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Article published Sep 20, 2008
New Hampshire Council of Churches Executive Director returns from Interfaith Delegation to Israel and Palestine
David Lamarre-Vincent, executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, has returned from a unique delegation to Israel and Palestine.
Lamarre-Vincent traveled to Tel Aviv along with 13 other participants from around the U.S. for a two-week trip through the conflict zone. The delegates met with representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society, religious leaders, politicians, businesspeople, farmers, students, Human Rights workers and former combatants. The mission of the group was to investigate the question of apartheid in relation to Israel and Palestine.
"Middle East peace hinges upon settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians," Lamarre-Vincent said. "This instability poses the greatest threat to world peace and support for the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements offers hope."
Participation in the delegation was a cornerstone of Lamarre-Vincent's summer sabbatical focused upon stories of interfaith understanding, whole community environmental thinking and ethnic/racial/language diversity in the New Hampshire church community.
The delegation was co-sponsored by Interfaith Peace-Builders and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. This delegation is the 28th created by IFPB since 2001 to educate more than 400 North American citizens about the Middle East and deepen understanding of its conflicts through eye-witness experiences.
Lamarre-Vincent has served as executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches since 1990. The state Council of Churches is an ecumenical and inter-religious advocate for justice and peace, Christian unity and interreligious understanding.
© 2007, Telegraph Publishing Company, Nashua, New Hampshire  Labor Rights are Human Rights! AFSC Delegation Visits US- Mexico Border by Emina Zlotrg Grassroots activism for labor rights was the theme of a trip for ten people to Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña in northern Mexico from May 22 to 25. There we were hosted by the Comité Fronterizo de Obrer@s (CFO), the Border Committee of Workers, an organization with which the AFSC has had a long association. The point of the delegation was to learn about working conditions in the maquiladoras, as the export-oriented factories are known, and to build solidarity with maquiladora workers. During our three day visit, we toured industrial parks, and met with workers for informal gatherings at their homes to listen to their stories. Many of the workers mentioned hazardous conditions at work. Mateo, who works at Lear welding tracks for car seats, has injured his back, but still continues to work. He also emphasized the lack of ventilation where he works. Another worker described severe stomach problems as a result of unsafe drinking water at work. His employer ignored his health problem and no investigation has been done on the water issue. Also, workers are underpaid. Maria Elena Robles, a CFO organizer, broke down for us household expenses and workers income.
On average, workers spend up to 100% of their income just on household expenses for the most basic items of their "food basket." Other household expenses, such as school supplies for children, are hard to afford on the $50 to $60 a week income that is typical for maquiladora workers. We also met with CFO organizers, who told us about their projects, and we visited the Maquiladora Justicia y Dignidad (see article at right). As an organizer myself, I was impressed with the work they do educating and empowering workers on their rights under the Mexican Labor Law. Mexico's labor laws are good, but too often they are not enforced. Likewise, I was impressed with the strength and courage workers showed. Despite a harsh living environment, they are involved with the CFO and act collectively to improve their working conditions. This was evident with the establishment of a workers committee to dialogue with Alcoa, which meets with management on an ongoing basis to discuss issues workers face. In addition, our delegation spent an extra day in Taylor, Texas visiting the site of Don Hutto Residential Center. Hutto is an "immigrant detention center,” i. e. a prison. Previously, it was a medium-security state prison. The center opened in the summer of 2006 and is specifically designed to hold undocumented non-Mexican immigrant families and children on noncriminal charges while they await asylum or deportation. Approximately 300 people are held in Hutto. We also had the chance to meet with Jose Orta, a local activist who gave us background on Hutto and the local community. Detaining undocumented immigrants is only a recent invention and growing. We need immigration reforms and not prison type detention facilities. Upon returning from Mexico, our delegates have committed ourselves to raise awareness about the labor struggles of the maquiladora workers by organizing events in our communities. Emina Zlotrg is the AFSC-NH Youth Organizer. Other members of the delegation were Maggie Fogarty, Arnie Alpert, David Lamarre-Vincent, Judy Elliott, Riva Pearson, Courtney Westbrook, Jenny Cook, Marissa Denis, and Elizabeth Bain. The delegation was coordinated by Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, a project of the AFSC office in Austin. The AFSC-NH delegation with CFO hosts in Ciudad Acuña.
