Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | Ecumenical Advocates Urge SCOTUS to Maintain TPS for Haitian Immigrants | | Photos by Amanda Dowd On Tuesday, March 17, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) staff joined faith leaders and advocates from across the country for a press conference outside the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), as the justices considered whether the administration can revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants. The press conference, convened by the Georgetown Center on Faith and Justice and Faith in Action, offered a sincere witness to the case’s moral weight. Various advocates shared stories about affected families that underscored the human impact of the Court’s decision. Lifting the voices of those most affected, including children living in fear of deportation, speakers called on the nation’s leaders to act with compassion, uphold justice, and protect the dignity of Haitian families facing deportation. Among those present, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) offered words of solidarity for those calling on SCOTUS to uphold the law. Drawing on her faith, she shared, “It is really my faith that informs what I do every day, and it mandates me to be here on behalf of our neighbors.” Pressley emphasized that the decision before the Court is “a matter of fairness and conscience,” stating that terminating TPS for Haitian nationals would be “as cruel and unlawful as it is unjust.” Speakers called for the protection of Haitian families and the continued safeguarding of TPS as SCOTUS considers an emergency request to end the program. United in solidarity, faith leaders and advocates stood alongside Haitian families, urging the extension of TPS as a collective witness and expression of care. The press conference concluded with a prayer led by Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland, NCC senior associate general secretary and advocacy director, calling for accountability at the Supreme Court and continued protection for our most vulnerable neighbors. Speakers: Katie Kersh, senior attorney, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, political director, Faith in Action Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director, Haitian Bridge Alliance Viles Dorsainvil, executive director, Haitian Support
Biassu Pierre, community organizer, Haitian leader in Ohio Dr. Carl Ruby, pastor, Central Christian Church, Springfield, Ohio, G92 founder Galen Carey, vice president of government relations, National Association of Evangelicals Casey Rollins, executive director, St Vincent DePaul in Springfield, Ohio Rev. Ryan Wallace, senior pastor, Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Ohio Rev. Jim Wallis, faculty director and founder, Georgetown Center on Faith and Justice Marjory Wentworth, Springfield G92 Member Laurie Carafone, executive director, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts District 7 Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland, senior associate general secretary and advocacy director, National Council of Churches of Christ
| | CUS Hosts Hybrid Annual Meeting
in Charlotte, N.C. RETI | | From left: Tammy Wiens (NCC), Steve Osborne (Seventh Day Baptist General Conference), Beth Harrington-Hodge (Presbyterian Church, USA), Adrian V. Nelson II (African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church), Jason Hitchcock (David C. Cook), Tajuan Kyles (African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church), and John Hill (Free Will Baptist Press). Not pictured: Foluke Ola (Nigerian Baptist Convention)
On screen: Tanae Murdic (Sunday School Publishing Board, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.) and Lindsey Black (David C. Cook), CUS chair | | Above: A group of the CUS members in Charlotte, N.C.
The Committee on the Uniform Lessons Series (CUS) held its annual meeting in Charlotte, NC, at Union Presbyterian Seminary, March 16–19. Since the COVID pandemic, meetings have had a virtual option for attendance. This year, about a half-dozen members participated online.
