Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | | Application Deadline Extended to May 31 | | | About RETI… RETI (Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute) is a dynamic, cross-border leadership initiative designed for students and emerging leaders under age 45, offering a transformative immersion in ecumenism, theology, and public witness across the United States and Canada.
Grounded in the conviction that the future of the Church transcends denominational, geographic, and cultural boundaries, RETI equips participants to engage faith in action within a complex and interconnected world.
Through a binational experience, participants encounter diverse Christian traditions, engage leading theologians and practitioners, and explore the Church’s role in addressing critical global challenges such as migration, peacebuilding, racial justice, and climate change.
RETI fosters deep theological reflection alongside practical engagement, enabling participants to develop a holistic understanding of what it means to live out a shared Christian witness in today’s context.
The program integrates ecumenical immersion, theological formation, justice-oriented advocacy, cross-cultural dialogue, and leadership development. Participants build meaningful relationships across borders and traditions while strengthening their capacity to lead with integrity, courage, and a commitment to unity and justice.
RETI is more than a program—it is a formative experience that prepares a new generation of leaders to serve as bridge-builders in the Church and agents of transformation in the world. | | | | | | NCC Responds to SCOTUS Ruling
on Voting Rights Act | | The sun rises above a facade of the U.S. Supreme Court building on March 31, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)r
“Woe to those who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes...” Isaiah 10:1 NRSVue
For Immediate Release April 29, 2026
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) voted (6-3) to eviscerate a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that has been a critical tool to protect the vote for people of color in our country for decades.
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has a long history of fighting for our democracy and voting rights that honor the God-given dignity and worth of each person, and strongly denounces this decision by SCOTUS. This ruling dismantles Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district, rolls back federal protections for voters of color, and continues the trend of limiting the federal government’s ability to prevent discriminatory voting practices.
Enacted in 1965 as a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act transformed American democracy by expanding access to the ballot box for Black voters and curbing entrenched, systemic voter suppression. For decades, the law has served as a safeguard to ensure that historically marginalized communities have an opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, this ruling is especially egregious and undermines the nation’s values and the promise of having a thriving democracy.
The Supreme Court’s decision falsely claims fidelity to the law while stripping it of its power. By invalidating a district created to reflect Louisiana’s racial and political diversity and comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court decision silences voices that the Voting Rights Act was designed to uplift. Such an action does not restore our democracy; it wounds it. At a time when the nation should be working to strengthen representation and public trust, this decision moves us backward.
Undoubtedly, the consequences of this decision reach far beyond Louisiana. It risks opening the floodgates for states to pursue aggressive redistricting strategies that dismantle majority Black and Latino districts and erase political power from communities that continue to be pushed to the margins.
As the nation moves towards the 2026 midterm elections, this ruling may be used to justify renewed efforts to manipulate electoral maps, weaken voting rights protections, and entrench political power at the expense of fairness and representation.
As people of faith, we cannot remain silent in the face of this injustice. When laws are twisted to exclude rather than protect, and when courts sanction the erosion of hard-fought rights, our moral responsibility is clear. The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA calls on lawmakers, faith communities, and all people of conscience to remain vigilant and committed to defending the fundamental right to vote.
