The driving impulse behind the Board of Church and Society in this quadrennium is the promotion of learning and worshiping around themes of Biblical justice – or, the justice that God embodies and calls us to embody in Scripture. Discipleship that includes serving those and advocating for those who have been relegated to the margins of our community is more well-rounded discipleship. Advocacy and justice ministries are biblically-based and should be part of every Methodist’s holiness of heart and life. In furtherance of this goal, the BCS and the laity and clergy of the NCC offered online, recorded Advent Evening Prayer services in 2020. With the prophets as our guide, we prayed and listened together, learning from one another. We pray that the time was enriching and enlivening for those who participated. As we look forward to the fall of 2021, your BCS will be offering a Conference-wide online Bible study open to anyone who is interested in searching the Scriptures as a way to include justice ministry in our personal discipleship and communal life together. Stay tuned to Conference communications for more information later in the summer.
The Board of Church and Society administers the Jack and Kay Crum Award that celebrates prophetic ministry in our Conference. In 2020/21, the BCS gifted the Crum Award to the following organizations:
- The Feast Gathering in Wilmington advocating for the unhoused population;
- Bridges Puentes in the Raleigh-area advocating for the Latinx community;
- The Encouraging Place in the Raleigh-area advocating for racial reconciliation;
- and, the Justice For Our Neighbors Clinic in Fayetteville advocating for immigrant rights and protections.
The Crum Award is given on a rolling basis through applications or nominations. Contact Rev. Molly White at molly.white@nccumc.org for more information.
The Board of Church and Society administers the Peace with Justice Grant on behalf of the Conference. The Peace with Justice Grant focuses on social justice in particular militarism, human rights, systemic poverty, and inequalities based on race, ethnicity, and indigenous cultural identification. The Grant is awarded on a rolling basis. Grant information is available at nccumc.org/christianformation/church-and-society/peace-with-justice/.
The Board of Church and Society seeks to build connections between the General Conference, the North Carolina Conference, and local churches by promoting and providing education around the Social Principles and our Conference emphases. If you are looking for support for your local church’s social justice group, to start a social justice group in your local church, or to connect with other social justice groups, the NCCUMC Board of Church and Society would like to help! Contact Rev. Molly White at molly.white@nccumc.org.