wfn.org | National Council of Churches 1997 Calendar of Events

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National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Internet: c/o carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

January 1997

Jan. - Feb. - Friendship Press Themes: Brazil and Christians 
Living in a Violent Society.  Brazil publications due in 
mid-January, 1997; Christians Living in a Violent Society 
publications due in February, 1997.

13-18 – International Development Conference, Washington, 
D.C.  Contact: Bob Berg or Andy Rice, International 
Development Conference, 202-884-8580.

15-30 - Annual visit to projects in Indonesia and solidarity 
visit to East Timor by Larry Tankersley, Director, CWSW 
Southern Asia Office.  Among issues: increased 
interreligious tensions in Indonesia.  Contact: Larry 
Tankersley, NCC, 212-870-2008.

18-25 – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, including 
Ecumenical Sunday (Jan. 19).  Contact: Elizabeth Mellen, 
Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute, New York, 
NY, 212-870-2332.

21-28 - Official NCC Delegation will visit North Korea.  
Contact: Betty Thompson, NCC, 212-870-2048.

26-28 - Ecumenical Networks Executive Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Kathleen Hurty, 
NCC, 212-870-2155.

30-Feb. 2 - State Ecumenical Council Executives Meeting, 
Dallas, Tex.  Contact: Dr. Wallace Ford, Director, NM 
Conference of Churches, 505-255-1509.

31-Feb. 1 - NCC General Secretary Joan Brown Campbell to 
speak at Rocky Mountain Jubilee Celebration for CROP walk, 
Denver, Colo.  Contact: Audrey Doman, CWS, 303-367-4980.

31-Feb. 2 - Asia Pacific Center Conference on China, 
Washington, D.C.  Contact: Miriam Young, APC, 202-543-1094.

February 1997

4-5 - NCC Africa Committee, The Interchurch Center, New York 
City.  Contact: Willis Logan, NCC, 212-870-2645.

5-7 - CWSW Immigration and Refugee Program Committee, Miami, 
Fla.  Spokespersons available for interviews on how new 
federal legislation is affecting immigrants and refugees and 
on the 1997 global year of “Churches in Solidarity with 
Displaced Persons” (to be launched officially in March).  
Contact: Jane Lowicki, NCC, 212-870-3153.

6-7 - NCC Agricultural Missions Executive Committee, 
including its “Gender and Development Task Force,” Alma 
Matthews House, New York City.  Contact: Winston Carroo, 
212-870-2553.

7 - (tentative) Audio News Conference: Save Family Planning, 
sponsored by the global Stewardship Initiative, a program of 
Pew Charitable Trusts.  Prominent leaders, including NCC 
General Secretary Joan Brown Campbell, call on the new 
congress to save international voluntary family planning as 
rist policy act in February.  Contact: Joan Eve Tripi, 
Douglas Gould and Company, 914-381-4196.

10 - NCC China Committee, The Interchurch Center, New York 
City.  Contact: Krystin Granberg, NCC, 212-870-2630.

10-12 - NCC Communication Commission Meetings, Toronto, 
Canada.  Contact: Betty Thompson, NCC, 212-870-2048.

10-12 - NCC East Asia and Pacific Committee, The Interchurch 
Center, New York City.  Contact: Victor Hsu, NCC, 212-870-
2371.

11 - Joint meeting of NCC East Asia and Southern Asia 
committees, The Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: 
Victor Hsu, NCC, 212-870-2371.

11-15 - “Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility 
(ICCR) Clearinghouse on Alternative Investments,” New York 
City.  Contact: Tim Smith, ICCR, 212-870-2294.

14 - NCC Southern Asia Committee, The Interchurch Center, 
New York City.  Contact: Larry Tankersley, NCC, 212-870-
2008.

15-17 - South Central Area Ecumenical Staff (SCAES), Austin, 
Tex.  Contact: David Leslie, Interfaith Ministries for 
Greater Houston, 713-522-3955.

