Follow NCC on Social Media! | | | | | | | RETI 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. | | | | | | NCC Responds San Diego
Islamic Center Shooting | | Worshipers attend an interfaith vigil near the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD) on May 19, in San Diego. Three people were killed, and two suspects are dead after the shooting at San Diego's largest mosque. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) | Once again, a community is left in agony after a horrific act of violence rooted in hatred and division. The National Council of the Churches of Christ (NCC) stands in grief with those affected by the tragedy in San Diego, Calif., even as we mourn the persistent reality of such violence in communities across our nation.
On Monday, May 18, an attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego left another community in mourning. Muslim leaders have understandably called for increased security, while investigators have identified writings by the suspects that express white supremacist ideologies rooted in hatred toward multiple religions and races. This tragic act was not only an attack on a Muslim community, but on the very principles of religious freedom and coexistence that define our society.
While we believe in the power of prayer and hold these families in ours, NCC insists that prayer must be accompanied by action. As people of faith, we are called to work together so that no community, of any religion or background, is ravaged by violence and hatred. In this moment, we recognize with urgency the power and necessity of interfaith solidarity. When one community is targeted, all people of faith are called to stand together in protection, compassion, and shared witness against hate. In response, we must deepen relationships across faith traditions, build networks of care and mutual support that reject hatred, and affirm the dignity of every person.
NCC calls upon its member communions and the broader community to intensify advocacy for sensible gun reform and stronger support systems to end gun violence. At the same time, we urge congregations of all faiths to come together in both word and action, to show up for one another, to protect one another, and to build lasting partnerships rooted in trust and mutual respect. Interfaith collaboration is not optional in times such as these; it is essential for healing and for preventing future harm.
Read more on NCC's Position on Gun Violence:
| | NCC Co-sponsors National Jewish-Christian Dialogue in DC | | The National Jewish-Christian Dialogue, co-sponsored by the National Council of Churches and the National Council of Synagogues, met May 19-20 in Washington, DC. The group was graciously hosted at the headquarters of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
Participants included representatives of numerous NCC member communions as well as a number of national and local Jewish leaders. The dialogue primarily focuses on pastoral issues that impact both Christian and Jewish communities. Amid the ongoing wars in the Middle East, conversation centered around building understanding and trust during this time of upheaval and suffering. The context included direct and indirect impacts both in the region and on communities in the United States.
Those present shared their experiences with one another and heard presentations from two organizations working in Israel and Palestine. The leaders of Spirit of the Galilee shared about their work with Israelis and Palestinians to build human connections between the communities. They also shared about the ways people with whom they work continued to seek connection and support from one another in the wake of the October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent war in Gaza, as well as during the ongoing war with Iran.
Additionally, participants learned about the human rights work of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights in the United States around issues of immigration, racial injustice, and antisemitism, as well as in Israel and Palestine. They shared about their participation in the protective presence work of Israelis accompanying Palestinian communities in daily life, as well as around more sensitive times, such as religious holidays and the olive harvest, to protect them from attacks from settlers, as well as Israeli police and military.
The National Jewish-Christian Dialogue is planning additional sessions in the coming months. | | NCC Governing Board Vice Chair
Inspires Vision for a Unified Church | | Rev. Terri Hord Owens, NCC Governing Board vice chair and general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), offers a compelling vision for the church's future through her leadership and writing. Her book, Staying at the Table (Chalice Press), speaks to the challenges facing the church in a time of division and polarization.
Calling believers to move beyond superficial expressions of faith, the book invites readers to embrace a church rooted in love, unity, and prophetic imagination that genuinely welcomes all to the table.
Staying at the Table emphasizes the importance of spiritual depth, biblical engagement, and courageous conversation as pathways toward a more vibrant and authentic Christian witness. Rev. Hord Owens challenges readers to reimagine the church not as a place of division but as a beacon of hope and unity, where difficult conversations lead to transformation and faith is lived in ways that reflect Jesus' teachings.
With more than 20 years of experience in corporate America leading diverse data management teams, Rev. Hord Owens brings a unique blend of organizational expertise and theological insight to her ministry and her book.
During the Governing Board’s May meeting in Chicago, Rev. Hord Owens shared this vision by presenting each member with a copy of Staying at the Table. The gesture underscored her call for church leaders to confront injustice, embrace diversity, and embody the radical love of Christ in their ministries and communities. | | | | PNBC Calls for Moral Response to
White Christian Nationalism | | The Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) recently issued the following statement:
PNBC, a historic denomination born out of the struggle for civil rights, justice, and human dignity, is deeply alarmed and outraged by the continued rise of White Christian Nationalism in American public life. As a Convention rooted in the prophetic witness of the Black Church tradition and inspired by the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we believe faith must never be weaponized to divide, dominate, exclude, or diminish the humanity of others.
We are especially troubled by recent and upcoming public gatherings in the nation’s capital that merge Christian symbolism with exclusionary politics, extremist rhetoric, and partisan loyalty while excluding the rich diversity of faith traditions and communities that make up our nation. Such displays do not reflect the fullness of the American faith experience nor the inclusive spirit of democracy.
