Witnesses of These Things - Ecumenical Work Week

Witnesses of These ThingsAnnual Report 2009 – 2010National Council of theChurches of Christ in the USA

MISSION STATEMENT“The National Council of Churches is a community of Christian communions,which, in response to the gospel as revealed in the Scriptures,confess Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, as Savior and Lord.These communions covenant with one anotherto manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church.Relying upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit,the communions come together as the Council in common mission,serving in all creation to the glory of God.”MEMBER COMMUNIONSAfrican Methodist Episcopal ChurchThe African Methodist Episcopal Zion ChurchAlliance of BaptistsAmerican Baptist Churches in the USAApostolic Catholic ChurchDiocese of the Armenian Church of AmericaChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)Christian Methodist Episcopal ChurchChurch of the BrethrenThe Coptic Orthodox Church in North AmericaThe Episcopal ChurchEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaFriends United MeetingGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of AmericaHungarian Reformed Church in AmericaInternational Council of Community ChurchesKorean Presbyterian Church AbroadMalankara Orthodox Syrian ChurchMar Thoma ChurchMoravian Church in America Northern Provinceand Southern ProvinceNational Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.National Missionary Baptist Convention of AmericaOrthodox Church in AmericaNational Baptist Convention of AmericaPatriarchal Parishes of the Russian OrthodoxChurch in the USAPhiladelphia Yearly Meeting of the ReligiousSociety of FriendsPolish National Catholic Church of AmericaPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.Reformed Church in AmericaSerbian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. and CanadaThe Swedenborgian ChurchSyrian Orthodox Church of AntiochUkrainian Orthodox Church of AmericaUnited Church of ChristThe United Methodist ChurchNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE USA475 Riverside Drive, Suite 800, New York, NY 10115 • (212) 870-2025 • www.ncccusa.org

You are witnesses of these things.– Luke 24:48, NRSVOne hundred years ago, representatives of Christian churches around the world gathered in Edinburgh,Scotland, for an unprecedented World Missionary Conference. The Conference began a process whichbrought together the missionary, faith and order, life and work, and education efforts of various churchesworking together, and is considered by most the birth of the modern ecumenical movement.The anniversary of this milestone is being celebrated worldwide this year. In June 2010, more than 300delegates and 100 other participants gathered in Edinburgh to celebrate this marker on the road to churchunity and to imagine the future. The theme of that gathering was, “Witnessing to Christ Today.”In November 2010, the discussions of what it means to be ecumenical in the 21st century continue at acentennial gathering that is part of the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches and ChurchWorld Service. The theme of this gathering is “Witnesses of These Things: Ecumenical Engagement in aNew Era.” The theme is taken from Luke 24:48 which is the scriptural theme for the 2010 Week of Prayerfor Christian Unity—a reminder that there is one, multi-faceted, ecumenical movement.As we celebrate the history of modern ecumenism and recommit ourselves to the ecumenical calling, wehave gathered in this Annual Report the myriad ways the 36 member communions of the National Councilof Churches are living and working together ecumenically. From policy statements on the “Authority of theChurch in the World” to advancing the Biblical mandates for justice in the face of poverty, environmentaldegradation and Islamophobia, to resourcing congregations, the work of these communions as the NationalCouncil of Churches continues to manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church.

From the Desk of the President Rev. Peg ChemberlinSisters and Brothers in Christ:I bring you greetings on behalf of the 36 member churches, 100,000congregations, and 45 million Christians represented by the NationalCouncil of Churches. For over 100 years, our member communionshave been in covenant relationship to manifest more fully the unity ofthe church as they work together in common mission, relying on thetransforming power of the Holy Spirit, to serve all creation to the gloryof God.I have seen this at work. I have seen relationships grow and needsbeing met. I have seen the joy that is the visible unity of the church.Gathered in this Annual Report is a summary of the very many waysour communions are work together as the Council. The breadth of thiswork is astonishing, and I commend it to your reading.I am delighted at the work done this year toward two major goals inwhich I have particular interest. First, I am pleased at the efforts theNational Council has made toward re-visioning and re-invigorating the Council’s work with local and regionalecumenical and interfaith bodies (page 14). A stronger connectional dynamic will serve to strengthen thewhole of the ecumenical movement.I am also pleased with the work done to lift up our anti-poverty work including new staffing and funding (page9). This work, coordinating and expanding the engagement of church leaders, member communions, and congregationson domestic poverty issues, is very important during these difficult economic times. This expansionwill also connect us with broader interfaith coalitions and provide a stronger voice for all faith communities.As President in my first year in office, I want to thank our Governing Board for their hard work and support;and also the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon and our staff for maintaining the highest standards of excellence andefficiency in advancing the mission of the Council. With this leadership and your support we will continue tomake manifest that visible unity to which we aspire.Very sincerely yours,Rev. Peg ChemberlinPresident4

From the Desk of the General Secretary Rev. Dr. Michael KinnamonDear Friends,The National Council of Churches is what the churches callthemselves when, together, they seek to manifest their unity in Christand to engage in common mission to the glory of God. It isappropriate, therefore, to begin by giving thanks to God for the callingour member communions have heard to enter into covenant with oneanother, and for the way God has led them to offer common witness tothe love—liberating, reconciling love—we have known in Jesus Christ.The work of the NCC staff, much of which is set forth in this report,is to help the churches carry out this ecumenical calling, and, whenneeded, to hold the churches accountable to the commitments theyhave made to one another. When this work is “successful,” it is not ourachievements we celebrate, but God’s sustaining grace for which wegive thanks.And there is much for which to be thankful! As you read throughthe pages that follow, please note the emphasis on strengthening relationships with interfaith and ecumenicalpartners, as well as among the churches; the integration of unity and justice on the Council’s agenda, all of itgrounded theologically; the careful stewardship of resources; the importance given to young adult leadershipand formation; the efforts to make public witness on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society and on behalfof any neighbors who are treated as less than infinitely-valued children of God.A major challenge faced by the Council’s staff is to secure sufficient revenue to maintain (or, with God’s help,increase!) the extent and quality of ministry set forth in this report. A major challenge for the churches,discussed at length in the Governing Board, is to stop duplicating programs that can and should be doneecumenically through the community that is the NCC.This report is an opportunity for me to say publicly that it is a privilege to work with such an outstandinggroup of staff colleagues! I also want to thank the members of our Governing Board and ExecutiveCommittee, including our President, the Rev. Peg Chemberlin. Among her many contributions, Peg hasraised the Council’s profile among members of the current Administration, enhancing our ability to influencepublic discussion on major issues of the day. And I would also like to thank all of you who gave of your time,talent, and treasure to support the National Council of Churches this past year. Your contributions enable ourmember communions to bear witness to God’s gift of unity in a world that desperately needs such witness.Warm regards,The Rev. Dr. Michael KinnamonGeneral Secretary5

