| | | | | | | | | ARE YOU FOLLOWING NCC ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Check out our social media accounts for NCC updates! | | | | | NCC Condemns Big 'Brutal' Bill Passage | | “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,” says the LORD. WASHINGTON, DC — The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) condemns the passage of the abhorrent budget bill that enriches the wealthy at the expense of the vulnerable. We are grieved by the suffering that will come as people are denied access to health care, food, and other needed safety net services. The effects of this bill are detrimental. On average, over the next 10 years, 51,000 people will die annually because of cuts to Medicaid and subsidies to make health insurance more affordable. The poorest taxpayers will lose resources while those who already live comfortably will receive more over the next decade. Because of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which would be more aptly called the Big Brutal Bill, student loans will be more expensive, and consumer protections will be lost. An estimated $3.3 trillion will be added to the national debt, and the costs to finance that debt will rise. The negative impacts were detailed in numerous reports from the Congressional Budget Office and other non-partisan research, yet both houses of government passed the bill, albeit by slim margins. These effects do not even factor in the devastating impact of cuts to environmental programs, increased military spending for weapons of war, mired in cost overruns and delays while doing nothing to make Americans safer. Disappointingly, Congress has found funds to ensure the mass incarceration and deportation of immigrants and asylum seekers who only hope to live unafraid in peace and have a means to support their families and contribute to their communities. NCC pledges to be relentless in its efforts to rescind the most destructive parts of this legislation in hopes of mitigating its impact on the most vulnerable people in our communities. Further, we will continue to live out the biblical call to defend the rights of and speak up for the most vulnerable among us. | | | Getting Ready for Action: “Good Trouble Lives On” Pre-Day Webinar July 15 | | The Faithful Democracy coalition, in connection with the "Good Trouble Lives On Day of Action," is hosting a legislative education webinar on July 15, in preparation for the national day of action two days later. On July 17, communities across the country will rise up in nonviolent action for Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action, to honor the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis — and to continue his fight to protect the sacred right to vote. As of Wednesday, July 9, there were 1000 events scheduled on July 17, where people can take action across the country. In preparation for this national day of action, Interfaith Alliance and a powerful interfaith coalition for a critical conversation. This webinar will ensure participants are grounded in the legacy being carried carrying forward — and the urgent legislation being demanding, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the SWIFT VOTE Act. Participants in the pre-day webinar include: Reverend Moya Harris, Director of Racial Justice, Sojourners Talya Steinberg, Associate Director, Government Relations & Advocacy National Council of Jewish Women Minister Christian Watkins, Justice Systems and Democracy Reforms, and Reparations Government Relations Advocate, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice Reverend Dr. Monica Spencer, Interim Georgia State Director, VoteRiders Special guests from the offices of Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-5) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30).
| | Congressional Briefing and Advocacy Washington, D.C., July 16 – 17 | | You are invited to attend a Congressional Briefing on “Democratic Backslide in India: Persecution of Minorities and Human Rights Defenders,” on Thursday, July 17, at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, 12:00–2:00 PM. (Room details will be shared upon registration.) This event is hosted by Genocide Watch, Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council, New York State Council of Churches, World Against Genocide, and The Religious Nationalisms Project (TRNP) The briefing will feature: Prof. Nicolas Levrat, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Ed O’Donovan, Senior Advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Annie Boyajian, President, Freedom House Rep. Andy Levin, Former Congressman representing Michigan’s 9th District Participation from a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and other civil society leaders is also anticipated.
Prof. Levrat is traveling from Geneva, Switzerland, and Mr. O’Donovan from Dublin, Ireland.
This briefing presents a rare opportunity to interact closely with two leading UN officials responsible for addressing human rights issues. The audience will include members of Congress, their staff, and civil society leaders, making this an important opportunity for faith voices to be present and actively engaged in the conversation.
The program will include a briefing in the first hour, followed by lunch and an open Q&A discussion in the second hour, allowing space for dialogue and deeper engagement.
Please RSVP by filling out this link. Once you RSVP, you will receive the room number and location on Capitol Hill, which is still being determined. | | | Metropolitan Mar Aprem, Chaldean Syrian Church and Indian Ecumenical Leader, Passes at 85 | | Chiang Mai, Thailand—The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) mourns the passing of Metropolitan Mar Aprem, former Head of the Chaldean Syrian Church (Church of the East) in India. He was 85 years old.
Widely recognized as a distinguished scholar, historian, and prolific author, Dr. Mar Aprem served as the spiritual head of the Church of the East in India for more than half a century, until 2023.
He was an active and respected figure in the ecumenical movement, contributing meaningfully to the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia.
Throughout his life, Dr Mar Aprem was a committed ecumenist, serving as an official delegate of the Church of the East at various international ecumenical conferences, including the WCC Assemblies. He served on committees of various national and international ecumenical bodies.
