Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | | About RETI… RETI (Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute) is a dynamic, cross-border leadership initiative designed for students and emerging leaders under age 45, offering a transformative immersion in ecumenism, theology, and public witness across the United States and Canada.
Grounded in the conviction that the future of the Church transcends denominational, geographic, and cultural boundaries, RETI equips participants to engage faith in action within a complex and interconnected world.
Through a binational experience, participants encounter diverse Christian traditions, engage leading theologians and practitioners, and explore the Church’s role in addressing critical global challenges such as migration, peacebuilding, racial justice, and climate change.
RETI fosters deep theological reflection alongside practical engagement, enabling participants to develop a holistic understanding of what it means to live out a shared Christian witness in today’s context.
The program integrates ecumenical immersion, theological formation, justice-oriented advocacy, cross-cultural dialogue, and leadership development. Participants build meaningful relationships across borders and traditions while strengthening their capacity to lead with integrity, courage, and a commitment to unity and justice.
RETI is more than a program—it is a formative experience that prepares a new generation of leaders to serve as bridge-builders in the Church and agents of transformation in the world. | | | | | | EAD 2026: Protecting People,
Peace and Planet | | Photos by Hannah Santos and Amanda Dowd Written by Amanda Dowd. NCC Communications Officer
April 20 – 22, Washington DC — Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) brought together faith leaders and advocates from across the nation for a gathering rooted in worship, education, and collective action under the theme of Protecting People, Peace and Planet. National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) governing board members and staff joined in this ecumenical witness, committing to justice, peace, and care for creation.
The gathering opened in a spirit of fellowship as participants reconnected over refreshments and networking. This sense of community led to a moving and inspiring opening worship service, where Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, United Church of Christ general minister and president/CEO, offered a powerful message grounded in faith and hope.
Throughout EAD, participants were equipped with theological grounding, policy insight, and practical tools for advocacy. A day of learning and reflection began in prayer led by Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland, NCC senior associate general secretary and advocacy director. The gathering was energized by an insightful keynote from Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action.
Educational plenary sessions featured dynamic panels and timely topics that helped participants understand the current advocacy landscape. Alongside these plenaries, training breakouts, and facilitated conversations provided opportunities to sharpen advocacy skills and prepare participants for direct engagement with state representatives. Worship remained central throughout the gathering, grounding participants in prayer and purpose.
During the closing worship service, the community was moved and inspired by the preaching of Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC president and general secretary.
EAD culminated with advocacy visits on Capitol Hill, where participants urged their state representatives to commit to Protecting People, Peace, and Planet, and concluded with an inspiring Interfaith Earth Day celebration, uniting diverse faith traditions in hope and shared responsibility for God’s creation. | | NCC Legislative Update (Summary) |
| The Fight to Protect Democracy Continues
As people of faith, we are called to uphold the dignity of every human being and to insist that public policy reflects justice, accountability, and care for the most vulnerable. Across immigration enforcement, voting rights, the use of military force, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, current actions reflect a troubling pattern: speed and power prioritized over deliberation, transparency, and moral responsibility.
Faith communities are uniquely positioned to speak to these concerns, to bear witness to the human impact of policy decisions, and to call leaders back to values rooted in dignity, peace, and the common good. The following is a summary of the latest NCC Legislative Update. For the full update, click the link at the bottom of the article.
1. DHS Funding Through Reconciliation Sidesteps Accountability Senate passage of S.Con.Res. 33 initiates a reconciliation process that could provide up to $70 billion for DHS, CBP, and ICE. The reconciliation process limits debate and amendments, reducing opportunities for oversight. Funding immigration enforcement without enforceable safeguards continues to place lives at risk and deepen harm to immigrant communities.
2. Voting Rights Face Coordinated Attacks The Trump Administration’s executive order expands federal involvement in voter verification, voter roll maintenance, and mail‑in ballot handling. The SAVE America Act and similar efforts would require documentary proof of citizenship to vote, placing disproportionate burdens on eligible voters. These policies risk disenfranchising millions—not because they are ineligible, but because access barriers are being increased.