Ordering T-shirts this year? Justicia! The Ethical Clothing Label The Maquiladora Dignidad y Justicia (Dignity & Justice Maquiladora Co.) is a worker-owned ethical clothing manufacturer and wholesaler created and sponsored by the Comité Fronterizo de Obrer@s (CFO) , a Mexican workers' center. Dignidad y Justicia, and its Justicia! label, are located in the border city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. The company was established by and for garment workers forced out of their jobs after standing up for their rights in maquiladoras owned by large U. S. apparel corporations. Dignidad y Justicia produces T-shirts, tote bags, and sweatshirts in organic and conventional cotton. The women, working in two workshops, have been able to pay themselves double the standard wages of the large maquiladoras and determine the terms of their employment. There are only a few producers of sweat-free, fair trade and green apparel in the world. Dignidad y Justicia is one of them! For information, visit www. cfomaquiladoras. org. Interfaith health-care reform summit
Attempt to define religious community’s role
By the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, Director of Alcohol, Other Addictions and Health, General Board of Church & Society, United Methodist Church Defining the religious community's distinct prophetic vision for and role in transforming U.S. health care was the focus of an interfaith health-care reform meeting this month. Convened by Faithful Reform in Health Care, 75 local, state and national leaders met in Cleveland with the shared understanding that health care is a human right and that the system is not working for everyone. They confirmed that faith communities have a moral imperative to be catalysts in bringing about a health system that is inclusive, just, compassionate and sustainable. The interfaith and multicultural group of clergy, laypersons and health-care professionals represented 60 organizations from 23 states and Washington, D.C. Participants reflected the diversity of faith communities working on this issue including Buddhist, Protestants, Catholics, Jewish Reform and Orthodox, Muslim and Unitarian traditions. Health-care staff from The United Methodist Church’s General Boards of Church & Society and Global Ministries represented the denomination’s commitment to health care for all. Framework of shared values The U.S.’s racial and ethnic diversity was represented as well with African-American, Asian-American, Caucasian, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander attendees. Shared values of the diverse religious traditions provided a framework for articulating the role of faith in working for health-care access. These shared values were identified as the following: compassion, community, concern for those who are vulnerable, equitable sharing of resources, and acknowledgement that each person embodies the Divine. The shared values enabled creating strategies for a common message on a prophetic message about health. The discussions were led by a facilitation team from The Difference. The shared values enabled creating strategies for a common message on a prophetic message about health. Participants developed short- and long-term action and communication plans. They also designed an organizational model to carry the work forward. Moral theologian Dr. Jack Glaser, founder of the St. Joseph Health System Center for Healthcare Reform in Orange, Calif., focused in two keynote speeches on moral framing and the role of the faith community in public conscience work. Other presentations addressed the connection between immigration and health-care reform; communicating with new media; lessons learned from earlier campaigns; working together within the interfaith community and with secular organizations; and research about how voters think about health-care reform. Faiths fundamentally united''Never have I ever been given such an ecumenical and simultaneously interreligious opportunity,” commented David Lamarre-Vincent, executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches. “Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, all faiths are fundamentally united at the deepest level to ensure that American society provides affordable, accessible health care for all.” He said each group wanted to redirect the failing structure to a system supported “by the pillars of human dignity, compassion, stewardship, health, healing and wholeness for all” This is an opportunity for us to knit all of our economic justice, human dignity, immigrant rights, etc. concerns into the societal conversation. State and national reform of health care has rapidly moved up the societal agenda, according to Lamarre-Vincent. “The question before us is whether we seize this moment in time of ripeness and redirect ourselves for the next month, quarter, years to fully engage and be present in the public square with a bold, prophetic voice,” he said. “This is an opportunity for us to knit all of our economic justice, human dignity, immigrant rights, etc. concerns into the societal conversation.'' The Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, executive director of Faithful Reform in Health Care, said this was the first time in nearly 15 years that leaders representing the interfaith community have gathered to strategize about getting more effectively engaged in working for compassionate and sustainable reform. “The commitment exhibited by those who attended this meeting marks the beginning of the faith community's unique contribution to the cultural transformation that will be needed to move toward a health-care future that works well for all of us,'' she said. More information about the meeting, including video segments, is available on the Web, linked from the Faithful Reform in Health Care. An opportunity exists for you to express your opinions in the health-care reform debate. You can take part in a faith community survey on health care through the Web.
