wfn.org | NCC 2003 General Assembly -- Highlights from Nov. 4-6 Agenda

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

NCC 2003 General Assembly - Highlights from Nov. 4-6 Agenda

MEDIA CONTACTS:

NCC Newsroom Nov. 4-6: 601-206-3181 (Crown Room, Jackson Hilton)
Or Mobile: 702-523-4006 or 917-690-6075

Established in 1950, the National Council of Churches (USA) is the nation's
leading ecumenical organization.  Thirty-six African American, mainline
Protestant, Orthodox and Episcopal denominations - comprising 50 million
U.S. Christians in 140,000 congregations nationwide - work through the
Council to address people's spiritual and social needs and to seek greater
unity among Christians.

General Assembly is the NCC's highest legislative body and meets annually.
This is the first time the Assembly has met in Mississippi.

Tuesday, November 4

1:15-3:15 p.m. National Council of Churches General Assembly Opening
Plenary, Jackson Hilton, 1001 East County Line Road, Jackson, Miss.  Piney
Woods Cotton Blossom Singers, under the direction of Dr. L. G. McLeod,
followed by the Assembly's opening worship and statements from leadership of
the National Council of Churches and Church World Service and greetings from
the Rev. Paul Jones, Executive Director, Mississippi Religious Leaders
Conference.

Other Photo Ops Nov. 4-6: Resident Potter (Ky Johnston of Cleveland, Miss.);
Banners; Bookstore and Exhibit Hall; Diversity of Delegates - who will have
modeling clay and chenille sticks at their tables for spontaneous
sculptures.

Wednesday, November 5

National Council of Churches General Assembly Continues, Jackson Hilton,
1001 East County Line Road, Jackson, Miss.

Today's Highlights:

Noon - Women's Caucus luncheon, with guest speaker Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Fry
Brown, on "Required to Do Justice."  She is Associate Professor of
Homiletics at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta
and Associate Minister, New Bethel A.M.E.  Her most recent book is "Weary
Throats, and New Song: Black Women Proclaiming God's Word."

1:30 p.m. Presentation: Human Genetic Technologies and the Church - Dr.
Richard Hayes, Executive Director of the Center for Genetics and Society,
and vote on recommendations from an "Exploratory Committee on Human Genetic
Technologies, Creating a Committee on Human Genetic Policy Development."

2:30 p.m. Action on a resolution on "The Churches and Public Schools" and a
policy on "The Church and Children: Visions and Goals for the 21st Century."

Thursday, November 6

National Council of Churches General Assembly Continues, Jackson Hilton,
1001 East County Line Road, Jackson, Miss.

Today's highlights:

11:00 a.m. General Assembly considers whether to endorse the boycott of Taco
Bell as called for by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.  Proponents of the
resolution contend that a boycott is the only way left to pressure Taco Bell
and its suppliers to end exploitation - even slavery - of tomato pickers.
Several of the NCC's member denominations have endorsed the boycott.  The
Assembly also is asked to endorse a boycott of the Mt. Olive Pickle Company,
effective January 1, 2004, if there's no resolution of a dispute with
cucumber pickers.

8:00 p.m. Installation Service and Reception, Anderson United Methodist
Church, 6205 Hanging Moss Road, Jackson, Miss.	Featuring the installation
of the Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., Christian Methodist Episcopal Bishop of
Mississippi and Louisiana, as the NCC's President for 2004-2005.

-end-

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11/3/2003

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