Faithful voice for children begins season with July 8 event
Washington, D.C., June 30, 2006--A Faithful Voice for Children offers "A Season of Prayer and Action" that launches next Saturday (July 8). Events are planned in July, September and October to help the church meet its commitment to the youngest in our society.
The National Council of Churches USA (NCC) and the Children?s Defense Fund (CDF) have joined in this effort "to equip people of faith on how they can mobilize and advocate for the well-being of children," said the Rev. Garland F. Pierce, NCC associate general secretary for education and leadership ministries.
The first event opens with a Call to Prayer and Public Witness led by the Rev. Michael Livingston, president of the NCC. A 10am ecumenical prayer and worship service will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street. Marian Wright Edelman, CDF president and founder, will end the event at 3pm on the west terrace of the Capitol with a call to action.
"The church is called to be a voice for the voiceless," said Pierce, "and children are the ones who often have little voice in our society. They need a voice filled with compassion and strength, inspired by God's love and justice for all people especially children."
Workshops will explore what the church can do to help children especially those who are trapped in poverty. CDF staff presenters along with members of the NCC's Committee on Justice for Children and Their Families will take part.
The Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, NCC associate general secretary for justice and advocacy, will address advocating for children with the leaders in government. Ms. Marilyn Clement, national coordinator, Health Care Now, takes up ways to improve health care availability for young people. Ms. Shannon Daley-Harris, CDF religous affairs consultant, will acquaint participants with the Children's Sabbath.
Plans will be made for Sept. 10 community events around the country. Ms. Kaye Edwards, director of family and children's ministries for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will outline plans for a 40-day prayer vigil leading up the Children's Sabbath.
An October 22 Call to Prayer and Congregational Witness is also being planned. The Rev. Debra Kissinger, from the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem (Pa.), will help attendees discover how they can make a difference for children in their congregations.
The season of prayer and action for children is in direct response to a 2004 policy statement of the NCC General Assembly, "The Church and Children: Vision and Goals for the 21st Century," [http://www.ncccusa.org/pdfs/churchandchildren.pdf] urging the church to be a powerful advocate for children.
The NCC is the ecumenical voice of America's Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic peace churches and traditional African American churches. The 35 member communions comprise 45 million members in 100,000 congregations across the United States. ### Latest NCC News at www.councilofchurches.org
NCC News contact: Dan Webster, 212.870.2252, dwebster@councilofchurches.org