wfn.org | NCC Caucuses Stress Diversity Within Unity of NCC Community

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	50th Anniversary Newsroom - Nov. 8-12, 1999 call 216-696-8490

NCC caucuses each face unique challenges

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Caucus meetings put an accent on the diversity within 
the unity of the NCC community. Members of Orthodox communions, 
racial-ethnic groups, sexual minorities, women and Indigenous people all 
met in caucus groups this week.

Each of the groups discussed their common concerns and planned strategies 
that will make them stronger members of the larger ecumenical community. 
While this general purpose holds across the board, each caucus faces 
different specific challenges.

  "The Orthodox Caucus is a unique opportunity to get together as lay and 
clergy from both 'sisters' of the Orthodox family," the Eastern and the 
Oriental Orthodox communions, according to the Rev. Irinej Dobrijevic, 
executive director of the Serbian Orthodox Church's Office of External 
Affairs in Washington, D.C. That kind of mix "does not happen often 
enough," he said. "Beyond a doubt it was through the common work of the NCC 
that we were brought together and we are grateful for that."

Meeting at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Cleveland, November 10, the 
Orthodox Caucus addressed issues such as how Orthodox participation in the 
Council might be stepped up and made more meaningful.

Numbers are a problem for the newly formed Indigenous Caucus. "There are 
generally two to four Indigenous members of the General Assembly," said 
Sammy Toineeta, associate director for racial justice and reconciliation in 
the NCC's National Ministries Unit. "It doesn't make sense to caucus among 
ourselves."

Next November, the caucus plans to solve this problem by inviting 
participation by members of the Indigenous community in the city where the 
Assembly will meet. This year the caucus included some 25 people because 
members of the Council on Native American Ministries (CONAM) joined the 
gathering. CONAM sponsored the November 10 organizing meeting in solidarity 
with Indigenous General Assembly members.

If the Indigenous Caucus is the newest Caucus within the Council, the 
Women's Caucus is among the oldest and was established 30 years ago. Among 
its meetings this week was a November 10 luncheon program that offered two 
nationally known speakers.

The Rev. Dr. Emily Chandler of the Massachusetts General Institute of 
Health Professions provided advice on how to reduce stress. She presented 
statistics showing that prayer can ease stress and shorten hospital stays.

Marian Wright Edelman, president, the Children's Defense Fund, called upon 
women to challenge politicians "of every stripe" to promise health 
insurance for all children, and to support laws banning guns.

The Interfaith Assembly of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) 
Caucuses and Affirming Organizations-which represents caucuses in more than 
30 denominations-says that one of its hopes for the new millennium is that 
the NCC will "welcome into membership any communion which confesses Jesus 
Christ as Lord and Savior, including those communions whose members are 
primarily LGBT persons."

The Interfaith Assembly sponsored a breakfast November 11 to honor Dr. Paul 
Sherry, immediate past president of the United Church of Christ. Dr. Sherry 
received the first "Paul H. Sherry Leadership and Courage Award," which 
recognizes a heterosexual religious leader who has taken a risk by 
defending sexual minorities."

The Racial Ethnic Caucus offers a common arena for all racial-ethnic 
persons who come to the Assembly, and includes white Assembly members 
working against racism.

This year the caucus focused on the challenges facing Indigenous People 
with a presentation by Juanita Helphrey, a member of the United Church of 
Christ (UCC) and of the Hidasa Nation. She spoke on the problem on negative 
stereotyping of Native Americans, including offensive sports mascots. For 
many years, the UCC has fought the use of the "Chief Wahoo" symbol and the 
team name the "Cleveland Indians."