FAITH AND ORDER COMMISSION6The Faith and Order Commission works “to call thechurches to the goal of visible unity in one faith and inone Eucharistic fellowship expressed in worship andcommon life in Christ, and to advance toward that unitythat the world may believe.” While Christian churchesalready share some degree of unity by virtue of their commonconfession of Jesus Christ as the crucified and risenLord and Savior of the world, they are also aware thattheir unity is incomplete. In the center of this reality, anddriving the theological exploration of its meaning is theFaith and Order Commission.This year the theologians and otherchurch representatives on the Faith andOrder Commission furthered thesegoals through active and creativeengagement of the following initiatives:Ecumenism from the Margins. Theseongoing consultations bring theperspectives of under-representedgroups into ecumenical dialogue, andreflect critically on their role in shapingsuch discourse. Sessions haveincluded African-, Latino-Cuban-,Haitian-, and Native American, as wellas Western Rite Antiochian Orthodox(Afro-Caribbean), and MetropolitanCommunity Church presentations. Thespring 2010 session, with the theme of mission, was presentedin cooperation with Union Theological Seminary.Dr. Anton Vrame, ChairPolicy Statement. The Commission presented to theGoverning Board, a policy statement based on the Faithand Order text, “Authority of the Church in the World,”and after revision, will especially serve as a basis for theCouncil’s work in other areas, esp. in social justice matters.Edinburgh 2010. The Council was represented at thislandmark conference by both Rev. Dr. MichaelKinnamon and Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, both of whomhad significant roles in the program. Dr. Kireopoulosdelivered a paper, entitled “Ecumenical Charity asChristian Witness,” based on work done within the Unityand Mission study group. He also represented Faith andOrder, and the Council in general, at the Commission onWorld Mission and Evangelism meeting, which followedthe Edinburgh conference.Study Themes. The Commission studies in Unity andMission, Justice and Salvation, and The Nature andMission of the Church are progressing toward theirquadrennium goals. The Commission will facilitate theon-line publication of these study group outcomes.Publications. Six papers written for the Unity andMission study group (plus an introduction) were publishedtogether in the Spring 2010 issue of the Journal ofEcumenical Studies (Vol 45, No 2). It is anticipated thatthe remaining papers still being written for this studygroup will be published together in a subsequent issue ofJES. Afterward, all UM papers will be published collectivelyin a new Faith and Order book.In addition, papers from the Oberlin IIconference are in the final stages ofpreparation for publication by PaulistPress, in a book entitled Some EcumenicalDirections in the US Today: Churcheson a Theological Journey. This volume wasedited by Dr. Kireopoulos, with the assistanceof Ms. Juliana Mecera (who served asan intern at Faith & Order and InterfaithRelations).The Commission also provides the FaithForum, a program for congregations, adultreligious education groups, campus ministries,ecumenical youth groups, and anyoneinterested in having conversations with Christiansof various denominations to promote oneness in JesusChrist. The Faith Forum’s easy-to-use guides encourageChristians of various denominations who live near eachother to meet regularly; fellowship with each other; anddeepen their faith by reading and discussing some of theNCC’s books and booklets.General Assembly. Faith and Order commissionershave produced the paper on “Christian Understandingof Unity in an Age of Radical Diversity,” which will bediscussed with four other papers (on mission/interfaithrelations, economy, environmental stewardship, andpeacemaking) at the 2010 General Assembly.Thanks. Dr. Anton Vrame (Commission Chair) and Dr.Kireopoulos wish to thank the Faith and Order commissionersfor their continued dedication to our commontask. They also thank the members of the GoverningBoard for their continued support.

INTERFAITH RELATIONS COMMISSSIONOur Work. Christian churches come together in searchof theological unity within a pluralistic society. As wemake this journey, our shared commitments lead us toa common witness for justice and peace. This journeyis very much enriched by our friendships with peopleof other faiths. The building up of these friendshipsbetween Christian and other religious communities isthe work of the Interfaith Relations Commission. It ishere that we nurture relationships with interfaith colleagues,and ensure that the issues important to memberchurches get voiced in conversationwith our dialogue partners. Ofsignificant importance also is thefacilitation of collaboration onissues of common concern.The Commission’s primary task is toarticulate a Christian theology forinterfaith relations, provide educationalmaterials to churches (toenhance dialogue and cooperation),train church members in interfaithrelational skills, and create ecumenicalopportunities with other faithtraditions. The initiatives and workof the Commission this year includes:Dr. Diana Eck, ChairChristian Zionism Brochure #2.The Christian Zionism Task Group, taking its directionfrom the Governing Board, has authored a secondresource, entitled “The Scriptures and Christian Zionism.”This brochure will be introduced at the 2010General Assembly.General Assembly Preparation. Members of theCommission helped to write the first draft of the paper,“Christian Understanding of Mission in a World ofMany Religions.” This paper will be discussed with fourother papers (on Christian unity, economy, environmentalstewardship, and peacemaking) at the 2010 GeneralAssembly. After review, these papers will be commendedto the churches for study in local congregations.Response to Islamophobia in the US. The Councilhas been actively speaking against the rising tide ofIslamophobia in our country, particularly in taking astand during the ongoing controversies surrounding themosque and community center near Ground Zero andthe (planned and then cancelled) Qur’an burning inGainesville, Florida. The Commission wrote the Council’sstatement on the issue; Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamonhas participated in national interfaith and press eventsabout specific incidents; and Dr. Antonios Kireopouloswrote an op-ed on the ignorance at the heart of thissituation. The ongoing problem was the main topic forthe 2010 meeting of the National Muslim – ChristianInitiative.Muslim – Christian Dialogue. TheNational Muslim – ChristianInitiative continues to provide a placefor discussion and understandingsbetween the traditions and work oncommon issues such as a vigorouspublic call to end Islamophobia. Thisunfortunate context may provide anopening to enhance local Muslim-Christian dialogue throughout thecountry.Jewish – Christian Dialogue. Thefirst Jewish – Christian dialogue tablemet in the spring and seems to be ata crossroads. Given tensions over theongoing Israeli – Palestinianconflict, members of this table left themeeting with the assignment to consider if and howthis dialogue should continue given our inability tomove beyond our respective positions on Mideast policy.A second Jewish – Christian dialogue table, met in thefall, more specifically focused on domestic policyissues. Conceptually both tables would move forwardtogether, as each conversation complements the other.The Council and its member churches’ contribution tothese tables will be enhanced by the opportunity Dr.Kireopoulos has had (and will have again next year) toparticipate in a program at the Shalom Hartman Institutein Jerusalem.Thanks. Dr. Diana Eck (Commission Chair), Dr. PeterMakari (Vice Chair) and Dr. Kireopoulos thank theInterfaith Relations commissioners for their continueddedication to our common task. They also thank themembers of the Governing Board for their continuedsupport.7

JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY COMMISSIONThe Justice and Advocacy efforts of the NationalCouncil of Churches have enjoyed a period of robustgrowth during the present quadrennium. There arenow more ecumenical staff engaged in work to advanceBiblical mandates for justice than at any time in NCC’shistory. Most of these are grant-supported or secondedpersonnel, focused in specific areas of advocacy and educationon issues of concern to the churches. The Justiceand Advocacy Commission and related working groupsprovide an interface with the member communions.In turn, this ecumenical team works in partnership withprofessional staff employed by 18 NCC membercommunions working in or near Capitol Hill. Strongmutual support adds value to all participants’ work.Beyond this base of advocacy by theNCC family is a multi-faith force– including Catholic, Jewish andMuslim organizations – that encompassesmore than 100 advocacy personnelwho make up the WashingtonInterreligious Staff Community(WISC). They organize coalitionsand work groups to coordinate manyinitiatives of the larger faith communityon legislative issues.Pat Pattillo of NCC serves as convenorfor a monthly dialogue meeting of directors ofWashington offices of all these WISC faith groups, tostrengthen these partnerships.ANNUAL COMMISSION MEETINGThe Justice and Advocacy Commission reviews andcorrelates the work of an array of justice initiativesundertaken by the Council staff, member communions,and NCC-related advocacy movements. The 2010 meetingof the Commission was held March 18-19 inAlexandria, Virginia. There were special focus sessions on:• Gun Violence, featuring Bryan Miller and ThereseMiller of Heeding God’s Call, a Pennsylvania citizens’movement opposing irresponsible handgun sales.• Natural Disasters, with Episcopal pastor RosemariSullivan, who is helping coordinate NCC communnions’responses to the crisis facing Haiti’s churches.• Poverty, with a report on NCC’s participation in“Fighting Poverty with Faith,” an interfaith campaignto heighten commitment to poverty reduction.• Nuclear Weapons, with a presentation by Rev. HollyBeaumont of the New Mexico Conference of Churcheson activism at the Los Alamos nuclear site. TheCommission agreed to support a forthcoming nationalconference on nuclear weapons to be held in Santa Fe,which will press issues including Los Alamos.In addition, many commissioners participated in anafter-session Racial Justice Forum. The commissionersalso engaged in a visioning session to begin consideringnew organizational strategies for the next NCCquadrennium, which begins in January 2012.ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYSEcumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), oneof the most successful efforts to equipand mobilize grassroots Christians foreffective public witness, is a tangibledemonstration of the power of ecumenicalcooperation. This annual gathering,launched in 2003, is now supportedby 49 Christian communions, missionagencies and movements, and consistentlyattracts more than 700 clergy andlay participants from all over the nation.The 2010 meeting, focused on issues of immigrationreform, was held March 19-22 in Alexandria, Virginia.Preparations for the annual event involve a steeringcommittee, a conference coordinator, and a large planningteam of dozens of Protestant, Orthodox andCatholic advocacy staff working together across manymonths. This year’s conference featured platform messagesby Disciples General Minister Sharon Watkins,United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño, and RomanCatholic Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead ManWalking. A series of workshops and roundtables focusedon key issues in public policy. On Sunday afternoon,EAD registrants also joined with tens of thousands ofmarchers on the National Mall in support of immigrationreform. On Monday, the final day of the conference,participants journeyed to Capitol Hill for visitswith their members of Congress to discuss immigrationreform. For more on EAD, see: www.advocacydays.org.8

