| | | | | | Registration for NCC's
75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Is Open! | | | | ARE YOU FOLLOWING NCC ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Check out our social media accounts for NCC updates! | | | | Exposing the ‘BBB’: NCC, Partners, and Advocates Take Their Voices to Capitol Hill | | Several NCC staffers and partner ministries, including NETWORK, Sojourners, and Repairers of the Breach, gave an indefatigable effort to exposing the massive cuts to safety net programs buried in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, prior to its approval by both houses of Congress. Their efforts included press releases and social media pushes to followers to reach out and urge legislators to vote against the bill, live streams, webinars, and prayer vigils. Bishop Vashti McKenzie, NCC president and general secretary, Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, NCC associate general secretary and advocacy director, Matt Markay, NCC project coordinator, and Rev. Adwoa Rey, NCC advocacy consultant, were an ongoing presence on Capitol Hill, along with countless other agencies and advocates, in the days leading up to the votes. Despite the bill’s passage by both houses and being signed by President Donald Trump, advocacy groups remain committed to on-the-ground efforts to reduce the BBB's impact on those most vulnerable. | | | | | | | | | | Sullivan Participates in 10th Fast and Vigil | | | The Annual Starvin' for Justice Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty takes place every June 29 to July 2, in front of the US Supreme Court building. Participants from across the United States and beyond set up tables on the sidewalk in front of SCOTUS to distribute literature and engage passersby in conversation about why the death penalty should be repealed. NCC Governing Board member and executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr., has participated in the Fast and Vigil since 2015. His involvement is his way of honoring his younger sister, Jennifer Ann McCoy, who was shot to death in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1997. Sullivan provides leadership to the Ohio Council of Churches Death Penalty Abolition Team and is board chair of Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing, a national murder victim families-led anti-death penalty organization. Journey’s members include death row exonerated persons, relatives of executed persons, family members of people currently on death row, and people of goodwill who want to stop executions. Reflecting on his faith-driven, 39-year involvement in the anti-death penalty movement, Sullivan remarked, “We are not anti-accountability for those fairly convicted. We are just anti-death. The death penalty does not honor those slain. Instead, it functions as a hollow instrument of death that offers no healing, no restoration, no redemption, and no closure. There is no such thing as closure for murder victims’ families. It mirrors the human-caused, elective, and therefore preventable death practices that claimed our loved ones.” He went on to say, “Inasmuch as Jesus, unmasking hypocrisy, interrupted an execution, and invested in human transformation, I believe we who identify as his followers are called to do the same.” Sullivan has received recognition for his efforts to abolish the death penalty from various organizations, including the State of Ohio Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and Restorative Justice International.
The annual vigil is sponsored by the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) is an ad-hoc group of individuals committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty through nonviolent direct action. The primary focus of the AAC is engaging people outside U.S. Supreme Court, most notably with two events: the annual fast and vigil to abolish the death penalty, and an action of non-violent civil disobedience held on January 17 every five years to mark the anniversary of first US execution in the modern era of the death penalty.
Video footage is available on the Death Penalty Action Facebook page. | | Sullivan with other Starvin' for Justice Fast and Vigil participants in front of the SCOTUS building in Washington, DC. Photo by Matthew Markay. | | Bishop Anthony Offers Meditation
on the Nicene Creed's Significance | | This year, Christians around the world mark the remarkable milestone of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. This ancient statement of faith was first proclaimed in ad 325 at the First Council of Nicaea, a gathering that would forever shape the future of Christianity.
This new creed boldly affirmed that Jesus Christ is the “true God from true God,” of the same essence as the Father. It drew clear lines regarding the nature of the Trinity and laid the foundation for what Christians would believe for generations to come. Over time, the words of the Creed echoed in church liturgies, shaping not just theology, but also culture, art, and the very identity of Christian communities.
Across various denominations, the Nicene Creed remains a common touchstone. The 1700th anniversary is far more than an occasion for looking back. It is a call to renewal—a chance to reaffirm faith, to celebrate unity, and to envision a future shaped by the enduring truths first spoken in Nicaea so many centuries ago.
During the May Governing Board Meeting in Alexandria, Maryland, His Grace Bishop Anthony of Synada, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, offered a meditation on “The Significance of the Nicene Creed.”
The transcript of his presentation has been posted to NCC’s website. | | | CBPP Shows How the ‘BBB’ Will Hurt Americans Most | | | | 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! | | | An Urgent Appeal for Protection and Safe Passage for Christians in Syria | Grace and peace in Christ our Lord, I write to you not only on my behalf but in the name of all Syrian Christians who remain steadfast in faith amidst persecution. We bear the cross of fear and hope in a land that has become increasingly hostile to our mere existence. On Sunday, June 25, 2025, a heinous terrorist attack shattered our hearts: the bombing of St. Elias Church in the Douilaa neighborhood of Damascus during Mass. This brutal act claimed the lives of six faithful, including women and children, injured dozens more, and devastated a historic sanctuary of peace in the Syrian capital. This atrocity is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign of religiously motivated violence, discrimination, and existential erasure of Syria’s Christian community. Over the past 14 years of conflict, our churches have faced attack, our families forced to flee, and our presence on this land threatened with extinction. We urgently appeal to you, leaders of the Christian faith in the West, to help us in these critical ways: Advocate for the creation of internationally supervised humanitarian corridors, enabling safe passage for Syrian Christians trapped in conflict zones—should international protective forces fail to deploy swiftly. Call for the deployment of international protection forces to ensure Christian communities can live securely in their homeland, free to worship and participate in a democratic Syrian society. Issue an Emergency Plea to the UN Security Council, urging a prompt resolution to halt ongoing violence against Christians—recognizing these actions as crimes against humanity and religious cleansing. Mobilize ecumenical solidarity across global Christian denominations, especially in Europe and Latin America, to amplify pressure and support for our survival and dignity.
We are not seeking privilege; we are beseeching protection so our children can grow up here, and so the churches built by our ancestors will not fall silent forever. With faith unwavering, even in suffering, Your brother in Christ, A member of the Syrian Christian community (On behalf of the faithful in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Hassakeh, Maaloula, and Beyond) | | | Series: MLK’s Letter from
Birmingham Jail | Black Voters Matter and The King Center invite you to a powerful new series: MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail: A Prophetic Guide to Power, Love, Protest, and Liberation | | About the Series This series will consist of virtual and in-person workshops created for change makers of all kinds: activists, students, faith leaders, organizers, educators, and anyone committed to the pursuit of justice. Rooted in the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, each session blends rich historical context with real-world tools and strategies to equip you for today’s urgent struggles. This is more than a learning experience; it’s a call to action!
Event Schedule May 29: Virtual • June 28: Hybrid • August 23: Hybrid • September 11: Virtual • October 25: Hybrid • November 13: Virtual
All sessions are free and open to the public. Virtual events will be hosted online; hybrid events welcome both in-person and remote attendees. Register in advance to reserve your spot and receive event updates. | | | | |
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