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DNS - Black clergy call for halt to Georgia regional ministers s
From
"Wilma Shuffitt" <WILMAS@oc.disciples.org>
Date
12 Mar 1998 06:00:43
Title: Black clergy call for halt to Georgia regional
minister's search
Date: March 11, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org
98b-14
DECATUR, Ga. (DNS) -- African American clergy of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) March 5 called on the
denomination's Georgia region to suspend the search for a new
executive following the November rejection of an African
American candidate by its governing board.
In a news conference at Ray of Hope Christian Church,
here, the Black Ministers' Fellowship specifically asked that
the process be halted until members of the regional board
undergo anti-racism training.
A subsequent meeting of Georgia board members with
General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm led to a
commitment to participate in the training module. The
training process, however, likely would not begin until next
fall, Hamm said. African American clergy were adamant that
training be completed before the search is finished.
The clergy group's demand stems from a November 1997
decision by the regional body which failed to forward the
Rev. William H. Edwards' name to the Georgia Regional
Assembly for vote as regional minister. In the meeting,
Edwards received eight of 15 votes by regional board members.
The regional constitution requires a two-thirds vote, or 10
tallies, to forward a nominee's name to the assembly for
action.
The clergy group decried what it viewed as the element
of racism involved in the decision. In rejecting Edwards'
candidacy "the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in
Georgia failed to elect the most qualified candidate," said
the Rev. Thomas L. Murray, Memphis, reading from a letter
addressed to the regional board. Murray is currently interim
minister of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.
"In a time wherein the issue of race should have been
well behind us . . . we find it reprehensible that a region
of our church would still manifest and exhibit the actions
and behavior which our country has worked so hard to
overcome," read the statement. The actions of the Georgia
region underscore the need for affirmative action policies
within the denomination and in society, according to the
church leaders.
-- more --add 1-1-1/Black Ministers
Retreat
Disciples News Service
98b-14
The Georgia regional office received the letter March
6, according to the Rev. Clinton Wolf. The interim regional
minister, however, hadn't "had time to share it with anybody"
other than regional Moderator Eddie K. Parker of Augusta.
In a column printed in the March edition of The
Christian Messenger, Parker said the new regional board
confesses with previous board members that the group's
decision "was impacted by many factors, attitudes and
beliefs."
In the January meeting with General Minister and
President Richard L. Hamm "it was acknowledged that racism
and regionalism were strong issues that divided the board
members, and by extension, the members of the Christian
Church in Georgia," Parker added. "The current board wishes
to acknowledge and apologize for the hurt, anger,
astonishment, and misunderstanding that has resulted."
Parker said he would share the fellowship's letter with
the Georgia Regional Board March 31. Wolf anticipates that
the board will formally respond to the letter sometime early
in April.
-- end --
[Editor's note: The text of the letter from the Black
Minister's Fellowship is attached.]An Open Letter to the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in Georgia
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia
failed to elect the most qualified candidate, the Reverend
Dr. William H. Edwards, for the position of Regional
Minister. According to retired Georgia Regional Minister
David L. Alexander, in a recent press release from the
Disciples News Service, Reverend Dr. Edwards' race was one of
the contributing factors. As a result, those of us gathered
for the 24th Annual Black Minister's Retreat meeting in
Atlanta, Ga., and the Black Minister's Fellowship of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are voicing our
extreme disappointment, hurt, and total disgust with the
actions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in
Georgia.
In a time wherein the issue of race should have been
well behind us, and a place wherein so many of the strides
towards equity and parity have been made, we find it
reprehensible that a region of our church would still
manifest and exhibit the actions and behavior which our
country has worked so hard to overcome.
As ministers we are committed to the preaching,
teaching, and living of the gospel. We name racism as sin. We
call on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia
to repent of the transgression committed against Reverend Dr.
Edwards, African-American Disciples, and all people who stand
for justice and righteousness. We ask that the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia suspend the Regional
Minister search process until the anti-racism training
process is complete. We also ask that this search process not
be a repeat of the first; we hope race is not an issue in the
selection of the Regional Minister of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Georgia.
We are standing together as African -American churches
and pastors in an act of protest to ensure that this
injustice will be exposed to people of goodwill everywhere.
The faithless actions of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Georgia underscore the clear and present need for
affirmative action policies within the structures of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in particular, and our
society in general.
In conclusion we state emphatically that the absence of
racial justice in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) in Georgia precludes any realistic chances for
true wholeness within our church.
The undersigned faithfully await a specific response
from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia to
the above concerns.
In the love of Christ,
24th Annual Black Minister's Retreat and
The Black Minister's Fellowship of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)
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