During its annual meeting, CUS develops lesson outlines that are distributed to subscribing publishers throughout the country and around the world to create Sunday school materials for publication. During this year's meeting, in addition to outline development, the committee explored the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for its work. In reporting on the decision of the CUS Executive Committee to include the AI conversation in this year's meeting, Rev. Dr. Tammy Wiens, NCC director of Christian education and faith formation, cautioned participants, "As we embrace the possibilities that AI offers for fortifying our work, we must also hold fast to our calling as people of faith. While we are asking what this technology can do for us, we need to ask what it might cost those in our society who are most vulnerable. The same AI tools that help us refine the CUS Guide and improve our Christian education products may also be a source of widening inequality gaps worldwide. We need to move forward with open minds, but also with open eyes." The AI sessions explored the technical applications, potential pitfalls, and the ways that faith informs how believers discern their use of technology. NCC's advocacy consultant, Rev. Adwoa Rey, provided an overview of how AI is impacting the world and led the group in reflecting on how to approach the use of AI faithfully. CUS participants gained additional information from Jannis Baltuttis, a technical consultant with knk Software, LLC, who works with faith-based publishers. Baltuttis helped the group explore ways AI is affecting the publishing world and how to use the technology for their benefit. The CUS group is currently writing lesson outlines for 2029-30 and is already planning for 2032 and beyond. CUS is broadly ecumenical and includes numerous NCC member communion publishers as well as independent faith-based publishers and denominations. | | More than 60 Ecumenical Organizations Urge Congress to Oppose War Funding | | In this U.S. Navy released handout, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) fires a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile during operations in support of Operation Epic Fury, on February 28 at aea. (Photo by U.S. Navy via Getty Images) | A broad coalition of Christian and ecumenical faith organizations, including the National Council of Churches, sent a letter calling on Congress to oppose any supplemental appropriations that would fund a war with Iran.
In a joint letter signed by communions, ministries, and organizations representing multiple traditions, faith leaders warn that approving billions in additional military funding would prolong an unauthorized and dangerous conflict while placing civilians and U.S. service members at greater risk. Other denominational signers were Alliance of Baptists, Church of the Brethren, Community of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples), United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA).
Grounded in a commitment to peace, human dignity, and constitutional accountability, the signatories urge Congress to reject further war funding and instead pursue urgent diplomacy and humanitarian assistance.
Other supporters can help by calling their members of Congress and telling them: Vote NO on funding for the Iran war. And pass the Iran War Powers Resolution to prevent an unauthorized war.
People of faith across this country are speaking with one voice. Now Congress must choose peace. | | | NATI-RETI Registration
Open Until April 15 | | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, in partnership with the Canadian Council of Churches, will host the North America–Turtle Island Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute (NATI-RETI) on August 3–16, 2026, with sessions in Detroit, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Modeled after the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) organized by the World Council of Churches, NATI-RETI is a fully immersive, residential theological learning program designed as a pilgrimage across borders—bringing together emerging leaders for formation, dialogue, and shared witness.
NATI-RETI 2026 is a fully immersive residential theological learning program designed as a pilgrimage across borders — bringing together emerging Christian leaders from the United States and Canada for deep theological reflection and spiritual fellowship.
Drawing inspiration from the World Council of Churches’ Global Ecumenical Theological Institutes (GETI) — which have gathered emerging theologians in Busan, Arusha, Karlsruhe, Abuja, and Wadi El Natrun — NATI-RETI adapts this proven model of immersion and dialogue to the specific context of North America-Turtle Island.
This initiative marks a significant renewed chapter in cross-border collaboration, creating a shared platform to engage the deep intersections of faith and public life, and to nurture the visible unity of the church. The first week will be hosted by the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, and the second week by the Toronto School of Theology in Toronto. By engaging the unique religious and social landscapes of the United States and Canada, participants will explore the intersections of faith and public life while building relationships across national, confessional, and denominational lines.
NATI-RETI is designed to nurture the visible unity of the church and to emphasize the deep relatedness of justice and mission to that unity—equipping participants to reimagine the church’s witness in a polarized world. A diverse cohort of students and emerging leaders will help model the unity the ecumenical movement seeks to deepen.
For more information, visit the NATI-RETI website, or contact: Keith Swartzendruber — US co-director, NATI-RETI Keith.swartzendruber@nationalcouncilofchurches.us
Matthew Markay — US co-director, NATI-RETI Matthew.markay@nationalcouncilofchurches.us | | | EAD Gathers in Nation's Capital
April 20–22, 2026 | | This year’s event will be held in Washington, D.C. April 20-22, under the theme “Protecting People, Peace, and Planet!” This year, the nation faces massive upheaval and multiple crises. But Christians remain hopeful as we persevere in the midst of fear and uncertainty. As believers, we are called to remain true to the gospel, true to Jesus’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves. Given the many challenges we face, it is critical that people of faith come to Washington D.C. to raise our voices. Psalm 24 declares that “the Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” This psalm reminds us that we are bound to one another in responsibility and can only be human together. Be in Washington D.C., April 20–22, 2026, and draw on shared faith traditions to inspire one another and call on Congress to commit to “Protecting People, Peace, and Planet!”