3. Congress Failed to Assert War Powers Authority Narrow defeats of War Powers resolutions in both chambers allow ongoing military operations in Iran without explicit congressional authorization. This failure undermines constitutional checks and balances and carries real human consequences, particularly for civilians and vulnerable populations.
4. AI Policy Prioritizes Speed Over Safeguards The National AI Legislative Framework emphasizes innovation and competitiveness while limiting new regulation. Efforts to preempt state‑level protections raise bipartisan concerns about federal overreach. Without strong guardrails, AI systems risk reinforcing bias, spreading misinformation, and causing harm without accountability.
What You Can Do Contact Congress: Advocate for oversight and accountability in DHS funding, oppose the SAVE America Act, and urge congressional authorization for any military action. Educate and Mobilize: Engage your congregation and community on the moral stakes of immigration, voting, war, and AI. Respond to Action Alerts: Participate in NCC advocacy efforts and share them widely. Lift Up Stories: Help amplify the voices and experiences of those most affected by harmful policies. Advocate for Ethical Policy: Support policies that protect democratic participation, human dignity, peace, and responsible use of technology.
| | | | House Passes Bipartisan Bill to
Protect Haitian Migrants | | | A Haitian girl is waiting in line with her family for their CBP One appointments at the El Chaparral border crossing at the US-Mexico border in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, on Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Photo by Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
(RNS) — The United States House, in a bipartisan effort that highlighted Republican division over the Trump administration’s immigration policies, passed a bill Thursday (April 16) to allow Haitian migrants temporary legal protections to live in the U.S. for three years. The vote came as the government is fighting at the Supreme Court to end Temporary Protected Status for an estimated 330,000 Haitians currently in the country.
The bill now goes to the Senate, and President Donald Trump said he would veto it if it reached his desk.
Introduced last year by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-New York, the bill passed 224-204, with the support of 10 Republican lawmakers. The bill’s text had been stuck in the House Committee on Rules and reached the full House after 218 representatives supported a discharge petition — the first time such a rare move enabled an immigration bill to pass.
The Rev. Keny Felix, a senior pastor at Bethel Evangelical Baptist Church in Miami, was one of many Haitian pastors who met with House members in Washington, D.C., over the past month to persuade them to support the bill. Felix said in a statement that the vote “affirms the dignity of our Haitian neighbors, whose homeland continues to be marked by unrestrained gang violence, government instability, and a growing humanitarian crisis where more than a million people have been internally displaced.”
Read the full story here. | | | | With the 2026 midterm elections just months away, voters are asking all kinds of questions about ensuring their votes are counted.
In this new video podcast, Hannah Fried, Chief Executive Officer at All Voting is Local, and Jennifer Morell, Chief Executive Officer of Elections Group, talk all things mail-in voting and answer top questions about how it works, what safeguards are in place to ensure its security, and the most important things voters should know about the process. Watch their conversation (above), and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Voting by mail is not new — it has been around since the Civil War. 47 million people voted by mail in 2024. Vote-by-mail is popular among Americans of all ages, occupations, and political affiliations. Every state makes its own laws about voting by mail. Some states automatically send mail ballots to every eligible voter, whereas other states send mail ballots only upon request if a voter is physically unable to vote at their polling precinct in person. Every local election office maintains a chain of custody to track ballots and ensure their safety and security—tracking exactly who has possession of a ballot and when. Every step of vote recording is done in teams (usually bipartisan teams) of at least two. There are many federal and state programs available to assist U.S. military members overseas in voting by mail accurately, securely, and on time. The Federal Voter Assistance Program website is a great place to start. State and local election offices frequently have webpages where voters can track the delivery status of their ballots. The best place is usually your Secretary of State’s website. Don’t forget to sign your mail-in ballot. Ballots cannot be counted without a signed affidavit. The best way to ensure your vote makes it to the election office in time is to VOTE EARLY and return your ballot right away!
