July 2018
CONNECT
A MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER OF THE OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES
The latest news and information from OCC
We are thrilled to have you as a part of our network and we look forward to sharing the latest OCC news with you each month. We are always looking for ways to involve as many people as possible in our work. Interested in getting involved? Email The Rev. Shannon Fleck today to get plugged in to our wonderful efforts statewide! 
Your gift is tax deductible. OCC is a 501(c)(3) organization.
OK Speaker of the House to meet with OCC Communion Leaders
In September, the Oklahoma Speaker of the House, Rep. Charles McCall, will be meeting with our Communion Leaders. This will give your statewide denominational leader an opportunity to meet the speaker and have some face to face time with him, as well as provide an opportunity for effective advocacy going into the next legislative session. What are some important things to local communities of faith that would be good to communicate to him? Email sfleck@okchurches with any questions or concerns. We are very much looking forward to this meeting.
OCC to offer a new annual award!
The Oklahoma Conference of Churches is introducing a new award to be given at our Annual Dinner on November 8, 2018. The award is the "Leader of Tomorrow Award" and will be given to a high school student that shows a commitment in living a life of faith, shows care of neighbor, and a passion for the work of justice. The award is open for students in grades 10-12 during the 2018-2019 school year and is open to any faith tradition! Nomination forms are due by August 15th and can be found at the link below.
Council of Communion Leaders release Statement on Separation of Families
The Council of Communion Leaders of the OCC released this unified statement against the U.S. Administration's practice of separating families of migrants and asylum seekers entering the United States.
Local Immigration Vigil approaches 6 month mark
Did you know there is a group that gathers every week at a local ICE office in OKC? A vigil and spiritual presence towards the immigration system, that is modeled after a similar group in Tulsa with the New Sanctuary Movement, meets every Wednesday at noon. The 15 minute vigil is NOT a protest event. There are no signs or posters, just a simple sheet of liturgy which offers unified voices a place to say "I am here". This group will mark 6 months of gathering in the month of July. Here is a link to their Facebook event for more information.
Photo Cred: Laura Eastes (OK Gazette)
Justice and Advocacy: Get Engaged!
Consider being a part of our Social Justice Ministry Network list! What is the SJMN list you ask? It is a special target list in our email account that receives Action and Advocacy Alerts from OCC when target action is recommended from the organization's committees or Communion Leaders. The most recent Advocacy Alert went out in response to families being separated at the U.S. Border. There is a copy of it HERE . If you received this email, then you are already on the SJMN list, if you did not, please consider joining the list! Please email sfleck@okchurches.org with your name and email address to be added!
Consider contributing to our Social Justice Ministry today! Every little bit helps us make a difference in Oklahoma!

OCC Emotional and Spiritual Care
In response to recent historic northwestern Oklahoma wildfires, OCC is partnering with SRT, Inc. to enhance the emotional and spiritual resilience of wildfire-impacted communities. As a follow-up to a pilot program funded by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy in response to the 2017 wildfires, this new project includes four phases: Outreach, Training, Maintenance, and Reporting. The project will focus on Dewey, Harper, Woodward, and Beaver counties. Watch for more information in the coming months!
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Click   here   to receive email notification of future disaster spiritual and emotional care trainings.

Click  here   for a more detailed description of OCC’s three credentialing categories, training, qualifications, and accountability requirements.

Click   here  f or an update on OCC’s disaster spiritual care program.
Upcoming Interfaith Programs!
2018 Interfaith Youth Tour Comes to Edmond
*Registration opens on July 15, 2018!
Religions United Committee plans next Interfaith International Trip
After the success of the first Interfaith International Trip to the Holy Land, another trip is being planned for November 25-December 5, 2018 ! Space is limited and participants will be expected to participate in meetings prior to the trip to become better informed about the conflict and history in the region. Please send an email of interest to ReligionsUnitedTravel@gmail.com if you would like more information.
Mayflower Congregational Church announces
2018 Distinguished Pulpit Series
The Jewish Federation of OKC and The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma offer "The Changing Face of Hatred" program.
The Changing Face of Hatred
with Cheryl R. Drazin, Regional Director
Anti-Defamation League

Thursday, August 2nd, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Emanuel Synagogue 
900 N.W. 47th Street, OKC
The Jewish Federation and Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma are pleased to co-sponsor this important program for our entire community. 

Public displays of hate have been on the rise in recent years. People are often targeted because of who they are, their immutable characteristics (race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability and/or age). Join us as we learn more about recent hate incidents in our world as well as ways to stand up and speak out for others who are being targeted.

We will have separate activities for children running concurrently while the adults are in their session (children age 16 and older are invited to attend the adult session).

This program is free to attend, but preregistration is required. We must have the names of all adults and names and ages of all children who will be attending (we need the children's ages in advance to help us coordinate age appropriate activities). 

Please register via this  Eventbrite link  (or you may call Laura Sikes at the Jewish Federation for registration assistance 405-848-3132 ext. 102). Please confirm registration no later than July 26th.
Come to Breakfast at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma!
I would like to invite you to join us for breakfast on  August 9 th  at 8:30 am at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma . This will be a time to learn more about hunger in Oklahoma and to interact with other religious leaders that partner with us to provide food and hope to our neighbors facing hunger each day. I hope you will save that date on your calendar. 
 
Did you know the Regional Food Bank provides enough food every week to feed 136,000 people in central and western Oklahoma? We do this through a network of over 1,300 community-based partner agencies, 60% of which are faith-based organizations.
 
Today, your community of faith has the opportunity to ensure that hungry Oklahomans have the nutritious food they need to thrive. You can get your organization involved in fighting hunger in Oklahoma through a variety of activities. We offer programs for kids of all ages, have numerous volunteer opportunities and can provide a speaker if requested.
 
September is Hunger Action Month, and we are looking to work with organizations, like yours, who are willing to share our mission of “Fighting Hunger… Feeding Hope” with our community. Hunger Action Month is a time for food banks across the nation to come together to not only share the great work being done, but also raise awareness of how far there is still to go to provide food for our neighbors. I really hope that you can join us for the breakfast on August 9th to kick off Hunger Action Month and to learn more about partnering with the Regional Food Bank in the fight against hunger.
 
Please  RSVP here  if you are interested in attending the Kick-Off Breakfast in August. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Wood at 405-600-3174 or by email at  nwood@regionalfoodbank.org .

Add OCC on Social Media
The Oklahoma Conference of Churches now has a presence on Twitter and Instagram! Please follow us for the most up to date ways to stay in touch!
Did you know?
Did you know that the OCC's IMPACT committee actively tracks approximately 750 bills per legislative session? We do this in order to keep members informed on what is happening at the State Capitol so faith communities can respond. We cannot do this without your help! Consider giving to OCC today!
Oklahoma Conference of Churches
301 N.W. 36th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 525-2928

The Rev. Shannon Fleck
Executive Director
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The Oklahoma Conference of Churches connects, motivates, and empowers the witness of communities of faith and individuals throughout Oklahoma on issues of faith, care, and social justice.