Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | | | ErrataThe article titled “Friendship Press Webinar Celebrated Launch of NCC Commemorative Bible,” in the Feb. 22 newsletter, incorrectly identified Dr. John Dorhauer, former UCC general minister and president. Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson has served as UCC general minister and president since 2023.
Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, political director of Faith in Action, was incorrectly identified in the Feb. 14 newsletter article titled, “NCC Staff Gathers for Quarterly Koinonia Focused on Unity and Purpose.”
We apologize for any confusion these inaccuracies may have caused our readers. | | NCC Among Faith Leaders Convened
for “Faithful Resistance” | | Photos courtesy United Methodists of Upper New York and Keith Swartzendruber, NCC | Editor's Note: This report was excerpted from an article posted February 27, 2026 by NEJ Communicators
On Wednesday, February 25, National Council of Churches staffers were among an estimated 1,200 faith leaders who came together in Washington, D.C., for Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice, a day of worship, witness, and advocacy for immigrant justice. From bold preaching to a mile-long march, faith was put into action, declaring that immigrant rights are human rights. Those present travelled by bus, car, train, and airplane to join voices with people of faith from across the country to live out their commitment to welcome the stranger and work for justice. Faithful Resistance Worship Service Before the faith leaders stepped into the streets of Washington, D.C., they gathered at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Ebenezer United Methodist Church, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, all at maximum capacity, to ground their public witness in worship. An estimated 2,000 more participants bore witness via livestream. The opening service of Faithful Resistance was more than a prelude to public witness. It was a theological declaration. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Muñoz and the band of musicians and worship leaders led those who gathered in songs of resilient hope, singing, “Hope will not fail… Peace will not fail… Love will prevail.”
Read the full story here. | | | Friendship Press Author Featured
in RNS Story on Black Church Books | | Bishop Teresa Snorton’s new book, Roots of Resilience: Black History Through the Eyes of Faith (Friendship Press, 2026), was recently featured in a Religion News Service article highlighting recently published books on the Black Church.The article highlighted three Black Church leaders sharing history and hope through the printed word. “Released during or close to Black History Month, the books provide a faith-oriented look at African American history and analyses of women in ministry and changing demographics and technology,” the article asserts.
“This project resurfaced my own memories of attending segregated schools, sitting in the ‘colored’ balcony section of the movie theater, and ‘whites only’ water fountain signs in public buildings and restaurants in my hometown,” wrote Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, former NCC Governing Board chair and ecumenical bishop and program development officer for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. “A substantial portion of my recollection of certain events and facts came from those ‘Black history moments’ in my home church and the numerous Black History programs I have attended or participated in over the years,” explained Bishop Snorton. Sure that faith wedded together different eras of Black history, she said, “I had not seen anything in print in that format that could be used by pastors and laypersons,” she explains in the epilogue of the book, which she hopes will also appeal to people of a wide range of traditions. Her study guide, with each chapter starting with a Scripture reflection, traces Black history from African traditions and the transatlantic slave trade through the emergence of the Black Lives Matter Movement, which she notes “was a departure from earlier protests that arose out of the Black Church and was led by religious leaders.” The other two authors featured in the story are Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. (NBCUSA), and Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, chair of the Conference of National Black Churches and former general secretary of the NBCUSA. The article also notes that Bishop Snorton focuses explicitly on resilience as a key for the Black church’s survival and advancement over the centuries, but that theme can be found in Rev. Kimber’s and Dr. Richardson’s studies as well. Read the full story here. | | Feeding Mind, Body, and Spirit
and the Legacy of the
Rev. Dr. Jesse Louis Jackson | | Rev. Jesse L. Jackson with Bishop Donald Williams, Bread for the World | By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, NCC Governing Board Member Strategist for Pan-African, Orthodox, and
Ecumenical Faith Engagement at Bread for the World
On October 8, 1941, Jesse Louis Jackson was born to a teenage mother living below the poverty line in a tiny three-room house in Greenville, S.C.
At a 1988 presidential platform of nominations, he shared this story, explaining, “I was born in the slums,” but “the slums weren’t born in me.” He spoke of faith as the source of his mother’s vigilance in feeding, housing, and clothing him and his brother, and how we are called to do the same.
In these days of remembering the life and legacy of Rev. Jackson, we especially remember how his mission and ministry aligned with Bread’s mission to end hunger in our lifetime.
Operation Breadbasket was an important ministry that demonstrated this. It served under the motto “Your Ministers Fight for Jobs and Rights,” initiated by Dr. King during the 1966 Chicago Freedom Movement, and directed by Rev. Jackson. The program put bread on the tables of the city’s African-American families through steady jobs. Breadbasket’s efforts netted 4,500 jobs and sharply increased commerce involving Black-owned businesses. Economic gains on Chicago’s South Side amounted to $57.5 million annually by 1971.
This grassroots mobilization morphed into an economic engine of people feeding themselves and a national movement of public policy and economic development advocacy. In Bread for the World’s 2018 Hunger Report on the Jobs Challenge, we stated, “Millions of workers are paid so little that they cannot feed their families. The best, most lasting way to end hunger is to ensure that people have access to jobs that pay enough to support their families. The United States can move in the right direction by making essential improvements through legislation and policies.”
