and the reduced premiums for more than 9 million Americans because of the extension of the expanded Premium Tax Credit. We also acknowledge that the care made available for older Americans and people with disabilities in their homes will make a substantial difference in their ongoing quality of life.

As educational disparities persist, the NCC maintains that investing in education will create thriving futures for those who have been barred from success by the systematic racism in this nation. As the BBB Act will increase the maximum Pell Grant by $550 for the more than 5 million students enrolled in public and private, non-profit colleges, and expand access to DREAMers, we know this will help undergraduate students, especially the more than 75% of undergraduate Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) students who rely on Pell Grants to pay for college expenses. We also affirm the Act’s investment in HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to build their capacity, modernize their research infrastructure, and provide financial aid to their low-income students.

We affirm that the funding provided by the Act for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of more than 1 million affordable homes which will boost the housing supply and reduce price pressures for renters and homeowners is commendable and begins to meet our call for the basic human need of housing for all people.

In addition, this important legislation positively impacts people returning from incarceration, as all of these provisions do not prohibit those convicted of drug felonies from receiving aid, which is another NCC priority.

“The Bible points out the inequities between the poor and the rich and makes known that these disparities are contrary to God’s will. We are called to secure the well-being of God’s people and therefore we applaud every advancement toward this end in the Build Back Better Act and call for its passage so the funding can make the transformative difference in our society that we know is possible.” – Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Bishop of the 5^th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) and Chair of the NCC Governing Board.   

“The National Council of Churches has long fought to end poverty. This is a historic step toward that goal. We call for the quick passage of the Build Back Better Act in the Senate so that President Biden can sign this legislation and bring us closer to righting the wrongs of the damaging systems that cause the suffering from poverty in our nation.” – Jim Winkler, NCC President and General Secretary.

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It shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
    remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
Isaiah 57:14 NRSV

November 15, 2021, Washington, DC – The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) praises the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which has been signed into law by President Joseph Biden today.

Since 2018, the NCC’s priority has been the A.C.T. Now to End Racism initiative. We have called our partners to Awaken to the many manifestations of racism, to Confront the need for change, and to work to Transform church and society into a reflection of the inclusive and equitable reign of God.

The horrific damage from 400 years of slavery has been embedded in U.S. laws and practices. We witness this damage when polluted air renders children of color unable to breathe because of asthma. We witness this damage when water infects poor communities with deadly levels of lead and other toxic substances. We witness this damage when statistics analyzing institutions and systems in our society prove disparities exist for people of color.

We commend the White House for acknowledging that Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Native communities are more likely to be burdened by pollution and for detailing these and other disparities in the Fact Sheet on Advancing Economic and Public Health Opportunities for Communities of Color.

The NCC believes that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a start toward repairing some of the damage that continues to inflict harm on people of color. Although the funding level in this legislation does not meet the full needs to reverse all the many wrongs, its investments are positioned to advance equity and bring racial justice to our communities in certain ways:

• With families of color at the highest risk for lead exposure at home and in schools and knowing that higher exposure can negatively affect academic performance and lead to cardiovascular disease, the NCC applauds the Act’s investment in clean drinking water by replacing all of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines.

• As air pollution is linked to health problems including asthma among students who miss school particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities, and death from asthma-related illnesses for Black people at almost three times that of their white counterparts, the NCC recognizes that the Act will begin to alleviate pollution and improve health by delivering thousands of electric school buses and thousands of zero emission transit vehicles, while investing in clean energy transmission.

• With 26% of Black Americans and 29% of Hispanic Americans living within 3 miles of a Superfund site, the NCC is pleased to know that Brownfield and Superfund sites will be remediated for improved health and well-being.

• Since people of color and tribal members are more likely to live in areas with flooding and climate change-related weather, the NCC welcomes the Act’s investments that will help communities build resilience to these threats through infrastructure upgrades.

• Acknowledging that Black families are 9% less likely to have high-speed internet than their white peers, Latino Americans are 15% less likely, and about 35% of individuals living on Tribal lands lack access to broadband service, the NCC embraces the Act’s goal of providing every American with access to reliable high-speed internet.

• As racial injustices were evident when significant portions of the interstate highway system were built through Black neighborhoods and highway construction projects too often divided and demolished Black communities, the NCC applauds the Act for creating the first-ever program to reconnect communities divided by these transportation projects. We look forward to the reconstruction of street grids and parks in these neighborhoods.

