Peg
Birk, a nationally known change management consultant and
active Congregational laywoman has been elected Transitional
General Secretary of the National Council of Churches.
Birk, President and CEO of Interim Solutions, Minneapolis
and a member of Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis,
was unanimously elected to the position today by the National Council of
Churches Governing Board, meeting here May 21 and 22. A
service of installation in her new position followed in the
national offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. Birk was recommended to the board by a 15-person
search committee chaired by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
Bishop Hanson, chair of the search committee, said: "Peg
Birk brings to the National Council of Churches exceptional
experience leading organizations through a process of
building upon their strengths while making significant
changes in order to more effectively carry out their mission
in a rapidly changing context. Her clear witness to her
Christian faith, her love for the church, her attentive
listening and her confidence in a vibrant future for the
National Council of Churches make her an outstanding choice
for Transitional General Secretary." The position of
Transitional General Secretary is described by the search
committee as “a transitional leader in the role of General
Secretary” who will be in place for 18 months to work with
the NCC board and staff “to seek a new vision and clarity of
mission for the NCC.”
Read More.
NCC President calls on summits to
express moral concerns The
NCC Governing Board convened today in
the same city as the G8 and G20 summits,
and NCC President Lohre welcomed the
board to Chicago "along with dozens of
world leaders, and thousands of
protesters." Lohre called to the G8 and
G20 leaders to focus on moral concerns
and priorities.
Read More.
Metropolitan Constantine, Ukrainian
Orthodox Church, 76 Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine,
76, the
Ruling Hierarch of the Central Eparchy
and the Primate of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of the USA, died May 21. The Metropolitan was
released three days
ago from a local Pittsburgh hospital to
to celebrate his 40th anniversary of Archpastoral ministry in the Holy
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
Read More.
Faith groups deplore weakening in U.S.
House of VAWA The
passage by the House of Representative
of a weakened and "dangerous" bill on
violence against women has been deplored
by the National Task Force to End Sexual
and Domestic violence Against Women. The
passage of the bill, which the Task
Force said "weakens or deletes entirely
some of the vital improvements ...
passed by the Senate last month by a
resounding bipartisan vote."
Read More.
How would you 're-envision' the NCC?
Take this survey The
National Council of Churches has
undertaken a significant process
toward transformational change. God
is calling us anew to be signs of
the visible unity in diversity we
have received in Christ. The Task
Force on Re-envisioning and
Restructuring the NCC seeks your
views and ideas for moving toward
this future. Please take a few
moments to
complete this survey before
April 20.
Uniform
Series curriculum
celebrates 140 years of service Each Sunday, thousands of church
schools open their bibles to the
same passage to study the word of
God.
That's more than a coincidence: it's
called the "uniform principle."
Common bible lessons have been
prepared by the National Council of
Churches' Committee on the Uniform
Series for 140 years next month.
"It's the ultimate form of
ecumenical cooperation," said the
Rev. Dr. Roderick Lewis of the CME
Church.
Read More.
NCC moves to eliminate racial
disparity in maternal health The
NCC is moving forward in the
development of a project to
eliminate racial disparities in
maternal health. The project, "Due
Season: A Faith-Filled Roadmap
Toward Eliminating Racial
Disparities in Maternal Health,"
will develop congregational
materials exploring the intersection
of maternal health and race within
the U.S. and moving people to
advocate for change. Read More.
Peg
Birk, a nationally known change management consultant and
active Congregational laywoman has been elected Transitional
General Secretary of the National Council of Churches.
The
NCC Governing Board convened today in
the same city as the G8 and G20 summits,
and NCC President Lohre welcomed the
board to Chicago "along with dozens of
world leaders, and thousands of
protesters." Lohre called to the G8 and
G20 leaders to focus on moral concerns
and priorities.
Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine,
76, the
Ruling Hierarch of the Central Eparchy
and the Primate of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of the USA, died May 21. The Metropolitan was
released three days
ago from a local Pittsburgh hospital to
to celebrate his 40th anniversary of Archpastoral ministry in the Holy
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
The
passage by the House of Representative
of a weakened and "dangerous" bill on
violence against women has been deplored
by the National Task Force to End Sexual
and Domestic violence Against Women. The
passage of the bill, which the Task
Force said "weakens or deletes entirely
some of the vital improvements ...
passed by the Senate last month by a
resounding bipartisan vote."
The
National Council of Churches has
undertaken a significant process
toward transformational change. God
is calling us anew to be signs of
the visible unity in diversity we
have received in Christ. The Task
Force on Re-envisioning and
Restructuring the NCC seeks your
views and ideas for moving toward
this future. Please take a few
moments to
Each Sunday, thousands of church
schools open their bibles to the
same passage to study the word of
God.
That's more than a coincidence: it's
called the "uniform principle."
Common bible lessons have been
prepared by the National Council of
Churches' Committee on the Uniform
Series for 140 years next month.
"It's the ultimate form of
ecumenical cooperation," said the
Rev. Dr. Roderick Lewis of the CME
Church.
The
NCC is moving forward in the
development of a project to
eliminate racial disparities in
maternal health. The project, "Due
Season: A Faith-Filled Roadmap
Toward Eliminating Racial
Disparities in Maternal Health,"
will develop congregational
materials exploring the intersection
of maternal health and race within
the U.S. and moving people to
advocate for change. 
Churches
continue to feel the effects of "the
Great Recession" as contributions
dropped $1.2 billion, according to
the NCC's
