wfn.org | NCCCUSA "Church and Government" Program

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Internet: wendym@ncccusa.org

Contact: Wendy S. McDowell, NCC, 212-870-2227

NCC3/11/98  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC "CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT" PROGRAM MOVES TO 10 CITIES

 NEW YORK, Mar. 11 ---- With ten cities now selected and a 
Bible study completed, the National Council of Churches' 
(NCC's) "Church and Government Program" has moved to the local 
level where it will be implemented by city and state 
ecumenical agencies.

 "We have successfully moved into the next phase of the 
project, which involves specially selecting the 150 individual 
churches to participate," said Nancy Theoharis, Coordinator of 
the NCC's Church and Government Program.  "There is a lot of 
enthusiasm at the local level for this important effort to 
counter cynicism about government."

 Aiming to help Christians in the NCC's 33 Protestant and 
Orthodox member communions develop a healthy balance between 
confidence in government and criticism of particular 
government policies, the NCC's program will enlist 15 
congregations in each of the following 10 cities: Albuquerque, 
New Mexico; Decatur, Ga.; Fresno, Calif.; Milwaukee, Wis.; 
Oklahoma City, Okla.; Orlando, Fla.; Portland, Maine; Seattle, 
Wash.; Washington, D.C. and Wichita, Kansas.  The cities were 
chosen for their strong ecumenical agencies upon the 
recommendation of national ecumenical leaders.

The participating congregations will reflect the 
geographical, denominational and racial/ethnic diversity of 
the United States.  Local and regional ecumenical 
organizations (see attached list) will help choose the 
congregations and implement the program.

 Each of the 150 specially selected congregations will 
arrange for an adult class to conduct a five-session Bible 
study called "Christians and Government," and hear at least 
one sermon preached on the need for both confidence in 
government and criticism of particular practices and policies 
of government.

 Upon completion of the year-long project, the NCC will 
publish a collection of the sermons preached on the topic.  
The NCC has also engaged the Research Department of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to study attitudinal changes in 
members of the participating congregations.

 The NCC's project is part of the larger "Partnership for 
Trust in Government" supported by the Ford Foundation in 
partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government.

 According to the Rev. Richard Killmer, Associate Director 
of the NCC's National Ministries Unit, the congregations are 
due to be chosen in one to two months time.  "The program is 
now in the hands of the local agencies and congregations," 
Rev. Killmer said.  "It is up to them to carry it out and 
report the results."

-end-

ECUMENICAL AGENCIES participating in the
CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT PROJECT of the
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE USA

1.  Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee
 Jack Murtaugh, Executive Director
 1442 N. Farwell Avenue - Suite 200
 Milwaukee, WI 53202
 (414) 276-9050 Fax: (414) 276-8442

2.  New Mexico Conference of Churches
 Dr. Wallace Ford, Executive Director
 124 Hermosa SE
 Albuquerque, NM 87108-1322 
 (505) 255-1509 Fax: (505) 256-0071

3.  Maine Council of Churches
 Thomas Ewell, Executive Director
 15 Pleasant Avenue
 Portland, NE 04103
 (207) 772-1918 Fax: (207) 772-2947

4.  Oklahoma Conference of Churches
 Dr. Rita Cowan, Executive Director
 301 NW 36th
 Oklahoma City, OK 73118
 (405) 525-2928 

5.  Florida Council of Churches
 Fred Morris, Executive Director
 924 N. Magnolia Avenue - Suite 236
 Orlando, FL 32803
 (407) 839-3454 Fax: (407) 246-0019

6.  Decatur Cooperative Ministries
 Jackie Jenkins, Executive Director
 300 E. Ponce de Leon
 Decatur, GA 30030
 (404) 377-5365 Fax: (404) 370-1413
 
7.  Washington Association of Churches
 Rev. John Boonstra, Executive Minister
 419 Occidental Avenue S. - Suite 201
 Seattle, WA 98104
 (206) 625-9790 Fax: (206) 625-9791

8.  The Council of Churches of Greater Washington 
 Daniel Thompson, Program Officer
 5 Thomas Circle NW
 Washington, DC 20005
 (202) 722-9240   Fax: (202) 722-9241

9.  Fresno Metro Ministry
 Rev. Walter Perry, Executive Director
 1055 N. Van Ness - Suite H
 Fresno, CA 93728
 (209) 485-1416   Fax: (209) 485-9109

10.  Inter-Faith Ministries-Wichita
 Rev. Sam Muyskens, Exec. Director
 334 N. Topeka
 Wichita, KS 67202-2410
 (316) 264-9303   Fax: (316) 264-2233

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