wfn.org | Speak out on church burnings

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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 (3026 notes).

Note 3026 by UMNS on June 20, 1996 at 16:05 Eastern (2668 characters).

SEARCH:  burnings, Mississippi, Fassett
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                    312(10-31-71){3026}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-54707            June 20, 1996

  UMNS stories may be accessed on the Internet World Wide Web at:
                   http://www.umc.org/umns.html

Leaders continue to speak out
against church burnings

                 by United Methodist News Service

     United Methodist and other Christian leaders continue to
speak out against the burning of black churches.
     "We express our full support and compassion for those who
have suffered through the destruction of that which is most sacred
to the heart and life of the religious community -- the very house
of God," said officers of the Mississippi Religious Leadership
Conference chaired by United Methodist Bishop Marshall "Jack"
Meadors Jr.
     The group called on all Mississippians to work for justice
and peace; condemned "all acts of violence, particularly those
motivated by racism and prejudice"; and said "a climate of silence
implies consent for those who would perpetuate such acts." 
Another member of the group's executive committee is the Rev.
Michael Culbreth, pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in
Jackson.
     Elsewhere, the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett, staff executive
for the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in
Washington, said the "viciousness and hate" represented by fires
deliberately set "are a threat to every church, synagogue and
mosque in the United States."
     He said the board is supporting legislation extending the
jurisdiction of the federal government to prosecute hate crimes. 
United Methodists are being asked to support legislation in their
respective states that Fassett said could have a "preventive
impact on the activities of hate groups and individuals."
     Through ecumenical groups, Fassett said the board has pressed
President Clinton to take an active and visible interest in the
cases; supported investigations by the Treasury Department; and
called for he Justice Department to take swift action to
investigate and prosecute.
     "The phenomenon of hate-crimes and racial violence will not
go away until Christians commit themselves to the elimination of a
practice that is incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,"
Fassett said.
     Contributions may be made to the United Methodist "Black
Church Burnings" fund (Advance number 982700-1).
                              #  #  #

      

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