ECUMENICAL POVERTY INITIATIVEThrough grants from foundations and funds from theEpiscopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica, and Church of the Brethren, the NCC hascontinued its longtime work on poverty issues. InSeptember, Rev. Michael Livingston, former executivedirector of the International Council of CommunityChurches and 2006-2007 President of the NCC, wasappointed coordinator of the effort, responding to amajor multi-year grant commitment from theMarguerite Casey Foundation. Livingston’s work will:• identify strategies for broader church institutionalparticipation on poverty issues;• coordinate and expand the engagement of churchleaders, member communions, and congregations; and• educate the ecumenical faith community on thecurrent challenges of poverty from a faith perspectiveand outline opportunities to address poverty.Through the poverty website (www.nccendpoverty.org),the initiative hopes to serve as a central resource onvarious domestic poverty issues. Over the past year, theinitiative has conducted advocacy on a range of issues,partnering with NCC member communionsecumenically and with broader interfaith coalitions.With the Washington Interfaith StandingCommittee on Domestic Human Needs(WISC-DHN), we have worked on suchlegislative issues as jobs and employment,affordable housing, child hunger, budget andappropriations, and the child tax credit.The Council has now joined as a partner inthe 34-member interfaith coalition “FightingPoverty with Faith,” an initiative that encouragesfaith communities to host events andprojects each fall to highlight the importanceof addressing poverty. The initiative developedvarious resources to help congregations takeaction in October on poverty issues. For moreabout this coalition, seewww.fightingpovertywithfaith.com.ECUMENICAL TASK GROUP ON IMMIGRATIONAt the 2008 NCC/CWS General Assembly a Resolutionon Immigration and A Call For Action created anEcumenical Task Group on Immigration, with a threefoldmandate to disseminate theological and educationalmaterials to congregations, support churches in servingimmigrants, and encourage churches to advocate withgovernment for improved immigration policies. Sincethe establishment of the task group, pressures for andagainst state and national legislation on immigrationhave escalated significantly. A nine-member panel,drawn from staffs of member communions, regionalcouncils of churches, and NCC and CWS, has beenmeeting regularly to fulfill that mandate, under theleadership of David Leslie of Ecumenical Ministries ofOregon. They have established a website (www.ncccusa.org/immigration), where they have published links to avariety of faith-based statements and resources onimmigration. They have joined with the InterfaithImmigration in a holiday card campaign duringNovember and December, and fostered a pastoral letter bydenominational leaders encouraging local churchleadership to be involved in advocating for immigrants.ECUMENICAL RESPONSE TO LONG-TERMRECOVERY IN HAITIThe January 12 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killed200,000, left two million homeless, and destroyed theinfrastructure – including churches and homes – servinghundreds of thousands more. Almost a year after thisdevastating event, the NCCand its communions are activelyengaged in planning along-term effort to assist inthe recovery and rebuilding ofthe nation. Canon RosemariSullivan is currently serving aspart-time seconded staff fromthe Episcopal Church to theNCC to coordinate this ecumenicalU.S. Haiti Response.Key staff from NCC membercommunions convened in Aprilto assess current work and relationsalready established by ourmember communions andpossibilities of coordinatedwork. A “Haiti ResponseCommittee” was appointed bythe NCC General Secretary. In September, Washingtonadvocacy staff and U.S. congregational and faith-basedleadership met to consider priorities, including potentialadvocacy work on Capitol Hill along with focal areas forNCC communions, such as education needs, support ofpastoral and lay leaders, and the need for decentralizationof support for long-term sustainability.Dr. Miriam Burnett, Chair9

10ECO-JUSTICE PROGRAMSThe Eco-Justice Program supports the ecumenicalenvironmental ministries of the Council’s communionsthrough education, worship resources, training, outreach,and advocacy. With a strong national network of membercommunions, state ecumenical agencies, religiousleaders, and faith activists, the program brings thetheological and religious voice on eco-justice issues suchas climate change, energy, lands, environmental justice,water, green buildings, and environmental health.This successful program, directed by Cassandra Carmichaeland supported by foundation, individual donor, andcognate funds, works in cooperationwith the Eco-JusticeWorking Group, comprisedof representatives from membercommunions. It focuseson bringing the faith voice toclimate change by engagingcongregations, pastors, andsenior religious leaders on theneed for climate justice. Wehave continued with ourAfrican-American ClimateInitiative in the Southeast,Carmichaelreaching churches in Virginia, North Carolina, SouthCarolina, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas. The Councilcoordinated a daylong conference in Virginia to explorethe impacts of climate change on communities of colorwith congregations and pastors.In addition, we have continued to engage denominationsat the national level, providing leadership and coordinationto develop a public witness around the need for anational climate policy. Recently, the program hascoordinated the delivery of more than 15,000 postcardsand conducted more than 100 educational visits withMembers of Congress including meeting with the membersof the Congressional Black Caucus. In addition,we have coordinated 3 roundtables around the countryexploring the role and importance of renewable energyin our communities. Over the last year, staff of the ecojusticeprogram have worked with clergy to submit morethan 20 op-eds and 10 letters to the editor (focused onthe impact of climate change on communities of color) tovarious print media.The program continues its strong emphasis on educationand outreach, and has conducted more than 50 presentationsto a variety of audiences including seminarians andAfrican-American congregations, The program continuesto deliver highly acclaimed resources including aworship and education resource on the religious responseto the Gulf oil spill, an African American adult educationcurriculum on climate justice, and a action module onprotecting the Chesapeake Bay.The environmental health initiative collaborated withthe Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and ourstate ecumenical and interfaith partners on environmentalhealth to develop and release an Interfaith Statement forChemical Policy reform that draws on theology fromthe five largest faith traditions of Christianity, Hinduism,Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. With 18 organizationsand 300 religious lay leaders endorsing the statement, wehave begun to help activate a broad interfaith initiative.In addition to participating in a House of Representativesstakeholder process and meeting with policy-makers atthe state and national level, which brought to light themoral message on toxic chemicals, nearly 600 letters havebeen sent to Members of Congress regardingenvironmental health.The Eco-Justice Program draws upon the full breadthand depth of Christian faith so that the program can helpembody the love and salvation of Christ as we carry outthe Christian eco-justice ministry. Our concern for justiceon behalf of vulnerable populations disproportionatelyimpacted by environmental problems is woven throughouteach program area. For more information on theEco-Justice Program initiatives, visitwww.nccecojustice.org or www.nccecotenders.org.JUSTICE FOR WOMEN WORKING GROUPChaired by Kim Robey, representative from The EpiscopalChurch, and staffed by Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, this workinggroup oversees the work of a highly active Women’sMinistries Program, with focus areas of Domestic Violence,Human Trafficking, Language and Poverty. TheWorking Group reports these recent achievements:A Language Matters Gathering, held in Chicago August9-11 with funding from five NCC communions, wasphase #1 of the expansive language project and includeda diverse group of 25 participants. An article summarizingthe event can be found online at http://www.ncccusa.org/womensministry/. The project’s vision is to encouragemany conversations that take diverse contexts seriouslyin exploring the power of language and how it can beused in life-giving ways that extend the hospitality of thechurch’s mission within the church and community.

