Community Engagement

How We Work

Rooted In Compassion, Healing, and Justice for All of Humanity

Since 1886, the NBA’s mission and work emerged from the faithful witness of a small group of Disciples women seeking to address the suffering of children and families in need. Our continued commitment is to bring to light how we are complicit in maintaining unhealthy systems of discrimination and oppression. NBA actively supports our denominational efforts to be an anti-racist and pro-reconciling church.

NBA nurtures engagement strategies with Disciples health and social service ministries to transform the root causes of social injustice. We host a peer learning and wellness groups for those fighting injustices, understanding that creating space for supporting care is an active resistance. We educate and advocate on issues related to mass incarceration, lifting up the unjust and disproportionate ways communities of color are affected. We support emerging leaders responding to local justice issues through collaborative partnerships and best practices in community organizing. We share resources on how congregations and individual Disciples can support social justice movements happening inside and outside the life of the church.

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Program Areas

Advocate for Justice in Collaboration with NBA

Explore the ways NBA accompanies Disciples in our shared work of creating communities of compassion, healing, and justice.


Videos & Webinars

Watch and Learn

Watch any of our educational webinars to learn how you can transform the root causes of social injustice in your community and elsewhere. These videos are designed to create a foundation for discussion, further learning, and inspiration for creating communities of compassion and care.

Community Engagement Stories and News

NBA Welcomes the first Full-Time Senior Justice Coordinator with Plans to Expand Social Justice Work

We are excited to announce the newest member of our staff and the justice work they'll be involved in.

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NBA Board Meets and Affirms Bold Visions and Ministries

The Board of Trustees of the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met November 9 – 11 at Community Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

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White Supremacy by Another Name: How Replacement Theory is Fueling Mass Incarceration

Prison & Jail Mission Specialist Rev. Dean Bucalos explains the link between this theory and mass incarceration.

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Wellness, Rhythm & Balance: A Retreat for Peer Groups

In the spring, NBA brought together members of our Peer Learning and Wellness Groups for a weekend of fellowship, reflection, and healing.

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Peer Learning & Wellness Groups Create a Place to Connect, Be Seen and Heard

NBA is in the process of launching several Peer Learning & Wellness Groups that center voices of color. Meet the conveners leading the charge.

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It Takes Everyone: Sharing the Load of Justice Work

NBA’s new Justice Coordinator, Rev. Alexis Vaughan, reflects on Martin Luther King Jr.'s words and the need to share the load of social justice work.

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The Many Hurdles of Employment After Incarceration

Upcoming webinar guest Savvy Shabazz shares his experience with the prison system in Kentucky and his struggles of trying to find employment after returning home.

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Reflections on the Impact of NBA’s Executive Leaders Peer Learning and Wellness Group

Read about the impact of NBA’s Executive Leaders Peer Learning & Wellness Group.

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NBA Adds New Staff Members to Aid in Mental Health, Justice, and Development Work

Over the last few months, we’ve added several new faces to our team. Get to know them!

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Coping with Trauma in the Wake of the 9/11 Anniversary

This September marks the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Here are ways to cope with trauma from these past events.

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“Under His Eye”: The Pandemic, Hulu, and The Death Penalty

Sometimes, dystopian movies have eerie resemblances, not just to what the world could be, but what it actually is writes Tialisha Lumpkin.

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Reflections Following the White Co-Conspirator Summit

Rev. Foster shares learnings from her experience at the Scarritt Bennett Center White Co-Conspirators Conference.

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COVID-19 NBA Response Grant Supports College Students Needing Financial Assistance

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Engaging in Equity: Meet Héctor Hernández Marcial, Director of Community Engagement

Get to know the Director of our new Community Engagement program, Rev. Héctor J. Hernández Marcial!

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Engaging in Equity: Introducing NBA’s Community Engagement Program

We’re excited to announce our new Community Engagement Program. This program was born out of NBA’s commitment to activism and advocacy coupled with our mission to build communities of compassion and care.

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Introducing NBA’s 2020-2022 Multilingual Latin@ Pastors and Leaders Peer Group

Introducing NBA's newest Peer Learning and Wellness Group for Advocacy and Activism.

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All Peoples’ Assists with COVID-19 Hunger Relief

All Peoples Community Center is providing groceries to families in need.

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How Two NBA Staffers Spent the Weeklong Pause

After NBA's weeklong pause, staff members Brittany King and Rebecca Hale came together to discuss the week of rest, what it meant to them individually, and offered some perspective on how other organizations considering a similar pause could do the same.

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Exploring the Prison Abolition Movement

I have been intrigued for a while by the prison abolition movement. Wikipedia defines the movement as “a network of groups and activists that seek to reduce or eliminate prisons and the prison system, and replace them with systems of rehabilitation that do not place a focus on punishment and government institutionalization.”

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8 Steps to Prepare Your Community for a Social Justice Crisis Like Ferguson

Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker shares eight steps communities can take to prepare before a crisis.

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Our Broken Immigration System Has Been Weaponized, Here’s What We Can Do

The current White House administration has made it a priority to come up with new anti-immigration rhetoric and policies at every turn. In response, churches across the country are stepping up in support of immigrants, learn more about what you can do below.