| | Episcopal Parish Network (EPN) 2026 Video Highlights | Truth That Binds Us:
Faith, Trust, and the Restoration of Community
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and author Jonathan Rauch discuss the Church's vital role in sustaining democracy and civic life. They explore how Christian leaders can reclaim a distinct voice marked by humility and neighborly love to help heal a polarized society. | | | Plowing and Planting: Cultivating a Faithful Future
The Rev. Dr. Rachel Nyback and civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill reflect on leadership during seasons of preparation rather than immediate harvest. Ifill challenges faith communities to see themselves as essential public institutions called to model dignity and accountability in a fragile democracy. | | | The Living Story of Faith:
Grace, Imagination, and What Comes Next
The Rev. Dr. Steven Tomlinson concluded EPN 2026 by weaving the week's insights into a hopeful "living story of faith" that explores what it means to lead with grace in a complex world. Through storytelling and humor, he invites us to move beyond simple strategies and instead embrace a future rooted in community, lifelong formation, and a shared moral imagination. | | | | CJM to Premiere Documentary: Fighting for Higher Ground in Detroit | | Next month, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM) will premiere a documentary about their work in Detroit. Two congregations there — Scott Memorial United Methodist Church and Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church — are turning vacant lots into community gardens, confronting illegal dumping, and building a model of faith-rooted environmental justice from the ground up. With support from Creation Justice Ministries and the Thriving Earth Exchange, these churches aren't waiting for change to come but are being the catalyst for change to take root in their community. This is one way the journey to a thriving creation looks. If hearing this story excites you, join CJM for a screening of the Detroit story on Monday, May 11, at 7:00 pm ET. Click here to join. This Earth Month, CJM is inviting interested persons to become a Seeds Member — a monthly giver whose faithful commitment sustains this work long after today. Will you become a Sower this Earth Month? Click here to find out more. | | | | Use this resource to deepen your congregation’s commitment to creation justice. Each week highlights a creation justice idea for action or reflection for yourself and your community. Every month, CJM will include a bulletin insert for you to print and share with your church. Download the entire year by clicking here. | | CJM Urges Action Against H.R. 1897
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 Commemorates 111th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide | | "We mourn the lives lost, the communities destroyed, and the enduring pain carried across generations,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay. “This commemoration is not only an act of memory, but also a call to conscience, reminding the global community of the urgent responsibility to uphold human dignity, truth, and justice.”
Pillay also recalled with deep concern the forced displacement and suffering of Armenians from Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, which resulted in the mass exodus of an entire population from their ancestral homeland. “The World Council of Churches stands in solidarity with all those affected, lifting prayers for healing, protection, and the restoration of rights and dignity,” said Pillay. “At the same time, we welcome ongoing efforts toward dialogue and peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
Pillay reaffirmed the WCC’s commitment to walk alongside the Armenian people and its member church, bearing witness to their suffering and hope. "We pray for reconciliation, for truth to prevail, and for a future where such tragedies are never repeated,” he concluded.
In Remembrance and Hope: WCC Statement on the 111th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide | | WCC Webinar to Focus on Immunization | | Vaccine hesitancy. Misinformation. Systems that leave the most vulnerable behind. These are not distant problems — they live in our congregations, our clinics, our communities. This 90-minute session, convened in preparation for the World Health Assembly and in observance of World Immunization Week, brings together WHO experts, scientists, and faith leaders to ask: how do we protect people across every stage of life — from infants to elders — when trust in science is eroding? And what does it mean for the church to be part of rebuilding it?
Read Full Story Here | | | Webinar to Explore How AI Can Guide Churchgoers
The European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) with WACC Europe invites all to a joint webinar on April 29 “Feeding AI: How Data and Chatbots Can Guide People to Church.”
Read more Prayers Continue on 13th Year
Since Aleppo Archbishops' Abduction The WCC expressed solidarity with those praying for the return of His Eminence Boulos (Yazigi), from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and His Eminence Mor Youhanna Gregorios (Ibrahim) from the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.
Read more
Webinar to Focus on Immunization
A webinar on 30 April will focus on “For Every Generation: Faith, Justice, and Science in Immunization.”
