| | | | | NCC Statement on US Military Action Against Venezuela | | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) grieves the loss of lives resulting from the U.S. bombing of Venezuela on Saturday, January 2, which has killed at least 40 civilians and military personnel. We hold in prayer the families who mourn, those who are injured, and all the people of Venezuela. The region now faces the widening consequences of yet another human-made global crisis. Violence of this magnitude never remains contained; it ripples outward, falling most heavily on the poor, the displaced, and the already vulnerable.
As Christians, we affirm that every human being bears the image of God. Our faith calls us to uphold human dignity and to practice justice shaped by the love of God. We are to pursue peace with courage. Acts of unwarranted aggression, violence, and domination contradict this calling and stand in direct opposition to the gospel’s demand that we seek the good of all people.
NCC therefore condemns in the strongest possible terms the United States’ bombing of Venezuela and the apprehension of its president and first lady. These actions represent an overreach of military power and undermine international law. Furthermore, it betrays the banner of moral responsibility that the United States claims to uphold in the world. Such bellicosity threatens regional stability while escalating global insecurity and placing countless innocent lives at further risk.
NCC is deeply troubled by the ongoing pursuit of regime change through military force. It is an approach that has already resulted in civilian deaths without due process or credible evidence. These actions are inconsistent with the democratic principles and constitutional commitments upon which this nation was founded.
The use of military force against Venezuela without congressional authorization is not only immoral but also unconstitutional. It does nothing to make people in the United States safer, nor does it address the root causes of violence or addiction that have been offered as justification for the invasion. Instead, it invites expanded warfare and further loss of innocent life.
Finally, we urge Congress to exercise its constitutional authority to end this unauthorized use of force. We call upon people of faith and conscience to speak and act. Contact your members of Congress to express the desire to end unjust tactics.
Peace pursued through justice is not a weakness. It is faithfulness that is lived out in the public square. | | NCC Staffers Join National Faith Leaders for “Witness at the White House,” Call for ICE Accountability | | Washington, DC — In response to the tragic and senseless shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA joined Faith in Action and faith leaders from across the country for “Witness at the White House,” a prayer vigil and press conference in Lafayette Square Park (across from the White House) on Friday, Jan. 9. Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland, NCC’s senior associate general secretary and advocacy director, along with other faith leaders, gathered to mourn the loss of life, offer prayer, and call for moral accountability and urgent action to address the ongoing abuse of power at the hands of ICE. Dr. Copeland offered a prayer of lament. The prayer vigil and press conference lifted the voices of faith communities demanding justice, healing, and policies that protect the sanctity of life and respect human dignity. Other speakers were: The Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, political director, Faith in Action (moderator) Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director, Faith in Action The Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, president, Children's Defense Fund The Rev. Julio Hernandez, executive director, Congregation Action Network The Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, senior minister, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist
Congregation and Hindus for Human Rights Dora Muhammad, theologian in residence, Faith in Public Life The Rev. Aundreia Alexander, Esq., public theologian
The Rev. Dr. Audrey Price, interim pastor, United Church of Christ, Seneca Valley, Md. The Rev. Holly Jackson, Associate Conference Minister of the United Church of Christ The Rev. Michael Neuroth, director, Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, United Church of Christ
| | | | | | | | “Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
—Isaiah 60:1 (NRSVue)
The solemnity of the Epiphany declares a truth we must hear again: God’s light does not wait for ideal conditions to shine. The star appeared, not in a season of peace, but rather in a world marked by political threat, imperial violence, and deep anxiety about the future. And still the Magi followed. They crossed borders and challenged expectations. They trusted that the light of God was sufficient to guide them through uncertainty.
Times were uncertain then, and times are uncertain now. Yet, the same light still shines, calling us to move forward in faith, not fear. We are still called to follow God’s leading even when the path is unclear.