Just as during the Civil Rights Movement, NCC is unwavering in our resolve to demand that our courts, laws, policies, and practices reflect the promise of America, democratic values, and the human dignity and worth of all people. Note: The implications of this decision are not limited to Black and Latino districts; they extend to majority-minority districts more broadly, reflecting the Voting Rights Act’s protections for racial and language minority communities—including Black, Latino, Asian American, and Native American voters—and the potential impact on their collective voting power nationwide. Historical NCC Statements about Voting and Civil Rights
NCC Policy Base | | NBCUSA Issues Statement on Supreme Court Voting Rights Act Ruling | | | NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 29, 2026 — The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA), under the leadership of President Boise Kimber, releases the following statement regarding the recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States impacting key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., expresses deep concern over this ruling, which further narrows federal protections designed to safeguard voters, particularly those in historically marginalized communities, from discrimination in the electoral process. For generations, the Voting Rights Act has served as a critical guardrail, ensuring that access to the ballot is not determined by race, geography, or political manipulation. This latest decision threatens to weaken those guardrails at a time when many communities are already navigating shifting district lines, changes in voting procedures, and increased barriers to participation. When voting protections are weakened, the collective voice of these communities risks being diluted, making it more difficult for our congregations to advocate for the very needs they are called to address through ministry and service. “The right to vote is not just a political issue; it is a moral imperative. When access to the ballot is compromised, it is not just policy that is affected; it is people. It is families. It is futures. As people of faith, we are called to stand in the gap and ensure that every voice has the opportunity to be heard.” - President Dr. Boise Kimber Call to Action The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., calls upon its member churches, pastors, and community leaders to: Increase voter education efforts within congregations and communities Strengthen partnerships with civic and legal organizations working to protect voting rights Encourage active participation in local, state, and national elections Advocate for legislation that restores and protects equitable access to the ballot
We must remain vigilant, informed, and engaged. Our faith compels us not only to pray for justice, but to pursue it. | | Trump Administration Issues Statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day | | A woman waves an Armenian flag from an apartment building overlooking a rally in 2023 in Los Angeles to commemorate the anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Washington, D.C. – President Donald J. Trump issued a remembrance statement on the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which commemorates the Meds Yeghern and recalls the suffering endured by the Armenian people. The historical record is clear: the Armenian Genocide is a documented fact, affirmed by the United States through Congress, the courts, President Ronald Reagan, President Joe Biden, and all 50 states.
On this solemn occasion of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, the Armenian Assembly of America honors the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians systematically destroyed by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915, and stands with survivors’ descendants in reaffirming historical truth, justice, and vigilance against renewed atrocities.
The Assembly is deeply concerned that the failure to clearly affirm the Armenian Genocide is contributing to a climate of impunity at the very moment Armenian Christian heritage in Artsakh is under renewed assault. As international attention is absorbed by war in the greater region, Azerbaijan is accelerating the erasure of Armenian churches and cultural presence in Nagorno-Karabakh — a reality that underscores why historical truth must be defended clearly and consistently. The report of the utter destruction of the Mother Cathedral of Stepanakert exceeds the basest practices of vandalism and warrants the strongest condemnation.
The United States has already established its record on the Armenian Genocide. The issue is not whether that record exists, but whether U.S. leaders will uphold it with the clarity that this solemn day demands. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
Read more here. | | Church of the Brethren News | | | A new home is being built by Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers in Henderson County, N.C., for a Hurricane Helene survivor. Photo by Donald Pohlman | Brethren Disaster Ministries Serves Hurricane Helene and Western Maryland Storm Survivors
By Sharon Franzen and Kim Gingerich of Brethren Disaster Ministries
The Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) Rebuilding Program is transitioning toward recovery from 2024's Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, serving survivors in Ashe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties.
For over three years, beginning in October 2022, BDM ran short- and long-term projects in Kentucky. The projects responded to devastating flooding in July 2022 in the south and southeastern part of the state, and to tornadoes that hit western Kentucky in the Dawson Springs area in December 2021.
With the closing of the Letcher County, Ky., project in partnership with HOMES, Inc., at the end of March, BDM moved its projects to North Carolina.
Read more here. | | | ‘I Object! Now What?’ Virtual Event on Conscientious Objection, May 17
“I Object! Now What? (Opposing War and the Things that Make for War)” is a virtual event offered by On Earth Peace for youth and young adults who are affected by Selective Service registration and who would be subject in the eventuality of a military draft.
outh groups and their adult advisors, young adult Sunday school classes, and any other youth and young adults who feel they would benefit are invited to participate.
The program will be scheduled as a virtual workshop on Sunday, May 17, with times to be determined. RSVP by May 12 to express interest in attending the program, and On Earth Peace will respond to schedule a time.