17 - Rodney Page, executive director of CWSW, NCC, will be 
keynote speaker at annual meeting of the Texas Conference of 
Churches, Austin, Tex.  Contact: Mary Berwick, Tex. 
Conference of Churches, 512-451-0991.

16-18 - NCC Executive Board Meeting, The Interchurch Center, 
New York City.  Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252.

19 - Supreme Court will begin hearing the oral arguments in 
Flores vs. City of Boerne, the case which will decide 
whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is 
constitutional, 10 a.m., Washington, D.C.  Contact: Oliver 
“Buzz” Thomas, NCC, 423-977-9046.

24-26 - CWSW Emergency Response Committee, New Windsor, Md.  
Contact: Rick Augsburger, NCC, 212-870-3154.

Mid to late Feb. - Publication of 1997 Yearbook of American 
and Canadian Churches.  Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-
2252.

March 1997

1-3 - Launch of Ecumenical Year/Uprooted People, Geneva, 
Switzerland, sponsored by the World Council of Churches 
(WCC).  Contact: Phil Jenks, WCC, 212-870-3193 or Jane 
Lowicki, NCC, 212-870-3153.

1-13 - NCC delegation to Pacific Conference of Churches 
Assembly, Tahiti on occasion of 200th anniversary of the 
arrival of Christianity in the Pacific.  Contact: Victor 
Hsu, NCC, 212-870-2371.

5-7 - NCC Community Education and Fund Raising (CEFR) 
Committee Meeting, Chicago, Ill., Essex Hotel.  Contact: 
Ronda Hughes, CEFR, Elkhart, Ind., 219-264-3102.

7 - World Day of Prayer.  Contact: Eileen King, Church Women 
United, 212-870-3049.

7-8 -NCC Faith and Order Ecclesiology Study Task Force, 
Chicago, Ill.  Contact: William Rusch or Joanne Barbieri, 
NCC, 212-870-2569.

8-10 - National Association of Ecumenical Staff (NAES) 
Board, Seattle, Wash.  Contact: Kathleen Hurty, NCC, 212-
870-2155.

10-11 - NCC Middle East Committee, The Interchurch Center, 
New York City.  Contact: David Weaver, NCC, 212-870-2811.

12-13 - NCC Pentecostal Dialogue, Oakland, Calif.;
14-16 - NCC Faith and Order meeting, Oakland, Calif.  
Contact: William Rusch or Joanne Barbieri, NCC, 212-870-
2569.

12-13 - “Beijing and Beyond,” special programs as part of 
International Women’s Month, Church Center for the United 
Nations, New York City.  Contact: Karen Hessel, NCC, 212-
870-2421.

13-17 - NCC Interfaith Relations Commission spring meeting, 
Oakland, Calif.  Includes consultation with Buddhist leaders 
regarding early drafts of an NCC policy statement on 
interfaith relations.  Contact: Jay Rock, NCC, 212-870-2560.

17-19 - NCC Consultation on the Reunification of Korea, 
including church leaders from North and South Korea, New 
York City.  Contact: Victor Hsu, NCC, 212-870-2371.

18-19 - NCC Economic Justice Program Ministry meeting, 
Baltimore, Md.  Contact: Rich Killmer, NCC, 212-870-2385.

20-21 - NCC Europe Committee, Washington, D.C.  Contact: 
Paul Wilson, NCC, 212-870-2667.

20-22 - Joint International Conference on Developing 
Religious and Ethnic Tolerance, Orlando, Fla., co-sponsored 
by the NCC.  NCC General Secretary Joan Brown Campbell and 
NCC Special Counsel on Religious and Civil Liberties Oliver 
Thomas will be speakers.  Contact: Gwendolyn Cooke, National 
Association of Secondary School Principals, 703-860-0200.

20-22 - NCC Ecumenical Networks Commission, Seattle Wash.  
Contact: Kathleen Hurty, NCC, 212-870-2155.

20-22 - NCC Overseas Personnel Committee, Alma Matthews 
House, New York City.  Contact: Esdras Rodriguez-Diaz, NCC, 
212-870-2368.