Through worship, workshops, solidarity, and Congressional visits, the hope is to bring together a diverse group of Christians to remind Congress of the shared responsibility to care for all that belongs to God. Learn more at advocacydays.org. Full and partial need-based scholarships are available. | | | WCC Invites Global Ecumenical Community to Virtual
Peace Prayer March 26 | | Displaced families sit next to their tents covered with plastic sheets to shield from stormy weather, erected along Beirut's seafront area on March 20. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with intense strikes on Lebanon that have killed at least 968 people and displaced over a million, according to local authorities. (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP via Getty Images)
In a world marked by growing conflict, suffering, and uncertainty, the WCC reaffirms its calling as a fellowship of churches to stand together in prayer for peace.
As part of this commitment, the WCC is initiating a series of global prayers for peace, to bring the worldwide ecumenical community into a shared rhythm of spiritual solidarity, intercession, and hope.
Rooted in faith and grounded in the conviction that prayer is both witness and action, the initiative reflects the vocation of the churches to accompany those who suffer and to uphold the dignity of all people.
First Global Peace Prayer: The Middle East The first focus of the global prayer initiative is on the Middle East, in light of ongoing war, the destruction of lives, and the deepening humanitarian suffering affecting communities across the region.
The Global Prayer for Peace in the Middle East will be held online on March 26 at 3:00 p.m. CET (10:00 a.m. EDT), inviting churches, congregations, and other people and partners around the world to join in a shared act of prayer across traditions and contexts.
The moment of prayer responds directly to the voices of church leaders who have called for strengthened spiritual solidarity and accompaniment in this time of crisis.
Through the initiative, the global fellowship is invited not only to pray for those affected, but to pray with them—drawing from the spiritual traditions and lived faith of the churches of the region.
A common prayer resource will accompany the gathering, offering prayers from the Middle East to guide in shared moments of intercession and hope.
The WCC invites all churches and people of goodwill to take part in this ongoing commitment to prayer, bearing witness together to a shared longing for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
More WCC Stories | | | Anglicans in Cyprus and the Gulf, Caught in Iran War’s Crossfire | | A delivery bike motors along a highway as an international low coast FlyDubai aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16. Flights were gradually resuming at Dubai airport on March 16, previously the world's busiest for international flights, the airport operator said, after a "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire nearby, as Iran kept up its Gulf attacks. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) | [Episcopal News Service] The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is one of the geographically largest dioceses in the Anglican Communion, spanning from the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea to Yemen on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Much of that region is now engulfed by war.
Since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, even countries that are not parties to the conflict face constant danger and threat of destruction from airstrikes. In many of those countries, Anglicans and their faith communities are among those on heightened alert for Iran’s latest retaliatory bombardments.
“Our diocese has eight countries under attack at the moment,” the Rt. Rev. Sean Semple, bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, said in a March 19 Zoom interview with Episcopal News Service from his home in Cyprus. In recent days, Iran has struck energy infrastructure in Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Other attacks have been reported in Bahrain and Iraq. The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf has a presence in each of those countries, including one church that sustained minor damage in an airstrike.
Semple noted the great pain and peril the war has brought to the neighboring Diocese of Iran and Diocese of Jerusalem, which includes Israel. As he and other Anglicans pray for the people in those dioceses, Semple also asked for support on behalf of the people in his diocese. All people in the region are pushing to survive this turbulent time.
“We would really value their prayers at this time, and we would like them to know there are faithful Anglicans who are maintaining the faith in very difficult circumstances,” Semple said. | | | WCC Endorses Call for Access to Justice for Women and Girls | | Bishop Susan Johnson, from Canada, serves on the WCC central and executive committees. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC The World Council of Churches in its recent 30th anniversary commemoration consultation on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action noted that “gender justice cannot exist without the transformation of power” and advocated “for survivor-led pastoral ministries, and ... for legislation that upholds the dignity and protection of women and girls."
