Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | NCC Joins Faith Leaders, Community Members in Prayer and Procession
for Peace | | Photos by Amanda Dowd and Hannah Santos Written by Amanda Dowd NCC Communications Officer
On Friday, April 17, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) joined a coalition of Christian faith leaders and community members in Washington D.C. for a Prayer and Procession for Peace in Iran.
Individuals from diverse faith traditions gathered on a warm, sunny afternoon outside the U.S. Capitol, where the demonstration began with a scripture reading, followed by a prayer led by Michele Dunne, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network. Dunne reflected on how political leaders and commentators frame the Middle East as a strategic chessboard, too often ignoring the human cost and suffering experienced by people in the region.
The gathering continued with a peaceful, song-filled procession to the Russell and Dirksen Senate office buildings, where faith leaders called on members of Congress to act with the moral courage needed to pass a war powers resolution and to secure a permanent ceasefire in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza.
Faith leaders prayed for greater support and protection for conscientious objectors, highlighting the physical, mental, and emotional toll that war takes on members of the military. Participants also rejected the use of religious arguments to justify a Holy War in Iran, describing it as an affront to God.
The procession concluded at the United Methodist Building, where Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland, NCC senior associate general secretary and advocacy director, offered prayer and invited the gathering to join her in reciting the Lord’s Prayer.
The prayerful gathering and peaceful procession gave an impactful public witness to a shared faith-based call for peace, justice, and moral accountability in the face of war. | | NATI-RETI Registration Extended | | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, in partnership with the Canadian Council of Churches, will host the North America–Turtle Island Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute (NATI-RETI) on August 3–16, 2026, with sessions in Detroit, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario.
NATI-RETI 2026 is a fully immersive residential theological learning program designed as a pilgrimage across borders — bringing together emerging Christian leaders from the United States and Canada for deep theological reflection and spiritual fellowship.
This initiative marks a significant renewed chapter in cross-border collaboration, creating a shared platform to engage the deep intersections of faith and public life, and to nurture the visible unity of the church.
NATI-RETI is designed to nurture the visible unity of the church and to emphasize the deep relatedness of justice and mission to that unity—equipping participants to reimagine the church’s witness in a polarized world. A diverse cohort of students and emerging leaders will help model the unity the ecumenical movement seeks to deepen.
For more information, visit the NATI-RETI website, or contact: Keith Swartzendruber — US co-director, NATI-RETI Keith.swartzendruber@nationalcouncilofchurches.us
Matthew Markay — US co-director, NATI-RETI Matthew.markay@nationalcouncilofchurches.us | | | There's Still Time to Join EAD! | | | To help fill in the remaining seats, EAD is offering a special $50 dollar discount for those who have not yet registered. Use code: ead2026discount (case sensitive).
If you live in the DMV community, you are invited to attend the opening and closing worship services without registering.
Come worship and attend the full conference and lobby day by registering using the code above! Don't miss it! Register today!
Full scholarships are still available to students and attendees with limited income. Please fill out this form on the EAD website.
EAD will begin with evening worship at 7 pm on Monday, April 20, and conclude with an all-day Lobby Day on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22.
Tuesday, April 21, will be a full day of plenaries, workshops, and closing with worship just before dinner.
Check out the full schedule on the EAD website. | | | CJM Celebrates 501(c)(3) Status,
Issues Action Alert | | Creation Justice Ministries is celebrating Earth Month as a fully independent 501(c)(3). This Earth Month, you are invited to become a member of the Seeds program – a monthly giver that helps us sustain our work beyond a single contribution.
Over the next three years, CJM will plant more than 1,500 trees in partnership with over 75 churches in areas where heat stress is high and canopy coverage is desperately needed. All along the way, they will be educating churches about the connection between trees, faith, and the work of justice, and equipping them to be agents of justice in their community. | | Protect the Endangered Species Act So all of God's creation can thrive | | H.R. 1897, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman, contains numerous provisions that would drastically weaken the Endangered Species Act, our most effective law to protect biodiversity and prevent the extinction of our most vulnerable animals, fish, and plants.
Nearly all species listed under the ESA have been saved from extinction and hundreds are on the path to recovery today. As the climate crisis continues to threaten the biodiversity of Creation, we must do all we can to protect all creatures who are at risk.AKE ACTION | | | | WCC Releases 2025 Annual Review:
“Walking Toward Unity” | The World Council of Churches (WCC) Annual Review 2025 is available online. The Annual Review records many of the WCC’s activities undertaken in 2025 and continuing into 2026. The publication presents a roundup of events and actions of the World Council of Churches in 2025 that have advanced the WCC’s commitment to be catalysts of reconciliation, advocates for justice and peace, and agents of hope in the world.
“In 2025, under the aegis of the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, the council experienced a year steeped in history and tradition, as the WCC celebrated a host of anniversaries,” writes WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay in an opening message. “Across the full range of signal events, exciting initiatives, and vital programs detailed in these pages, I believe you will see the ecumenical fellowship living out ‘ecumenism of the heart’ to which the WCC’s 11th Assembly called us in 2022.”