For more on health care-related topics, visit the “Health & Wholeness” page on the General Board of Church & Society Web site: Health and Wholeness. Health & Wholeness Action NetworkThe Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of the Board of Church & Society’s Alcohol, Other Addictions and Health Care program, supervises a Health & Wholeness Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues such as access to health care, Medicare, Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), mental health access and parity. She issues “Action Alerts” periodically through e-mail. Joining the Health & Wholeness Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, http://www.umc-gbcs.org/. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641. Press Release September 2, 2008 - 10:06am Release Date: Sep 2 2008 New Hampshire AFL-CIO Working Families Join National and State Leaders to Celebrate Labor Day, Pledge to Turn Around America National AFL-CIO Exec. V. P. Arlene Holt Baker, Gov. John Lynch, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes to Join New Hampshire AFL-CIO for Annual Labor Day Breakfast (Manchester, NH – Sept. 1) Nearly 400 working men, women and their families joined prominent national and state leaders this morning for the annual New Hampshire AFL-CIO Labor Day breakfast at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester. Workers from throughout New Hampshire were joined by National AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker, Gov. John Lynch, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes to unveil the AFL-CIO’s plans for the largest-ever union member mobilization to turn around America. “Working people are ready to turn out and vote for candidates who are ready to turn around our economy, our healthcare system – candidates ready to stand up for the middle class,” MacKenzie said. “We’ve accomplished so much over the years, working alongside our friends at the state and national level. We are committed to turning this country around and restoring the respect and dignity to the millions of people who work hard every day to make ends meet and provide for their family.” New Hampshire AFL-CIO’s effort to “Turn Around America” this year will reach over 39,000 union voters throughout the state. More than 250 local union coordinators have already begun door-to-door efforts, phone calls and worksite leafleting in order to engage fellow union members on working family issues this election year. A Distinguished Service Award was presented to Betty Lapointe in recognition of her leadership and commitment to her brothers and sisters of the labor movement. Lapointe is a 34-year member and the first woman president of IBEW local 1505. “I’ve been fortunate to be a member of a great union, IBEW 1505, for nearly 35 years,” said Lapointe. “I’m grateful for all I’ve learned from Mark MacKenzie and the leaders of the New Hampshire labor movement. There are a lot of other people that deserve this honor, thank you.” David Lamarre-Vincent was the recipient of the Social Justice Award for his work as Executive Director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches. In that position, Lamarre-Vincent has lead the statewide association in their ecumenical and inter-religious advocacy for justice and peace and their work for Christian unity and inter-religious understanding. “This award belongs to all New Hampshire houses of worship who celebrate the dignity of human work,” Lamarre-Vincent said. “May this award remind all laborers and people of faith this Labor Day to lift up the values of work and reflect on our religious teachings on labor.” The event is the largest annual event hosted by the New Hampshire AFL-CIO. In May 2007 Gov. Lynch signed a bill increasing New Hampshire’s minimum wage. The final rate increase of that bill, to $7.25, went into effect today. Prior to 2007, the state’s minimum wage had not been raised in over a decade. Over 26,500 workers in New Hampshire are expected to benefit from the increase. “If ever working families needed change we can believe in, it is now,” national AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker said. “Today, we are putting our efforts into highest gear in order to turn around America. Our country is headed in the wrong direction. America needs an economy that works for all, not just a few.” Holt Baker was elected as Executive Vice President in 2007. She is the first African-American to be elected to one of the AFL-CIO’s three highest offices and the highest ranking African-American woman in the union movement. In her position, Holt Baker builds on her legacy of inspiring activism and reaching out to diverse communities to support the needs and aspirations of working people. The New Hampshire AFL-CIO is a diverse social justice movement, committed to dignity for all and united in the struggle to improve the lives of working families and our communities. ### | | E-News for August 22, 2008 |
