Contact: Joretta Purdue (Release # 306) June 18, 1996
NEW YORK (UMNS) -- The mission arm of the United Methodist Church has taken several steps to assist congregations of burned black churches at the same time the Rev. Joseph Lowery accused the Christian Coalition of trying to absolve itself.
Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a retired United Methodist clergyman, said of Christian Coalition spokesperson Ralph Reed, "I think he's trying to exploit and absolve himself and his group of their exploitation of fears in this country."
Reed in a June 16 appearance on "Meet the Press" had said many white evangelical Christians had been on the wrong side of the struggle for racial justice. He declared that the group now is trying to speak out against the church burnings.
Amid reports of a Christian Coalition-sponsored summit with pastors of the burned black churches and African-American leaders, Lowery stated June 17 that he had received no invitation to the event to be held the next day in Atlanta or to any other meeting with the organization.
"It is our contention that those who blame the poor and affirmative action and welfare for economic uncertainties now faced by many white Americans... help create a climate of hostility toward African Americans, women and the poor," Lowery declared.
Saying that reconciliation must embrace justice, Lowery expressed a willingness to meet with all members of the community of faith, including those with whom he disagrees strongly, but he said such meetings must be jointly planned to determine their purpose and agenda.
The Board of Global Ministries, headquartered here, announced June 17 the designation of an Advance Special No. 982700-1 for "Black Church Burnings" within the Partners in Congregational Development, Capital Funds account.
Donations will be used to help rebuild churches, provide security systems and support church watch patrols.
The board is urging all United Methodist congregations to join the South Carolina Annual Conference in making worship services June 29-30 a "Sabbath of Support" for congregations that have lost their houses of worship to arson.
Board personnel plan to seek shalom zone attribution for affected communities, to send volunteers-in-mission teams to assist in rebuilding, and to include material on black church burnings in the board program "Ministry in the Midst of Hate and Violence."
A contribution from the board to the South Carolina Conference fund for congregations whose facilities have been burned is also planned.
In an open letter from the Rev. Randolph Nugent, the general secretary, decried the wave of arson that has burned more than 35 predominantly black houses of worship in the past 18 months.
"As United Methodists and children of God we stand in solidarity with our bothers and sisters in any church of any denomination that has been the target of a racial attack," Nugent said.
He declared that religious institutions, especially black ones, have been targeted by people who see them as symbols of progress.
"In this instance, there have been suggestions that the church burnings are designed to interfere with voter registration efforts in the South," Nugent observed. "If that is so, then Global Ministries will also assist in organizing teams of volunteers for voter registration efforts in the affected communities."
The board has suggest a list of activities for congregations that includes working with other denominations and civic groups to combat racism, planning events to encourage racial and ethnic tolerance, speaking out against "the fires and the hatred and division that caused them," establishing ecumenical dialogue, opening places of worship to those who have lost theirs, giving time to recovery efforts and praying for all concerned.
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington.
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United Methodist Response to Church Burnings and Advance Special Information
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