Read more here. | | | Free Worship Series Helps Churches Nurture Faith at Home
The Shine curriculum has released an all-ages resource centered on six key faith practices, in order to help congregations cultivate meaningful faith practices in the home.
The six practices—talk, pray, celebrate, serve, learn, and worship—are simple, repeatable actions designed to help families integrate faith into daily routines. By focusing on these rhythms, churches can empower households to live out their faith beyond Sunday morning.
Shine is jointly produced by Brethren Press and MennoMedia. Order curriculum products from Brethren Press at www.brethrenpress.com.
Read more here. | | | Bethany Seminary Co-sponsors Virtual Lecture on Black Activists and Freedom Seekers
Bethany Theological Seminary is co-sponsoring a virtual lecture by Nick Patler, titled “Taking Charge of Destiny: Black Activists and Freedom Seekers in Wayne County’s Underground Railroad” on Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m. (CT).
Find the full release here. | | | Blessed Tomorrow to Host Faith + Climate Film Series | | Answer the call to care for creation together. 🌍🙏 Watch Blessed Tomorrow’s Faith + Climate Film Series to ground climate action in faith and bring meaningful conversation into your community.
Each 20-minute video comes with a FREE discussion toolkit featuring scripture, prayer, reflection questions, and practical actions you can take right away. Use the series to lead a study, engage youth, train congregants, or inspire faithful action in your congregation.
👉 Watch the series. Join the conversation. Share with your community. | | | CJM to Premiere Documentary: Fighting for Higher Ground in Detroit | | Next month, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM) will premiere a documentary about their work in Detroit. Two congregations there — Scott Memorial United Methodist Church and Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church — are turning vacant lots into community gardens, confronting illegal dumping, and building a model of faith-rooted environmental justice from the ground up. With support from Creation Justice Ministries and the Thriving Earth Exchange, these churches aren't waiting for change to come but are being the catalyst for change to take root in their community. This is one way the journey to a thriving creation looks. If hearing this story excites you, join CJM for a screening of the Detroit story on Monday, May 11, at 7:00 pm ET. Click here to join. | | | | Use this resource to deepen your congregation’s commitment to creation justice. Each week highlights a creation justice idea for action or reflection for yourself and your community. Every month, CJM will include a bulletin insert for you to print and share with your church. Download the entire year by clicking here. | | | WCC and Faith Partners Sponsor Symposium, May 5 | | The hybrid event, with limited in-person participation, will be held at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York. Simultaneous interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and sign language will be available during the Zoom webinar.
Sponsoring organizations include: World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church, International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation, Islamic Relief USA, Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue-Jewish Theological Seminary, Soka Gakkai International, Lutheran World Federation, and United Religions Initiative, in cooperation with the United Nations Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development and its Multi-Faith Advisory Council.
Following the Multilateral Agenda The annual symposium was first launched in 2015 as a standing public square for dialogue among faith actors, UN entities, and member states. The symposium’s inaugural focus was on human dignity and human rights.
The 12th Symposium aims to assess the state of multilateral cooperation through a shared normative lens; take stock of current dynamics affecting international cooperation; consider a UN “fit for purpose;” explore ongoing and proposed reforms; highlight core values and the indispensable partnership of civil society and faith‑based actors; and affirm the enabling conditions requisite for effective multilateral action. | | WCC General Secretary: “We Are Co-Pilgrims….” | | Photo: Gregoire de Fombelle/WCC | During an opening address on April 28 to the “Working Together” meeting at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay underscored that collaboration is not a luxury but essential for working in today’s crisis-ridden world.
“If we do not seek collaboration, we are going to take the world into even greater crisis,” he said.
Working Together has drawn 36 specialized ministries representatives to share about challenges, opportunities, and direction; to strategize together; and to find paths of collaboration.
