Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | | | | Get the NCC Voter Empowerment Guide and Prepare for the 2026 Elections | | The 2026 Your Vote, Your Voice Voter Empowerment Guide and Toolkit are available now! Visit the Voter Empowerment Guide website to learn more about the purpose of the guide, how to use it, and download. Get your congregation fully engaged by visiting the Your Vote, Your Voice Voter Toolkit website for access to editable templates for church bulletins, social media, and church announcements.
Visit the Voter Empowerment Guide website. | | NCC Supports UCC's Annual "Youth Voices, Bold Faith" Event | | Photos: (Clockwise from left) Youth Voices, Bold Faith participants at a June 18 rally in front of the United Methodist Building; Matt Markay speaks during the panel discussion; youth engage in prayer during the rally; attendees at the panel discussion. All photos taken by Hannah Santos and Cassandra Saunders
By Matthew Markay NCC Production Coordinator | WASHINGTON, DC — This week, the United Church of Christ (UCC) Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, in collaboration with the UCC Network of Wider Church Youth Ministries (UCC-NOWCYM), hosted "Youth Voices, Bold Faith." High school-aged advocates from congregations across the country were invited to the nation's capital for an immersion in faith-based advocacy, justice, and community. Their experience included learning to advocate effectively for issues important to them and applying those skills during visits to congressional offices. The week-long program, held June 14–19, gave the students an opportunity to explore their faith while speaking truth to power and learning to navigate Capitol Hill. Their week of activities included a panel discussion featuring young professionals working in faith-based advocacy in Washington, D.C. NCC Project Coordinator Matthew Markay was among the four panelists. The progeny of a UCC pastor, Markay shared that his first experiences in advocacy came through the UCC church he attended in New Jersey. "I wish there had been a program like this when I was in high school,” he told the audience. “To be able to visit Washington, D.C. as a high school student and learn how to use your voice for justice is a wonderful experience.” Reflecting on the experience, Markay noted, “It was an honor to serve on the panel and help inspire the next generation of faith-based advocates." | | Good Trouble Lives On, July 17–19 | | Washington D.C. — In remembrance of the late Congressman John Lewis, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to engage in “Good Trouble Lives On” July 17–19, a national nonviolent nonpartisan weekend of action to resist threats against the right to the vote.
For several months, Congress attempted to force through legislation that would block millions of Americans from voting, and state legislatures have been advancing similar bills at the state level. Now, many voters will face new rules and requirements to vote in November, including new documentation requirements, changes to vote-by-mail, and more.
This year’s action is anchored by non-partisan voter engagement, civic education, and faith-based organizing, under the banner of “Teach! Reach! Preach!” The weekend will bring together grassroots organizations, legal advocates, faith leaders, and community members for a unified collective push to support one another in making our voices heard.
Information about all events is available here.
Teach: (Friday, July 17) Reach: (Saturday, July 18) Preach: (Sunday, July 19)
A core principle behind all Good Trouble Lives On events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.
Learn More about Good Trouble Lives On Here | | Armenian Assembly Kicks Off
2026 Summer Internship Program | | Top: Six of the 11 interns participating in the Armenian Assembly 2026 Summer Internship Program in Armenia. Bottom: 2026 interns with Assembly staff and the visiting Terjenian-Thomas Internship Class of 1986 alumni at the Assembly's Yerevan Office. | Yerevan, Armenia – The Armenian Assembly of America’s (Assembly) Summer Internship Program in Armenia welcomed 11 students to begin their eight-week program.
Representing Georgetown University, the University of California, Berkeley, Boston College, George Washington University, California State University, Northridge, the University of Washington Bothell, and the University of California, Los Angeles, the interns will gain valuable professional experience working in Armenia’s government institutions, private-sector companies, nonprofit organizations, and museums, while immersing themselves in daily life in Yerevan and exploring the country’s rich history and cultural ties.
“We are happy to welcome eleven bright students from some of the leading academic institutions in the U.S. for an immersive 2-month experience in Armenia,” remarked Armenia Country Director Armen Sahakyan. “The students will have a chance not only to gain valuable professional skills interning at diverse institutions, but also to meet with leaders in various sectors as well as travel throughout the country to get more closely connected and involved with the country and its people.”
The official launch of the program coincided with the visit of four alumni of the 1986 Terjenian-Thomas Internship program class — Jon Hanessian, Ruth Zeronian Edwards, Lisa A. Kazanjian, and Tanya Koshgarian Chakmakian — and their families, who traveled to Armenia to celebrate their class's 40th anniversary.