The working group is actively seeking additional supportof both funding and in-kind services from membercommunions for phase #2 of this project.A grant from the Religions for Peace – Women of FaithNetwork was secured to promote and expand the educationto advocacy project, the NCC Fistula Stories Resource.Coordinator Meagan Manas worked with Rabbi BonnieMargulis ( Jewish Consultant) and Tahira Ebrahim (MuslimConsultant) to expand Fistula Stories, adding a multifaithperspective section to the website with free resourcesat www.fistulastories.org. Future plans include a congregationalresource exploring the intersection of maternalhealth and race in the USA context.Young Women’s Leadership Experience at the UnitedNations – NCC and Church Women United (CWU) willhost a joint delegation for six to ten young women at theannual UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)in February 2011. Initial funds have been raised jointlywith contributions from six NCC communions.Phase II of The Circles of Names campaign – found atwww.circlesofnames.org –recognizes women’s leadershipin the churches, has organized women’s gatherings acrossthe nation throughout the fall, and has a goal of raising$100,000 by end of 2010.Women’s Ministry Director Rev. Ann Tiemeyer participatedin Disciples Women’s National Quadrennial gathering,Union Seminary / UNFPA event on Women ofFaith and Development, Denominational Women Executivegathering, and several initial planning meetings withWomen’s Funding Network and the Sister Fund regardingWomen of Faith Moving Millions. For more information,see http://www.ncccusa.org/womensministry/and facebook.com/womensministriesRACIAL JUSTICE/HUMAN RIGHTSNaKeisha Sylver Blount, a theologically-trainedattorney, holds a recently established programposition in racial justice and human rights,funded by the United Church of Christ, housedin the NCC office and serving UCC and otherNCC communions to advance policies that willhelp confront systemic racial inequalities, anddismantle structural barriers to people of color.She reports recent work on the following issues:BlountCrack-Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity. Cocainesentencing reform is now law! Following passage in theSenate by unanimous consent, the House went on to passa bill that reduces down to 18-1 the former 100-1disparity between how crack cocaine is sentenced, asopposed to powder. The President has signed the legislationinto law. This represents a major victory for thousandsof individuals, particularly in African-American,Latino, and low-income communities, even as we continueto work to eliminate the disparity completely.Ending Gun Violence. We drafted a proposed NCCresolution and call to action on ending the gun violencecrisis, and invited Bryan Miller and Therese Miller ofHeeding God’s Call to the March meeting of the NCCJustice and Advocacy Commission to discuss ways inwhich NCC communions can be in partnership withHeeding God’s Call, consistent with the resolution andcall to action.Democracy Restoration Act. We are working in coalitionwith our partners to have the Democracy Restoration Act(“DRA”) passed into law. The DRA would restore votingrights to people who have had felony convictions, oncethey have served their time. We participated in a Senatebriefing on this issue.Judicial Nominations. We sit on the panel of faith groupscalled, “The Pew and the Bench,” which reviews the recordsof Supreme Court nominees, and analyzes their potentialimpact on issues of significance to our respective communions/churches/religiousgroups. We engaged in this processfor Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and are currently undergoingthe same process for recent nominee Elena Hagan.Transportation Equity. We are working with theTransportation for America coalition to analyze the waysin which current transportation policy fails to adequatelymeet the needs of low-income communities and communitiesof color, while also dumping a disproportionateamount of pollution into these communities.With our allies, we are advocating forcomprehensive reforms in transportation policythat will make it more equitable for all.Racial Justice Working Group. During itsMarch 2010 meeting, the Justice and AdvocacyCommission approved a recommendation toreconstitute the Racial Justice Working Groupas a committee of the JAC. The Commissionhas called for nominations from communionsthat will allow this committee to begin its workbefore the end of 2010.11

Ecumenical Bail Bond Fund. During its March meeting,the Justice and Advocacy Commission endorsed ourrecommendation to reconstitute the NCC’s EcumenicalBail Bond Fund. We are looking forward to reinstatingthis highly successful ministry under the supervision ofthe new Racial Justice Working Group.Healing the Interracial Disconnect. We invited Rev.Brenda Girton-Mitchell of Grace and Race Ministriesto present a session on confronting racial bias/inequitythrough the use of popular culture. Drawing on the motionpicture Crash, Rev. Girton-Mitchell led participantsat the March JAC meeting through a thought-provokingexamination of potentially latent bias.Faithful Democracy. We are participating on behalf ofNCC in Faithful Democracy, a joint effort of Christian,Jewish, Muslim, and Unitarian Universalist religiouscommunities, who seek to offer a more respectful andresponsible approach to engagement than is oftenportrayed in the media.ECUMENICAL PEACE WITNESSThrough a partnership with the Church of the Brethrenthat began on July 1, the NCC is now able to providea renewed focus on its peace witness, through the staffleadership of Jordan Blevins, who previously was part ofthe Council’s eco-justice team. In its first months, theprogram paraticipated in Peace Among the Peoples, anecumenical peace conference held in Elkhart, Indiana,in preparation for the International Ecumenical PeaceConvocation next summer. Jordan Blevins and DeborahDeWinter each brought greetings to the conference onbehalf of the Council. Additionally, a message was sent tothe Governing Board and all Ecumenical Officers, markingthe anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima andNagasaki, and calling for nuclear disarmament, specificallythe ratification of the new START treaty with Russia.The NCC Justice and Advocacy Commission has affirmed apartnership with the New Mexico Council of Churches tohost a Nuclear Weapons Disarmament event in Santa Fe in2011, and Jordan will serve in a liaison role with that project.The Justice and Advocacy Commission also approved forfurther conversation the Resolution on the War in Afghanistan,to be presented at this Governing Board meeting.Upcoming action will include partnering with the U.S.Decade to Overcome Violence Committee to coordinatefollow up for the decade, as well as continued involvementwith issues of nuclear disarmament, and web-basedresources on a variety of other ways churches can bringcommon witness on issues of peace in the world.HEALTH TASK FORCEThe National Council of Churches Health Task Forceserves as the primary point of focus of the Council’s workin network development, education and advocacy relatedto health ministries and healthcare policy reform. TheHealth Task Force, with more than one-third of themember communions as well as specialized ecumenicalhealth related groups has been in place for over threeyears. The Task Force relates to a NCC Health Networkcomprised primarily of congregations of membercommunions that are concerned with some aspect ofhealth education, direct service or policy advocacy. Toaddress the interests and concerns of the Network theHealth Task Force has developed three foci including:Network Development and Capacity Building, HealthCare Policy Reform, and Emergency Preparedness.The Task Force website serves as an important educationand advocacy resource for individuals, congregations, andorganizations, providing health electronic alerts,background documents, links to relevant websites, etc.(www.health-ministries.org )The Task Force, along with other partners, gave sustainedand coordinated leadership, making certain that the voiceof the faith community was a part of the discourse as ourcountry debated and ultimately passed historic healthcare reform. Church leaders were supported with theeducational base and network development necessary toengaged in faith-based policy dialogue in a balanced andnuanced manner, lending the Council’s and its membercommunions’ moral authority in a credible way.The HTF continues its work to insure that those most inneed of them will have access to the services and resourcesmade available through this reform. Also in this nextphase of its work, the HTF has identified initiatives inthe areas of immigration and health care, clergy burnout,childhood obesity and HIV/AIDS initiatives.12