24-26 - NCC Church World Service and Witness Executive and 
Unit Committee meetings, Washington, D.C.  Contact: Rodney 
Page, NCC, 212-870-2061.

27 - NCC Agricultural Mission Executive Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Winston Carroo, 
NCC, 212-870-2253.

April 1997

April - “Christmas in April,” scheduled to bring more than 
1,000 college and high school students on their Spring 
Breaks to help rebuild burned churches, sponsored by Habitat 
for Humanity in collaboration with the NCC’s Burned Churches 
Project.  Contact: Sara Koppler, Habitat for Humanity, 
Murfreesboro, TN, 1-888-284-5386.

6-9 - Interreligious Public Policy Briefing (INTERFAITH 
IMPACT), Washington, D.C.  Contact: Mary Cooper, NCC, 
Washington, D.C., 202-544-2350.

13-15 - National Farm Workers Ministry Board Meeting, San 
Francisco, Calif.  Including a march in support of the 
strawberry workers campaign.  Contact: David Crump, National 
Farm Workers Ministry, Chicago, Ill., 312-829-6436.

17-19 - “Honoring the Past, Building for the Future,” an 
ecumenical gathering for Native American church leaders, 
ecumenical officers, church educators and writers, those 
concerned with fighting racism and building interreligious 
relationships.  Contact: Anne Marshall, GCCUIC, United 
Methodist Church, 212-749-3553.

21-22 - NCC Global Education Committee, Chicago, IL.  
Contact: Loretta Whalen, CWSW/Global Education, Baltimore, 
Md., 410-727-6106.

21-24 - National Workshop on Christian Unity, Sacramento, 
Calif.  Contact:Vincent A. Heier, National Chair, 314-531-
9700.

21-25 - Missiology Consultation, San Jose, Costa Rica;
26-28 - Evaluation of the Sao Paulo Process, San Jose, Costa 
Rica.  Contact: Oscar Bolioli, NCC, 212-870-2460.  The Sao 
Paulo Process involves agencies from the Northern Hemisphere 
dialoguing with its partners in the Southern hemisphere 
about the ecumenical sharing of resources.

23-May 13 - NCC Ecumenical Travel Seminar, Israel.  Contact: 
Dorothy Savage and Joe Leonard, NCC, 212-870-2297, 2673.

May 1997

1-4 - NCC Agricultural Missions Annual Meeting/Study Session 
with the theme “Economic Globalization: Winners and Losers,” 
El Paso, Tex.  Contact: Ag. Missions, NCC, 212-870-2553.

2 - May Fellowship Day (Church Women United).  Contact: 
Martha Cruz, Church Women United, 212-870-2344.

6 - “Family, Community, and Media Values,” a special live 
teleconference from Nashville, Tenn. kicking off the NCC’s 
Media Awareness Year, 1997-1998. A call for a nationwide 
approach to media literacy, the NCC intends to assist 
congregations to become centers of media literacy and assist 
families, congregations and seminaries in a more creative 
approach to and utilization of the media.  The NCC will 
produce media literacy resources during the course of the 
year.  Contact: Mary Byrne Hoffman, NCC Program Consultant, 
914-358-0624.
9-22 - (tentative dates - will be finalized 2/7/97).  
Uprooted peoples trip to Africa, designed to expose local 
U.S. people who have helped resettle refugees to what is 
happening in the refugees’ countries of origin.  Contact: 
Bill Sage, NCC, 212-870-3042.

12-13 - Second in a series of NCC meetings for North 
American denominational staff and other church leaders 
interested in responsible tourism, Alma Matthews House, New 
York City.  The group will explore the idea of establishing 
an ecumenical network around the issue.  Contact: Loretta 
Whalen, CWSW/Global Education, 410-727-6106.

12-14 - NCC Executive Board Meeting, New York City.  
Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252.

13-14 - NCC National Ministries Unit Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Mac Charles 
Jones, NCC, 212-870-2491.

