wfn.org | NCCCUSA Background Information

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

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
 Nov. 8-12 Call 216-696-8490

NCC10/99

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: Background Information: For 
Use Anytime

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 
(usually referred to as National Council of Churches - NCC) 
is headquartered at 475 Riverside Drive, New York City.  
Founded in 1950 with the merger of several predecessor 
bodies, the NCC is the nation's leading ecumenical 
organization.  Its 35 Protestant and Orthodox member 
denominations - with a combined membership of 52 million - 
join forces in a wide array of ministries.  These include:

  Bible translation and biblical literacy programs.  The 
New Revised Standard Version Bible (1990), widely hailed 
as the most accurate, readable Bible in English, and its 
predecessor, the Revised Standard Version (1952) were 
both translated under NCC auspices.
  Ministries that bring people of faith together to address 
poverty, racism and other injustices. The commitment to 
racial justice is at the center of the Council's life.  
Work to address the racism underlying many arson attacks 
on houses of worship is part of a long history of 
involvement that included an active role in the civil 
rights movement.  The NCC also undergirds environmental 
justice ministries.  Its new "Energy Star" program helps 
congregations slash energy consumption and emissions and 
save money for ministry.  Public policy witness seeks to 
make U.S. domestic and foreign policy more just, and 
often challenges Christians on such issues as global debt 
forgiveness.
  Community development projects, emergency response and 
refugee assistance.  Much of this work is carried out by 
the NCC's Church World Service ministry and its partners 
in more than 80 countries, including the United States.  
Sources of support include NCC member denominations and 
public fund-raisers like CROPWALKS.  The NCC's Ecumenical 
Program for Urban Service each year places 5,000 
AmeriCorps members in congregationally based community 
service.  The NCC continues to help burned churches to 
rebuild.
  Educational and worship resources for congregations, 
individuals of all ages and persons with special needs.  
It takes several catalogs to list them all!
  The NCC's annual Yearbook of American and Canadian 
Churches offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date 
membership and giving statistics available from North 
America's churches, plus trends analysis, directories and 
ministry-to-ministry links that make it an invaluable 
resource for congregational ministry and stewardship.
  Projects that promote unity among churches and better 
relationships among Christians and other persons of 
faith.  Groundbreaking federal government guidelines that 
protect appropriate religious expression in the public 
school were drafted by the NCC's counsel for religious  
liberties - who contributed to similar workplace 
guidelines.

The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell is the NCC's General 
Secretary.  She is an ordained minister in both the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American 
Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. and is the first woman 
minister to serve as the NCC's chief executive officer.  
Bishop Craig Barry Anderson, Rector of St. Paul's School in 
Concord, N.H., is the NCC's President - its highest elected 
officer.  His NCC presidency, a volunteer post, is for 
calendar years 1998-99.
 -0-