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES COMMISSIONThe Education and Leadership Ministries Commission,staffed by the Rev. Garland F. Pierce, has fourteen programcommittees working on faith formation, leader development,ecumenical formation, and education and advocacy.staff and leadership. The project is led by a consultantwith many years of experience in campus ministries, TheRev. Dr. Galen Hora of the Evangelical Lutheran Churchin America. (www.higheredmin.org)ELMC MONTHLY PRAYERS ANDLEARNING MOMENTSELMC strives to be a space for formation,spiritual discernment, and mutualsupport through prayer and resourcing.To this aim, the commission continuesits spiritual practice of the ELMCmonthly prayer:www.ncccusa.org/elmc/elmcprayer.htm.Various commission members and othercolleagues related to the Council offerthese monthly prayer offerings,praying for our shared ministries,personal concerns, current events, celebrationsand observances in the liturgical year and secularcalendar, and the global church. The commission alsoseeks to be an intentional learning community as is evidentby the design of the commission and program ministrymeetings that include moments of shared learningand its online feature called “ELMC Learning Moment”which allows commissioners and others opportunity tooffer brief contributions for the purpose of educating thecommunity on trends, subjects, resources, etc. that mightbe of interest and import in the areas of faith formation,leader development and education and advocacy. To viewthem, please visit:www.ncccusa.org/elmc/elmclearningmoment.htmDr. Daryl Ingram, ChairThe New Fire Ecumenical Young AdultNetwork continues its work and is gainingmomentum, reinvigorating its fundraiingefforts through the Ecumenists of All AgesCampaign to sustain this important workand continuing to do outreach inorder to connect with other groups of youngadults and other interchurch and ecumenicalorganizations. New Fire has partneredwith Active Voice to sponsor five screeningsacross the nation of a powerful film, HaveYou Heard from Johannesburg, from California,to Texas, to DC. It has been planningthe New Fire Gathering and will be fullyengaged in the celebration processes and theassembly. In partnership with Church World Service,NCC will have 12 young adults participate in the 2010Young Adult Stewards Program, our ecumenical formationand leadership development program of the General Assembly.(www.faithconnectsus.org)CULTURE-SPECIFIC MINISTRIESThe Committee on Black Congregational Ministries(CBCM) continues its work on expanding its signature resourcefor congregations, Resources for Special Occasions inthe Black Church and is in the initial stages of a Black CongregationalDevelopment for the Gulf Coast Region initiative.YOUNG ADULT FAITH FORMATION, LEADERSHIPDEVELOPMENT AND ECUMENICAL FORMATIONThe Ecumenical Young Adult Ministries Team(EYAMT) partnered with the New Fire EcumenicalYoung Adult Network in its pilot seed grant project,providing small grants to young adult groups startinginnovative initiatives in ecumenical young adult ministriesand/or young adult ecumenical formation.The Ecumenical Campus Ministries Team (ECMT) hasinitiated a project to offer technical assistance in fundraisingand board development for local campus ministriesThe Pacific Asian American Canadian ChristianEducation Ministries (PAACCE), in partnership with theInstitute for the Study of Asian-American Christianity(ISAAC) produced an Asian-American Christianity Reader.It is also nearing completion of an Asian-American/Canadianworship resource, Worship on the Way.FORMATION AND ADVOCACY MINISTRIESThe Committee on Public Education and Literacy(CPEL) gave significant leadership to the GoverningBoard’s adoption of A Pastoral Letter on Federal Policy inPublic Education: An Ecumenical Call for Justice.13

The statement has been a vehicle for serious dialoguewithin and among communions about strategies for accessof all of the nation’s children to quality public education.Likewise, because of this statement there has been a seriesof conversations with the US Department of EducationSecretary, Arne Duncan, and other federal officials as wellas grassroots organizational leaders. These dialogues andthis work continue.The Committee on Disabilities (COD) and the Committeeon Families and Children (CFC) met jointly in Septemberat Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI andsubsequently are planning a project to help congregationsexplore and create inclusive worship with children withdisabilities. The Committee on Disabilities also haspartnered with the NCC Eco-Justice Program to exploreenvironmental health issues and persons with disabilities.COOPERATIVE CURRICULUM AND RESOURCEDEVELOPMENTThe work of the Committee on the Uniform Series (CUS)continues to be foundational to the overall work of ELMC,given the strong symbiotic relationship between the workof CUS and the work of its other program ministries. TheAnnual Study Plan Committee met in early September tobegin its work on the 2016-2017 outlines, doing much ofits interim development work via wiki-technology. CUShas also been engaged in an intentional process of criticalreview of its curriculum outlines for children; this evaluativework continues in partnership with members from theCommittee on Families and Children.The Committee on Outdoor Ministries (COM) resourcedmany camps this summer for a fun time of communitybuilding, lessons on creation care and faith formationLOCAL AND REGIONAL ECUMENISMNCC member communions are also represented in themembership of more than 200 local and regional ecumenicaland interfaith communities across the country. These localand regional communities are autonomous and diverse, butthey are all part of the one ecumenical movement. NCCstrives to maintain strong relationships with these partnerorganizations as well as with the National Associationof Ecumenical and Interreligious Staff (NAEIS) and theState Ecumenical Executives (SEE) colleague group.NAEIS, SEE, and NCC have jointly organized a local andregional ecumenism consultation for November 12, 2010 inthrough the engagement of the rich stories of the Bible.This year’s New Earth curriculum theme was Be a Hero:Living like Jesus, focusing on biblical and contemporaryheroes: http://www.ncccusa.org/pdfs/beahero2010.pdf.There is a new editor and project manager for the curriculum,Jenny Youngman, a United Methodist experienced incurriculum development.Aware of the changing landscape in formation, camping,and communion life in general, the Committee on OutdoorMinistries sponsored an Outdoor Ministries Summit,September 20-23, 2010, at Highlands Presbyterian Campand Retreat Center; Allenspark, CO, to explore andstrategize around issues of sustainability, resourcing, andleader development ecumenically.PROFESSIONAL CHURCH LEADERSHIPProfessional Church Leadership (PCL) met in Decemberat Eckerd College; St. Petersburg, FL. This was ajoint meeting with Denominational Staff for TheologicalEducation and Candidacy (DSTEC) and the MinistryDevelopment Council (MDC). The continuing educationpresenter was Dr. Diana Butler Bass, author of several bestsellers on American religious life, who helped the groupdiscuss how the churches can prepare ministerial leadershipin the midst of profound change for the purpose ofcongregational transformation.MISSION EDUCATIONThis program ministry has a long history predating the NCC.Its work this year has informed the planning of the 2010Ecumenical Centennial Gathering, celebrating the 100thanniversary of the Edinburgh Mission Conference, markingthe beginning of the modern ecumenical movement.which some 100 people will gather to envision the futureof local and regional ecumenism. NCC will do its part tocarry out that vision in the coming years through theactivities of a newly formed permanent committee createdby the Governing Board. The Local and RegionalEcumenism Committee is charged to facilitate relationshipsamong and between local, regional, and nationalexpressions of the ecumenical movement. The committeewill primarily be composed of staff, board leaders, localchurch leaders and others involved with local and regionalecumenism. This stronger connectional dynamic shouldserve to strengthen the whole of the movement, allowingus to do together what we could not do apart from eachother. For more information, see www.ncccusa.org/lre14

