Mid-City Christian: NAE Update

Monday, March 10, 2014

NAE Update - March 2014

March 2014

Limiting Solitary Confinement

The human cost of keeping as many as 80,000 American prisoners in solitary confinement, deprived of nearly all human contact, is staggering. While the NAE recognizes that on rare occasions security concerns may require short-term use of solitary confinement, its widespread and prolonged use must end. To that end, Galen Carey, NAE Vice President, submitted a statement for a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights. (download the statement)

Letter to the President on Religious Freedom

Ten well-known American Christian leaders released a public letter thanking President Barack Obama for lifting up the cause of international religious liberty at the National Prayer Breakfast and asking him to preserve First Amendment freedoms in the United States. Signatories include Leith Anderson, Russell Moore, Joel Hunter and Samuel Rodriguez, among others. (read the letter)

NAE Joins in Pro-Life Free Speech Case

A brief amici was prepared by the Christian Legal Society on behalf of the NAE, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and others in Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus. The issue involves the constitutionality of the Sixth Circuit's stringent standing rules that prevent pre-enforcement challenges to laws that chill free speech rights. (read more)

Churches Save Energy (and Money!)

The NAE advised Energy Star on their Action Workbook for Churches, which is now complete and available for download. The workbook gives practical advice for churches looking to reduce their monthly utilities expenses, so they have more funds available to support their ministry and mission. (download the workbook)

ReDiscovering Lent with World Relief

Seventy years ago Park Street Church in Boston decided that for Lent they would fast from one meal per week and donate the money they saved to the church’s “War Relief Fund.” The fund was designed to help churches in Europe rebuild after World War II. Eventually War Relief Fund became World Relief, the NAE’s humanitarian arm. For this Lent, join World Relief in ReDiscovering Lent. (learn more)

Member Spotlight: Brookville Bible Church

Located in Holbrook, Mass., Brookville Bible Church is a church where "Jesus is Lord, and people are loved." They aim to be a vibrant evangelical, worship-driven and spiritually responsive church. The church has been a part of the NAE family since 1999. (learn more)

Article Spotlight: Study: 2 Million U.S. Scientists Identify as Evangelical

Christianity Today – The media often portrays scientists and Christians as incapable of peaceful coexistence. But results from a recent survey suggest the two are not as incompatible as one might think. In fact, 2 million out of nearly 12 million scientists are evangelical Christians. If you were to bring all the evangelical scientists together, they could populate the city of Houston, Texas. (read more)

Event Spotlight: Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit

The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit inspires and equips Christians to care for orphans with wisdom-guided love. Last year’s conference drew 2,500 foster and adoptive parents, orphan advocates, pastors and leaders from 49 states and 25+ countries. This year’s conference will be held at Willow Creek Community Church May 1-2, and will explore effective foster care, adoption, family preservation and global orphan ministry. (learn more)