wfn.org | Hillary Clinton invited to keynote General Assembly justice event

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

Date: February 26, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

97b-11

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton has been invited
to address
a gathering of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) social justice advocates
during the
denomination's July 25-29 General Assembly in Denver.

     Clinton has been invited to speak at a July 26 breakfast sponsored by
Disciples Justice
Action Network. The advocacy group organized shortly after the 1995 General
Assembly out of
concern for addressing social justice issues in the denomination.

     Approximately 8,000 church members from across North America are expected
for the
biennial business and worship gathering at the Colorado Convention Center. The
assembly theme
is "Come and See!"

     Other national figures scheduled to speak during the biennial gathering
include children's
advocate Marian Wright Edelman, veteran civil rights worker the Rev. Will
Campbell, and well-known Disciples preacher, the Rev. Fred Craddock. 

     Edelman, founder and director of the Children's Defense Fund, Washington,
D.C., heads
the roster of evening assembly speakers. The attorney and children's rights
advocate will address
the group July 27. Edelman and CDF convened the June 1996 "Stand for Children"
rally in
Washington.

     Campbell, also a Baptist minister and author, will keynote a July 28
breakfast event
sponsored by Reconciliation. Reconciliation is the Disciples' special ministry
to combat racism. 

     Craddock, retired professor at Candler Theological Seminary, Atlanta,
will speak at a July
28 breakfast held by the Walter Scott Society. The society is composed of
Disciples ministers
dedicated to the renewal of preaching in the denomination. He also will
address a dinner event
July 28 sponsored by the Division of Higher Education.

Evening assembly speakers

     Rounding out the list of evening worship speakers are Moderator Janet A.
Long, Elyria,
Ohio; the Rev. T.J. Bottoms, Los Angeles; and the Rev. Joseph (Joey) Jeter,
Fort Worth, Texas. 

     Long, who has presided over the General Assembly for the last two years,
preaches during
opening worship July 25. She is senior pastor of Washington Avenue Christian
Church in Elyria,
Ohio. 

     Bottoms, pastor of All Peoples Christian Church, Los Angeles, speaks July
28 in a service
emphasizing global mission. He most recently served on the Disciples' General
Board and
Administrative Committee.

     Jeter, professor of preaching at Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth,
closes out the biennial
session with a July 29 message. Worship that evening will be at Red Rocks
Amphitheatre.

     In addition to the daily business and worship sessions Disciples will
take on a number of
"hands-on" mission activities. Volunteer opportunities will be available with
local human service
agencies, at Colorado Christian Home -- a National Benevolent Association
facility -- and Aurora
First Christian Church. Church members also will help construct a home for
Habitat for Humanity. 

     For more information, interested persons may contact the Rev. Jayna
Powell, 110
Glenmore, Baltimore, MD 21228; phone, 410-788-6309. Powell is a Homeland
Ministries
associate for Volunteers in Mission.

                           - 30 -

DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication,
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206,
tele. (317) 635-3100, (DISCNEWS.part@ecunet.org) Wilma Shuffitt, News and
Information Assistant; (CLIFF WILLIS.part@ecunet.org) Cliff Willis, Director
of News and Information; (CURT MILLER.part@ecunet.org) Executive Director