COMMUNICATION COMMISSIONINTERNATIONAL MEETING IN CHICAGOThe NCC Communication Commission was one of 80denominational, ecumenical and interfaith groups co-sponsoringthe Religion Communication Congress 2010, April7-10 in Chicago. More than 500 international registrantsparticipated in professional workshops and heard a blueribbonarray of platform speakers, including historianMartin Marty, UCC pastor Otis Moss III, Ingrid Mattsonof the Islamic Society of North America, NPR correspondentBarbara Bradley Haggerty, and media watcher JeffreyCole of the University of Southern California.INTERFAITH TELEVISION WITNESSThe Commission carries a leadership rolein the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission(IBC), a partnership with the ABC,CBS and NBC television networks. PatPattillo serves as president of this jointventure of the NCC with the U.S. Conferenceof Catholic Bishops, IslamicSociety of North America, Union for ReformJudaism and the New York Board ofRabbis. Shirley Struchen manages marketingand production. Begun in 1980 asa result of the deregulation of the broadcastindustry, IBC offers the Abrahamicfaith community twelve opportunities topresent documentary programs, plus twoor three Christmas, Easter and High HolyDays specials, on up to 1,000 local affiliatesof the three networks, with a cumulative audience ofseveral million viewers each year. This year, ministries ofthe PCUSA, Episcopal Church, ELCA, Greek OrthodoxArchdiocese, UCC and United Methodist Church wereamong those featured in the NCC productions. Topicsincluded Asian tsunami victims, the challenges of aging,conscientious objectors, revisiting Hurricane Katrina, andpersons with disabilities. For Christmas 2010, NCC-relatedspecials were scheduled to air on all three networks.ANNUAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON DCRev. Jerry Van Marter, ChairThe Commission held its 2010 annual meeting in thenation’s capital September 27-30, with 70 registrantsforming its largest meeting in more than a decade. Joiningthe Commission gathering were interfaith partnersfrom Odyssey Networks. Substantial grants from Odyssey,WGBH-Boston, Pew Trust and PBS underwrote theprogram and meal costs. In addition to ongoing professionalworkgroups, the agenda included:• Four hours of briefings -- hosted by the Pew Forum andthe First Amendment Center -- on American religiousliteracy, religion media coverage, and religion in publicschools. PBS anchor Ray Suarez moderated threedistinguished panels of experts who discussed thesetopics at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue.• The annual UCC Everett Parker Lecture in CommunicationEthics, at the National Press Club, with an addressby Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.• A seminar on current multimedia trends, hosted at theirheadquarters by the staff of Discovery Communications.• A 60-minute preview segment of the six-hour epic series,“God in America,” which aired on PBS stations in October.The producers and writers for the series, fromBoston’s WGBH, were present for a dialogue.MEDIA ADVOCACYThe commission’s ongoing program of advocacyfor equity in mass media focused this yearon an appeal to the Federal CommunicationsCommission to assure that broadband internetservice is regulated to protect equal accessrights for religious groups and minorities inboth the production and reception of materialthat requires maximum bandwidth for transmission–avoiding toll booths and elite-onlylanes on the nation’s information superhighway. A resolution to the FCC on this topicwas approved by the Commission. The NCC is also amember of the new interfaith coalition “So We MightSee,” which maintains active advocacy efforts around mediacoverage, advertising standards, program content, and equalaccess. The coalition met for planning during the Commission’sweek in Washington.ELECTRONIC RE-LAUNCH OF ECULINKEcuLink, for many years a print publication of the NCC,was transformed in 2010 into a monthly electronic featuremagazine, www.eculink.org, by editor Melissa Dixon. It isenvisioned as a companion piece to the NCC website, editedby Phil Jenks, which continues to serve as the “publicationof record” and the primary news and information sourcefor programs and projects of the Council. The e-publicationhopes to generate new audiences for the Council.15

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2009-2010This past year has brought forth a continued and expandedcommon witness as member communions work togetherto more fully manifest God’s gift of unity. A significantnumber of Council programs have restarted or begun,especially in our Justice and Advocacy ministries thanks tonew and innovative ways our communions work togetheras the Council. As you read through this Annual Reportyou will see the full breadth of what we are doing together.At the same time we have focused on cost reductions andresource development to ensure these ministries fulfill ourcalling as the National Council of Churches.The economic environment continues in turmoil. Whilemarkets fluctuate, and, as of this writing, our investmentportfolios are in positive territory, unemployment andother measures of economic stability are still down. Thishas continued to put pressure on congregational and communiongiving, which often translates to a reduced abilityof our member communions to increase resources for theirwork as the Council.We are so very grateful for all of our communions thatsee the opportunity God has given them to work togetheras the Council to accomplish not only its shared missiongoals but their own mission goals in continuing andexpanded ways. They have worked very hard this year tomaintain their support of the Council. Saying that, membercommunion giving was just under budget this year,which is quite remarkable given current conditions.Our increased focus last year on resource developmenthas yielded a significant increase in individual and congregationalgiving (up 61% year-over-year). Foundationgrants were down even with our continued focus there,mostly we believe, due to a reduction in foundation givingnationwide. We will continue to work harder in these twoareas this year, and would note, since the end of the fiscalyear we have received a significant foundation grant forour anti-poverty work. Other income from royalties, sales,interest and dividends was flat year-over year.Given the upswing in the financial markets this past year,when we include realized and unrealized gains on investments,the Council had positive net results for the year,while at the same time