“One part of the world affects the other part of the world,” continued Pillay, naming war, the climate emergency, displacement, and inter-religious tensions as just a few of many global challenges.
He emphasized the importance of working with young people, particularly in contexts that are increasingly secularized. “We need to listen to what young people say, and we need to work with them,” he said.
Pillay noted that all the issues in which the WCC and its partners are engaging are part of the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. “We are all pilgrims, and we are all co-pilgrims along the way,” he said.
“Our relationship is built on our mission together,” he said. “We need to move from dialogue to common action.”
Pillay shared that collaboration asks: Who does what, and who does what better—or best?
“We come because we are called by Christ to go into the world and make the world a better place,” he said. “That’s our job: to work together.”
He also shared an update on the Green Village project, the redesign of the WCC, and the plans already underway for the WCC 12th Assembly in 2030.
Read more: | | WCC Webinar to Focus on 'Role of the Church in Times of War' | | As the Middle East continues to face protracted conflicts, humanitarian crises, and deep social and economic disruption, communities across the region are affected by displacement, loss of livelihoods, limited access to essential services, and growing vulnerability.
In these same contexts, churches and church-related organizations have consistently played a vital role as service providers and community anchors, often remaining present where other systems have collapsed or are inaccessible.
On Thursday, May 7, at 2.00 p.m. ET, a webinar titled “Role of the Church in Times of War: A Diaconal Response in the Middle East” will highlight themes such as: Diakonia as Service in Times of War; Humanitarian and Social Service Delivery; Health and Healing Ministries; Community Support and Social Cohesion; Psychosocial and Pastoral Care; and Sustaining Services in Fragile Contexts.
A joint initiative by the WCC and the MECC, the webinar will bring to the fore the voices of a range of agencies and partners working hands-on in the field to serve people in need.
Register now to attend: | | | WCC Joins Global Call
to End Fossil Fuels | | Thousands of people from around the world walked through the streets of Belém, Brazil, on November 15, reclaiming public space to demand real action at COP30, the UN climate conference. Photo: Valter Hugo Muniz/WCC
When the United Nations climate conference COP30 in Belém, Brazil, ended without a single direct reference to fossil fuels in its final text, advocates said the obvious had been avoided: the primary driver of the climate crisis had not been named, let alone addressed.
On April 24, a coalition of governments, faith communities, and civil society organizations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, determined to do what COP30 could not: launch a formal treaty process to end coal, oil, and gas production, with faith voices at the table from the start.
The first International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, convened by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands, opened on April 24 in response to the Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, which 24 countries have now backed. It aligns with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target and follows the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which confirmed that states carry a legal obligation to manage how much coal, oil, and gas they extract.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) sent a delegation to Santa Marta and is one of the principal faith organizations that helped draft a multi-faith call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty ahead of the gathering. The call does not hedge: "The transition away from fossil fuels is not a matter of ideology. It is a matter of survival, of justice, of fidelity to the very ground of our being."
The WCC’s position has been years in the making. The WCC 11th Assembly in 2022 stated that "use of existing fossil fuel sources must be phased out without further delay" and that "no new fossil fuel or nuclear energy projects can be developed." The following year, the WCC central committee voted to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, noting that "the primary cause of the climate crisis – fossil fuels – has barely been addressed." A November 2025 WCC executive committee statement went further still, calling on governments to accelerate a just transition to 100 percent renewable energy.
Within the conference, a one-day Gathering of Spiritualities brought together ecumenical and interfaith organizations to finalize a joint declaration for the Colombian and Dutch governments, shape technical and ethical contributions to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and sign an alliance agreement among spiritual networks for 2026–2027.
The conference continued until April 29. Outcomes from the negotiations, including government commitments and the final conference declaration, are expected before the week concludes, advancing the international process toward COP31.
Read More: | | High-level Consultation Convenes Global Ecumenical Organizations | | The leadership of ecumenical specialized ministries, the World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, and the Lutheran World Federation gathered April 29–30 at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, in Switzerland, for a high-level strategic consultation on ecumenical cooperation. The two-day meeting aims to strengthen collaboration and define shared priorities in response to an increasingly complex global context.