Read the full statement here. | | | | | | | | ICJ Releases New Report on
Nagorno-Karabakh Political
Trials in Baku | | People gather outside court on the day of the trial of former political figures and officials of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Baku, Azerbaijan. Among the defendants are three former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh. (Photo by Aziz Karimov/Getty Images)
The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomed a newly issued report, Justice Under Pressure: Independence of Lawyers and the Right to a Fair Trial in Azerbaijan, by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) regarding Azerbaijan. The ICJ is an international non-governmental organization of leading judges and lawyers working to promote human rights and the rule of law across the globe. The ICJ report has produced a detailed and meticulous exposition of structural and institutional flaws in the Aliyev regime’s entire justice system with specific application to those flaws in the trials of the former Nagorno Karabakh officials, globally considered as political show trials without any real legal basis. The ICJ’s findings provide timely and crucial insight into the domestic situation in Azerbaijan, which directly affects the lives of Armenians and poses a threat to long-term regional stability. The analysis pays particular attention to the Azerbaijan government’s control of criminal defense and all other lawyers, but also details with citations the authoritarian control exercised by the regime over all aspects of the criminal process. This begins in the pretrial stages, includes access to materials and to imposition of government-controlled defense counsel, and runs through interpretation/translation control, prosecutorial control, retaliatory discipline, torture, and detention conditions. | | | On Earth Peace, HOPE-PV, and the Kingian Nonviolence Tradition | | By Nubwa Josiah
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
On Earth Peace has joined the HOPE-PV network (Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence), a growing movement of communities across the country that are learning together how to respond to the rise of political violence and repression with something more powerful than fear or retaliation.
This year, On Earth Peace has a partnership with the Horizons Project to offer free training, coaching, and accompaniment to local communities ready to deepen their organizing.
Read more here. | | | 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 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
| | WCC Concerned by Escalating Ebola Outbreaks | | World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay expressed deep concern over the suffering caused by the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern, with hundreds of suspected infections and many deaths reported.
Read more. | | WCC Ecumenical Officers Share
Perspectives on Peacebuilding | | The first of a series of drop-in thematic online sessions of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Officers Network was held on May 20 and focused on the role of the churches in peacebuilding. Ecumenical officers are designated WCC member church officials appointed to encourage, assist, and resource Christian unity. They work to build relationships, organize joint community initiatives, and foster theological dialogue between different Christian denominations.
The online encounter also included an overview of the upcoming International Ecumenical Peace Convocation “World Peace and the Korean Peninsula: The Church as a Community of Healing, Reconciliation, and Peacebuilding,” organized by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) in collaboration with the Christian Conference of Asia and the WCC, presented by Rev. Minji Kim, NCCK program coordinator of the Peace, Reconciliation, and Reunification Committee, who also closed the meeting with a prayer for peace in regions affected by conflict.
The next drop-in session of the Ecumenical Officers Network is scheduled for July 8.
Click for more information and contact details of the WCC's Church and Ecumenical Relations area. | | Rev. Karen Erina Puimera reflects on
Young People's Bible Engagement | | Rev. Karen Erina Puimera, from the Protestant Church in Western Indonesia, is moderator of the commission Young People in the Ecumenical Movement and a youth member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee.
She took time to reflect on how Bible engagement is changing among young people, and on the outcomes of the summit.
Read more. | | | 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.
Read more
“Enslaving Treaties – The Persistence of Colonial Ideology and Practice and the Quest for Sustainable Decolonization including Litigation”
May 26, 2026—WCC, through its program on Overcoming Racism, Xenophobia, and Related Discrimination, will convene on May 26, a global conversation shining a critical light on how colonial ideology continues to shape today’s economic systems through international investor treaties, especially the Investor-State Dispute Settlement system.
Read more
Webinar: Breaking the Blood Taboo: Faith Communities as Allies in Menstrual Hygiene and Period Poverty
June 4, 2026—In many faith communities, menstruation is still not spoken about. That silence has consequences: no disposal bin in the restroom stall, no running water, no basic provision. For approximately 500 million women and girls worldwide, this is not a peripheral inconvenience. It is period poverty, and it happens inside the buildings where dignity is preached.
Read more
Executive Committee Meeting (Virtual)
June 8– 12, 2026—The 25-person Executive Committee is the WCC governing body, with members from churches in every region. It meets twice a year to monitor ongoing work, supervise the budget, and deal with policy matters referred to it by the Central Committee.
Read more
European Christian Internet Conference in Rome:
AI and Authentic Spirituality
June 10–12, 2026—The annual European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) will take place in Rome, Italy June 10–12 2026, exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on spirituality and our faith practices.
