National Black Church Initiative
P.O. Box 65177

Washington, DC

202-744-0184

www.naltblackchurch.com

dcbci2002@gmail.com

                                                                                                                       
Contact:

Rev. Anthony Evans 

202-744-0184

October 19, 2012

For Immediate Release

The National Black Church Initiative

Denounce Gallaudet University and the

Washington Blade as Racist and

Religious Bigots

The Black Church stands with our Christian Sister Angela McCaskill

Washington, D.C.-The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 34,000 African American churches spanning 15 denominations and representing 15.7 million African Americans denounce Gallaudet University and the Washington Blade for punishing Ms. Angela McCaskill who is African American for expressing her constitutional right on Question 6 whether to accept same sex marriage or not in the State of Maryland. Ms. McCaskill says that it conflicts with her Christian faith so she signed a petition to put it on the ballot which is her constitutional right as an American to do so. She also exercised her right as a Christian to oppose gay marriage and her employer Gallaudet University placed her on administrative leave. These actions that were taken against her are not only unconstitutional, but amounts to a witch hunt against those of us who dare to stand up for our faith. This is a form of religious McCarthyism – Nazism being applied especially to African Americans who are Christians as an intimidation tactic.

Rev. Anthony Evans, President of NBCI says, “I am ashamed, appalled and outraged that we have reached this level in society where you can no longer practice your religious beliefs because a small immoral community (gays) has successfully persuaded a vocal minority that opposing gay marriage is un-American. This type of witch hunt amounts to McCarthyism. I am happy to note however, that some, not all in the gay community have denounced Gallaudet University unconstitutional actions against Angela McCaskill. I want this Christian sister to know that the Black Church will stand up for her and we will get her job back and we will defeat gay marriage in Maryland. I am calling on the ACLU and the NAACP to file a human rights and a discrimination complaint against Gallaudet University. NBCI will launch demonstrations in front of the Washington Blade and Gallaudet University over the course of the next two weeks. Just for the record, the black church supported and marched with our hearing -impaired brothers and sisters during their self-determination demonstrations some fifteen years ago. Now they are persecuted us’’

 Gallaudet President T. Alan Hurwitz announced Angela McCaskill’s was placed on leave in a statement Wednesday. Hurwitz says McCaskill for “participating in a legislative initiative that some feel is inappropriate” for someone in her position. Gallaudet is the nation’s leading university for the deaf and hard of hearing. McCaskill lives in Maryland, where voters will decide in November whether to approve a state law legalizing gay marriage. The referendum was placed on the ballot by opponents of same-sex unions. McCaskill’s signature on the petition was disclosed in July by the Washington Blade.

 About NBCI

NBCI is a coalition of 34,000 African American churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI’s mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public. The National Black Church Initiative’s methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science. The National Black Church Initiative's purpose is to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI’s programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science based strategies and techniques, and methods that work.

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Edrea Davis

PHONE: 770.961.6200

EMAIL: edmedia@dogonvillage.com

Sept. 4, 2012

Black Women’s Roundtable Shifts the Focus to the

Issues and Voting Power of Black Women at the

Republican and Democratic Conventions

Washington, DC - In their continuing efforts to make Black women’s issues a top priority and remind elected officials and candidates of the voting power of Black women, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (NCBCP) Black Women’s Roundtable co-hosted round table discussions in conjunction with the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Tampa, FL, and this week at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, NC.

At the Charlotte Convention Center Black Women’s Roundtable joined with Higher Heights for America to co-host, “Harnessing Black Women's Political Power: The Chisholm Effect 40 Years in the Making,” a celebration and discussion about the power of the sister vote.

Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, opened the session delivering an electrifying speech outlining the historic run of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and chiding leaders for, 40 years after Chisholm’s run, not properly recognizing the power of the black women’s vote.

Reminding people of the Pew Research findings that the surge in black voter participation in 2008 was driven by increased participation among black women, Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO of the NCBCP and convener, Black Women’s Roundtable said, “We’re celebrating the phenomenal power of the sister vote. Black women are getting their swagger back in 2012. They’re not just getting themselves prepared to vote, they are making sure their family, friends and neighbors are prepared to cast a ballot that counts in this very important election.”

Campbell adds, “Black women are leaders in turning out our community; our issues should be a top priority for elected officials and we need to see Black women appointed to powerful positions.”

Other participants in the DNC conversation included: Rev. Leah Daughtry, President CEO of On These Thing, LLC and Former CEO of 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee; Clayola Brown, President of A. Philip Randolph Institute; Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD; Dr. E Faye Williams, National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women; and Glynda C. Carr, Co-Founder of Higher Heights for America and co-host of the DNC round table.