The consultation aimed to discern together strategic priorities, expectations, and responsibilities for ecumenical cooperation, collaboration, and responsibility, as well as explore the distinctive value, strategic added value, and transformative potential of ecumenical cooperation among those committed to ecumenical witness and action.
Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, stated at the beginning, “Our coming together is not merely institutional – it is profoundly theological, missional, and urgent in light of the world we are called to serve.” He called for moving from cooperation to intentional and integral collaboration. “One of the pressing challenges we face is fragmentation of voice, of resources, and at times, of strategy,” he said.
“The credibility of our witness depends on coherence, and collaboration,” he said. “Coherence and collaboration between theological reflection and humanitarian action; between advocacy at the global level and accompaniment at the grassroots level; between institutional structures and the lived realities of churches and communities.”
“This does not require uniformity, but it does require intentional alignment,” he said. “I believe we are living in a kairos moment. The call before us is not institutional survival but faithful discipleship in a wounded world.” In calling for collaboration, he said, “May we have the courage not only to collaborate, but to be transformed by collaboration.”
The consultation concluded with discussions on the next steps forward by each organization and those present at the meeting. | | 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. | May 03 - 09 Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan May 10 - 16 India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka May 17 - 23 Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal May 24 - 30 Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar,
Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles May 31 - June 06 Angola, Mozambique June 07 - 13 Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini June 14 - 20 Botswana, Zimbabwe June 21 - 27 Malawi, Zambia June 28 - July 04 Kenya, Tanzania
| | | | | Chiang Mai, Thailand: Asia Sunday will be observed by the member churches and councils of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) on May 17, 2026, with a focus on the theme “Hope for Redemption of Groaning Creation Amidst Bondage to Decay”.
Asia Sunday is observed annually by CCA member churches and councils on the Sunday before Pentecost. In 2026, it falls on May 17.
Read more here. | | Asian Youth Commit to
“Break Every Yoke” | | Chiang Mai, Thailand: More than two hundred Christian youth from Asia and beyond echoed a unified call to “break every yoke” and affirmed their commitment to confronting interconnected injustices, embodying a liberating faith, embracing the “yoke of Christ,” and acting together as agents of transformation.
The Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA 2026), held at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, concluded on April 21, 2026.
After five days of listening, sharing, and critical engagement on pressing issues affecting young people across Asia, participants adopted a communiqué on the final day, affirming their faith and commitment to becoming agents of change in communities and societies.
See more... | | Sixth Leadership Training Workshop for Theological Educators | | Mae Sot, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) conducted a three-day training for faculty members of Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Church (KKBC) theological institutions located inside refugee camps in Mae Sot along the Thailand–Myanmar border.
Fifty-two participants from nine theological institutions attended the sixth training held from April 22–24.
Organized annually as part of the Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA) program of CCA, which focuses on nurturing ecumenical formation at the grassroots level, this year’s training focused on ecumenical leadership formation, with an emphasis on equipping educators to nurture and guide Karen youth in local congregations.
See more...
| | Community of Christ to Host Peace forum October 16–18 | | Community of Christ will host the Peace Forum from 16–18 October 2026 at the Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA.
The event, themed “Seeds of Peace: Environmental Justice and Action,” builds on the tradition of the International Peace Colloquy, offering worship, learning, and community engagement.
All are welcome! Register Here. | | | Rhode Island Council of Churches
Observer Training and Legislative Action May 17 (Sunday) from 3:00 – 5:00 pm Registration St Luke's Episcopal Church (East Greenwich)
Join the growing movement of community members and people of faith - working together to support our immigrant communities. This training is for anyone who is concerned about the inhuman and illegal treatment of our immigrant communities — and is asking: "What can I do?"
The training is a concrete way to answer that question by receiving education and legal training — and taking specific action through legislative lobbying.
