Founded in 1947, the Kentucky Council of Churches is one of the most representative and diverse councils of its kind in the United States. Representatives from 16 different conferences, dioceses, and districts from 11 different denominations and several independent and observer traditions form the council which meets throughout the year to consider matters of faith and common work. Over the more than seven decades of its work, the KCC has considered and crafted more than 35 policy statements to help guide Kentuckians in matters of faith in action. To be adopted, all policies must be unanimously approved by representatives from every member body.
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Help Inform About the Dangers of Diabetes
Urge Our Senator to Take Action
The persecution and suffering of the Rohingya people, an ethnic minority in Burma (Myanmar), continues to escalate. Since August 25, 2017, Burmese forces have burned entire Rohingya villages to the ground, soldiers have indiscriminately massacred Rohingya men, women and children, and more than 687,000 people have been forced to flee by foot and boats from their burned villages to refugee camps in Bangladesh, usually a trek of several weeks. As people of faith and global citizens, we cannot remain silent while senseless acts of torture and brutality continue. We must act now to ensure the survival, safety and dignity of the Rohingya people. There is legislation before the Senate that would sanction the military perpetrating this violence, provide more funding for the humanitarian crisis and start the process of accountability and justice for the Rohingya people; it must pass now. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is critical to that effort. Your signature on the petition will demonstrate that his constituents of every tradition support this legislation and his work to prevent further violence.
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About the Rohingya Crisis
PETITION:
Dear Sen. McConnell,
We, the undersigned faith leaders and citizens of Kentucky, are horrified by the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people, an ethnic minority in Burma (Myanmar). Last August, the Burmese military attacked Rohingya civilians, raping women and killing children, simply because of who they are. Homes, villages and entire communities were burned to the ground, and more than 687,000 Rohingya were forced to flee their own country. That's why we are urging you to support and pass the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2018, which would authorize desperately needed humanitarian assistance for refugees and impose targeted sanctions on Burmese military officials, who have played key roles in persecuting the Rohingya people.
Burma has a long history of human rights abuses that we can't ignore, especially now. Without action from the U.S. government and the international community, the persecution of the Rohingya people will continue without end. At a time when human rights abuses are close to annihilating an entire ethnic group, the United States must not abdicate its long-standing bipartisan tradition of standing up for the most vulnerable people around the world.
We share your belief that Burma must be supported to become a truly representative democracy. This legislation would move Burma in the right direction by authorizing targeted, appropriate measures against key military figures and providing clear incentives for needed reforms to professionalize the military and reduce corruption, conflict and abuses.
Marginalized groups, including the Rohingya people, have counted on the United States to stand up to authoritarian militaries and lead by supporting human rights. We urge you to support the Burma Act and incorporate related provisions into the NDAA to ensure that the Rohingya people can live with the safety, dignity and human rights they deserve. Please use your office and authority to allow this legislation to move forward. Countless lives depend on it.
Help Abolish The Death Penalty!
There are countless arguments for and against the death penalty. In an imperfect world where we can never be sure we have ever got the “worst of the worst” is it ever justified to take a life?
We must challenge the notion of “an eye for an eye” and here are some reasons why.
• Social scientists have been unable to prove any deterrent value in the death penalty.
• Further, studies have shown consistently that it is more costly for a state to condemn a criminal to death, due to the constitutional safeguards that must be observed, than it is to imprison that criminal for the entirety of his or her life, without parole until their natural death.
Additionally, some police science professors have begun to argue that the implementation of a capital sentence may, in fact, result in a corresponding rise in the murder rate. The example of the state taking a life, no matter how carefully, apparently desensitizes people to the value of life, and implies that killing another human being is an appropriate solution to a problem. Murder rates tend to rise in the immediate aftermath of an execution.
Even families and friends of victims are of different views on the value of the death penalty and whether it contributes to healing their hurt and loss, and its consequences for the social order and peace.
In summary, the following points have been made by social scientists, legal experts, and social ethicists regarding capital punishment:
• that capital punishment has been proven to be unfairly administered to the poor, the uneducated, those who cannot afford private legal counsel, and on the basis of the race of both the criminal and the victim;
• that the American Bar Association has called for a moratorium on the administration of capital punishment until such inequities can be removed, • that there is no proven deterrent value to the death penalty;
• that the death penalty is more costly, financially, to the state than incarcerating the prisoner for life; that capital punishment is an irremediable punishment;
• and that there may be a concomitant rise in the murder rates of a state in which the death penalty is administered.
Therefore, by these measures alone, capital punishment, as it is currently applied, is not just and equitable, and therefore does not enhance the upbuilding of a just and caring society.
(Excerpt taken from KCC's Death Penalty Policy Statement)
The Videos Are Here, The Videos Are Here.....!!!!
If you weren't able to make it to our 2017 Annual Assembly (or you enjoyed it so much you want to relive it), sit back, relax, and enjoy these videos taken of our keynote speakers, preacher and Friday's group simulation activity.
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KCC has several committees that meet regularly to help with one of its main principles - promoting unity among the world's Christian churches. (Justice Commission, Creation Care, Assemblies Planning). Other committees help with fundraising, budget and finance, planning the annual assembly and personnel and nominations of board members. If you are interested in getting involved in any of these committees, please send Karen Owsley an email expressing your interest. kao@kycouncilofchurches.org
Kentucky Roman Catholic Bishops meet with the Governor to discuss issues.
Prayer written by JR Zerkowski, Executive Director of Fortunate Families
