November 12, 1999

CLEVELAND—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."