| | | Pray for the Laboring, August 31
In one of the world's richest countries, roughly one-quarter of all working families have too little income to pay for basic necessities. Many workers in the U.S. are in trouble. Perhaps wages are too low for the cost of living; maybe you lack health insurance or paid sick days; our workplaces may be unsafe; some of us may be treated with contempt or encounter discrimination. We are struggling to pay for gas to get to work. Some of us may be losing our homes. In the face of these injustices, please lift up workers and our work lives on Labor Sunday(click here for more resources) August 31, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
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STEM program for Upper Valley
A STEM (Savings Through Energy Management) training for churches in the Upper Valley Area will take place through St. Thomas Church in Hanover, NH. There will also be a free dinner and informational meeting for anyone interested from 6-7:30pm on Wednesday, September 10, at the Edgerton House Episcopal Student Center, located at 14 School St. in Hanover, NH. For more information, please contact Jesse Tichnor, (603) 513-8810 or <Jesse.M.Tichenor.06@Alum.Dartmouth.ORG> .
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STOMP OUT INJUSTICE
~Learn about legal aid in NH~~Space is limited~ RSVP required~ Join NH Legal Sevices at Flag Hill Winery for an exclusive tour and wine tasting event.
If you care about preventing homelessness, gaining financial stability, accessing health care, and other vital issues affecting you and your community...join us for an informal discussion.Find out how we work to bring justice to families and communities -and give them hope.
DATE: Thursday, September 11, 2008, at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Flag Hill Winery, 297 North River Road, Lee, NH 03861
SUGGESTED DONATION: $ 25 per person
RSVP by August 22 to (603) 206-2210 or cdriscoll@nhla.org
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Carbon Challenge for the autumn?
As summer draws to a close with record fuel prices on the horizon, there's at least one action for you and your congregation to consider: taking the New Hampshire Carbon Challenge (click here).
The NH Carbon Challenge works to educate, inspire and support sustained reductions in residential energy consumption.They assist households AND their communities (whether a church, school, town or business) reduce their energy consumption, 'linking" households together to show the collective impact of neighbors, friends, and congregations working to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Hundreds of households throughout New Hampshire and western Massachusetts have taken the Challenge already and are saving on average $860 a year per household. Read more here.
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Letter from International PeaceKeepers Delegation II Bird's Eye View of the Holy Land
Different Realities on the Ground -- Jerusalem, July 30, 2008
Two days listening to young Israelis and Palestinians of generosity of spirit and good will have shown us the world here from their perspective. We speak of the reality on the ground and getting perspective by having a bird's eye view. Here one must ask: is this view through the eyes of an Israeli bird or a Palestinian bird? The reality on the ground shifts tremendously based upon the eyes through which the world is seen.
Four Israeli students from Hebrew University, three of whom have served earlier in the military, speak with all the love and passion for peace they can muster. If you are looking for black and white solutions ... one state - two states - whatever, look elsewhere. Here the world is defined by finer and finer shades of gray. (To read the rest of this essay by David Lamarre-Vincent, click here. |
Letter from PeaceBuilders Delegation III Sympathy, the Enemy of Compassion Ramallah, July 31, 2008
Today once again we listen. Omar Barghouti and Dr. Gabi Baramki speak of their hopes for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). Sam Bahour, a Palestinian businessman (here by way of Youngstown, Ohio) speaks of his hopes for Palestinian business. Representatives of Al Haq speak of their documentation, monitoring, and advocacy for cases of human rights violations by either Palestinians or Israelis and finally Tala Abu Rahme and Sanabel Hassan speak from their lives as twenty something women growing up Palestinian in the West Bank.