“For decades the US has not invested in its infrastructure, and all across the country we see the results of this lack of foresight,” commented Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Bishop of the 5^th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) and Chair of the NCC Governing Board. “So many years of disregard for the crumbling structures that surround us cannot be erased with just one funding bill, but the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a much-needed step in the right direction. We commend all the elected leaders who worked together to meet these basic needs of the people. We look forward to future legislation that will continue to improve the quality of life for Americans.”

We pray that the benefits of this Act are realized as quickly as possible so that the suffering can be alleviated. May all who work on the infrastructure projects be blessed with the competence and resilience necessary to achieve such worthy goals.

The Governing Board of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) met virtually for its biannual board meeting on October 13, 2021.

For the first time in its 71-year history, the NCC Governing Board elected all women as officers. The officers began their two-year terms effective yesterday as follows: Bishop Teresa Jefferson Snorton, 5th Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, as Chair; Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as Vice Chair; Kimberly Gordon Brooks, 1st Vice President of the 3rd District Lay Organization, African Methodist Episcopal Church, as Secretary, and Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister & President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as Treasurer. Three of the officers are women of color.

“Serving in leadership in the National Council of Churches is both an honor and a privilege,” said new NCC Chair, Bishop Teresa Jefferson Snorton. “At this pivotal time in the life of the church in the United States, it is noteworthy that the NCC is modeling inclusiveness in selecting its leaders. The denominations that make up the NCC demonstrate a commitment to embody the diversity of God’s creation in so many ways. This commitment is a call for all of us to show the love of God to all, promote unity in Christ Jesus and to resist the current cultural trends of divisiveness. I am humbled to be a part of the life of NCC in this moment.”

The NCC Governing Board also approved the Updated Edition of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSVue) of the Bible, which is considered the most meticulously researched, rigorously reviewed, and faithfully accurate English-language Bible translation. The process began in 2017 when the NCC commissioned the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) to conduct a review and update of the 1989 New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV).

The NRSVue, like the NRSV and the Revised Standard Version (RSV), follows in the tradition of the King James Bible, making changes that were warranted on the basis of accuracy, clarity, euphony, and current English usage. The SBL applied recent scholarship to ancient texts to help readers explore the meanings of these texts in light of the cultures that produced them. The NRSVue is as free as possible from the gender bias inherent in the English language, which can obscure earlier oral and written renditions.

Friendship Press, a subsidiary of the NCC, acted as liaison to SBL during the review. A list of those who worked on the NRSVue can be found on the Friendship Press website: https://friendshippress.org/nrsv-review-update/ Licensees may release NRSV Updated Editions of the Bible on or after May 1, 2022.

“It is a matter of great pride for me to have led the Board through the approval process for the NRSVue. Knowing that each generation has undertaken the stewardship of this precious resource, we played our part to extend its relevance and legacy. Having relied on the most dedicated biblical scholars of our generation, we are proud now to share the most up to date translation of our sacred texts,” said Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ, National Ministries, and Past Chair of NCC’s Governing Board.

According to NCC President and General Secretary Jim Winkler, “Being part of the update of the New Revised Standard Version has been a joy for me. This is a monumental achievement. Credit is due to many people, but I especially wish to thank the Society of Biblical Literature and Friendship Press for their scholarship and leadership,” he said. “The NCC approved this project a number of years ago and has provided oversight throughout. The NRSV is viewed as the most accurate Bible available and the incorporation of new learnings and insights makes it only better.” Mr.

Winkler added, “I also congratulate our new NCC board officers. We believe this is the first time all of our officers are women. I look forward to working closely with our new chair, Bishop Teresa Jefferson Snorton. She is an extraordinary and gifted leader.”

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) stands in witness to the compounding tragedies that have led to a years-long exodus of the Haitian people from their country, culminating this week in 17,000 asylum-seekers at the U.S. border in Texas. We cry in anguish when we see film and photos of their treatment at the hands of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers on horseback. The images are a throwback to another turbulent time of racial violence and have caused trauma in Black communities throughout our country. We support the investigation into this tragic situation and expect accountability from any findings.

As Christians we believe every person is created in the image of God and we cannot stand idly by while immigration policies are implemented with cruelty instead of compassion. When U.S. immigration policies refuse access or eject people fleeing catastrophic situations, we have a moral obligation to speak up. We urge the U.S. government to do all it can to assist those requesting asylum.