The array of activities and initiatives highlighted in the Annual Review testifies to the great and pressing needs of today’s world. “Yet they also illumine the vast network of churches, ecumenical partners, and allies that magnify and extend our programs, as well as the deep well of faith that inspires Christians around the world to join hearts and hands with us to heal the world,” writes Pillay.
The currently available edition of the 2025 Annual Review is the predecessor to a final version that will be produced in the coming weeks.
Click Here to Read the Annual Review 2025 | | WCC Renews Commitment to Peace with Justice for People of Sudan | | Children wait outside the full chapel during Catholic Mass in Lugi, a village in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. The area is controlled by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, and is frequently attacked by the military of Sudan (2018). Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth | As the devastating war in Sudan enters its fourth year, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay reflected that, in a context of pain and uncertainty, the enduring faith, resilience, and witness of the churches in Sudan remain a powerful sign of hope. “The WCC takes particular encouragement from recent expressions and commitments by the Episcopal Church of Sudan, which we recognize as significant signs of hope,” he said. “This message of gratitude and hope underscores the vital role of global solidarity.”
Prayers, advocacy, and material support offered by churches and partners worldwide have been a source of strength and encouragement to those enduring the hardships of war, Pillay added. “Such solidarity must not diminish but rather deepen in this critical moment,” he urged. “The WCC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to accompanying the churches and people of Sudan in their pursuit of a just and lasting peace.”
Pillay called upon all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, prioritize dialogue, and take concrete steps toward reconciliation and rebuilding the nation. “We also urge the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts, humanitarian support, and action for the protection of civilians,” he said. “As we mark this somber anniversary, we lift up our prayers for healing, justice, and restoration.”
Read More Here | | WCC Prayer Focus Calendar | | The WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle takes us through every region of the world over the course of a year. Praying for each place on earth and its people at least once a year, we affirm our solidarity with Christians all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing diverse problems, and sharing diverse gifts. Pray with us!
Prayer is at the very heart of the ecumenical movement. Jesus prayed that we – his followers – may all be one. When we pray with and for one another, we can feel God’s gift of unity. Prayer sustains us on our way towards a unity that all can see, “so that the world may believe”. (John 17:21)
The suggested prayer texts are based on the publication "Pilgrim Prayer – an Ecumenical Prayer Cycle". The book and the website offer valuable aids for intercessory prayers, prayer on behalf of and in solidarity with others. | 26 April - 02 May Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia 03 - 09 May Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 10 - 16 May India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka 17 - 23 May Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal 24 - 30 May Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar,
Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles 31 May - 06 June Angola, Mozambique 07 - 13 June Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini 14 - 20 June Botswana, Zimbabwe 21 - 27 June Malawi, Zambia 28 June - 04 July Kenya, Tanzania
| | Asia Sunday 2026 to Focus on Hope for Redemption of Groaning Creation | | Chiang Mai, Thailand: Asia Sunday will be observed by the member churches and councils of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) on May 17, 2026, with a focus on the theme “Hope for Redemption of Groaning Creation Amidst Bondage to Decay”.
Asia Sunday is observed annually by CCA member churches and councils on the Sunday before Pentecost. In 2026, it falls on 17 May.
The General Secretary of CCA, Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, stated, “As Asia is currently confronting an intense convergence of social, economic, political, environmental, and spiritual crises that profoundly shape the lives of its people, the theme of this year’s Asia Sunday is both relevant and contextual.”
Read more here. | | Pope Leo’s Cameroon Visit Rekindles Fragile Hopes for Peace | | YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (RNS) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday afternoon (April 15) to jubilant crowds, stepping into a country where many see his visit as far more than a pastoral journey. For thousands of Cameroonians, especially in the English-speaking northwest, which has seen violent conflict for a decade, the pope’s presence carries the weight of something deeper: the possibility that a nation wounded by years of violence might begin, however cautiously, to imagine peace again. The apostolic visit spanning four days, part of the pontiff’s first major African tour, comes at a rare moment. Ahead of his arrival, separatist groups operating in the northwest and southwest regions announced a three-day ceasefire to allow safe passage for pilgrims and civilians traveling to papal events in Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala. For residents who have lived for nearly 10 years under the sound of gunfire, roadblocks, and fear amid the ongoing violent conflict, even a brief silence has become symbolic. Since 2017, separatist fighters who declared independence from the majority French-speaking state have battled government forces in a conflict that has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 600,000. | | | | Diverse Voices Speak for Digital Rights, AI Accountability | | Ecumenical and civil society representatives will met in Berlin, April, 13–14, to discuss action toward “Our Common Future: Advocating for Digital Rights and AI Accountability.”
In preparing for the symposium, organizers asked diverse members of their networks, “What is a critical issue for digital justice that must be addressed, and how?”
The resulting video statements acknowledge opportunities and efficiencies that come with digital technology while highlighting serious problems, from increasing use in war and conflict to racial bias and deepening information disorder. Addressing these negative impacts calls for urgent individual and collective action.