15-18 - “God’s Earth: Our Home,” sponsored by NCC Economic 
and Environmental Justice Program, Estes Park, Colorado.  
250 eco-justice coordinators from congregations around the 
nation are expected to attend.  Contact: Rich Killmer, NCC, 
212-870-2385.

19-20 - NCC Joint Asia Committees, Stony Point, NY.  
Contact: Victor Hsu, NCC, 212-870-2371.

20 - NCC Emergency Response Committee, The Interchurch 
Center, New York City.  Contact: Rick Augsburger, NCC, 212-
870-3154.

20-21 - NCC East Asia and the Pacific Committee, Stony 
Point, NY.  Contact: Victor Hsu, NCC, 212-870-2371.

22 - NCC Southern Asia Committee, Stony Point, NY.  Contact: 
Larry Tankersley, NCC, 212-870-2008.

29-June 13 - Ecumenical Travel Seminar to Russia, visiting 
the ancient cities on the Volga via riverboat.  Participants 
will visit Moscow, St. Petersburg and other sites.  They 
will visit churches, talk with church leaders and join in 
seminar discussions.  Contact: The Rev. Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, 
Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lakeshore Drive, Grosse 
Pointe Farms, MI 48236; 313-882-5330 (work) or 313-886-0404 
(home).

June 1997

Date TBA - Annual national consultation of NCC churches and 
Jewish organizations, location TBA.  Contact Jay Rock, NCC, 
212-870-2560.

3-6 - Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) 
annual general meeting, Convent Station, NJ.  Contact: Tim 
Smith, ICCR, 212-870-2294.
4-7 - CWSW Immigration and Refugee Program National 
Conference, Washington, D.C.  Contact: Jane Lowicki, NCC, 
212-870-3153.

9-10 - Religious Summit on Race, Washington, D.C.  The kick-
off event for the Burned Churches Program, on the 
anniversary of the NCC-initiated meeting of burned churches 
pastors with government officials in 1996.  Details of 
content are still in the process of being determined.  
Contact: Mac Charles Jones, NCC, 212-870-2360 or Burned 
Churches Office, 212-870-2299.

23-28 - National Association of Ecumenical Staff (NAES) 
Conference, Ghost Ranch, NM.  Contact: The Rev. John 
Boonstra, Program Chair, Director of the Washington 
Association of Churches, 206-625-9790.

23-29 - Second European Ecumenical Assembly, Graz, Austria 
with the theme “Reconciliation - Gift of God and Source of 
New Life.”  European Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox 
delegates will gather;
30-July 4 - Eleventh Assembly of Conference of European 
Churches, Graz, Austria.  The Protestant and Orthodox 
decision-making body in Europe will meet to discuss policy 
and programs.  Contact: Paul Wilson, NCC, 212-870-2667.

25-27 - CWSW Immigration and Refugee Program Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Jane Lowicki, 
NCC, 212-870-3153.

30 - China regains control of Hong Kong.  Victor Hsu, 
Director, CWSW East Asia and the Pacific Office, NCC, will 
be there.  Contact: Victor Hsu, NCC, 212-870-2371.

July 1997

27-Aug. 16 - U.S.A.-Russia Ecumenical Work Camp.  Sponsored 
by the Europe Office, NCC.  For applications contact: NCC 
Europe Office, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 626, New York, NY 
10115-0050; tel. 212-870-2667.

September 1997

9-11 - NCC Community Education and Fund Raising Committee, 
New Windsor, Md.  Contact: Ronda Hughes, CEFR, Elkhart, 
Ind., 219-264-3102.

15-17 - NCC Communication Commission Meetings, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Randy Naylor, 
NCC, 212-870-2048.

19-22 - NCC Tales of the Heart Training Event, Baltimore, 
Md., sponsored by Global Education.  Contact: Loretta 
Whalen, CWSW/Global Ed., 410-727-6106.

22-24 - NCC East Asia and the Pacific Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Victor Hsu, 
NCC, 212-870-2371.