reducing the budget deficit by twothirdsyear-over-year. We are continuing to look at newways to do our work together including shared operatingresources, shared staff, seconded staff and strategic partnerships.And, at the same time, we continually look forcost savings in the administration of our missionprograms. We are grateful for our experienced anddedicated staff whom effectively and efficiently lead anddeliver Council programs.The Governing Board, officers and staff of the Council arevery thankful of the many generous individuals who supportour common work—they are listed on the next two pages.We look forward to their and your continued financialsupport as we continue to respond to the Gospel message.Sources of Income 2009-2010$ 5,121,357(excluding realized and unrealized capital gains & losses)Mission Programs & Administration 2009-2010$5,405,679(excluding actuarial adjustments for retiree benefits)Our MemberCommunions Support$1,280,682Individual &Church Support$1,368,511Our CommonMission Programs$3,297,359Royalties, Meetings,Interest & Dividends$1,690,979FoundationGrants$781,185Retiree Benefits$447,92816Resource Development$551,542Management &Operations$1,108,850

CONTRIBUTORSEcumenical Sustainers($500+)Alfred Station Seventh DayBaptist ChurchAnonymousVicken AykazianInelle BagwellAlden BesseBurlington ChristianReformed Church (Ontario)Molly CasteelCentral Texas Conferenceof the Christian MethodistEpiscopal ChurchClare ChapmanPeg ChemberlinChristian Church ofMid AmericaHope ChurchClassis of Albany -Reformed Church in AmericaCommunity of ChristCouncil of Churches ofGreater Washington, DCDeborah DeWinterDavid DouglasDiana EckFirst African MethodistEpiscopal Church: Bethel(New York, NY)First Christian Church(San Leandro, CA)The First Church of Christ,ScientistFirst Congregational UCC(Madison, WI)First Reformed Church(Schenectady, NY)Anne Hale JohnsonKaren & Dieter HesselKurt Kaboth & KatherineCunninghamBrenda KneeceDave KnipelGlenn KetnerLakeshore Avenue BaptistChurchMarie LibbyJan LoveJean MartensenDonald McCoidMidway Christian ChurchGarland PiercePresbytery of TropicalFloridaAnne ReardonJoumana RizkRutgers PresbyterianChurch (New York, NY)Ann TiemeyerRhode Island Conference ofthe United Church of ChristSeventh Episcopal Districtof the Christian MethodistEpiscopal ChurchSouth Carolina ChristianAction Council, Inc.Kathy TaylorDon ThorsenOlive TillerAnton VrameCheryl & Richard WadeJohn F. WhiteEcumenical Leaders($101-$499)Apostolic Faith MissionChurch of GodKarla AddessLinda Bales ToddBaltimore Yearly MeetingDavid P. BaakBetty & J. Martin BaileyWilliam & Ruth BasomMary Bates-WashingtonDavid L. Berkey & MelindaTrottiPeggy BillingsJennifer BlackJordan BlevinsCarol BlytheMitzi & John BuddeBarbara CampbellKathleen CameronDon CarltonJohn & Linda CarneyJosé Luis CasalJoanne ChadwickChrist Congregation(Princeton, NJ)Christian Reformed Churchin North AmericaJudith Coats-CrowsonCommunity Church of EastWillistonAntonietta CorvasceCrosswicks MonthlyMeeting of The ReligiousSociety of FriendsDorothy DalePamela DatskoLois DauwaySusan DaviesEugene DeckerPaula DempseyWaltraud DowneyEastern Ohio Association- UCCEmily A. EastwoodMary Louise EllenbergerChristopher EptingFirst Baptist Church ofRedlandsFirst Baptist Church ofWhite PlainsFirst Christian Church(Baltimore, MD)First Christian Church(Casper, WY)First Christian Church(Columbia, MO)First Christian Church(Lynchburg, VA)First Christian Church(Wheeling, WV)First CongregationalChurch (Benzonia, MI)Friendship MinistriesBrenda Girton-MitchellShirley A. Gravely-CurrieSylvia GravesJessica Crist GraybillThomas HampsonHerman HarmelinkRuth HarrisMary HuntDorothea & ConverseHunterSue D. HunterKathryn JansLynda JonesCarol JohnstonRon & Diane KaufmanDiane C. KesslerAgnes KuentzelReatha Clark KingMichael KinnamonChung Hyun KyungGrace J. Lauver-SimmonsMichael LivingstonLutheran StudentMovement USAAnne MackoulMitzi ManningDrema McAllister-WilsonRichard J. Metzger &Camilla J. NillesJohn L. McCulloughDean McDonaldMennonite CentralCommitteeAlva C. MillianMary NakashimaIllana NaylorNew Goshenhoppen UnitedChurch of ChristNew Mexico Conference ofChurchesStanley NoffsingerNorthwood ChristianChurchOld Cambridge BaptistChurchHarriett OlsonJohn PaterakisPatricia PattersonWesley ‘Pat’ Pattillo &Zelma M. PattilloAlbert & MarthaPennybackerPilgrim United Church ofChrist (Durham, NC)Robert PolkPresbyterian Church inChinatown (San Francisco, CA)Presbyterian Women inthe Synod of SouthernCalifornia & HawaiiKathy ReevesJoanne ReichRebekah RichardsonRidglea Christian ChurchRachel RienscheAmmon RippleMargaret RoseBarbara RubinEric ShaferCarolyn Smith-OrtegaShirley StruchenCatherine ReeveStephen RossSacramento JapaneseUnited Methodist ChurchSecond Baptist Church ofGermantownSeventh Street ChristianChurchEric ShaferPeggy ShriverDavid and Jennifer SlaglePeckSpirit of the DesertPresbyterian FellowshipJoe StalcupPaul StewartBrenda StiersBruce & Oeita TheunissenGerald ThomasRhodes & Lois ThompsonVirginia ThornburghRebecca J. TollefsonRobert TollefsonJeff TrinkleinThe United Parish inBrooklineUniversity Baptist Church(Columbus, OH)Jerry Van MarterJohn Van NuysCarlton W. VeazeyAngelique Walker-SmithKaren WangSharon WatkinsAlice WebleyRobert WelshAnne WilsonDede WilsonRobina WinbushWoodside Church - FirstBaptist ChurchWomen of the ELCA- Central/SouthernIllinois SynodMotoe YamadaDoris YoungerBarbara Brown ZikmundEcumenists($50-$100)Emerson AbtsHelen AckersonMia AdjaliRobert AllenCharles Amjad-AliJane AppleyardArrowsmith ChristianChurchSally AskewDorothy AultLaurie BachmanDeborah BaileyMona BairdIsam & Faith BallengerElizabeth BarnhartJohn BlessingtonWhitney BodmanRaymond BooseMarilyn BreitlingClair & Janis BrewerRobert BrockElizabeth BrocklandMarguerite BronkemaJoana BrownCharlotte BurgessDavid ButtrickCapital Area Council ofChurchesMarguerite CarterAlice CaryLucile & Robert CarmanCarondelet United Churchof ChristWilliam CateThomas & Eloise CathcartCentral Christian Church(Huntington, IN)Lawrence CambergMarguerite CarterMarilyn & William ClarkShannon ClarksonChrist Church (Summit, NJ)Christian Church in Kansas,Inc.Church of UniversalFellowshipBarbara & Kenneth CoatesJohn CobbLynn CoonsThe Congregational Churchof MiddleburyCarol CosbyMary CrabbsOtto & Joan CrumroyCarmichael CrutchfieldLouise DavidsonInez DavisKatherine & John DeanFrances DeJongMarcell DeLacyRachel DenisDonna DerrNeal DeunkGlory DharmarajNancy DickinsonDisciples Christian Church(Youngstown, OH)Dorothy DonovanMimi DortchCheryl DudleyElsie DursiJoseph EasleyJean & George EdwardsMarian Edwards17

