Committee on Disabilities

Click title for full information about the NCC Committee on Disabilities.

Mayra Castañeda staffs the committee.

Committee on Outdoor Ministries

The Committee on Outdoor Ministries is the arena where denominations network about issues related to camping and to church-related retreat and conference centers. The activity of the committee includes design and creation of the most widely used camping resources among NCC-related communions. The committee also publishes other written resources related to outdoor ministries and provides occasional national conferences for leadership development.

The committee network comprises twenty-three persons who are either denominational staff or executives of church related outdoor ministries. The annual meeting of the group functions as an opportunity for professional development as well as a forum for sharing resources and strategies. A major focus of its current work is visioning the future of church-related camping and outdoor ministries.

Garland F. Pierce staffs the committee.
E-mail: gpierce@ncccusa.org.

Click here for the 2007 Staff Training Devotions

Click here for information on the 2008 Outdoor Ministry Curriculum

Click here for information on the 2007 Outdoor Ministry Curriculum

Click here for information on the 2006 Outdoor Ministry Curriculum

Click here for the 2006 Staff Training Devotions

Click here for the 2006 Outdoor Ministry Annual Report

Click here for the committee's 2005 annual report.

Click here for information on the 2005 Outdoor Ministry Curriculum

Click here for 2004 resources for leaders in Outdoor Ministries

Click here for information about the 2004 "Join the Party!" Outdoor Ministries resource

Click for Writer Information, New Earth: Christian Resources for the Outdoors

Click here to download the "Committee on Outdoor Ministries Theological Mission Statement" brochure

(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, click logo to download.)

Committee on Public Education and Literacy

Formerly known as the Basic Education and Literacy Working Group, the committee's major focus is now public education and the need for the churches to recover their history of support for public schools and the children and teachers in them. The committee seeks to reinforce the importance of the separation of church and state, both for the churches and the schools. It works to strengthen support for public education in our faith communities and to encourage active, appropriate involvement in public schools by congregations.

► May 2008: The Committee on Public Education and Literacy provides a study guide for congregations to discuss Linda Perlstein's TESTED, a shocking new book that exposes problems with federal test-and-punish philosophy of education.

Public Education

►The Committee on Public Education and Literacy has issued "Ten Moral Concerns" in the No Child Left Behind Act. (See the press release here.)

► Redefining the Federal Role in Education as the No Child Left Behind Act is reauthorized

► Questions on the No Child Left Behind Act for Candidates in the 2008 federal elections

►Click here for the report of the March 9, 2007, 'Fixing No Child Left Behind'

Affirming that each child is made in God's image, we believe that each child deserves the best education available. This is achieved, we are convinced, through quality public schools. The Committee's primary focus is supporting quality public education. At a time when public education is under attack from a variety of sources for a variety of reasons, our mission is to call the member communions of the National Council of Churches and our nation as well to remember first and foremost our children, all our children.

We believe our children deserve the opportunity to explore and develop their God-given abilities. Public education provides the best opportunity for most children. While we recognize the role of private schools in the educational enterprise, we strongly believe the focus of our efforts needs to be placed on public schools. People of faith can play an important role in support of public education and in the life of local schools. We believe this role must be informed by the constitutional understanding of the separation of church and state, an understanding that protects the integrity of both our schools and our faith communities.

Guided by the Policy Statement "The Churches and the Public Schools at the close of the Twentieth Century", we work in a variety of capacities.

Sharing information: At our meetings representatives from denominations and other private and public entities gather to share information and strategies related to support of public education.
Collaborating with partners: We collaborate with partners from the church and government. Currently we are collaborating with several agencies on a pilot project in Pennsylvania, "Quality Public Education for all our Children." We hope this pilot project will provide a model for church-school partnership that can be used in other states. The Committee has a close working relationship with the U.S. Dept. of Education and anticipates co-sponsoring a national conference for those who are working to establish faith community-public school partnerships.
Developing and sharing resources with member denominations: The Committee has produced annual "Honor education Sunday" resources. We share these resources with member denominations. One goal for the future is to learn what new resources can be developed to help congregations understand public education issues and work appropriately with neighborhood schools.
Encouraging Dialogue: An important role of this committee is to encourage conversation, dialogue and new strategies in support of public education within the NCC and our constituencies. In 1999, we held two dialogues on the proposed NCC statement on public education. At the NCC's 50th Anniversary General Assembly, we sponsored a day-long forum: Public Education at the Edge of a New Millennium.

► See the General Assembly resolution, The Churches and Public School, adopted November 5, 2003, in Jackson, Miss.

► The Committee on Public Education and Literacy Resources has released a new brochure on the teaching of evolution in science classes in public schools. Download it here.

► "A Litany for Education and Schools"

As your congregation plans for the fall season, consider setting aside time to honor students, school staff, and parents at the beginning of the school year. The NCC Committee on Public Education has produced a Litany for Education and Schools that can be used for such an occasion. Click here for the litany, which can be downloaded free of charge and reproduced as a bulletin insert. Representatives of NCC member communions serve on the Committee on Public Education and, among other common tasks, provide resources to congregations related to public education.

You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the litany and "questions."

Literacy

Knowing how to read is essential for an individual to function in our society. It is also crucial for one's religious and cultural growth. While the focus of this committee in past years has been on public education, we maintain our commitment to 100% literacy in America. We seek initiatives and opportunities to educate congregations and individuals in this area.

Click here for the committee's 2006 annual report.