Read more
WCC Commission Meets in Jamaica Amid
Climate Crisis, Conflict
From April 16–21, the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism met in Kingston, Jamaica, for its second face-to-face session of the current mandate period.
Read more
WCC Webinar Calls Churches to Action Against Racism, Economic Injustice, and Environmental Exploitation
WCC, through its program on Overcoming Racism, Xenophobia, and Related Discrimination, will convene a global conversation on May 26 to shed critical light on how colonial ideology continues to shape today’s economic systems through international investor treaties, especially the Investor-State Dispute Settlement system.
Read more WCC Decade Links Climate Crisis and Violent Conflict
Climate action is a pathway to peace, not merely an environmental necessity. That was the central message Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, brought to Hamburg, Germany, on 16–17 April, as she presented the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action at the conference "Ecology of Peace – Eco-Theological Perspectives in Times of Global Crisis," organized by the Academy for International Ecumenism at the University of Hamburg.
Read more WCC Champions Water as Human Right on Earth Day
On April 20, two days before UN Mother Earth Day, faith leaders and practitioners from across the world gathered for the latest session of the "Healing the Earth 2026" interfaith webinar series, co-organized by the WCC and United Religions Initiative Europe.
Read more WCC Hosts Panel Discussion on “Digital Health: What Is Possible? Who Will Benefit?”
A panel discussion on May 19, presented by the WCC in partnership with Transform Health, will explore “Digital Health: What is possible? Who will benefit?”
Read more Accompaniers Continue Their Work Virtually
in Palestine and Israel
Iskandar Majlaton, program coordinator for the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel, offers an update on how accompaniers have continued their work virtually.
Read more | | 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!
The suggested prayer texts are based on 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
| | | | | 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 May 17.
Read more here. | | Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly 2026
Focuses on Breaking Every Yoke | | Chiang Mai, Thailand: “Breaking every yoke requires theological renewal, structural transformation, grassroots praxis, and holistic liberation” was the message of Filipino theologian Rev. Prof. Eric Baldonado to the participants of the Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA) 2026.
Delivering the fifth thematic address on the final day of AEYA on “Break Every Yoke: Youths Overcome Barriers to Transform Ecumenism,” Rev. Prof. Baldonado told young Asian ecumenists, “You are called to embody Christ’s reconciling mission by dismantling barriers and building bridges across denominations, generations, cultures, and nations”. He urged them to rise as active agents of liberation, justice, and reconciliation, and placed young people at the heart of the church’s mission in Asia.
Read more... | | Indian Feminist Theologian
Challenges Asian Youth at AEYA | | Chiang Mai, Thailand: Blending theology with social critique, Dr. Kochurani Abraham, renowned Indian feminist theologian and researcher, challenged Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly participants to confront the “intersectional yokes” shaping the realities of today’s youth and urged them to reaffirm faith and public witness.
Addressing the participants of the AEYA, Dr. Kochurani Abraham delivered the thematic address on “Break Every Yoke: Reclaiming the Prophetic Vision of the Household of God.”
Dr. Abraham identified patriarchy and the exploitative relationship between humans and the Earth as central forces driving inequality and ecological crisis. She argued that deeply embedded hierarchical and dualistic ways of thinking, such as divisions between mind and body or spirit and matter, have enabled systems of domination across gender, caste, race, class, and even nature itself.
Read more... | | 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. | | | Rhode Island Council of Churches
Rhode Island Council of Churches Issues Statement Standing in Solidarity with the SPLC
The sin of white supremacy and the co-opting of Christian faith, often used in the justification of our nation’s greatest evils, remain a pernicious and unresolved challenge.
Against this backdrop of fear, we choose love. We choose faithful resistance grounded in prayer, truthful speech, and courageous action.
This nation stands at a pivotal moment.
The Rhode Island State Council of Churches stands in faithful solidarity with the Southern Poverty Law Center and with all whose civil rights and freedoms remain under constant threat and attack.
Read Full Statement | | Immigration Commission Training Schedule
Join the growing movement of community members and 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 is 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.
For more information, contact the RISCC Immigration Commission.