CONTRIBUTORS (continued)18Ecumenists($50-$100)Kenneth EhrmanBjorg ElonaiEureka Christian ChurchFarmington Hills WellspringChurchRobert & Fran FehlmanElisabeth SchüsslerFiorenzaFirst Baptist Church ofAttleboroFirst Baptist Church ofPalo AltoFirst Baptist Church ofPitmanFirst Chinese BaptistChurchFirst Christian Church(Amarillo, TX)First Christian Church(Arlington, TX)First Christian Church(Bartlesville, OK)First Christian Church(Hampton, VA)First Christian Church(McPherson, KS)First Christian Church(San Angelo, TX)First Christian Church(Springfield, IL)First Christian Church ofSanta BarbaraFirst CongregationalChurch of StoughtonFlemingsburg ChristianChurchFriends General ConferenceBeth ForgoshEugene & Bonnie FrazierArvis & Francis FrellickLorelei FuchsJoan GardnerMaxine GarrettLeland GartrellEdith GauseJeanette GaylordAshley GeorgeThomas GeorgeGhana United MethodistChurchDenise GiacomozziGerald GilmoreCarrie GradyDevorah GreensteinBentley GreggElizabeth & Charles GossRobert GrantF. William Gray, IIIAlice HagemanMargaret HalePeggy HalseyJoyce HamlinRichard & Melinda HammChristine HeiserBrian HillOrenthious HillBeth HirstEsther HoThomas HoeksemaCourtney HoekstraGail HolnessJohn HuberRoland & Kit HuffRobert HunsickerClark HuntRaymon HuntConstance HunterGeorge HunterRichard IceFrances IsaacRobert JamesAllen JohnsonFaith JohnsonJack & Coleen JohnsonMegan JoinerBetty JonesBarbara KadoQuentin KnauerDanielle KortEarl KragnesErnst KabothJanet & Paul KabothGail and Howard KaeppleinArlene & C. KallaurEdward Kelly, Jr. & JanetKelleyAlexander L. KernKathleen KilleenHorace KingHisako KinukawaEllen KirbyClifton KirkpatrickLuciano KovacsC. Dana KrutzMary KuhnsChristine LaitnerBarbara LampeJanell LandisMary LandstromRobert LangstonKatharine LarsenMargaret LaromArthur LarrabeeLea LawrencePaul LeichtyG. R. LewisThomas LiggettAudrey LightbodyViolet LittleKathryn LohreMary LohreGeorge LowerDale LuffmanMary LundyJames MackellarMeagan ManasAmy ManierreJanice MarshallBarbara MartinMassachusetts Council ofChurchesThomas MassmannHerman MathesiusJeanne MattPaul MattBruce & Janette MackenzieJames McGuireSusan McMichaelRobert McNaughtonMarilyn MechamIvan MechtlyEsther MegillMarcia MeierGail & Stanley MengelJohn MenoSharon Mesle-MorainKenneth MeyerJohn MiersKathryn MitchemWilbur MillerWilliam MillerVirginia MillerJoe MinesMinnesota Council ofChurchesKathryn MitchemAllen MooreRichard & Margriet MorrisJohn MossMountair Christian ChurchHans S. MuellerMiriam MurdockP. MurrayBarbara NelsonKevin NelsonHugh NevinNew Hamphire Council ofChurchesMarianne NiesenNoank Baptist ChurchNorth & SouthamptonReformed ChurchBetsy NoyceMargaret OgetOld South Union ChurchSusan Otani-CurtisOwen D. OwensShirley PaulsonRaleigh PetersonDelores PiercePilgrim United Church ofChristEunice PoethigKeith PohlJeanne Audrey PowersJoan PopeSamuel PurushothamThomas QuigleySharon Zimmerman RaderRati RamPeggye RankinRuth RaughleyReligious Society of Friends(Brick, NJ)David ReppertElizabeth RileyEli RiveraKim RobeyLucien & Ann RobertKathy RobinsonJerri RodewaldCathryn RollingClare RosenfieldLisa RosenthalJohn RoutledgeRustum & Della RoyBarbara RubinPatricia Russell-McCloud &E. Earl McCloud, Jr.James RyanRosa SailesSt. Mark Lutheran Church(Los Angeles, CA)St. Mark PresbyterianChurch (Newport Beach,CA)John SallstromJ. SandmanDeb SandlerStella SchragMartha SextonOra SheltonPaul SherryJames ShieldsHallam ShorrockStephen J. Sidorak, Jr.Edmond Smith, Jr.Harold SmithSomesville Union MeetingHouse (United Church ofChrist)Gordon SommersBetsy SowersValora StarrHarold StatlerMary Steib-HalesRobert StephanopoulosKathleen StoneLawrence StoneLaura StrietelmeierBruce SwensonJulie TaylorThomas TaylorAsha ThomasKenneth ThomasMargaret ThomasSybel & Harvey ThomasBetty ThompsonElizabeth TiemeyerBarbara TilleyJack TuellLonnie & Ibby TurnipseedUnited Church ofCrawfordsvilleUnited Church of SpringValleyAnton VrameWabash Christian ChurchMargaret WashnitzerHerman WeinlickSally WelchWest Side Christian ChurchJack WilsonCharlotte WhiteJames WhiteDavid WickmannJerry Ruth WilliamsLaura WilsonMason & Barbara WilsonThe Women of Saint Mary’sChurch (Newton LowerFalls, MA)Betty WrigleySue & Darrell YeaneyEverett ZabriskieEugenia & Hector ZavaletaCarl ZimmermanThank you for your prayers and support.Won’t you please join these generous contributors to the National Council of Churches?You can make a gift today by using the enclosed pre-paid contribution envelope,or call our Development Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST) to make a credit card gift,or you can give online at www.ncccusa.org/donate. Thank you.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST 2009-2010OFFICERSThe Rev. Peg Chemberlin, PresidentMoravian Church in AmericaMs. Kathryn Lohre, President ElectEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaThe Rev. Dr. Cheryl H. Wade, First Vice PresidentAmerican Baptist Churches in the USAThe Right Rev. Johncy Itty, Vice PresidentEpiscopal ChurchMr. Stanley J. Noffsinger, Vice President at LargeChurch of the BrethrenThe Rev. Dr. Raymon Hunt, Vice President at LargeAfrican Methodist Episcopal Zion ChurchThe Rev. José Luis Casal, SecretaryPresbyterian Church (USA)His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,Immediate Past PresidentDiocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church of AmericaThe Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General SecretaryChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)GOVERNING BOARDAfrican Methodist Episcopal ChurchThe Rt. Rev. John F. White, Sr.The Rev. Dr. Miriam BurnettChair, Justice and Advocacy CommissionThe Rev. Nicholas Genevieve-TweedChair, Inclusiveness and Justice CommitteeThe Rev. Dr. Marcia Allen OwensThe Rev. Dr. Daryl B. IngramChair, ELMCAfrican Methodist Episcopal Zion ChurchThe Rt. Rev. George W.C. Walker, Sr.The Rev. William Darin MooreThe Rev. Dr. Raymon E. HuntVice President at LargeAlliance of Baptists in the USAThe Rev. Paula Clayton DempseyAmerican Baptist Churches USAThe Rev. Dr. A. Roy MedleyThe Rev. Dr. Cheryl H. WadeVice President for Administration and FinanceMr. Frank Christine, Jr.Apostolic Catholic ChurchBishop Charles “Chuck” LeighArmenian Church of AmericaHis Eminence Archbishop Vicken AykazianImmediate Past PresidentThe Very Rev. Fr. Papken AnoushianMrs. Arpi KouzouianChair, Nominations CommitteeChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. WatkinsThe Rev. Dr. Robert K. WelshChristian Methodist Episcopal ChurchBishop Ronald M. CunninghamBishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.Past PresidentThe Rev. Dr. Carmichael L. Crutchfield2nd ELMC RepresentativeChurch of the BrethrenMr. Stanley J. NoffsingerVice President at LargeChurch World ServiceThe Rev. John McCulloughCoptic Orthodox Church in North AmericaSubdeacon Bishoy M. MikhailEpiscopal ChurchThe Rt. Rev. Johncy IttyVice President (Chair, CWS Board)Ms. Alice R. WebleyThe Rev. Dr. Thomas FergusonEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaBishop Mark S. HansonThe Rev. Dr. Donald J. McCoidMr. Dennis W. FradoChurch World Service BoardMs. Kathryn M. LohrePresident ElectFriends United MeetingMs. Sylvia L. GravesGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of AmericaThe Most Rev. Archbishop Demetrios of AmericaThe Rev. Fr. Mark AreyDr. Anton C. VrameChair, Faith and Order CommissionMr. John PaterakisChurch World Service BoardMs. Nikki StephanopoulosInternational Council of Community ChurchesThe Rev. Herman Harmelink, IIIKorean Presbyterian Church AbroadThe Rev. Jacob Se JangMalankara Orthodox Syrian ChurchHis Grace Dr. Zachariah Mar NicholovosMar Thoma ChurchThe Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar TheodosiusMoravian Church in AmericaThe Rev. Dr. Hermann I. WeinlickThe Rev. Peg ChemberlinPresidentThe Rev. Dr. Elizabeth MillerNational Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.The Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-SmithDr. Julius R. ScruggsOrthodox Church in AmericaHis Beatitude Metropolitan JonahThe Very Rev. Leonid KishkovskyPatriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox ChurchThe Very Rev. Igor VyzhamovPhiladelphia Yearly Meeting of the ReligiousSociety of FriendsArthur LarrabeeThomas SwainPolish National Catholic Church of AmericanThe Most Rev. Anthony A. MikovskyThe Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, Jr.Presbyterian Church (USA)The Rev. Gradye ParsonsChair, Constitution and Bylaws CommitteeMs. Linda ValentineThe Rev. Robina WinbushThe Rev. José Luis CasalSecretaryThe Rev. Jerry Van MarterChair, Communication CommissionThe Rev. Jimmie HawkinsChurch World Service BoardProgressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.The Rev. Dr. Carroll A. BaltimoreThe Rev. Dr. Walter Parrish, IIIReformed Church in AmericaThe Rev. Wesley Granberg-MichaelsonThe Rev. Douglas W. Fromm, Jr.The Rev. David P. BaakChair, Ecumenical Networks CommitteeSyrian Orthodox Church of AntiochHis Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem KarimThe Swedenborgian ChurchThe Rev. Dr. David J. FeketeThe Rev. Ken TurleyUnited Church of ChristThe Rev. Geoffrey A. BlackThe United Methodist ChurchThe Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Sidorak, Jr.Bishop Sharon Zimmerman RaderDr. Diana EckChair, Interfaith Relations CommissionMr. Raúl AlegríaChair, Human Resources CommitteeSTAFFThe Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General SecretaryClare J. Chapman, Deputy General SecretaryDr. Antonios Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary,Faith & Order Commission and Interfaith Relations CommissionThe Rev. Garland F. Pierce; Associate General Secretary,Education & Leadership Ministries CommissionWesley M. ‘Pat’ Pattillo, Associate General Secretary,Justice & Advocacy Commission and Communication CommissionJordan Blevins, Advocacy Officer for PeacemakingThe Rev. NaKeisha Sylver Blount, Advocacy Officerfor Racial Justice and Human RightsCassandra Carmichael, Director,Washington Office and Eco-Justice ProgramsJulian deVia, Information Technology DirectorThe Rev. Deborah DeWinter, Director of Donor RelationsPhilip E. Jenks, Media Relations SpecialistKurt R. Kaboth, Esq., Director, Resource Development andHuman RelationsThe Rev. Michael E. Livingston, Director, Poverty InitiativeThe Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, Director, Program for Women’s MinistryKaren Wang, Senior Director, Administration and Finance19

Learn more about our work together-www.eculink.orgReceive the latest news about the ecumenical community — emailed to you monthly and free!Connect with Uswww.ncccusa.org our NCC web portalwww.fistulastories.org our work with young women to end obstetric fi stulawww.nccecojustice.org our work to protect and restore God’s creationwww.circlesofnames.org our campaign to honor women in ministrywww.faithconnectsus.org our shared tool to connect ecumenical young adultswww.health-ministries.org our work on health care and health care ministrieswww.nccendpovertynow.org our work to end poverty and childhood hungerwww.yearbookofchurches.org our Yearbook of American and Canadian ChurchesWhat does it mean to be ecumenical in the 21st century?Witnesses of These Things: Ecumenical Engagement in a New EraThe Centennial Ecumenical Gathering and General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ in theUSA and Church World Service met in November 2010 in New Orleans. Learn more about the oucomes atwww.ncccusa.org/witnesses2010.National Council of theChurches of Christ in the USA475 Riverside Drive, Suite 800, New York, NY 10115 • (212) 870-2025 • www.ncccusa.org