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NBA Deepens Mental Health Initiative and Peer Group Work with Rev. Héctor Hernández as Connect Coordinator

Effective January 1, 2019, the National Benevolent Association welcomes Rev. Héctor Hernández into the new, full-time role of Connect Coordinator.

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Art-Show Season with UrbanMission Community Partners: Beyond the Blue

Fall 2018 marks the third year of UrbanMission Community Partners’ InsideOut Art program.

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The Marshall Project: “We Are Witnesses”

I invite you to watch a powerful new film series, created and produced by The Marshall Project. “We Are Witnesses” gives voice to those whose lives are enmeshed in the criminal justice system and provides a rare 360-degree portrait of crime and punishment in America today.

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NBA Advocacy and Activism Peer Group Launches, Remembers Michael Brown in St. Louis

As we continue to connect and resource Disciples health and social service ministries, we have called together eight Disciples activists into our newest Peer Learning and Wellness Group for Advocacy and Activism.

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Ministry of Presence as a Peer Group Convener

Ministry can be lonely sometimes. As a peer group convener, my greatest joy is bringing people together so they know they are not alone, sharing in their joys and challenges, and watching new relationships form that reflect the very presence of God among us.

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An Active Summer for InsideOut Art

An active summer of art exhibits and sacred conversations around incarceration, creativity, and healing.

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NBA + OGMP On the Road: Connecting Communities of Compassion and Care

With stops in Texas, Ohio, and California, we traveled with Rev. Terri Hord Owens for a variety of partner visits, special events, and conversations.

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Being with Jonathan

Rev. Nora Jacob gets a glimpse into life at a federal detention center.

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My First General Assembly

NBA Prison and Jail Ministries Guest Blogger Ria M. Riesner shares her reflections after attending the 2017 General Assembly with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.

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Learn and Grow with NBA Resources

Love is an Action Word: A Discussion on Reproductive Justice

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NBA Impact Report 2022

Read and download the 20-page PDF of the 2022 NBA Impact Report, featuring stories from NBA programs, partners, and Disciples leaders.

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2023 NBA Town Hall

There have been so many exciting resources, initiatives and partnerships at NBA recently, hear all about it!

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Gun Violence and Mental Health

Resources focusing on the intersection of gun violence, trauma, and ways to care for our mental health and the mental health of our communities.

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Resources for Transgender Day of Visibility and Beyond

AllianceQ and the NBA offer resources for those looking to be more inclusive of all gender identities and expressions.

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Webinar: How Congregations Can Organize Around Justice Issues

With the right tools, congregations can play a big role in social justice issues that arise in their communities.

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Webinar: Restorative Justice in Action

Our current justice system and practices aren't working, restorative justice may offer an alternative.

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Webinar: How Congregations Can Practice Restorative Justice in Their Communities

Restorative Justice encourages the humanization of those who have caused harm and provides better alternatives than our current incarceration system.

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Second Chance Employment: Making an Impact by Hiring Formerly Incarcerated People

This webinar explores the importance of considering the employment of people who are returning from our prisons and jails and those who are in recovery.

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Webinar: Why Our Corrections System Is So Dysfunctional

Join our experienced panelists for a conversation on why the corrections system has become so dysfunctional and broken.

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Worship for Families of Incarcerated Individuals

These resources were created to offer people of faith an opportunity to worship together and reflect on the experience of immigrants in the Bible and the experience of immigrants living in the United States.

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Liturgy for Working with Incarcerated People  

We invite you to explore immigration through these liturgies and worship resources.

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Liturgies for Immigration and Detention

We invite you to explore immigration through these liturgies and worship resources.

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Liturgy for Reentry Ministries

We invite you to explore immigration through these liturgies and worship resources.

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Webinar: Why Followers of Jesus Should Oppose Capital Punishment

What does the Bible say about capital punishment? Should followers of Jesus Christ, who was executed himself, oppose the use of capital punishment?

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Faith-Based Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention Guide

16-page PDF resource with historical insight into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, sermon starters, and statistics.

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Webinar: Introducing “We Are Witnesses”, an important video series about the U.S. Criminal Justice System

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Webinar: Combating Mass Incarceration through Bail Reform

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Webinar: Beyond the Labels: The Humanization of God’s Children

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Liturgy for Immigration and Detention

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Ferguson, Clergy, and the Faith that Fuels their Lives

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Webinar: The Privatization of Prisons and Prison Industry Divestment

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Webinar: The Prison Abolition Movement

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Webinar

Webinar: The Rising Number of Incarcerated Women

Join us as we discuss the impact of the increasing number of women, particularly women of color, that are spending time behind bars and work to address solutions

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Webinar: Restoration of Voting Rights

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Workshops and Resources from 2019 General Assembly

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Webinar: Immigration Detention in the United States

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Webinar: On Becoming Immigrant-Welcoming Congregations: Resolution GA-1723

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2018 NBA Impact Report

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Webinar: What is Restorative Justice?

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