About Us

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The Council of Churches of Greater Washington (CCGW) falls under the umbrella of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA which has been the leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States.

 CCGW primarily has four main purpose:

1. Promote Christianity, Christian love, cooperation and collaboration among Christian people, churches and related organizations through dedication to stimulate, facilitate and coordinate the work of the religious community to carry out the will of God in the Greater Washington, DC area.
2. Represent Christian interests and positions on issues in the Greater Washington, DC community.
3. Minister to all people, particularly victims of injustice, i.e., liberation of every manner of oppressed people and promote Christianity, Christian love and cooperation.
4. Collectively provide services, as Jesus would have us do, in those matters and situations too difficult or awkward for a single church or person which can be better done communally by all working together.

CCGW projects are focused on political, social and religious issues that affect the Greater Washington, DC area communities.

Over the years, the Council has done some mighty good work:

• A summer children's camping program;
• Feeding program;
• Representation before governmental bodies on issues import to the religious community;
• Youth training programs;
• Ecumenical programs for the benefit of all churches, denominations, judicatories and their members.  

In addition, recently, a Council task force consulted a variety of people and organizations including the Mayor's (DC) Interfaith Council, the Downtown Cluster, Washington Interfaith Network, Church Women United, Community Ministry of Montgomery County, Archdiocese of Washington, Council Board Members and the National Council of Churches.

They offered and more or less agreed that CCGW should:

• Focus on Christian unity, i.e., cooperation and collaboration among religious entities;
• Be a source for national, regional and local ecumenical networking;
• Engage in strategic planning, recruiting and development of a sound financial footing;
• Lobby for a seat on the National Council of Churches USA board, thus representing the Greater Washington, DC religious community to the national religious community;
• Strive to improve race relations;
• Become a voice for the poor in the area;
• Focus on women's and children's issues, employment and youth education;
• Become an umbrella organization for dialogue on religious, social and pastoral issues;
• Prepare and distribute a metropolitan area church directory;
• Conduct spiritual retreats for local clergy, and promote ecumenical education;
• Become more regional in emphasis;
• Promote dialogue on controversial, including political, issues;
• Rebuild and heighten relations with judicatories/denominations;
• Maintain and enhance camping and feeding programs and engage in other volunteer services in aid to betterment of the people of the Greater Washington, DC area; and more.

Those of us active in the Council, believe that your Christian experience will be significantly enhanced by promoting and participating in the Council of Churches of Greater Washington, DC.  We will welcome you with open arms.

OFFICERS

President

 Rev. Dr. James E. Terrell

Executive Vice President

Rev. Jesse J. Jackson

Vice President of Operations

 Rev. C.T. Riley

Vice President of Programs

Mrs. Susan Meehan

Vice President of Youth

Rev. Alfred Wright, Jr.

Secretary

Dea. Sharon Malone

Treasurer

 Rev. Jesse J. Jackson 

BOARD MEMBERS

Rev. Michael Armstrong

Rev. Kip Banks

Rev. Catherine Bego

Rev. Robert Checks, Jr.

Rev. Thomas J. Henderson

Ms. Joan Oxendine

Rev. Peter Jarrett-Schell

Ms. Glenda Richmond

Rev. Dr. Winston D. Ridley

Rev. Dr. Blanche Smith

Mrs. Margaret E. Williams.