Further, we call on President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas to stop deporting Haitians seeking refuge and end the Trump-era Title 42 policy prohibiting the entry of persons who potentially pose a health risk. In addition to obstructing the US law giving asylum seekers the right to seek asylum, the Title 42 expulsions are discriminatory because they are only used against asylum seekers crossing at land borders and therefore disproportionately effect Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people from Central America, Africa, and Haiti.

In addition, we support humanitarian protections such as a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) redesignation or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and the use of humanitarian parole to allow Haitians to temporarily enter the United States due to the compelling emergency situation in Haiti and the urgent humanitarian needs that exist.

Although President Biden has nearly doubled the number of refugees that will be admitted to the United States to 125,000 for the next year starting on October 1, more must be done regarding asylum and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We pray that Congress will find the moral courage to address our failing immigration system and pass legislation that demonstrates our love for our neighbors.

We also continue to pray for the Haitian people during this tumultuous and devastating time for a nation that has experienced so much tragedy.

God, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) remembers the victims of the attack and prays once again that the memory of those who died that day will be eternal. We pray for the physical and mental healing of those who are still suffering from related injury and for the loved ones of all who died on that tragic day 20 years ago. The ashes from the destruction have dissipated but the residue remains as our lives, communities, nation, and world have changed forever.

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved;
for you are my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14 (NRSV)

We remain grateful to all of the first responders and others who courageously acted to save lives and to help those in need as chaos and devastation ensued in New York City, Washington, D.C. (at the Pentagon), and in Shanksville, Pa. We also give thanks for the witness of the many pastors, clergy. and lay leaders who provided food, water. and shelter to those working at the crash sites; opened churches to provide sacred space to those who needed it; volunteered and offered spiritual guidance and counseling; held prayer services; and otherwise rallied to support those hurting and in need of comfort. Our nation banded together in so many meaningful ways—memories that keep us hopeful as we now struggle with historic division in our country.

The NCC cannot disregard what has happened in the U.S. and around the world since that fateful day. The U.S. invaded two nations – Afghanistan and Iraq – and is left with the ruinous aftermath of these wars. The war on terror in Iraq lasted eight years, and the country is still unstable. The war in Afghanistan is only now ending after 20 years and the future of the Afghan people is in question. The lives lost in these wars – American, Allied, Afghan, and Iraqi – measure in the hundreds of thousands. We pray for the dead, for those who mourn them, and for those left behind to pick up the pieces of their societies. May they find comfort and know God’s protection during the ongoing hostilities.

It is also impossible to ignore the bigotry and violence that was unleashed on Muslim Americans and Arab immigrants following September 11th. In response to this spreading hate, the NCC reinvigorated its Muslim-Christian dialogue, so that our Muslim neighbors would know they had widespread support within the Christian community. This was expanded into interfaith ally-ship with the Muslim community, through the inception of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign, a coalition that still works to counter anti-Muslim sentiment. The NCC pledges to continue these efforts.

During the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero and, later, the planning and construction of the new One World Trade Center, the U.S. demonstrated a spirit of camaraderie. As we mark the occasion of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we implore our fellow Americans to remember our past goodwill and to work towards ending the toxic divisions in our country. The many issues that face us—not the least of which is the continuing deadly spread of the COVID-19 virus, anti-Black racism, growing anti-immigrant sentiments, Christian nationalism and white supremacy, racial hatred against Indigenous and Asian and Pacific Islanders, increasing economic disparities, voter suppression, climate change, and mass incarceration—demand our collective response and beckon us in this moment to reiterate our commitment to working together to bring about justice, reconciliation, and healing in this fractured world.

Acknowledging these challenges which we are called to address, the NCC and our member communions envision what can be built through dialogue, collaboration, and prayer and commit to continue our work to bring justice and hope to all people.

The NCC and its member churches look forward to later this year, when the Church of St. Nicholas, the only house of worship destroyed at Ground Zero on that day, reopens. We will join our member communion, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, as it celebrates the opening of the doors of this resurrected parish community (and now national shrine) to the world.

As we are all children of God, we urge one another to clear the ruins and to build anew, recognizing that each of us is fully human and made in the image of God.

