Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Today begins the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In this way, many Christians become aware of the great diversity of ways of adoring God. Read More...
Virginia Council of Churches
The Virginia Council of Churches is the oldest ecumenical body in the Commonwealth, representing thirty seven governing bodies of eighteen Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant denominations. As we work together as Christian communions, we build Christian Unity; as we work together with persons of other faiths, we build human community.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Jon Barton - Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Black Alumni / ae Association Bicentennial
Jon Barton - Friday, January 06, 2012
Ministry on the Ground
February 14-16, 2012
Union Presbyterian Seminary Black Alumni/ae Association Bicentennial Conference
on the campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Come learn from expert church leaders new ways of ministry and enjoy fellowship!
Experience and explore practical ways of engaging the church in ecumenism,
technology, and administration in challenging economic times.
Save with early registration by January 15, 2012!
Register online at www.regonline.com/ministryontheground or
go to www.upsem.edu for more information or to register by mail.
804-278-4245
All are welcome.
NCCCUSA Working to End Poverty
Jon Barton - Thursday, December 29, 2011
As the year comes to a close with the celebration of Christmas and the hope for a better year in 2012, we pause to thank you for your interest and participation in the National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative. In a year of severe challenges to the middle class and especially those living below the poverty line, we have organized and advocated for fairness and justice in the affairs of our government. We are profoundly disappointed at the failure of Congress to act decisively to alleviate the suffering of the poor among us. We end the year confident that God will continue to work through us all to share the abundance of the earth with the whole family of humanity. We know our work is unfinished and we resolve to continue to pray and advocate with you in the New Year. If we don’t believe we can end poverty now—we never will.
Here is a look back at a year of intensive advocacy in solidarity with those who struggle the most for a fair share of the abundance of God’s creation. In 2011, the NCC Poverty Initiative: Read More...
Faith Leaders Arrested in Protest to Protect the Poor
Jon Barton - Thursday, July 28, 2011
Washington, July 28, 2011 – Frustrated that their pleas to the Administration and Congress to protect funding for the nation’s most vulnerable are being ignored, nearly a dozen leaders from the faith community were arrested inside the U.S. Capitol Building on Thursday.Despite repeated warnings from the U.S. Capitol Police, the leaders refused to end their public prayers asking the Administration and Congress not to balance the budget on the backs of the poor.
Among those who were arrested were the Rev. Michael Livingston, former president of the National Council of Churches, now director of the NCC’s poverty initiative; and Jordan Blevins, director of peace witness for the Church of the Brethren and the NCC.
Read More...
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Jon Barton - Friday, January 07, 2011
The
Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity, was developed by Father Paul Wattson, SA, at Graymoor in
Garrison, New York, and was first observed at Graymoor from January
18-25, 1908. Today, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the
whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with
the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).
In 1966, the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Vatican Secretariat (now Council) for Promoting Christian Unity began collaborating as a common international text for worldwide usage. Since 1968 these international texts, which are based on themes proposed by ecumenical groups around the world, have been developed, adapted and published for use in the United States by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2011
Chosen Theme: One in the Apostles’ Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer
(cf. Acts 2:42)
The theme for the annual celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity 2011 has been announced by the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World
Council of Churches.