Church Leaders to Gather at the Capitol for Weekly Prayer in Action

 The Kentucky Council of Churches is hosting Prayer in Action Days at the State Capitol each Tuesday during next year’s General Assembly to pray for government officials and act on behalf of Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens. The kick-off event was Tuesday, January 3, in the Capitol Rotunda. Subsequent gatherings will begin at 9:30 am.
“These gatherings will be a continuation of our Interfaith Day of Action held in September of this year,” said Rev. Dr. Peggy Hinds, Interim Executive Director of the Council. “We will pray for our governor and legislators, and call them to a higher moral agenda that puts the well-being of Kentucky’s people first.” Each event will include prayer, education on issues, and a call to action. “We want to engage religious leaders and their congregants in direct justice advocacy.”
Prayer in Action Days are inspired by Moral Mondays in North Carolina, where religious leaders created significant change in policies that oppressed the poor and people of color. In 2016, the Council of Churches partnered with Repairers of the Breach, a national organization led by Moral Monday leader Rev. Dr. William Barber. “We held three excellent and well-attended events, including the Day of Action rally and the Moral Revival service,” said Hinds. “These events inspired more progressive faith leaders to speak out against racism, xenophobia, and unjust social policies. We want to continue that momentum in 2017.”
Beginning January 10, each Prayer in Action event will focus on a different social issue like minimum wage, justice reform, healthcare, and gun violence.  The Kentucky Council of Churches chooses the issues based on policy statements approved by all eleven of the Council’s denominational members. The membership includes Protestant and Roman Catholic congregations. The Council works with other state advocacy groups and coalitions on these issues, and many of them have committed to support the Prayer in Action Days.
All Prayer in Action events are interfaith and open to the public and media. For more information contact the Kentucky Council of Churches at KCC@kycouncilofchurches.org, 859-269-7715, or visit our website: www.kycouncilofchurches.org.