This week (January 6, 2026), in her blog The Cottage, Diana Butler Bass writes about the “American Crucible,” recalling an awful Epiphany. The story of January 6, 2021, stands as a sobering indictment of our moment. What should have been met with accountability has been overtaken by evasion. Those who committed acts of violence have been released or pardoned by the very power that stirred them to action. What once shocked the conscience of the nation is now celebrated in the streets, as violence is recast as virtue. The disruption of the historic peaceful transfer of power is not regarded as a deviation.
Butler Bass writes, “That all of this happened on Epiphany is a spiritual and theological blow to people who take Christianity seriously, as Epiphany is the day to marvel at the revelation of God’s light in the world. It has long been one of my favorite holy days.”
Butler Bass continues, “But now, January 6 mostly reminds me that Herod is on the throne. And the light that shone for peace and good will can far too easily be obscured when the powerful control the machinations of politics, and all too willingly use violence and murder to further their own cause.”
Is it possible, as she asserts, that although Epiphany is a bright moment in the Christian calendar, it is a dark moment in American history “that has metastasized into a cancer that threatens our very survival”?
Epiphany is a not-so-gentle reminder that Christ is revealed not only in sanctuaries but also in troubled streets and anxious nations. Jesus is God’s light for all people, across cultures, races, and boundaries, interrupting systems of domination and exposing the lie that darkness has the final word.
In this season of turmoil, at home and abroad, we still must cling to this truth: The light of Christ shines precisely where the world is most unsettled. And because the light has come, we are called not to hide, but rather to live illuminated lives. We must bear witness to justice and hope even when the way forward is unclear.
Epiphany is God’s quiet insistence that revelation still happens, and guidance is still given. There are those who will keep coming, keep seeking, and return another way. Love still shows up…right in the middle of it all.
Arise! Shine! The light has not gone out!
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie | | 2026 WSCF-US National Student Conference Registration Open | | The 2026 WSCF-US National Student Conference embraces Isaiah 2:3-4 and Micah 4:3-4 as guides to "Study War No More." Inspired by the long tradition of Christian peacemakers and following the way of Jesus, WSCF-US aligns with students and young people across the U.S. and the world, courageously resisting violent injustices and the systems that perpetuate them.
Throughout the conference, students will be encouraged to take up the biblical charge to learn war no more in fellowship with young Christians from around the US and the world.
Conversation facilitated through panels, action-oriented workshops, worship, and small groups will aim to deepen commitments to active resistance against violence, fear, and oppression. Students will leave more deeply rooted in their faith and ready to live prophetically to transform churches and the world. The conference will be hosted at Columbia Theological Seminary in metro Atlanta, April 9-12. | | OHOF Offers Free Green Teams Guide | | One Home One Future's step-by-step Green Teams Guide provides practical advice to help you establish or sustain a successful team dedicated to implementing green initiatives within local congregations. Join One Home One Future today to access free Green Teams resources! onehomeonefuture.org/join | | Interfaith Reparatory Justice Table to Present 'Hidden Histories' Virtual Event | | | | SU to Host 'Leading from the Core: Challenges and Courage Today' Webinar | | The Seattle University Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement will host a webinar featuring panelists from L.A. to Seattle, sharing perspectives on navigating today's challenges in religious leadership. Participants will explore leadership from a core of courage and wisdom.
🗓️ Date: Jan. 12, 2026 ⏰ Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
🌐 Location: Virtual on Zoom 🎫 Registration: FREE
| | NEWorks Productions Announces 'Just Like Selma'
Hymn-sing Project! | | In February 2026, NEWorks is inviting congregations and choirs nationwide to join the ‘Just Like Selma’ Hymn-sing Project in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, founded in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
Imagine 100+ congregations and choirs across the nation uniting in worship through the singing of a new social justice hymn.
A National PSA & Hymn-sing Project As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, NEWorks Productions is launching phase two of its Freedom Advances campaign, an expansive civic initiative that confronts the unfinished promise of American democracy. Central to this phase is a new work that spotlights the Civil Rights Movement’s power to reshape the nation: Just Like Selma.