Previous Statements:

A Statement of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA -Adopted Unanimously by the NCC General Assembly November 15, 2001

Peace delegation to Iraq from Dec. 27-Jan. 3, 2002/3 – NCC-led religious leaders mission to Iraq concludes

A Message Following the National Council of Churches’ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, September, 2017

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is saddened and disturbed by the increase in incidents of antisemitism in recent months. With the uptick in hate crimes against ethnic minorities and communities of color in our country – whether Black, Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, or others – and against faith communities – including Muslim and Sikh – it is not surprising that the Jewish community is also being attacked by bigoted individuals and hate groups. For this, we grieve and together with the Jewish community, we pray: 

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. 
    At an acceptable time, O God, 
    in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. 
With your faithful help rescue me 
    from sinking in the mire; 
let me be delivered from my enemies 
    and from the deep waters.  

Psalm 69: 13-14 (NRSV) 

The National Council of Churches issued a statement against antisemitism in December 2019, after our National Jewish-Christian Dialogue convened in Pittsburgh to commemorate the one-year anniversary of another hate crime, the killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and to mourn the victims of that shooting. Today, we deeply deplore the spread of hateful invective and hostile acts that target our Jewish brothers and sisters in ways large and small. It is not lost on us that the perpetrators of such evil are often Christian, if not in genuine faith, then in self-identification. 

Antisemitism does not stop with obvious words and acts of hostility directly aimed at Jews. Sometimes, it underlies the pronouncements made in other areas of our civic life. Who can separate out the sentiments of demonstrators who chant “Jews will not replace us!” from the thoughts of government leaders who have the audacity to characterize the Covid-19 vaccination program in terms rooted in the Holocaust? These shameful instances must be publicly rejected by all. 

Some of the recent upsurge in antisemitism appears to be based on the armed conflict a few months ago between Israelis and Palestinians. But while persons may disagree on the causes and outcomes of such conflict, the disagreement is not a reason to allow our worse angels to emerge and our civic discourse to degenerate into hatefulness and violence. 

Our Jewish friends and neighbors know we have them in our hearts, and that we hold them in prayer, during these difficult days. Today and always, we will continue to stand with them, and with all people of goodwill, against the serious danger of antisemitism in our society. 

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
    answer me speedily in the day when I call.

— Psalm 102:1-2 (NRSV)

The Land called Holy by Jews, Christians, and Muslims is once again the scene of armed hostilities, protests, and fighting. In response to a peaceful protest against the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and the displacement of Palestinians from their homes, this time from the Shaikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel’s hostile actions have led to an all-out conflagration. The fact that the initial response took place during Ramadan, and inside the Muslim community’s holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, was certain to inflame. This situation again causes us to cry out: “So now, O Lord our God, save us [we] pray you” (2 Kings 19:19, NRSV).

The fear is palpable. Palestinians and Israelis are losing loved ones to the violence, including children.  Palestinian homes and neighborhoods, especially in Gaza, are being destroyed with Israeli firepower. Israeli homes and neighborhoods are being shelled with Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza. At the same time, perhaps most lamentably, Jewish and Arab citizens in blended communities within Israel are turning against one another, all this while Israeli Jewish and Arab medical personnel are working side-by-side to save lives. A growing humanitarian crisis among the Palestinians is also deeply concerning.

The violence must stop. We urge Israelis and Palestinians to honor the ceasefire that has been reached, and to end this fighting.

The modern State of Israel was established in the Biblical Jewish homeland in 1948, thereby displacing Palestinians from what had been their own ancient homeland. In that moment, an achievement for the Jewish community, borne of its suffering in the Holocaust, became a catastrophe (Nakba) for the Palestinian community, causing generations of lamentation. Since that time, violence has consistently threatened the fragile existence of all people in the land, and in the region. This threat of violence became entrenched in 1967, when war led to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Since that time, despite the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Israel has systematically appropriated occupied territory for its own in the West Bank and continued its blockade of Gaza. The long simmering anger and expected periodic outbursts have consistently been used to legitimize Israeli oppression of the Palestinian community. 

Today’s violence is no different. While Israelis and Palestinians must take the first steps toward ending the violence, the United States and the international community must insist that they do so.

The National Council of Churches calls upon President Biden to bring his Administration’s weight to bear on both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resume talks that would lead to a peaceful solution that is satisfactory to both sides. In doing so, the U.S. must uphold the condition that current and future aid to Israel – financial, military and otherwise — is not used to legitimize illegal occupation and to enable acts of aggression. As the region is already flooded by extremely powerful and deadly weapons and the NCC has consistently stood for the redirection of military spending to more peaceful and productive uses, we also demand that the U.S. cease selling arms to all states in the region as this can only lead to more instability and further deteriorate conditions in the Holy Land.

