The Massachusetts Council of Churches is an ecumenical partnership of seventeen Orthodox and Protestant churches/denominations in the state, with approximately 1700 congregations

Ecumenical Vigil for the

Tragedy in the Gulf at

Boston's Old South Church

Over one hundred persons gathered on Wednesday evening, July 7,  from our different faith traditions to pray for God's care for the natural resources endangered and the human consequences of this ongoing tragedy.

The offering which will be directed to Church World Service for outreach efforts in the Gulf of Mexico raised over $700.

The Prayer for the Gulf of Mexico, written by the Reverend John Stendahl, a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Council of Churches and the Pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Newtons was our centering prayer.

We are asking that you, your church, or your organization may continue to pray this prayer both an act of an ecumenical witness and as a raising of a spiritual awareness of the ongoing tragedy. We would hope that Christians throughout the Commonwealth will pray together this prayer as we continue to face the difficult days ahead.

Prayer for the Gulf of Mexico

Ecumenical Prayer Vigil - Order of Service

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                     Prayer for the Gulf of Mexico


Holy God,
out of the waters you brought forth life:
plankton and fish, grasses and birds,
dolphins and whales,
leviathan for the sheer joy of it,
and us as your stewards of your creation.
But now our greed and carelessness
have despoiled it,
death belches up into the water,
your creatures are perishing,
the coastlands befouled.
We pray for all this disaster’s victims.
In Jesus’ name, hear our grief,
forgive our folly,
give us courage for action and
sacrifice,
and, please, let not your
beautiful creation
be forever lost.
Amen
                                       

                                 The Rev. John K. Stendahl

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Creation Care Program

Ian Mevorach, a doctoral student of social and ecological ethics at Boston University School of Theology is a new student intern with the Council. Ian will be spending the summer working on a joint program with the Council and The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts on providing Creation Care workshops at local churches to enable congregations in learning about eco-justice and exploring ways to take action in their communities.

Click here to read more about the Creation Care program

Comprehensive Climate and Energy Legislation Petition

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Save the Date!

The Massachusetts Council of Churches
2010 Annual Ecumenical Dinner
Boston College
November 6, 2010
5:30 pm Reception
6:30 pm Dinner
Keynote Speaker: Brian McLaren

Please download our flyer and distribute

Ecumenical Dinner 2010 Dinner Flyer

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On Friday, May 28th, Council Executive Director Jack Johnson and some twenty religious leaders from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith communities, met in a private meeting with State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Tim Cahill. The meeting was convened by the Reverend Hurmon Hamilton, President of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. The gathering was an occasion to express concern that Cahill had raised regarding the Muslim community in a press release Link to Press Release following the recent celebration and gathering at the 1000 person Muslim Community action where Governor Patrick addressed the audience. Our, Associate Director, Laura Everett, was at the occasion representing the Council. In our meeting with Cahill concerns were expressed how he had offended the Muslim community and his implications of terrorism within the Muslim community.
 
After the meeting a consensus from the group was to stand in support of the Muslim Community of Greater Boston at a press conference on the steps of the Mosque at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury. Speakers at the press conference included Jack Johnson whose comments are found at the following link. Statement of Support

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The 2010 Ecumenical Luncheon

Commission on Christian Unity

The Commission on Christian Unity met on Monday, May 3rd, to welcome The Rt. Rev. Dr. Geervarghese Mar Theodosius, Bishop for the Diocese of North America and Europe for the Mar Thoma Church. The luncheon was hosted by the Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts at the offices of the Diocese in Boston. Mar Theodosius presented a talk to the Commission entitled, "The Ecumenical Witness of the Mar Thoma Church. Click here for text of Mar Theodosius Remarks The members of the Commission and Mar Theodosius engaged in a spirited discussion following his remarks.

Pictured from left to Right: The Rev. Dr. Frederick Moser (Moderator: Commission on Christian Unity), The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris (Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts), Mar Theodosius (Bishop for the Diocese of North America and Europe), The Rev. Jack Johnson (Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches), The Rev. K.C. Varughese (Pastor of the Carmel Mar Thoma Church in Hudson, Mass.)

Mar Theodosius Appoints Representative to the Commission on Christian Unity

The Council is also pleased to announce that in the week following the Luncheon we received an announcement from Mar Theodosius that he has appointed Dr. Jesudas Athyal of the Carmel Mar Thoma Church in Hudson, Massachusetts as a member of the Commission on Christian Unity representing the Mar Thoma Church.

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James Nash: A Tribute to Environmental Ethics, Ecumenical Engagement and Public Theology

Over forty people gathered Wednesday Evening, April 21st, at Andover Newton Theology School to reflect on the life and work Jim Nash. Nash, a noted environmental ethicist and ecumenist served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches from 1975 to 1988. Presenters were varied and complementary, offering keen insights into the work of Nash, its contemporary value, and how that work needs to be moved into an interfaith dialogue. Four members of the Council's Environmental Task force were presenters. Those members include John Hart, Marla Marcum, Tallessyn Grenfell-Lee, and Jim Antal. A special thanks goes to Dr. Norman Faramelli of Boston University School of Theology and a long time friend of the Council for the organization of this event. Dr. Faramelli's "Tribute to James A. Nash" can be found here

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United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts presents the Massachusetts Council of Churches with a certificate of recognition of its work to prevent the expansion of predatory gambling

Ms. Laura Everett, Associate Director, and the Rev. Jack Johnson, Executive Director,  receive a certificate acknowledging the work of the Council in providing education on the negative impact of predatory gambling from Kathleen Conley-Norbut, LMHC, President of United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts. Laura Everett is spearheading the Council's important work in this area. The certificate was presented at the press briefing on March 31.

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"INTERSECT" Spring 2010

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Congregational Paper Use Questionnaire

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Church Leaders Gather with Cardinal Sean O'Malley

Church Leaders gathered to share with Cardinal Sean O'Malley his reflection on his recent trip to Haiti. Pictured  above are Laura Everett, Associate Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches;  Rev. Dr. James Antal, President and Minister of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ; Bishop Gideon Thompson, President, Black Ministerial Alliance; Rev. Jack Johnson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches; Right Rev. Roy F. (Bud) Cederholm, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; Bishop Peter Weaver, United Methodist Bishop of the New England area; and Cardinal Sean O'Malley of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Also joining the meeting but not pictured was Metropolitan Methodius of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston and the Rev. Wayne Parrish, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Boston.

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.New resources now available

HEALTHY CHURCHES, HEALTHY KIDS, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Environmental Health and Justice Curriculum

The MCC announces a new list of
 ecumenical services and gatherings around the Commonwealth

Let us know if your congregation, or any congregation in your community, offers an ecumenical service, or ecumenical gathering.

E-mail to council@masscouncilofchurches.org or phone 617-523-2771.

Pass on the word so we may have as complete a list as possible.

To check event listings go to our "news" page.

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