22-25 - CWSW Immigration and Refugee Program Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Jane Lowicki, 
NCC, 212-870-3153.

25-26 - NCC Europe Committee, The Interchurch Center, New 
York City.  Contact: Paul Wilson, NCC, 212-870-2667.

25-27 - North American Academy of Ecumenists (NAAE), 
Toronto, Canada.  Contact: Dr. Donna Geernaert, President, 
NAAE, Ottawa, Can., 613-236-9461.

26 - NCC Southern Asia Committee, The Interchurch Center, 
New York City.  Contact: Larry Tankersley, NCC, 212-870-
2008.

30- Oct. 2 - CWSW Executive Committee, Austin, Tex.  
Contact: Rodney Page, NCC, 212-870-2061.

October 1997

3-4 - (tentative) NCC Faith and Order Ecclesiology Study 
Task Force, Chicago, Ill.  Contact: William Rusch or Joanne 
Barbieri, NCC, 212-870-2569.

5-9 - NCC Latin America and the Caribbean Committee, 
Trinidad and Tobago.  Contact: Oscar Bolioli, NCC, 212-870-
2460.

5 - World Communion Sunday.

15-16 - NCC Middle East Committee, The Interchurch Center, 
New York City.  Contact: David Weaver, NCC, 212-870-2811.

16-24 - Peace with Justice Week.  Focusing on the “Churches 
in Solidarity with Displaced People” yearlong theme.  
Contact: elmira Nazombe, NCC, 212-870-2377.

17-18 - NCC Faith and Order meeting, Charlotte, NC.  
Contact: William Rusch or Joanne Barbieri, NCC, 212-870-
2569.

20-21 - NCC National Ministries Unit Committee, The 
Interchurch Center, New York City.  Contact: Mac Charles 
Jones, NCC, 212-870-2491.

26-28 - Public policy briefing on environmental justice 
issues by the NCC Eco-Justice Working Group, Washington, 
D.C.  Contact: Rich Killmer, NCC, 212-870-2385.

November 1997

3-4 - NCC Global Education Committee, New York City.  
Contact: Loretta Whalen, CWSW/Global Education, 410-727-
6106.

7 - World Community Day (Church Women United).  Contact: 
Martha Cruz, Church Women United, 212-870-2344.

9-11 - NCC Executive Board Meeting, Washington, D.C.  
Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252;
12-14 - NCC General Assembly, Washington, D.C.  Contact: 
Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252.

12-15 - NCC Interfaith Relations Commission fall meeting, 
held in conjunction with the NCC General Assembly, 
Washington, D.C.  Contact: Jay Rock, NCC, 212-870-2560.

14-16 - NCC Ecumenical Networks Commission, Washington, D.C.  
Contact: Barbara George, NCC, 212-870-2281.

December 1997

4-5 - NCC Communion Agency Heads Meeting, The Interchurch 
Center, New York City.  Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-
2252.

5-7 - National Farm Workers Ministry Board Meeting, location 
TBA.  Contact: David Crump, National Farm Workers Ministry, 
Chicago, Ill., 312-829-6436.

10 - NCC Executive Committee, The Interchurch Center, New 
York City.  Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252.

1998

Anniversary of International Human Rights Declaration.  
Contact: elmira Nazombe, NCC, 212-870-2377, regarding 
planned observances.

Centennial of U.S. military occupation of Puerto Rico.  
Contact: Oscar Bolioli, NCC, 212-870-2460, regarding planned 
observances.

1999

Nov. 8-12 - The NCC will celebrate its 50th anniversary, 
Jubilee Quadrennium General Assembly in Cleveland, Ohio, the 
site of the founding of the Council.

20 - “Philadelphia Gospel Extravaganza - A Tribute to Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr.,” a benefit concert for the National 
Council of Churches (NCC’s) Burned Churches Fund, CoreStates 
Center, Philadelphia, Pa.  Contact: Stephanie Coleman Epps, 
Clinton Bush Entertainment, 215-849-0900.

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