For decades, Dr Mar Aprem held consecutive roles on various committees of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and served as a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA).
The Chaldean Syrian Church of India is an Eastern Christian denomination based in Thrissur, India. It is part of the greater Assyrian Church of the East and is organized as an Archdiocese (See of India). It represents the part of traditional Christian communities that follow the East Syriac Rite in the Malabar region of India. | | | FACE Hosts Second First Ladies’ Lumiere | | Faith and Community Empowerment hosted its second First Ladies' Lumiere at the One Event Venue in Los Angeles on May 18, in celebration of Asian Heritage Month and Mother's Day. This special evening was dedicated to honoring the often unsung heroes of the church—pastors' wives, lovingly referred to as "First Ladies," whose quiet strength and tireless service lift up entire communities.
The evening was hosted by emcees, FACE CEO Hyepin Im and Comedian PK Kim. More than 40 first ladies joined in the celebration, alongside keynote speaker CA Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA., and guest, Councilmember Jorge Herrera Avila.
For more information, click on the following Links: | | News Story: Moral Mondays and the Work of Rev. William Barber | | Recently, The Guardian news site featured an online profile on Rev. William Barber, II, founder of Repairers of the Breach, and Moral Mondays, a series of weekly nonviolent protests that channel the civil rights tradition, the faithful rally to end poverty and injustice. Excerpts and a link to the full article are below.
“When politicians and priests bless policies that hurt the poor,” Barber said, “that’s when the prophets have to rise.” For Barber, this is the prophet’s role: to expose, to indict and to force a moral reckoning in the public square. The structure of his movement’s actions, the insistence on grounding resistance in both scripture and strategy, is shaped by a long religious protest tradition in the US.
Barber’s protest is grounded not in outcome, but in obligation. He’s asked: what will you do with the breath you have left? For Barber, that’s not just a question. It’s a way to keep moving. “This country gets amnesia,” he told me. “We forget. That’s why prophetic work is not about a moment. It’s about building a memory that resists the lie.” Even though he’s become a brand, he’s trying to build a witness. “I don’t want people to follow me, I want them to follow the truth,” he said.
“Prayer,” he likes to say, “is never the end of protest. It’s the beginning of a demand.” That day in the rotunda, his prayer echoed through marble. Maybe it reached no one. Maybe it moved someone. But it was heard.
That’s the point of prophecy. Not certainty. Witness. | | | President Establishes
Religious Liberty Commission | WASHINGTON — President Trump signed an executive order on May 1, 2025, establishing a new Religious Liberty Commission tasked with investigating threats to religious freedom and developing strategies to strengthen faith-based protections across America.
The 14-member commission will examine what the administration describes as emerging challenges to religious liberty, including alleged discrimination against faith-based organizations, restrictions on religious education choices, and exclusion of religious groups from government programs.
The commission's mandate covers a broad range of religious liberty issues, from First Amendment rights of pastors and religious leaders to conscience protections in healthcare.
Three advisory boards will support the commission's work: one comprising religious leaders, another of lay congregation members, and a third of legal experts led by the Attorney General. The Department of Justice will provide funding and administrative support for the initiative.
The commission has been directed to produce a comprehensive report examining the foundations of religious liberty in America, current domestic threats to faith-based freedoms, and recommendations for preserving religious protections for future generations. The group will also advise the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council on religious liberty policies.
Chaired by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and vice-chaired by Dr. Ben Carson, the commission is designed to include members from various religious backgrounds and professional fields. Some prominent members include: Bishop Robert Barron: Catholic Bishop and media personality. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Orthodox rabbi.
Commission members will serve without compensation through July 4, 2026 — the 250th anniversary of American Independence — though the president may extend the group's term. The timing appears designed to coincide with the nation's semiquincentennial celebrations. The initiative comes amid ongoing national debates over the balance between religious freedom and other civil rights protections.
Religious liberty advocates have praised the commission's establishment, while civil rights organizations have expressed concerns about potential conflicts with anti-discrimination protections. | | | Join Critical Conversations, Monday, July 14 | | These dialogues concentrate on critical issues and concerns of clergy, the community, and beyond—focusing on topics that impact people most, due to their breadth, scope, and seriousness. The Monday, July 14, conversation takes on the Project 2025 Aftermath. How will (do) we counter the defunding of our educational system? Register at https://bit.ly/CCProject2025Aftermath1 (case sensitive) or, watch the livestream on Facebook or YouTube (@proctorconference). | | | Join OHOF for Plastic-Free July Resources! | | People of faith are called to make mindful decisions about the products they use! Join One Home One Future for access to a free checklist to reduce plastic use in your congregation and home, along with a collection of other Plastic-Free July resources! Join One Home One Future today! | | |
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