Cy and Carolyn King received the Distinquished Service Award at the Council's recent House of Delegates meeting. The Kings are long-time ecumenists and social activists who have given a life time of service. Pictured with the Kings are Collins Kilburn, Executive Director Emeritus and Sandy Irving, Executive Board member, who introduced the Kings at the award ceremony. In his remarks, Collins Kilburn described Cy King as " not a drum major for justice. A drum major is out in front seen by all.. Rather Cy is the steady bass drummer for justice, setting the steady beat on which the band is based."

In a letter to Executive Director George Reed, Cy King wrote "The Council is such a valuable institution for North Carolina. Among its important functions it is always there to respond when there is a need for the religious community to speak on an issue or a problem. Of course there are frequently other responses, but the Council's is the one that so many of us wait for......To think that anybody thinks that we belong in the company of those who have received this award in the past is something that we (Carolyn and I) will always treasure."

To see a list of former recipients of the Distinquished Service Award, click here.

Recently, a 95th Birthday Celebration was held for Tibbie Roberts, recipient of the Distinquished Service Award in 1995. Click here to see photos from the event.

the racial justice act

A press conference addressing the current state of the NC Racial Justice Act was held on Thursday, May 28th at 9:00 am at the NC Legislative Building. The statement that was presented includes the signature of several North Carolina religious leaders. Speakers at the presentation of the statement included Council Executive Director, Rev. George Reed (Executive Director, NC Council of Churches), Monsignor Michael Clay (Catholic Diocese of Raleigth), Rev. William Barber (President of NC NAACP), Rev. James Brown (pastor of First Baptist Jacksonville, NC) Emilie Haertsch (Jesuit Volunteer Community Organizer for PFADP), and Amanda Lattanzio (Community Organizer for PFADP.)

To read Rev. Reed's remarks, click here. To read more about the statement, click here.

Insight for the faith community about flu pandemic

Rev. George Reed, Executive Director of the NC Council of Churches, wrote an article titled, Pandemic Flu: Why Faith Groups Must Care, which was published by the North Carolina Medical Journal two years ago.  He also served on the NC Institute of Medicine’s Task Force on Ethics and Pandemic Influenza Planning in 2006-2007.  With the recent concern of H1N1 flu that is sweeping across the globe, Rev. Reed’s insight is both timely and extremely valuable to the faith community. Click here to read the article from the NC Medical Journal 2007;Volume 68, Number 1 p.:43-44.  For additional resources related specifically to H1N1 flu, please click here.

Updated version of acts of faith:

Acts of Faith: Resources for Prophetic Worship, Year B, Parts 1 and II have been converted to an on-line resource. The Council is working to update these materials and convert them from a printed resource to an on-line resource that is very user-friendly.

This series deals with subjects that are both local and global in scope. Upcoming subjects include the death penalty, ecumenism, labor/unions, public education, domestic violence, immigration, extravagant generosity, and farm workers.

Clink here to see the current units for Year B, Part II.

Click here to see Year B, Part I.

The NC Council of Churches has just published free Immigration fact sheets:

	"Faith & Immigration" highlights the religious calling to welcome the stranger.
	"Society & Immigration" evaluates common misconceptions about immigrants.

religious coalition for justice for immigrants website:

The North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants has launched a website to help distribute information and recruit new signers of the Coalition’s statement: www.welcometheimmigrant.org.  Building on the momentum from last Fall’s press conference – which was heavily covered by the media – we’re excited about building the strength of the Coalition throughout this year.  Come visit us on the web, recruit your friends, sign the guestbook, read the media coverage, and help build the movement.

Donations to the Council:

As we at the North Carolina Council of Churches complete our 73rd year of work for social justice and Christian unity, we need your continued financial support to help farmworkers and those without health care; to lobby for peace; to protect God's earth and the least among us.  Your tax deductible contribution is vitally important to existing programs and to implementing new ones. To make an online donation, please click on the box below.   To donate by mail, reach us at NC Council of Churches, 1307 Glenwood Ave., Suite 156, Raleigh, NC, 27605.