Click here to watch the videos and learn more. | | New Study: Gen Z Women Are
Losing Their Religion | | By Bob Smietana April 15, 2026 (RNS) — Women have long been the backbone of religion in America. They are more likely than men to identify as religious, say faith is important in their lives, attend services, and pray. That’s especially true among older women, according to data from the Pew Research Center. But times are changing. And more young women seem to be giving up on God — or at least organized religion. A new report released Wednesday (April 15) from Washington, D.C.-based Public Religion Research Institute found that 43 percent of adult women under 30 identify as “none” — those who claim no religious identity. That’s up from 29 percent in 2013. | | | Community of Christ to Host Peace forum October 16–18 | | Community of Christ will host the Peace Forum from 16–18 October 2026 at the Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA.
The event, themed “Seeds of Peace: Environmental Justice and Action,” builds on the tradition of the International Peace Colloquy, offering worship, learning, and community engagement.
All are welcome! Register Here. | | Seattle University Summer 2026 Cohort Registration Open | | Come to the Seattle University campus for their popular summer program designed to help you grow in all aspects of your leadership. Engage with a cohort of leaders from religious, non-profit, and public sectors. Experience a learning environment rich in diversity and wisdom. Connect with Spiritual director/Coaches in small cohorts to support your discernment throughout the week.
Enjoy our hospitality and experience a retreat-like atmosphere in the vibrant life of the city. Lodging and meals are included.
Faculty and Presenters include: Esteemed public speaker and author, Imam Jamal Rahman Non-profit and Interreligious Leaders Leading Faculty from Seattle University and others!
Watch the video below for more information. Click here for more information. | | | Church of the Brethren Signs Interfaith Letter Opposing Pentagon Budget | | The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has signed on to an interfaith letter opposing the proposal for a $1.5 trillion budget for the Pentagon. On Friday, April 3, the White House issued the Presidential Budget Request that included the $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for Fiscal Year 2027.
“This staggering 50 percent increase comes at a moment when millions of Americans are losing access to health care, food assistance, and other vital support,” said organizers of the letter. “Our faith traditions are united by a shared moral conviction: the call to protect human dignity, care for the vulnerable, and pursue peace demands that our nation make wiser and more just choices with its resources.”
Click here to view the full statement. | | Blessed Tomorrow National Faith + Climate Forum, April 25 | | Join Blessed Tomorrow on Saturday, April 25, for the National Faith + Climate Forum, a powerful nationwide gathering that brings people of faith together to care for creation and advance climate justice. This free, live-streamed event will be experienced at in-person gatherings across the country, creating space for connection, learning, and faithful action rooted in shared values. Individuals are also welcome to join the livestream from the comfort of their own homes. Join an individual, or go further by hosting a local watch party at your congregation or community space. Host locations can receive up to $500 to support your event while bringing this transformative forum to your community. | | | Rhode Island Council of Churches
Join the growing movement of community members & people of faith - working together to support our immigrant communities. This training is for anyone who is concerned about the inhuman & illegal treatment of our immigrant communities - and are asking: "what can I do?" The training is a concrete way to answer that question by receiving education & legal training - and taking specific action through legislative lobbying.
Our work together is grounded in our two core values: everyone is a beloved child of God and a commitment to non-violence. This training will provide guidance on how stay within the law when you: are protesting are a friend or bystander during ICE and CBP actions and arrests are documenting ICE and CBP actions and arrests are protecting your home, school, place of worship, or business from ICE and CBP
Legislative advocacy training will include: updates and information on state legislation to protect our immigrant communities legislative process 101 (how it happens and who your reps are) tips on effective advocacy
For more information, contact the RISCC Immigration Commission.
Current training schedule: April 19 (Sunday) 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Registration Temple Sinai (Cranston) April 27 (Monday) 7:00 pm to 8:30 PM Registration Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County (South Kingstown)
May 17 (Sunday) from 3:00 pm tp 5:00 pm Registration St Luke's Episcopal Church (East Greenwich) | | | | | | | Pursuing Affordable and Just Energy in North Carolina
Tuesday, April 28, 4 - 5 p.m. (Online) Join our Eco-Justice Connection initiative for our monthly Advocacy Forum, held every fourth Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Each session features a special guest speaker addressing key eco-justice and advocacy issues impacting North Carolina.
Upcoming Webinar on Pursuing Affordable and Just Energy in North Carolina Join NCCC for an overview of the current energy policy landscape in North Carolina, followed by practical strategies that ratepayers can use to reduce their utility bills and actions they can take to shape an energy system that works in the interest of consumers. Register Now | | | | | | | | | Renaissance Woman The Creative Life of Louise E. Jefferson by Tasheka Arceneaux Sutton $24.99 | | | Wet Cement Inclusive Children's Ministry that Leaves an Impression by Julia Dennis $19.99 | | | | | Dream, Dare, Disrupt How Experiments, Risk & Embracing Failure
Can Build Life-Giving Ministry by Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups $19.99 | | More from Friendship Press… |
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