wfn.org | Another Church Fire

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3012 notes).

Note 3012 by UMNS on June 13, 1996 at 16:07 Eastern (2978 characters).

SEARCH: fire, United Methodist, respond, racism, Oklahoma

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CONTACT: Linda Green                        298(10-21-31-71){3012}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             June 13, 1996

Oklahoma United Methodists 
respond to fire at Baptist Church
                                 

                 by United Methodist News Service

     The United Methodist Church of Oklahoma has offered money and
a building in response to a predawn fire at an African-American
Baptist Church in Enid June 13.
     At 4 a.m. the 200-member church, located 65-miles from
Oklahoma City, was engulfed in flames. The Enid Fire Department
and Oklahoma Federal Bureau of Investigations have not ruled arson
as the cause of the fire but it increases the number of burned
African-American churches in the South over the last 18 months to
approximately 30. 
     Before 7:45 a.m. on the morning of the fire, United Methodist
Bishop Dan Solomon spoke to the Rev. Al Baldwin Jr., pastor of the
First Missionary Baptist Church, to assure him of United Methodist
prayers and assistance.
     The United Methodist Church, through the bishop's office
offered the pastor Volunteers-in-Mission teams and money to help
rebuild. The Baptist church was also offered the temporary use of
a vacant United Methodist Church facility.
     "Our solidarity in Christ leaves us no alternative but to
respond to the full range of human concerns and needs," Solomon
said. "It is imperative that Christians of all persuasion reflect
a united stance against injustice, hatred and racism."
     Solomon said that hate crimes must be addressed vigorously
for the common good. Calling racism a sin against God and
neighbor, he declared that United Methodists "will work diligently
to identify and eliminate racism." 
     United Methodist response to these actions has been intense
and officials have joined with other churches and governmental
agencies to find the guilty party.
     The city of Enid already has responded to the congregation. A
city-wide worship service was held the night of June 13 at the
burned church to show unity and concern, said the Rev. Lucinda
Holmes, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Enid. 
     Area ministers and local church officials have held meetings
to determine how to offer long-term support to the people of First
Missionary Baptist Church. 
     On June 11, the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of
Representatives approved the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996
and forwarded it to the full House for consideration. Passage of
that act would make it easier for federal authorities to become
involved in the investigations.
                              #  #  #

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