In the same report, we stated that to be successful, we must invest in people so they have access to the tools they need, and that the government plays a vital role in doing so. We pointed out that targeted investments should be made in communities with the highest hunger rates.
Bread has and is targeting investments by advocating for a safety net in its hunger justice advocacy, speaking to the systemic issues of economic and policy development. Bread partnered with Rev. Jackson in this regard. One of the ways we did this was with our AfriConferences of partnership and empowerment with Pan-African peoples. Then, and today, the United States should strengthen national nutrition programs such as school meals, summer meals, SNAP, and WIC. We believe these essential programs are related to the Farm Bill and our Nurture Our Future campaign.
Bread for the World thanks Rev. Jackson for his leadership and invites you to collaborate with us today in ending hunger with our Offering of Letters. | | Salute Selma Hosts Excellence
Awards Brunch March 8 | | Salute Selma’s Excellence Awards Brunch is a signature annual gathering that has been held for more than ten years to honor individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and impact reflect the enduring legacy of the Selma Movement. The brunch brings together civic leaders, advocates, educators, and community partners for a celebratory experience that uplifts excellence, preserves history, and inspires continued engagement in the ongoing pursuit of justice and equity.
Click here to RSVP. | | CJM to Host 'Advocacy 101' Training, March 2 | | This session will be an introduction for Creation Justice advocates who want to take their advocacy a bit further and a refresher for folks who feel a bit rusty.Together, participants will learn more about CJM's priorities, tips for advocating at the federal level, and updates on federal policy. Join CJM on March 2 at 7:00 pm ET. | | | One Home, One Future Offers Free 2026 Earth Day Tabling Kits | | In honor of Earth Day, OHOF celebrates the wonders of creation and renews our call as caretakers of this planet.
Note: All One Home One Future participants are entitled to a free 2026 Earth Day Tabling Kit.
Join One Home One Future today to reserve your Earth Day Kit! onehomeonefuture.org/join | | | Join the WSCF-US for the 2026 National Student Conference, "Study War No More," for a time of community building, interactive learning, theological deepening, worship, and much more. Learn more about this year's conference theme, schedule, speakers, and workshops here. When: April 9-12, 2026 Where: Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA (Metro Atlanta) Who: Students (undergrad & graduate), non-student young adults (18-35 yrs), campus ministers, chaplains, higher education & denominational staff, WSCF friends and alumni
Registration cost (includes meals): Students & non-student young adults: $100 Campus ministers, chaplains, higher education or denominational staff, WSCF friends & alumni: $250 + housing
Note on housing: Housing will be provided at no additional cost for students and non-student young adults traveling from outside of the Atlanta area. WSCF-US is exploring housing options for campus ministers, chaplains, higher ed and denominational staff, WSCF friends and alumni, and will provide more information as it is available. Registration Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 If you have questions about the conference or registration, please contact wscftrustees@gmail.com.
Click here to register. | | Blessed Tomorrow Seeks Hosts for National Faith and Climate Forum | | Join Blessed Tomorrow on Saturday, April 25, as a host location for the National Faith + Climate Forum, a powerful national gathering uniting people of faith to lead on climate solutions grounded in justice, hope, and spiritual courage. Host a gathering at your congregation, campus, or community space and: ✅ Experience the live-streamed national event together
✅ Participate in powerful conversations
✅ Inspire climate action rooted in faith in your community
Blessed Tomorrow makes hosting easy with a turnkey planning guide, customizable outreach materials, faith-rooted climate resources, and direct support every step of the way.
Host locations can receive up to $500, and host locations with 15+ attendees will receive preferential consideration for grants of up to $1,000 to support climate or creation care work in their communities. Register Your Location Today! | | STATE/REGIONAL COUNCIL NEWS | | North Carolina Council Offers
Free Lenten Guide | | This Lenten season, join the North Carolina Council of Churches in a journey of reflection, learning, and faithful action. Each week focuses on a theme—from mental health and farmworker justice to creation care, economic justice, immigration, and democracy—offering scripture, insights, and simple actions you can take to care for your community and the world.
These daily prompts invite participants to live their faith boldly, showing God’s love through prayer, solidarity, and action for justice. Print this guide and follow along each day, letting faith and compassion shape your Lenten journey.
Download the 2026 Lenten Guide. | | Learning to Forgive: Uniting Faith and Science | | Sunday, March 22, 3 - 5 p.m.
West Raleigh Presbyterian Church
27 Horne St, Raleigh Join a pioneer in forgiveness research, psychologist Everett Worthington, to learn both how and why people should forgive. While Scripture clearly directs us to forgive quickly and without reservation, it offers limited guidance on the process itself. Over the centuries, practical theology (i.e., the way the church puts Christian intentions into action) has developed effective ways of forgiving, but those ways don't always work. When traditional approaches fall short, evidence-based psychological methods can help. By incorporating principles from the psychology of forgiveness, you can use the REACH model—a 5-step process developed by Dr. Worthington. Forgiveness matters. It matters spiritually and impacts relationships and mental and physical health. Join the event to learn the how and why of forgiveness.
Register Here to Attend in Person or Online | | | | | Upcoming Friendship Press Release! | | | | | Newest Friendship Press Release! | | | | More from Friendship Press… |
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