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On October 15-18, 2024, the National Council of Churches (NCC), representing 37 member communions from mainline Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, African American, and others convened its annual Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) in Nashville, Tennessee. The OCA delegates, V. Rev. Peter Baktis and Pdn. Sergei Kapral, attended the event, which serves as an opportunity for the NCC’s member bodies to review their work and set future goals.
At this year’s gathering, the Interfaith Convening Table reviewed two documents, which it then advanced to the NCC Governing Board for adoption.
One of the proposed documents, titled “The Problem of Religious Nationalism, in the US and Globally: A Policy Statement of the National Council of Churches,” reflects the continued work of the NCC’s Theological Task Force, which includes Fr. Peter. This statement builds upon the 2021 NCC policy, “The Dangers of Christian Nationalism in the United States,” but expands its scope to address the growing issue of religious nationalism both domestically and internationally.
The second document was the “Resolution on the Persecution of Religious Minorities, in India and Beyond.” Developed by the Interfaith Convening Table, this resolution highlights the NCC’s advocacy for religious freedom worldwide.
The work of the Interfaith Convening Table, and the Theology Taskforce in particular, is to address issues central to NCC member communions in their dialogues with interfaith partners. Their efforts focus on matters that impact our Christian witness in the world and on the lives of our faithful members who may face injustices in their communities.