Today was a day to listen to the dire straits lived daily by Palestinians. It was a day to listen to their hopes for support for economic boycott, divestment and sanctions against what they experience as an apartheid regime. Their lives are dictated by daily Israeli government intrusions that seem to be arbitrary and simply based upon a division of people in this land based upon their humanity.
Their call was for the preparation of civil society in Palestine and Israel as well as the U.S. for reception of their stories of oppression. (To read the rest of this essay By David Lamarre-Vincent, click here.)
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Letter from the PeaceBuilders' Delegation IV
Fitting a Pentangle into in a Square
Note: Approximately ¼ of the Palestinian citizens of Israel have been Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since 1948. Refugees in their own country, these IDPs are referred to as "present absentees" by Israel.
Life in this Jewish democratic state is incredibly complex, with Palestinians who were here prior to 1948 and defined by the State of Israel as "the present absentee." "Absentee" because the story of the foundation of Israel 60 years ago was that the land was unoccupied. Present because these Palestinian Christians and Muslims were present. The "present absent" is an aptly ironic official legal status.
Rabbi Arik Ascherman of Rabbis for Human Rights speaks of his work to call the Jews of Israel to faithfulness to the highest standards of the Torah in their relationships to the present absent. The Rabbi works for the highest values of the Torah. The organization acts on behalf of Palestinians in order to call Israeli to faithfulness to own founding statement and collective order.
This paradoxical life in a Jewish democratic state ensures a right of return for any Jew anywhere in the world. At the same time, the rules controlling the present absentee are oppressively restrictive in the name of national security.
(Click here to read the rest.)
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The AARP Foundation Money Management Program
NH DSS, in partnership with AARP, provides a basic bill payer service for seniors and adults with disabilities or slight memory problems who are having difficulty managing their checkbook or paying the bills. They are at risk of utility turn-offs or even eviction; some are at risk of financial exploitation from unscrupulous individuals. There is no charge for this service, though some income/asset guidelines do apply. DHHS is seeking individuals who can use this help in in Southern Hillsborough County, Cheshire , Sullivan, Grafton and Coos Counties, and soon, Carroll County.
DHHS is also looking people who would be interested in volunteering as bill payers ( subject to thorough background checks).
If you would like to call or email to find out more about this program, please call Cathy Creapeaux at (603.271.5554) the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, 129 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301
or e-mail her at ' CLCreapaux@dhhs.state.nh.us '.
Click here for brochure.
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| Free Help from the Small Business Administration NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY! Every Monday this August, from 1 pm. to 3 pm., at 25 Capitol Street - 3rd Floor, Concord, NH, a representative from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), NH District Office, will be available to provide business assistance to address your concerns, direct you to the appropriate resources and help get you started in the right direction. The SBA and its resource partners in New Hampshire-the NH Small Business Development Center; SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business", and the Women's Business Center, as well as numerous state offices and local organizations are here to help you.
For more information, please contact Alice Zachos in SBA's Concord, NH office at (603) 225-1607 or via email at alice.zachos@sba.gov
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Let Justice Roll Urges Faith Leaders to Endorse Call for $10 in 2010
On Thursday, July 24, the federal minimum wage increased from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour, providing a much-needed--but still inadequate-- boost to workers and the economy. The $6.55 minimum wage will still leave workers with less buying power than they had in 1997, at the start of the longest period in history without a raise. Even after the minimum wage rises to $7.25 in July 2009, it will be far below the minimum wage of 1968, which is worth $9.86 now. The Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, a nonpartisan coalition of more than 90 faith, community, labor and business organizations, has launched the "$10 in 2010" campaign to raise the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour in 2010. Click here for more details. |
| Faithful Reform in Health Care |
The New Hampshire Council of Churches wants to convene a group interested in faith-based reform to think about how the churches in New Hampshire might participate in a dialogue and action plan to work on getting our communities invested in health care reform. Would any of you be interested in participating in the initial conversation? Please respond to David Lamarre-Vincent, <david@nhchurches.org> or call 224-1352. |
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| The New Hampshire Council of Churches consists of 10 member denominations, dedicated to working together as New Hampshire's religious voice for peace, for the poor, and for the planet. |
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New Hampshire Council of Churches | PO Box 1087, Concord, NH 03302-1087 | 140 Sheep Davis Road, | Pembroke | NH | 03275 |
 For electronic versions go to www.NHchurches.org.