Bishop Susan C. Johnson, former national bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, attended CSW70 and represented the WCC. Bishop Johnson, who serves on the WCC central and executive committees, moderates the WCC Public Issues Committee, is a WCC Gender Justice Reference Group member, and is a Thursdays in Black ambassador, asserted: “We are experiencing pushback in so many parts of the world,” but [she is] “re-energized and inspired by being with thousands of people who are committed to gender justice” despite the challenges.
She invited everyone to “pray for all women who are marginalized and pray for strength to continue in this important work.”
Read the full story here. | | Episcopal Parish Network Webinars March 24–26 | | Upcoming Webinars… Protecting the Mission: A Practical Guide to Human-Centered Cybersecurity, March 23 @ 3:00 p.m. ET
Stop relying solely on software and start empowering your team to be your strongest line of defense. This session will offer practical strategies to transform your church’s cybersecurity from reactive troubleshooting into a proactive, people-centered culture of safety.
From Easter Guest to Belonging: Turning One Sunday into a Spiritual Home March 26 @ 3:00 p.m. ET
Webinar leaders will share practical, field-tested strategies for turning the energy of Easter Sunday into lasting connection and discipleship: how to prepare your congregation to welcome well, how to follow up in ways that feel genuinely personal rather than programmatic, and how to create clear pathways that move newcomers from a single visit into real belonging.
Interested in one or more workshops but can't attend live? Register anyway! All registrants will receive a link to the workshop recording and accompanying materials as soon as it is posted to their Webinar Library. | | 2026 Advocacy Summit, April 14–15 | | | Join the Armenian Assembly of America for the 2026 Advocacy Summit and advocate for pro-Armenian issues on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
This is an opportunity to connect with advocates from across the country and help strengthen relations between the United States and Armenia. | | | CMEP, Partners Mobilize for Joint Advocacy Summit May 5–7 | | With a regional war now in place, civilians across several countries have been killed or displaced. While the world is focused on Iran, Palestinians in Gaza continue to be killed by Israeli military operations. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers are targeting Palestinian communities with impunity. That is why Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is mobilizing 500 U.S. Christians to Washington, DC, for a faith-rooted Joint Advocacy Summit on May 5–7, 2026.
This two-day Advocacy Summit will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and courage to speak directly to their Members of Congress about U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine, and the region as a whole.
Get more information here. | | One Home, One Future Offers Free
Earth Day 2026 Tabling Kits | | In honor of Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 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 | | 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 | | STATE/REGIONAL COUNCIL NEWS | | | | Tuesday, March 24, 4 - 5 p.m. (Online) Join the Eco-Justice Connection initiative for its monthly Advocacy Forum, held every fourth Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Each session features a special guest speaker addressing key eco-justice and advocacy issues impacting North Carolina. Data Centers' Impact on North Carolina and Beyond The upcoming forum will explore the growing impact of data centers on communities across North Carolina and beyond. Featured speakers include environmental leader Amy Adams, deputy and programs director of Southeast Climate and Energy Network, and justice advocate Dr. Rania Masri, director of organizing and policy of NC Environmental Justice Network. Participants will learn about the environmental, social, and policy implications of this rapidly expanding industry.
Register here. Register He | | 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.
| | | | | Newest Friendship Press Release! | | Renaissance Woman uncovers the remarkable life and legacy of Louise E. Jefferson, a trailblazing Black creative whose work left a deep yet overlooked impact on 20th-century art and culture. As one of the first female and Black art directors in publishing, Jefferson carved out a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years, defying racial and gender barriers to run a thriving design business amid the Great Depression, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Tasheka Arceneaux Sutton explores Jefferson’s upbringing, her pivotal role in the publishing industry, and her collaborations with prominent organizations such as the NAACP, the National Urban League, and the Harlem Artists Guild.
By chronicling Jefferson's journey —from her formative years to her rise as a connected figure in the Black art community — Renaissance Woman sheds light on the longevity of Jefferson’s career and reclaims her legacy in graphic design, illustration, cartography, calligraphy, and photography. | | More from Friendship Press… |
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