Read More Here… | | MIEMI Issues Candidate
Question Guide | | The Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration has developed a guide for posing questions to candidates for local, state, and national office. This guide will be launched during a June 25 virtual meeting. Multifaith EMI representatives will be available during July and August meetings to consult and make individual presentations to faith denominations and organizations from the congregation level to national leadership groups. Groups organizing or participating in candidate forums during the upcoming fall campaign will be able to present positions and ask a specific set of questions across six issue areas related to criminal justice reform. Then, once the guide is finalized, it will be distributed. Faith Community Staff and Leaders Invitation: Click here to register. | | Annual Starvin' for Justice
Fast and Vigil | | Are you mad enough yet? Are YOU Starvin' for Justice?
In 1972, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) struck down all death penalty laws in the country. Each of the five justices who affirmed that ruling on June 29, 1972, in Furman v. Georgia had a different primary concern. But they did not abolish or even disallow the death penalty. They just set new standards. At least, that was the idea.
Death penalty abolitionists have marked these two anniversary dates, June 29 and July 2, with the four-day Starvin' for Justice: the 33rd Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the US Supreme Court. NOTE: Those who come for the full event arrive in DC by the evening of June 28 and depart on July 3.
Get all the information at ABOLITION.ORG. | | | CJM: Navigating Pushback in Climate Preaching, June 25 | | You're taking up the prophetic call. You're telling the necessary truth. And sometimes, you're met with skepticism, discomfort, or outright resistance. Navigating congregational pushback on climate preaching is hard, but there's a solution!
Navigating Pushback in Climate Preaching is a hands-on, three-hour workshop hosted by the EcoPreacher Initiative, where you'll gain the skills and sensibilities to stay open, relational, and resilient with your community.
Through teaching, storytelling, and shared reflection, Rev. Dr. Leah Schade (Lexington Theological Seminary) and Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson (United Theological Seminary) will draw from their own experiences navigating sermon pushback. You'll engage in scenario planning and role-playing exercises to practice responding with compassion, clarity, courage, and care–alongside storytellers, preachers, and activists who are in this struggle with you. Thursday, June 25 1:00-4:00pm ET Cost: $50 (Use Code: TENOFF at checkout to save $10)
Register Here | | General Assembly Congregational Resource | | The Proclamation Project has created a General Assembly Congregational Resource to help congregations prepare for General Assembly Sunday on June 28, 2026, and the 2026 General Assembly online July 10-11, 2026.
Centered on God’s surpassing love that gathers all things together, this resource offers tools and guidance to inspire worship, conversation, and deeper engagement across the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Learn 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. | | | WCC Releases Resources for Worldwide
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2027 | | At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched, and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this special experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
WHEN: Traditionally, the week of prayer is celebrated January 18–25, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. In the southern hemisphere, where January is a vacation time, churches often find other days to celebrate it, for example, around Pentecost, which is also a symbolic date for unity.
To prepare for the annual celebration, ecumenical partners in a particular region are invited to prepare a basic liturgical text on a biblical theme. Then an international editorial team of WCC and Roman Catholic representatives refines this text to ensure that it can be prayed throughout the world, and to link it with the search for the visible unity of the church.
The text is jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the WCC, through the WCC's Commission on Faith and Order, which also accompanies the entire production process. The final material is sent to WCC member churches and Roman Catholic episcopal conferences, and they are invited to translate the text and contextualize or adapt it for their own use. | | | | As Colombia approaches the second round of its presidential elections, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting its member churches and all people of goodwill to pray for peace in the nation.
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| | | | The WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs will host a webinar, “Nuclear Disarmament in Times of Increased Militarization: The Experience from Nordic Countries,” on June 30 from 8:30 –10:30 AM EDT. It will be part of a series on regional trends with global impact, offering perspectives from the ecumenical movement.
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| | | | World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay expressed profound sorrow and deep concern following the demolition of the historic Evangelical Church in Mashhad, Iran, and regarding subsequent reports of escalating pressure directed against the Evangelical Church of Iran and its institutions.
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| | | | WCC General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, and expressed hope that a comprehensive agreement will be negotiated within the ceasefire.
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| | | | World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay expressed deep gratitude to Rev. Norbert Stephens for his service as general secretary of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
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| | | | In a statement titled “From the Proliferation of War to the Way of Just Peace: A Renewed Ecumenical Appeal,” the WCC executive committee called churches to work for peace with every means at their disposal.
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| | | | The WCC executive committee closed its online meeting on June 12 after spending five days mapping the future, praying in unity, and drawing together in hope.