This training will provide guidance on how to stay within the law when you:
are protesting are a friend or bystander during ICE and CBP actions and arrests are documenting ICE and CBP actions and arrests are protecting your home, school, place of worship, or business from ICE and CBP
Legislative advocacy training will include: updates and information on state legislation to protect our immigrant communities legislative process 101 (how it happens and who your reps are) tips on effective advocacy
For more information, contact the RISCC Immigration Commission.
Sponsored by the Rhode Island State Council of Churches and the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island.
2026 Legislative Priorities All updates to Legislative Bills can be followed here. | | | Immigration Commission Training Schedule
Join the growing movement of community members and people of faith — working together to support our immigrant communities. This training is for anyone who is concerned about the inhuman & illegal treatment of our immigrant communities — and is asking: "What can I do?" The training is a concrete way to answer that question by receiving education & legal training - and taking specific action through legislative lobbying.
For more information, contact the RISCC Immigration Commission.
Current training schedule: | | | Prisontown Performance at Koinonia Farm, May 5 Koinonia has a long history of ministering to those who are incarcerated and their families. Prisontown is meant to be experienced up close—in a space where people can listen, reflect, and, if they choose, respond. After the performance, there will be a short, guided conversation with partners connected to this work, along with simple ways to stay engaged. Come to Koinonia Farm on Tuesday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m. Secure Free Tickets Here _______________________________
Statewide Interfaith Prayer Service
Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center invites you to participate in the annual Statewide Interfaith Prayer Service on Thursday, May 7, at noon, which will center on the common good of the state through prayer, readings, songs, and a special message. _______________________________
The Rhythm of Justice Tour: A Mother’s Day
Restorative Circle Experience
May 7, 12–3 p.m., at Atlanta Friends Meeting, 701 Howard Ave., Decatur 30030. Facilitators are Dr. April Clay and Janice Jerome. Seating is limited. Register here. _______________________________
Parenting Skills Webinar
Skyland Trail offers a free webinar series on Parenting Skills. The first is DBT Bootcamp: Parenting Skills for Big Emotions, May 13. Registration at Community Webinars | Skyland Trail. _______________________________
Retreat in Everyday Life, Tuesday, May 26, 12 – 1 p.m. Join Ignatius House for a free, virtual information session to learn more about Ignatius House’s nine-month “Retreat in Everyday Life,” a way to journey through St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises while staying rooted in your daily routines. Transform your prayer life and discover how God is moving in your everyday life. To register, visit Ignatius House's website.
_______________________________
Dignity Awards
Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing announces Dignity Awards: Neva Corbin of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church has spent years bearing faithful witness against the death penalty. Her witness embodies the Baptismal Covenant’s call to seek and serve Christ in all persons. _______________________________
The God of Us All: Praying with Black Spirituality June 14–21, Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center. This seven-night individually directed Ignatian retreat invites participants into a deeper encounter with God through the rich gifts of Black Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. To learn more, visit Ignatius House's website. | | | Rooted in Faith, Moving Forwards This May, MCC takes an important step toward returning to financial stability after crippling federal budget cuts in 2025. They are moving to new offices better suited to their budget and staff size.
Staff and services will move during the week of May 11 to new rented offices in a building familiar to many in the Twin Cities—Spruce Tree Centre (1600 University Ave. W.), located at the easily accessible corner of University and Snelling Avenues in St. Paul. _______________________________
Update from the Office of Civic Dialogue Plan Now to Witness for Peace this Summer
As the country marks its 250th anniversary this summer, your congregation is well-positioned to have an impact on your community.
Hold a Respectful Conversation about Shared and Shattered Truths
Using the latest research on polarizing topics that don’t divide neatly along partisan lines, MCC is teaming up with Democracy 2076 to offer structured, facilitated conversations on shared and shattered truths in Minnesota, designed to help people with different perspectives reflect together on what our state experienced when federal agents surged throughout our neighborhoods in the first months of this year. Read a blog and watch a video interview about the conversation as you consider whether this is the sort of peacebuilding to which you are called.