On “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965, the nation recoiled in horror as state troopers brutally attacked peaceful protestors on Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge.
This history will be illumined anew through Just Like Selma, a stirring new social justice hymn inspired by King's ‘How Long, Not Long’ speech delivered on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol 60 years ago. Composed by Nolan Williams, Jr, the hymn echoes the sounds of Black church devotional songs and Civil Rights anthems. It will be released in time for the MLK national holiday in January 2026.
That release will be followed by the "Just Like Selma" Hymn-sing Project, engaging more than 100 churches, chapels, and choirs across the nation to program the hymn as part of their Black History Month observances. Just Like Selma is a call to remembrance and an urgent reminder that the work of perfecting our democracy is unfinished.
As new generations face renewed battles over democracy, access, and equality, Just Like Selma is a reminder that the courage and strategy of those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge remain urgently relevant.
Click HERE for more information and to register.
Listen to a sound clip HERE. | | STATE/REGIONAL COUNCIL NEWS | Lent for Action: Clergy Recruitment Call | | Lent for Action: Clergy Recruitment Call Tuesday, January 13, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Online This is the second of two calls about Lent for Action before the program begins on Jan. 22. As rising authoritarianism takes hold in our national and state politics, we see familiar and harmful patterns emerging: immigrants and low-income families targeted, the public good dismantled through cuts to schools, healthcare, SNAP, and more, and division sown through fear and cruelty. As pastors, ministers, and lay leaders, we know this moment calls for more than thoughts and prayers. It calls for faithful courage — for standing together and guiding our communities through uncertainty toward hope, care, and justice. Interested parties are invited to participate in a virtual clergy call to action on January 13 (via Zoom) in preparation for Lent for Action, beginning January 22. Together, participants will: Share updates on how these threats are impacting North Carolinians Outline a Lent and Palm Sunday plan to make faith visible in public life Equip leaders with tools for preaching, listening, and collective action
Register Here | | | | Advocating with Compassion Webinar Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Online Join the North Carolina Council of Churches for an informative webinar that equips people of faith with the tools, confidence, and spiritual grounding needed to connect with elected representatives on caring for creation and advocating for a fair and affordable energy system. Rev. Susannah Tuttle, director of the NCCC's Eco-Justice Connection, will facilitate this virtual training, offering practical guidance grounded in faith and ecological ethics. The information will be relevant to both new advocates as well as those already engaged. This faith-rooted approach advocates for climate issues and environmental justice.
Register Here | | NCCC Offers Congregations Free Immigration Support Toolkit | | With recent increases in immigration enforcement activities, many in our communities are feeling heightened fear and uncertainty. As people of faith, we are called to respond with compassion, courage, and care. Our Congregational Immigration Response Toolkit offers practical, ready-to-use resources to help your congregation show up for immigrant neighbors. Inside, you’ll find: Talking points for faith leaders Worship and liturgical materials Scripture references rooted in justice and welcome Concrete steps your community can take right now
This toolkit is designed to support you in worship, study, advocacy, and community action—anytime, and especially now. | | | Peace Fellowship Church Calls Prayer Guard to Surround DC with Prayer | | | | | | | New from Friendship Press! | | Roots of Resilience: Black History Through the Eyes of Faith $19.99 Roots of Resilience: Black History Through the Eyes of Faith is a transformative guide designed to empower churches and communities to teach Black History with confidence and conviction. At a time when public education faces challenges in preserving these vital narratives, this resource places the stories of Black Americans within the context of faith, resilience, and justice.
Grounded in biblical principles, Roots of Resilience connects historical struggles and triumphs to the ongoing call for equity and love in action. Readers, congregations, and small groups alike will discover how understanding the past can illuminate the path toward a better future. | | More Releases from Friendship Press… |
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