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| | | | The World Council of Churches executive committee, in a statement, recognized that we are living in a time of profound ecological breakdown and deepening human suffering, tearing the interconnected design of all that God has created.
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| | | | In a statement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee lamented the shift in geopolitics that represents a serious rupture in relations and in the political context for inter-Korean cooperation for peace and for the peaceful reunification of the divided Korean people.
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| | | | WCC General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay extended greetings to the Reformed Church in America 2026 General Synod, affirming the importance of shared Christian witness, prayer, and cooperation in addressing the challenges facing the world today.
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| | | | | WCC Signs Joint Civil Society Statement on AI in Warfare | | The World Council of Churches has signed a statement on AI in warfare that calls on tech companies and states to halt the use of AI systems in military kill chains, including AI decision-support systems, target generation systems, remote biometric surveillance, and multimodal AI models such as large language models.
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| | | Eco-Diakonia Youth Hub 2026:
Global Three-month Online Training Program
May 8 — July 10, 2026 — The WCC has launched applications for the Eco-Diakonia Youth Hub, a three-month global training program designed to equip young leaders to advance climate justice and diakonia initiatives in their local contexts.
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Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, and
Management for an Economy of Life (GEM School) 2026
August 17– 28, 2026—WCC is inviting applications for the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, and Management for an Economy of Life (GEM School), August 17–28, 2026, in Panama City, Panama. Five partner organizations are joining the effort: the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, Council for World Mission, and United Society Partners in the Gospel. The 10-day program will train 20–25 church leaders to push for change in global finance.
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Season of Creation 2026: Living Waters
September 1–4, 2026—WCC calls Christians worldwide to observe the Season of Creation, September 1 — October 4, 2026. This year's theme, "Living Waters," comes from Ezekiel 47:9 and 12—a biblical vision of hope and ecological restoration.
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Faith and Genetics Course
September 14 – December 7, 2026 An 11-week “Faith and Genetics” course jointly offered from September to December by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Christian Medical College will share and discuss ethical concerns to ensure that progress in genetics serves humanity holistically and builds public trust.
Read more… | | CCA Installs Eleventh General Secretary; Honors Outgoing GS | | | | Chiang Mai, Thailand: Rev. Jung Eun ‘Grace’ Moon was installed as the Eleventh General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) in a solemn service held in conjunction with the Executive Committee meeting of CCA on June 5.
Rev. Moon succeeds Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, the Tenth General Secretary, who has led CCA since 2015 for two consecutive terms. Upon assuming office, she will become the second woman to serve as General Secretary of CCA.
The installation service, held at the CCA headquarters, was led by Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, CCA Moderator, and His Eminence Dr. Kuriakose Mor Theophilose Metropolitan, Chairperson of the CCA Program Committee.
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Ecumenical friends and organizations from around the world have sent numerous messages of greetings and best wishes to Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the CCA for two consecutive terms.
The messages, both spoken and written, reflect the deep appreciation of churches, ecumenical organizations, colleagues, and friends for an Asian ecumenist whose more than three decades of dedicated service have left a lasting impact on the ecumenical movement in Asia and globally.
To honor Dr. Chunakara’s decade of leadership as the Tenth General Secretary of CCA, an evening of fellowship and a farewell dinner was organized in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on June 2.
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| | Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) 2026 | | | | | | | | At Antioch Baptist Bible College and Seminary, summer classes are underway. Visit ANTIOCH to find out more. So that as many faith leaders as possible may attend the National Faith Leaders Summit, held at Bible Way Ministries in Atlanta, from June 29 – July 1, registration fees have been waived. This summit is specifically designed to empower you with the tools to lead impactful violence prevention efforts. Over three days, violence interrupters, youth advocates, survivors, and community leaders will gather to celebrate leadership, learn, collaborate, become equipped, and make an action plan. Final registration is this Friday, June 5. Register here. Hotel accommodations: Atlanta Airport Marriott, 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, 30337. Be sure to reserve your room by June 5 to receive the discounted rate HERE. _______________________________
SUMMA Theological Debate Society and Summer Camp is accepting registrations now. SUMMA, July 14-22, brings together high school students (entering grades 9–12) from across the country to one of the largest and most beautiful college campuses anywhere—the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. In between stimulating lectures and discussions, campers explore the domain, play sports and music, engage in arts and crafts, and forge connections with members of the Sewanee community. Working in small groups, campers research controversies, develop arguments, question claims, seek evidence, debate positions, and sharpen their skills in public speaking, listening, and critical thinking. At the end-of-camp tournament, each camper debates both the affirmative and negative positions of debate resolutions. Apply, Register, and Final Payment.