Over 30 Florida leaders joined national leaders for a more intimate discussion about the continuing economic crisis, criminal justice reform, and voter suppression tactics, during RNC round table held at St. Petersburg's Center for Community and Economic Justice. In addition to the conversation, Barbara Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, provided information and tools like the 866 OUR-VOTE hotline, to help the women educate their constituents, organizations and community members in countering the rampant black voter disenfranchisement in Florida.  

The lively discussion was co-convened by Salandra Benton, chair, Florida Coalition for Black Civic Participation; Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich, president and CEO, Center for Community and Economic Justice; Gypsy Gallardo, publisher, Power Broker Magazine; and Dr. Elsie Scott, president and CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Participants included: Jessica Brown, national field director, Black Youth Vote; Chloe Choney, district director for Congresswoman Kathy Castor; and Shahra Anderson, regional Director for Senator Bill Nelson.

BWR is an intergenerational women’s network of the NCBCP, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement in Black and underserved communities and developing new leaders. For more information visit www.ncbcp.org.

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National Black Church Initiative
P.O. Box 65177

Washington, DC 20035
202-744-0184
dcbci2002@gmail.com    

 www.naltblackchurch.com 

                                                                                                                       
Contact:

Rev. Anthony Evans

202-744-0184

 

August 29, 2012

For Immediate Release  

The National Black Church Initiative has Ordered Security for Rev.

Anthony Evans in Light of the Shooting at the Family Research

 Council

NBCI Expresses its Sincere Sorrow to the Victim that was Shot

Washington, D.C.- The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 34,000 African American churches spanning 15 denominations and representing 15.7 million African Americans and its board of directors have ordered security for NBCI President Rev. Anthony Evans because of the NBCI stance against same-sex marriage. The shooting underscores the violence that has plagued the same-sex marriage debate.  The security measures are necessary to protect Rev. Evans and the NBCI stance for Christ and against same-sex marriage. 

Ms. Debra Coley-Bagley, chair of NBCI's Board of Directors says, "Rev. Evans is a brave Christian clergy who stands on the Word of God, and we would hate for him to be harmed by the forces of evil that support same-sex marriage.  We do, however, commend leaders of the gay community who have denounced the shooting of the staff member at the Family Research Council."

About NBCI

NBCI is a coalition of 34,000 African American churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI's mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public. The National Black Church Initiative's methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science. The National Black Church Initiative's purpose is to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI's programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science based strategies and techniques, and methods that work.

National Black Church Initiative
P.O. Box 65177
202-744-0184
dcbci2002@gmail.com    

www.naltblackchurch.com 

                                                                                                                       
Contact:

Rev. Anthony Evans

202-744-0184

July 19, 2012

For Immediate Release

 

The NATIONAL BLACK CHURCH INITIATIVE SAYS TO GEORGE ZIMMERMAN THAT IT WAS NOT GOD'S WILL TO KILL TRAYVON MARTIN

 God is the author and finisher of life

Washington, D.C.- The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) a coalition of 34,000 churches spanning 15 denominations and representing 15.7 million African Americans is stunned and ashamed that in his first interview with Fox News reporter Sean Hannity, George Zimmerman claimed that it was God's will that the tragedy unfold between Trayvon Martin and himself.  This is the type of backwoods theology that blames God for the ignorance of the human condition.  One can never justify taking anyone's life, nor can they justify taking their own life.  God affirms life, He is not in the business of creating human situations whereby an individual takes another individual's life and them blames it on God by saying it was His will.  There are wars and man's inhumanity to man, but this is a direct result of man's disobedience to God's will as opposed to God's will in itself. 

God does not need to create a tragedy in order to teach man.  Man creates his own tragedy because of his disobedience to the will of God.  So for Zimmerman to claim that God created that situation for him to take Trayvon's life is utterly ridiculous because it is the opposite of God's will.  If Zimmerman would have followed the heavenly instruction as given by the police dispatcher to not follow Trayvon, then he would be alive today.  So it stands to reason, that this calamity unfolded because Zimmerman created this tragedy by his disobedience.  He failed to heed the warning that God was trying to give him through that police dispatcher-not to follow Trayvon Martin.  It is this kernel truth of why he decided to follow Martin upon which this case will be decided.  So, Zimmerman lied on God when he said it was God's will that this catastrophe occur.

Rev. Anthony Evans, President of NBCI says, "This is why the Church and preachers exist-to clear up any mystery concerning the intent and the character of God.  We will not allow anyone whether black, white, Latino, Asian, short, tall, Protestant or Catholic justify their evil intentions by blaming it on God through Christ Jesus as human history unfolds before our eyes."

About NBCI

NBCI is a coalition of 34,000 African American churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI's mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public. The National Black Church Initiative's methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science. The National Black Church Initiative's purpose is to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI's programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science based strategies and techniques, and methods that work.

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