E-News for May 30, 2008
In This Issue
Contact your senators on Climate Change
Save Children's Medicaid!
Alliance for Housing in NH
"Soldiers of Conscience"
"Our Faith, Our Vote" resources
RENEWAL
June is Torture Awareness Month...
Responding to Suicide
Summer Peace-Building Institute
Military family camping weekend
Faithful Reform in Health Care...
Faithful Reform asks YOU about health care
Every Child Matters
Quick Links
Register Now
Newsletter Archive
Related Topics
Interfaith Peace Builders' Delegation to Palestine, July 28-August 8
NHCC Executive Director Lamarre-Vincent has been invited to Israel/Palestine as part of an interfaith peacebuilders' delegation. By June 21, matching funds must be raised to make this possible. Click here to contribute and find out more.
Climate Change: Will Your Senators Act?
After hundreds of congressional hearings and Hill briefings and dozens of bills introduced in the 110th Congress, no legislation to comprehensively address harmful climate change has come to the floor for debate in either chamber. All of that changes next week (June 2) when the Senate begins floor debate on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 (S. 3036). Contact your senators now to urge them to strengthen this important legislation. Click here for more.
Save Children's Medicaid!
The Bush Administration is attempting to implement regulations that would significantly erode Medicaid, These regulations jeopardize vital health services to millions of children, including children who are low-income, disabled, those with special health needs, and foster youth. Since most states will likely try to continue to offer Medicaid services and be forced to absorb the increased costs caused by the regulations, other social service programs in your state will suffer.
The Senate is expected to vote at any moment on legislation that could stop the Bush Administration from putting these harmful regulations into effect, and your Senators' votes are crucial! Please take a few minutes to call your Senators now and ask them to vote in favor of a moratorium on these crippling regulations. Click here to go to Save the Children's page for more.
Building on Our Success: Creating a Formidable Alliance for Housing in NH
Join us for a discussion with Sheila Crowley, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition and find out how you can become part of a growing alliance for affordable housing. June 12, from 1-3 pm. at the Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH
Contact Maggie Fogarty at (603) 224-2407 or mfogarty@afsc.org to respond _before_ June 2.
"Soldiers of Conscience" in Concord
Eight soldiers in Iraq, torn between the demands of duty and the call of conscience--a realistic yet optimistic film about war, peace and the power of the human conscience.
Made with official permission from the US Army, this film transcends the usual rhetoric of politics to reveal the human truth that all of our soldiers are "soldiers of conscience," wrestling with the demands of duty and call of conscience.(USA, 85 min, PG-13).
Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3 and 4, 7 pm, CONCORD. Red River Theater. The event will be followed by a discussion with Will Hopkins, an Iraq War veteran from Plymouth. $5 for nonmembers, free for members. Due to graphic scenes of war, this film is not suitable for viewing by children. Sponsored by NH Peace Action and AFSC-NH.
"Our Faith, Our Vote"
The "Our Faith, Our Vote" Program from the United Chuch of Christ includes resources designed to assist members and congregations in discovering ways to get involved in the political process. Congregations can develop and engage in a number of nonpartisan activities such as sending teams to interview candidates, holding candidate forums in churches, monitoring media coverage of the issues and campaigns, organizing issue education sessions, and engaging in voter registration and voter participation efforts.