We call upon the Israeli Government to end the cynical use of Palestinian anger and hostility, which is expected as a reaction to occupation and oppression, as a pretext for continued violations against the Palestinian people. We further call upon Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop the use of the current violence to distract from internal Israeli political turmoil. 

Finally, we call upon the Palestinian Authority to renounce the hostile actions of destructive elements within its society, namely Hamas, even as we recognize the asymmetry of power. We do not condone violence of any kind, and we condemn terrorism in all its manifestations.

We make these calls with our faith partners in the Holy Land in mind. And we pray alongside faithful Christians, Muslims, and Jews, in Jerusalem and everywhere, for peace.

Faith Partner Statements

Statement of the patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem concerning the recent violence in Jerusalem https://www.lpj.org/archives/patriarchs-and-heads-of-jerusalem-churches-concerned-about-alaqsa-mosque-worshippers-and-sheikh-jarrah-families.html

The Middle East Council of Churches renews its call to lift the occupation of the Palestinian people https://www.mecc.org/mecc/2021/5/11/with-the-escalation-of-confrontations-in-occupied-jerusalem

UCC and Disciples Leaders Express Concern and Prayers in Current Crisis in Israel/Palestine

Presbyterian Church (USA) Stated Clerk condemns recent violence gripping the Holy Land

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry statement on the violence in the Land of the Holy One

World Council of Churches Statement on Israel and Palestine

Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Statement on Supporting peace in Palestine and Israel

Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc Resolution on Supporting Palestine

Past NCC Statements

Settlements Contrary to International Law, Immoral

Group Pilgrimage Statement on Israel and Palestine

NCC Laments Opening of US Embassy in Jerusalem

NCC Opposes U.S. Decision to Declare Jerusalem as Capital of Israel

A Message Following the National Council of Churches’ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, September, 2017

Statement by General Secretaries Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit and Jim Winkler given at the NCC/WCC Consultation on the Holy Land

Reaffirmation of Our Commitments to Peace in the Middle East In Light of the 1980 Middle East Policy Statement

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 NRSV

April 20, 2021, Washington, DC – After expressing outrage at the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) is relieved that there has been a conviction in the case of George Floyd’s murderer, former police officer Derek Chauvin, in Minneapolis, MN.

This verdict, while welcomed, does not mean that our nation has turned a corner on the problem of police brutality. This decision was made based on multiple witnesses, recorded videos, and nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds of violent and inhumane treatment of Mr. Floyd even after all life was drained from his body. 

It is clear that the problem of excessive police violence has not been solved. We continue to commend and support law enforcement agencies that model good community policing, and in the tradition of advocating for justice and peace and inspired by the prophet Isaiah to serve as “repairers of the breach,” we persist in our call for an overhaul of the justice system that brings about reconciliation and restoration.

“I was able to see with my own eyes that Derek Chauvin was guilty of killing George Floyd and so, too, did the members of the jury. I pray this verdict will help advance the cause of racial justice in our nation, but I know we still have a long way to go,” stated Jim Winkler, NCC President and General Secretary.

“I applaud the jury for a right decision in this case and I rejoice with Mr. Floyd’s family,” said Rev. Aundreia Alexander, Esq., NCC Associate General Secretary, Action and Advocacy for Justice and Peace. “This case highlighted the systemic racism within the policing system throughout the nation. It is my hope and prayer that the nation will now be willing to take a serios look at reimagining a model of public safety that will focus on wholistic care for people and communities rather than policing the everyday activities of living while black in America.”

Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Founder and President, Grace and Race Ministries, Inc. and Chair of the NCC Racial Justice Advisory Committee shared, “Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Those words not only apply to Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, they also present a challenge to our justice system. This case is a mandate for truly seeing the racial inequities in the criminal justice system and the necessity of addressing police reform. Black people are still dying at the hands of those who took an oath to protect and serve. Let’s stay in the fight to improve police training, policies and practices, and provide hope that the killing will end. God will find that we are all guilty if we celebrate today and stop pressing for the needed systemic change.”

“I rejoice in a verdict that affirms that Black Lives Matter, but I temper my rejoicing with an awareness that George Floyd is still dead and his family will never have him back,” commented Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ and Chair of the NCC Governing Board. “I pray that George Floyd will be remembered as one whose death caused a reckoning long overdue, initiated a justice long denied, and spurred on a movement for racial equity that too many died waiting for.”

The NCC remains committed to end racism in all its forms in our nation.