wfn.org | CHURCH REBUILDING CONFERENCE 9/26-29, BIRMINGHAM

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact:  Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
  On Site: Herb Boyd or Don Rojas
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC9/24/96                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"CHURCH REBUILDING CONFERENCE" SEPT. 26-29, BIRMINGHAM,
ALA.

WHAT:  Church Rebuilding Conference
WHO:  Pastors from burned Black churches along with
  organizations helping with rebuilding
WHEN: September 26-29, 1996
WHERE: Sheraton Civic Center Hotel
  2101 Civic Center Blvd.
  Birmingham, Ala.
SPONSORS: National Council of Churches
  Habitat for Humanity
  Washington Quaker Workcamps

MEDIA WELCOME -- Formal Media Briefing TBA

 Updates on the current status of arsons at U.S.
houses of worship, especially African American churches,
will be presented during the "Church Rebuilding
Conference," as will reports on rebuilding and fund-raising
efforts.  The conference will include a briefing on all
aspects of the rebuilding process and discussion of future
strategies.

 Attending will be pastors from 80 or more burned
Black churches along with representatives of the National
Council of Churches, Habitat for Humanity, Washington
Quaker Workcamps, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, Congress of National Black Churches and
others.

The conference begins on Thursday (Sept. 26) at 2
p.m. with a status report and update on the Burned Churches
Project by the Rev. Dr. Mac Charles Jones, assistant to the
General Secretary of the NCC and director of the Burned
Churches Project. Other reports include those on the NCC's
grant and assessment committees as well as rebuilding
initiatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development.  A "Special Fellowship Time" for the
ministers of the burned churches is scheduled for the
evening.

Friday's schedule includes a workshop on the
"Monitoring of Hate Crimes," an open forum discussion on
"The Vision of Rebuilding: Once the Churches Have Been
Rebuilt-What is Next?," and a "sharing program" on the
churches that have been rebuilt and the learning process
gained by those experiences.  Four "Volunteer Work"
sessions and a trip to a Civil Rights museum will be held
on Saturday.  Sunday includes worship services and tours at
rebuilt churches.  The conference concludes at 4 p.m.
Sunday.

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