wfn.org | NCC Executive Board Approves Mission Prorities For 2000-2001

[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

19NCC3/3/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVES MISSION PRIORITIES FOR 2000-2001

 February 29, 2000, NEW YORK CITY - The National Council of 
Churches' emerging reorganization was shaped further by the NCC's 
Executive Board, which this week approved priorities for 2000-2001 
for work in four program areas: education, justice, public witness 
(especially legislative advocacy priorities) and unity.

"We are trying to focus on some achievable goals as we work to 
rebuild the NCC's finances," said Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary 
(see related NCC News Release of 3/2/2000, "NCC Executive Board 
Reinforces Fiscal Accountability, Receives Progress Reports, 
Expresses Sense of New Beginning.")  

As a unifying theme, Dr. Edgar encouraged the Board to 
consider all the proposed priorities in light of their impact on 
children.  "When we work against gun violence, let's emphasize how 
it impacts children," he said.  "When we address AIDS in Africa, 
let's highlight how it affects children and families.  When we hold 
a CROPWALK to raise money to fight hunger, let's educate about 
hunger among children."

 While not descriptive of all NCC program work, the Year 2000-
2001 priorities offer a window on what these major program areas 
consider most important within their program portfolios for the next 
12 to 18 months.  As adopted by the NCC Executive Board, they are:

 Education: 1) Programs and resources for strengthening 
families, so that every child may grow up and fulfill his or her 
full potential; 2) Leadership development for congregational 
leaders; 3) Action programs for dismantling institutional racism, 4) 
Creative projects to enhance and foster spiritual formation, and 5) 
Promotion and support of high quality, comprehensive public 
education.

 Justice: 1) The elimination of racial violence and injustice 
and the building of a racially and culturally inclusive society 
through multicultural educational and enhanced empowerment programs 
especially for children and youth in collaboration with the 
Education and Public Witness Program areas; 2) The eradication of 
poverty, especially among women and children, through mobilization 
of and collaboration with local congregations, established anti-
poverty groups and other similar community based organizations, and 
3) the improvement of health, quality of life and survival of the 
planet.

 Public Witness (Legislative Advocacy): 1) Work for passage 
of the Hunger Relief Act and 2) of minimum wage/living wage 
legislation and a commitment 3) to work against gun violence, 4) to 
address AIDS in Africa and to 5) advance the Jubilee 2000 debt 
relief campaign.  These were identified in mid-January by an NCC-
convened consultation as priorities for joint public policy advocacy 
work in the Year 2000.  Consultation participants included some 70 
representatives of denominational and ecumenical legislative and 
social policy offices, representatives of state ecumenical and 
interfaith agencies and staff of the NCC and its Church World 
Service and Witness Unit.

 Unity: 1) To nurture and strengthen the ecumenical network, 
including the sharing of insights into the practical results of the 
ecumenical movement; 2) to promote the visible unity of the churches 
through study and theological dialogue; 3) to study, interpret and 
implement the "Report of the Ecclesiology Study Task Force," adopted 
unanimously by the NCC's General Assembly in November 1997; 4) to 
study the NCC policy statement, "Interfaith Relations and the 
Churches," adopted by the General Assembly in November 1999, and 
implement its recommendations; 5) to foster local, regional and 
national interfaith engagements; 6) to promote reflection on the 
nature and purpose of the ecumenical calling, especially as 
relationships between the churches have entered a new chapter in 
ecumenical relations, and 7) to promote the integration of Faith and 
Order, Ecumenical Networks and Interfaith with justice and peace.

-end-
 -0-