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Rev. Peter Cook
Executive Director
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The world woke up Sunday morning to learn that a gunman killed 49 people and severely injured 53 more in a nightclub in Orlando which was frequented by the LGBTQ community. So many of the victims were also Latina/o at an event billed as "Latin night". The gunman, a United States citizen, purportedly claimed to be acting on behalf of ISIS although a recent report from the FBI tells us the gunman had no known connection to any terrorist group.
There is still much we do not yet know about the complexities of the situation. New details are continuing to emerge which shape the narrative. We do, however, know one thing which provides us clear direction: God is love. In this time of fragility, we offer our prayers and compassion to the victims and their family and friends as they cope with so much fear and broken hearts.
We also call on member congregations and people of all faiths to stand up boldly against hate and discrimination. The New York State Council of Churches, representing over 7,000 congregations, condemns prejudice in all its forms against the LGBTQ and the Latino/a community.
We are also very concerned that this event is being used as a pretext to discriminate against Muslims and immigrant and refugee populations. During this tragic time, we must do everything in our power to speak against those who would use events such as this to divide us and to justify further discrimination and violence. We strongly emphasize that Muslim leaders across the country were among the first to publicly condemn the violence in Orlando and make clear this violent act was diametrically opposed to Islam.
Many events have occurred or are scheduled all over New York State. We particularly bring your attention to an interfaith prayer service on Wednesday, June 15, at 6:00 pm. The service is hosted by the Council along with the Albany County Executive's Office, Capital Area Council of Churches, the Albany Presbytery and other faith groups. It will be held at the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary, 959 Madison Avenue on the Campus of the College of Saint Rose.
I urge you to attend this service or seek out a vigil, pride event, prayer service, or an Iftar (breaking of a daily fast) in your community. It is important for us to be present in our community, offer compassion, and listen well. We will post events on our Facebook and web pages as we hear about them.
It should also be noted that the gunman used an AR-15, the same assault weapon used in Newtown, San Bernadino, and Aurora. The New York State Council of Churches has advocated for some time that assault weapons should be outlawed at both the State and Federal level. We cannot get rid of hate. We can, however, pass laws which make it much more difficult for people to access weapons which can cause massive harm.
As Christians, we claim the Prince of Peace who calls on us to love well, extend hospitality to the stranger and do justice. Jesus reminds the world that nothing in all creation can ever separate us from the love of God.
In faith,
Peter Cook
Executive Director, New York State Council of Churches
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2016 Upstate New York Assembly
Offers Sending for 2016 Churchwide Assembly Voting Members
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At this year's Synod Assembly, a sending was offered for our synod's voting members heading off August 8-13 to the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, Freed and Renewed in Christ, being held in New Orleans. Our voting members will be gathering later this week to prepare for the journey and learn more about what will take place at Assembly, including observing the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, electing a new Churchwide vice-president and members of the Church Council, Churchwide organization boards and committees, constitution amendments and various items of business including the Word and Service Task Force's recommendation that the following action be addressed by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA: To unify the three existing rosters of laypersons (Associates in Ministry, Deaconesses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and Diaconal Ministers) into a roster of Ministry of Word and Service. Read more.
 You and your congregation are encouraged to pray for all those who will be gathering in New Orleans.
Bishop John Macholz; Mr. Thomas Madden; Rev. Lee Miller; Rev. Gail Wolling; Mr.Rick Mollenkopf-Grill,
Mr. Tom Henry; Mr. Jim Osborne; Mrs. Patsy Glista, AIM; Rev. Krista Mendoza; Mrs. Mary Schwartz; Ms. Sharon Hamilton; Mr.Ryan Lotocki; Rev. Pamela Hoh; Ms. Meredith Cavanagh and Mr. Sohail Akhrar
Prayer Resources
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 IN OUR PRAYERS
Prayers of Comfort
to all those who died and all those who grieve from the mass shooting in Orlando, FL
for Donald Ebinger (Rev.Elizabeth Boesen) and family as he receives hospice care in Arizona
Prayers of Thanksgiving
for Pr. James Hulihan and family at the birth of grandson, Quinn Langdon Hulihan on 5/26/16
for Rev. Imani Dodley and Eric Olear who will wed on June 17, 2016
for Karin Ebinger (daughter of Pr.Elizabeth Boesen) and fiance', Joshuah Earle as they marry in 7/16/16
Prayers of Healing
for Margaret Vogel (wife of Pastor David Vogel)
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 We are church for the sake of the world
I n this year's synod assembly video, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on what it means to be church for the sake of the world. Read about this and much more at ELCA Global Links
New ELCA Federal Credit Union Opens
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The ELCA Federal Credit Union, the new credit union of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 6 at its headquarters in The Lutheran Center in Chicago. This is the first credit union chartered by the National Credit Union Administration to open in Illinois. The institution will serve ELCA members, congregations and ELCA-related ministries and their employees.
The ELCA credit union supports the ELCA's mission to promote wise stewardship of members' and congregations' financial resources, based on the ELCA's social statement on economic life, "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All." The statement, adopted by the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly,expresses ELCA teaching that economic activity is a means through which God's will is served for the thriving and well being of humankind and the care of the earth.
"The ELCA Federal Credit Union is responsible stewardship. It makes services available to everyone. It's socially responsible and is a great benefit not only to members of the ELCA churchwide organization but to all our members across the church," said Eaton.
The ELCA Mission Investment Fund, a financial ministry of the ELCA, was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the creation of the ELCA Federal Credit Union and securing the charter approval by the National Credit Union Administration. The fund specializes in church building projects.
Besides the credit union and Mission Investment Fund, the other two ELCA financial ministries are the Endowment Fund of the ELCA, a pooled fund made available through the ELCAFoundation to all ELCA entities; and Portico Benefits Services, which provides benefits and services to enhance the well-being of ELCA rostered leaders and lay employees.
The ELCA social statement "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All" is available here.
2015 Always Being Made New: Campaign for the ELCA Report now available
The Campaign for the ELCA's 2015 report is now available! In this report you will get a glimpse of what campaign gifts made possible last year, including:
- starting a new camp program for youth with disabilities;
- providing international women leaders with full-tuition scholarships;
- breaking ground on a Lutheran center and health clinic in South Sudan;
- engaging youth in ELCA World Hunger's Walk for Water and so much more.
2016 Bishop's Annual Golf Tournament
Updates for the 2016 Vanderkamp Summer Kamp are available here. 
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Reflection on Ramadam:
Feast by Rev. Amy Walter-Peterson, Geneva, NY.
Pastor Walter-Peterson teaches English each summer at St. Leo's Coptic Catholic Seminary, Ma'adi, Egypt. You can read more at http://amy-in-egypt.blogspot.com/. Ramadan continues through early July.
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