Additional non-public Respectful Conversations are still being scheduled – four more are scheduled through the end of the year.
Now is also a good time to plan a community conversation for the weeks before or after the mid-term elections.
Participate in the Better Together Film Festival
While Respectful Conversations is a proven, award-winning methodology, organizing facilitators and hosting a conversation can feel like a heavy lift. For an option that still reduces polarization and builds connection, consider hosting a movie event that invites people to love their neighbor and grow as peacemakers.
Once a month from July 2026 — July 2027 a different movie judged to provide “vicarious peacebuilding” will be available for community organizations to screen. The movies are still being selected, but email Director of Civic Dialogue Rev. Jerad Morey, J.morey@mnchurches.org to express interest in hosting a Better Together Film Festival screening. Hold a Faith250 Conversation
Conversation guides, group meeting agendas, and sample small group curriculum for gatherings of clergy or interfaith participants are available. Reach out to Rev. Morey to connect with these resources. | | | Faith Based Affordable Housing Summit | | Faith communities across New York State steward an extraordinary amount of land and property in rural, suburban, and urban settings. Yet many congregations face a daunting question: How do we transform these sacred spaces to better serve our communities? Navigating zoning laws, financing options, and development partnerships can be overwhelming without the right guidance.
In this spirit, the NY Council is pleased to announce the second annual “Rebuilding the Sacred Hearts of Our Communities” Faith-Based Affordable Housing Summit, taking place on Wednesday, June 17, at The Riverside Church, 475 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10027. This full-day gathering will bring together faith leaders, housing advocates, developers, and community partners from across the state to explore practical pathways from vision to development. Through informative panels and networking opportunities, participants will gain the tools needed to navigate pre-development, secure financing, and build impactful partnerships. Registration details, including Early Bird tickets, will be available soon. Ticket purchase will include meals, materials, and access to all sessions. To ensure accessibility, a limited number of pay-what-you-can scholarships will be offered.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations looking to support this vital work. For questions, please contact: Rashida Tyler at 845-282-6022.
Learn more here. | | | | | Wednesday, May 13 12 - 1 p.m.
Online
Join a thought-provoking webinar with Duane Larson (MDiv., PhD, DD), retired ELCA pastor and Systematic Theologian. He has served as president and professor at Wartburg Theological Seminary and as faculty at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary). He is the author of Ubi Deus Dixit: Where God Has Spoken: The Lutheran Doctrine of Two Kingdoms and Care for the Sorrowing Soul, and has written extensively on the ethics of government use of force and moral injury. In this session, Dr. Larson will offer a brief overview of just war principles and invite reflection on what it means to follow Christ and engage with the government regarding violence in our modern world. Following the presentation, stay for a conversation with Dr. Larson alongside Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director, and Rev. Carl W. Rosenberg, retired ELCA pastor and U.S. Army Chaplain (Lt. Colonel, Retired), offering additional pastoral and real-world perspectives. Presented in partnership with the North Carolina Synod, ELCA | | | 'How to Stay Regulated
in a Dysregulated World' Tuesday, May 5, 1 - 2 p.m.
Online Join Partners in Health and Wholeness for a webinar featuring speaker Dr. Sherronda Banks, DSW, LCSW, LISW-CP, therapist, speaker, and founder of Intentional Steps Counseling Services, PLLC, for an honest conversation about what it means to protect your peace in a dysregulated world.
Drawing on her Radical Preservation™ framework and more than two decades of culturally responsive clinical work, Dr. Banks will offer a bold, innovative approach to sustainable well-being that centers rest, boundaries, identity, and intentional self-care. Register Here | | | | | | | | | Dream, Dare, Disrupt How Experiments, Risk & Embracing Failure
Can Build Life-Giving Ministry by Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups $19.99 | | More from Friendship Press… |
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