wfn.org | Church's African-American group holds national

["Barb Powell"<powellb@ucc.org>]

meeting in Cleveland

July 13, 1998
United Church of Christ Telephone: 216-736-2222.
On the Web:  http://www.ucc.org

A D V I S O R Y :
Church's African-American group
holding national meeting in Cleveland July 13-18

EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: Issues of particular
concern to African American Christians will be on the
agenda when some 300 United Church of Christ members
from around the country gather in downtown Cleveland
Monday, July 13, through Saturday, July 18.

The 15th biennial convention of United Black Christians
will be based at the Radisson Inn at Gateway, 651 Huron
Road, with worship services and some activities planned
for other locations, among them Oberlin College where a
delegation of 150 youth will begin to gather July 13. 
UBC is a national organization within the 1.4-million-
member United Church of Christ, which has its national
offices at 700 Prospect Avenue.

It is the first church convention to use the hotel, which is
connected to the UCC offices and is owned by a limited
company formed by the UCC's United Church Board for
Homeland Ministries.

Media coverage and interviews are welcome (see contact
information below).  Here are agenda highlights (in first-
floor meeting rooms at Radisson, except as noted):

* Opening worship and celebration.  Preacher: the Rev.
Valentino Lassiter of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Tue., July
14, 7 p.m.,  Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, UCC,
9606 Euclid Ave.

* Keynote address, "Write the Vision   Make It Plain,"
the Rev. Dr. F. Allison Phillips of Cleveland.  Wed., July
15, 10 a.m.

* Sharing and dialogue with the UCC President, the Rev.
Dr. Paul H. Sherry of Cleveland. Wed., July 15, 11
a.m.

* Harambee (youth) convocation and worship, Thurs.,
July 16, 5 p.m., UCC national offices, 700 Prospect
Ave., 2nd floor.

* "Prayer Through African American Spirituality," a
workshop led by the Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith of
Columbus, Ohio.  Fri., July 17, 1:15 p.m.

* Banquet, with special guest and nationally known
storyteller, Mary Carter Smith of Baltimore.  Fri., July
17, 7:30 p.m., Metropolitan Ballroom, Huntington
Building, 925 Euclid Ave., Suite 2100.

To arrange coverage or interviews, contact one of the
following United Church of Christ staff members:
Charlene J. Smith, 216-736-2224; or Hans Holznagel,
216-736-2214.  For information on Harambee events,
contact Mary Grant (throughout  convention dates) at 
Oberlin College conference information, 440-775-8102. 
(During the meeting, messages can also be left for UCC
staff members at the hotel, 216-377-9000.)
 
JULY 1998  # # #