Read more
Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine
June 11, 2026—In a series of global prayers for peace, WCC invites people and churches around the world to join in the Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine on June 11 at 13.00 CET.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more | | Digital Health: What is possible? Who will benefit? | | | Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) 2026 | | | | | | | | Mental Health Awareness Seminar, Thursdays, May 7–28 Mental Health Awareness Lunch & Learn Series, presented by The One Lamb Initiative for Mental Wellness, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Each of these four online Lunch & Learn sessions will cover a different mental wellness topic and be presented by a clinical professional. Thursdays, May 7 – May 28, 12 – 1 p.m. on Zoom. More information and registration HERE. _______________________________
Quaker Call to Action, May 31 The Quaker Call to Action is hosting a national virtual meeting on May 31 at 7 p.m.—a conversation with Maria J. Stephan to explore what citizens all can do to protect democracy. She is an author and organizer whose work has focused on the role of nonviolent movements worldwide, advancing human rights, democracy, and peace. Dr. Stephan is the co-lead and chief organizer at the Horizons Project, an initiative focused on strengthening connections and collective action among U.S. pro-democracy movements and sectors.
Register here. _______________________________
Candler Foundry Offers Online Christian
Nationalism Course in June Candler Foundry will offer a course on Christian Nationalism this summer, June 9-30, Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. For all necessary information, visit Candler Foundry Online Course: "Let's Talk About Christian Nationalism" with Research Fellow Dominic Erdozain. Course fee: $50. _______________________________ 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. | | | A Shared Northside Story Saturday, May 31 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Join First Church of God in Christ–Graham Temple for A Shared Northside Story, a special celebration honoring the enduring relationship between the Jewish community and First COGIC–Graham Temple. This gathering will celebrate the unique bond between two faith communities that share not only a building, but also a rich spiritual legacy rooted in worship, perseverance, hope, and community. Together, they reflect the beauty of shared sacred space and the enduring power of unity across cultures, histories, and traditions.
Learn more and RSVP. ___________________________
Preparing for July 4th Weekend Workshop
Tuesday, June 9 | 6:00 p.m.
Join the Clergy Emergency League and the Wisconsin Council of Churches for a 90‑minute workshop to help clergy and congregational leaders prepare faithful, grounded worship and preaching for the July 4th weekend.
Learn More and Register
___________________________
Faith in Us: A National Clergy Initiative
June 9 – 11
Clergy are invited to join the launch of Faith in Us: A National Clergy Initiative through two upcoming national clergy Zoom calls. These gatherings will introduce the initiative and offer clergy from across the country an opportunity to connect, learn, and engage together.
Register here. | | | Faith Based Affordable Housing Summit | | 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. 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. | | 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 ___________________________ | | | | | | | Tuesday, May 26, 4 - 5 p.m.
Online Join NCCC's Eco-Justice Connection initiative for our 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.
Register here. | Protecting Your Mental Health While
Doing Voter Engagement Thursday, May 29, 2 p.m.
Online As mental health awareness has grown, access to care and meaningful influence over the systems that shape it have not kept pace. Younger generations in particular are experiencing higher rates of anxiety and depression while also facing barriers to both care and civic participation. This webinar brings together leaders from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Democracy Security Project alongside voter engagement experts to explore how structural challenges impact both mental health outcomes and civic voice, often leaving the most affected communities underrepresented in critical decisions.
Click here to register.
Veterans' Experience Strength and Hope (VESH) for Peace Monday, June 2, 7 p.m.
Online Join fellow veterans for an online fellowship gathering focused on peace — in heart, family, community, and the wider world. Participants are invited to join and listen to personal stories in a supportive, encouraging environment.
Email tuck.Rosenberg@yahoo.com for the Zoom link.
Making Connections: Why Tax Cuts Work
for Corporations but NOT for You Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Online Did you know that by 2030, corporations like Duke Energy and Amazon will pay ZERO dollars in state income taxes in North Carolina? This session of Making Connections, offered by the NC Budget and Tax Center (BTC), builds on previous discussions about North Carolina's decade-plus of tax cuts, taking a deeper look at the Corporate Income Tax — who pays it, who doesn't, and how its impending elimination could affect the state government's ability to meet growing community needs across NC.
Click here to register.
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. | | | As part of its Faith and Democracy work, NCCC offers resources to help congregations and people of faith thoughtfully engage the rise of Christian nationalism and its impact on public life. We believe it is essential for people of faith to be able to recognize when religious language is being used to exclude, divide, or distort the call to love neighbor and seek justice for all. Explore these resources for reflection, learning, and conversation within your communities: Confronting Christian Nationalism resources and presentations Recorded webinars and resources Educational materials on faith, democracy, and public witness
You can find these materials and more by using this link. | | | Preparing for July 4th Worship: A Workshop to Resist Christian Nationalism | | Join the Clergy Emergency League and the Wisconsin Council of Churches for a 90‑minute workshop to help clergy and congregational leaders prepare faithful, grounded worship and preaching for the July 4th weekend.
On Tuesday, June 9, at 6:00 pm (Central), to get practical resources, hymnody, liturgical elements, and preaching guides designed to resist Christian nationalism and center the gospel during the July 4th weekend.
Learn more and register here. | | | | | | | Purchase the NCC 75th Anniversary
Commemorative BIble and Save 20% Discount Code: NCC2026 | | | | | More from Friendship Press… |
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