"Our Faith, Our Vote" resources include:
Guidelines for Congregations and Clergy on Political Action
Voter Education Info
Issue Briefings on: Iraq, Poverty, Global Trade, Media Reform, Healthcare, the Environment and Immigration
Forums and tools for learning about and taking action on ballot initiatives
Ideas for College Students
Projects for Youth
Opportunities to share what's happening in your community.
Click here to find out more and to receive these free resources.
Award-winning faithful and environmentalist documentary
RENEWAL (2008) is the first feature-length documentary to capture the breadth and vitality of America's religious-environmental movement. It is divided into eight 10 min. segments, perfect for congregational viewing and discussion. Two of the interfaith segments focus on our work - from Evangelicals to Buddhists, Muslims to Jews - RENEWAL provides folks of faith with hope (and ideas) for a better planet.
The producers have knocked 75% off so that you can order the documentary for just $5. Click here to order the film.
June is Torture Awareness Month
NRCAT and NHCC are collaborating with Rabbis for Human Rights to encourage faith communities to incorporate a Prayer of Recommitment into religious services during the weekend of June 6-8 (and throughout the month).
NRCAT is organizing a number of ways that you and your congregation can mark Torture Awareness Month. More than 150 congregations across the country have already committed to displaying a banner as part of our Banners Across America project. By June 1, we will have bumper stickers available for purchase on our website.
Click here for further information about the Prayer of Recommitment and plan to join faith communities across the country in this important witness during the weekend of June 6-8.
Responding to Suicide in Epping and Gorham
Two faith-based trainings in 'postvention' (helping a community respond to the tragedy of suicide ), One is at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Epping on Thursday, June 12, 2008 from 1-4:30 pm, and the other training is in Gorham at the Holy Family Church on Friday, June 20, 2008 from 12:30-4 pm. No cost for three Contact hours, made possible by a grant through the NH DHHS. Space is limited - RSVP soon! to Ann Duckless aduckless@naminh.org or call 225-5359 x 20. Click here for flyer.
Summer Peace-Building Institute
Nashua Community College is in the early stages of creating a Peace and Justice Studies concentration within the Liberal Arts Department. As part of the program's inauguration, the department will offer a Peacebuilding Summer Institute July 14-25 (registration deadline July 1). This unique training program in conflict resolution and communication skills is now being used around the world in places like Rwanda, Australia, Korea, South Africa in schools, communities and prisons. Click here for flyer.
Military family camping weekend
Military families, with children age six and up, are invited to get away for a free weekend of family fun. You'll meet other military families and enjoy swimming, canoeing, hiking, fishing, archery, and other camp favorites in the rustic setting at Bear Hill Camp July 4th - 6th. To read more and link to registration, click here.
Faithful Reform in Health Care
The New Hampshire Council of Churches wants to convene a group interested in faith-based reform to think about how the churches in New Hampshire might participate in a dialogue and action plan to work on getting our communities invested in health care reform. Would any of you be interested in participating in the initial conversation? Please respond to David Lamarre-Vincent, or call 224-1352.
Faithful Reform asks YOU about health care
What do YOU think about health care?
Has anyone asked you what you need and value when it comes to health care? Or are you just listening to others, particularly the candidates, as they debate what they think you need?
ThePULSE SURVEY from Faithful Reform is your chance to express your opinion! It asks about your experiences with U.S. health care, your ability to get the health care you need, and what kind of reforms would make the most sense to you. In addition, it asks how your faith values inform your opinions on this issue.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY NOW!
Click here to read more.
Every Child Matters
Think new investments in children should be a political priority in the 2008 election? Then join Every Child Matters in New Hampshire in a non-partisan, nationwide event, "Step Up for Kids Day," on September 16, 2008. ECM's national office is working to organize an event on the capitol steps of all 50 states to draw public attention to issues affecting America's children such as poverty, health care, juvenile incarceration, early care and learning, child abuse, and after-school programs. Or click here for more.
The New Hampshire Council of Churches consists of 10 member denominations, dedicated to working together as New Hampshire's religious voice for peace, for the poor, and for the planet.
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