Current training schedule: 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)
| | | RICC is excited to announce the 10th annual Seeds of Hope event, celebrating the Interfaith Counseling Center's work toward affordable mental health counseling for Rhode Islanders.
Please plan on joining them for light refreshments and a chance to reconnect and celebrate the ICCr's important work in the community.
Every registration to this event will help them toward their goal of providing counseling and mental health services regardless of ability to pay.
Purchase Tickets Here
| | | Civil Rights History at Covenant Presbyterian Church On Sunday, April 26, at 12:30 p.m., 2461 Peachtree Rd. NE, is hosting a special presentation on the church's role in Atlanta's civil rights history. Ethel Ware Carter from the Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta will discuss the legacy of former pastor Rev. Dr. Herman Turner, who courageously led 80 white clergy members to sign the historic Minister's Manifesto during the school integration period. Lunch will be provided. All are welcome! RSVP to office@covpresatl.org
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Organist Sean Vogt will perform at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Sunday, April 26, at 3:15 p.m. in person and livestreamed on the Cathedral Website. Vogt is the newly hired director of choral conducting at the Piteå Musikhögskolan (Sweden) — Luleå Tekniska Universitet. He recently served as director of music at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Sandy Springs.
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Join AJC's Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition for a screening of The Grand Alliance, an episode from the new PBS docuseries, Black and Jewish America. On Wednesday, April 29, at 7 p.m., in Morningside. Register Now
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith will host a webinar, “From Incarceration to Integration: The Role of Faith in Successful Reentry,” on Thursday, April 30, at 2:00 p.m. ET on Zoom. This discussion will explore how faith and community partnerships can help individuals rebuild their lives after incarceration—strengthening families, enhancing public safety, and contributing meaningfully to their communities. Register now to join this conversation.
| | | | 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 | | | 'How to Stay Regulated
in a Dysregulated World' Tuesday, May 5, 1 - 2 p.m.
Online When the world feels chaotic and overwhelming, regulation becomes resistance, and preservation becomes power. Join Partners in Health and Wholeness for a webinar featuring speaker Dr. Sherronda Banks, DSW, LCSW, LISW-CP, therapist, speaker, and founder of Intentional Steps Counseling Services, PLLC, for an honest conversation about what it means to protect your peace in a dysregulated world.
Drawing on her Radical Preservation™ framework and more than two decades of culturally responsive clinical work, Dr. Banks will offer a bold, innovative approach to sustainable well-being that centers rest, boundaries, identity, and intentional self-care. Register Here | | | NC Workers' Memorial Day Service Tuesday, April 28, 10 - 11 a.m. Nash Square - Fallen Firefighters Memorial 200 South McDowell St, Raleigh Join NCCC for a press conference and solemn memorial service during which participants will toll a bell 196 times — once for each person in North Carolina who died while working for a better life in 2024 — and will renew our fight for strong safety and health protections. Together on Workers' Memorial Day, we raise our collective voices to win stronger safety and health protections in our workplaces and stronger job safety and health laws. We hold employers accountable to keep workers safe. We demand action on critical safety and health protections against preventable workplace hazards.
We demand more resources for our nation’s job safety agencies to hold employers accountable. We demand dignity at work. And we will organize and fight for the fundamental right of every worker to a safe job until that promise is fulfilled. Register Here | | | The Wisconsin Council of Churches is taking the five years of learning from Awaken Dane to new cities around the state. We will launch our first new cohort in Beloit, WI, in August 2026 and subsequently introduce new cohorts in additional cities in 2028 and 2030.
Awaken Beloit is an ecumenical cohort experience for churches based in Beloit, WI, where participants will develop skills to deeply listen to the Spirit through Scripture and, ultimately, through their neighborhoods and neighbors. Our hope is that participants will be awakened to the work God is doing in their neighborhoods and join God in that holy work. Those who will be joining include Program Director Deaconess Johnna Georgia, who will work with congregations in Beloit; Kurt Handrich, Scott McLeod, and Ann Walsvik.
Learn more here | | | | | | | | | 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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