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From Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary: Wounded Ministers Retreats Wounded Ministers Retreat for Clergy and Spouses, July 13-16, 2026, and October 12-15. An experience for healing and wholeness for ministers and spouses who have experienced a forced termination from a ministry context, or who are in conflict that may lead to one.
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| | Interfaith Council of
Metropolitan Washington, DC | NBA Sent Summer Coming in June | National Benevolent Associations’s 2026 SENT Summer is coming June 21-22! Formerly the annual SENT Seminar, this year’s two-day virtual event will offer messages of inspiration and resilience from public change makers as they share personal anecdotes and frameworks that nurture endurance for those “in the HEAT of the Work” of leading social change.
The event will be held from 7:00 pm—8:00 pm ET/6:00 pm-7:00 pm CT each night. Registration is now open!
Register Here ___________________________ | | | | Grant Opportunities
Neighborhood Events Matching Funds Grant Program
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Summary: The Montgomery County Government created the Neighborhood Events Matching Funds (NEMF) program to encourage community involvement, support local growth, and strengthen the economy. Local groups such as neighborhood organizations, block groups, tenant associations, and civic clubs can apply for funding to host events and activities. Events must be open to everyone and should have a lasting positive effect on the community. You can get up to $1,000 for events happening between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The money is given on a first-come, first-served basis. Available Funds: Up to $1,000 on a first-come, first-served basis. | | | Eco-Justice Advocacy Forums: Archives and Future Events | | Eco-Justice Connection Monthly Advocacy Forum series, held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. (ET) is a space for learning, connection, and action at the intersection of faith and environmental justice. Each forum features a guest speaker engaging timely issues impacting North Carolina’s communities and ecosystems. Since launching in February 2026, NCCC has welcomed speakers from the Carolinas Clean Energy Fund, the N.C. Environmental Justice Network, the Utility Fairness Now Campaign, and the U.S. Climate Action Network. The next forum will be held on Tuesday, July 28, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. on Zoom. Register for the next EJ Forum Playlist of Previous Forums | | Faith Leaders Rally Against ICE Detention
Expansion in Raleigh | | NCCC invites you and your community to take part in A Peals for Peace, an act of public witness rooted in faith and grounded in the shared belief that every person has inherent worth. Beginning in July, faith communities, organizations, families, and individuals are invited to join together in this shared act of reflection, prayer, and hope. On the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. (expanding to weekly Mondays in September through the Monday before Election Day), participants are encouraged to ring bells for about 15 minutes as a public expression of peace and unity. All are welcome to participate: churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, community organizations, families, and individuals. Any bell or sound-making object can be used. Join the Sound. Register your congregation, organization, or household to participate. Register Here | Stronger Together, Rising Together
2-Day Virtual Learning Academy Friday, June 26 - Monday, June 29 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Online Join the Black Youth Wellness Community of Practice and Education and the North Carolina Youth Advisory Fund for a virtual academy. Participants will gain practical tools, resources, and strategies to help foster connection, strengthen protective factors, and create supportive environments where Black youth can thrive. Click here to register.
Rising Leaders for Results Fellowship The Annie E. Casey Foundation is seeking candidate recommendations and applications for its Rising Leaders for Results Fellowship, a leadership development program for emerging leaders ages 24 to 31. The Fellowship is designed for early career leaders with a commitment to promoting racial equity and pursuing results on behalf of children, youth, families, and communities. Click here to learn more about the fellowship.
NC Death Penalty 101 Monday, June 29 7 p.m.
Online Want to learn more about the death penalty in North Carolina and how you can be part of the movement for abolition? Join the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty for a one-hour virtual session offering an introduction to the issues and ways to get connected. This is a chance to ground yourself in the facts, meet others across the state committed to justice, and find your place in the movement to end capital punishment.
Click here to register. | | Clergy Virtual Seminar: Public Discipleship in
Minnesota and Its Lessons for North Carolina | | Tuesday, June 30 4 - 5:30 p.m.
Online Join the NC Council of Churches and Make NC Work for a special seminar for clergy and ordained deacons, with guest speakers from Minnesota. During this webinar, you’ll learn how entire congregations can put our values into action through a public discipleship program. You’ll hear stories from churches across the country, spanning Black churches, rural and suburban congregations, and a wide range of denominations, all coming together to live our faith out loud. Register Here | | | | | | | | | | | | | Purchase the NCC 75th Anniversary
Commemorative BIble and Save 20% Discount Code: NCC2026 | | | More from Friendship Press… |
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