wfn.org | NCCCUSA Anniversary Keynoted by Andrew Young, Desmond Tutu

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
  Nov. 8-12, Call 216-696-8490

117NCC10/25/99 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANDREW YOUNG, DESMOND TUTU KEYNOTE NCC 50th ANNIVERSARY NOV. 9-12

 October 25, 1999, CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ambassador Andrew 
Young, Archbishop Desmond Tutu  and many other renowned national 
and international guests will come to Cleveland Nov. 9-12 to join 
in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Council of 
Churches.  The week's events will include:

  National Council of Churches 50th Anniversary Welcome Luncheon 
Nov. 9, keynoted by South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus 
and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu and hosted by Cleveland's 
Mayor, His Honor Michael R. White.  The program will celebrate 
the NCC's achievements over the past 50 years, which have seen 
both church and society transformed by the ecumenical 
movement.
 
  "The Great Conversation" Nov. 10, inviting all with visions 
and dreams to share for ecumenism in the 21st century.  This 
exchange with leaders of mainline, Orthodox, African American, 
evangelical, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal churches from 
Cleveland, across the United States and beyond will take place 
in an imaginative, interactive setting.  At "The Great 
Conversation," along with "Equipping the Saints" (a special 
program Nov. 7-13 for seminarians and young pastors) and 
several forums, the NCC anniversary will collect visions for 
the ecumenical future from NCC members and non-members, 
especially those from the next generation of ecumenical 
leadership.
 
  Installation of Ambassador Andrew Young as the National 
Council of Churches' 20th President Nov. 11, in an ecumenical 
liturgy held in Cleveland's Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. 
John the Evangelist - an event unthinkable 50 years ago.  
Preaching will be the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor, Olivet 
Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland.  Service participants 
will include Cleveland Roman Catholic Bishop Anthony Pilla; 
Dr. Robert Franklin, President of the Interdenominational 
Theological Seminary, Atlanta, and Dr. Marian Wright Edelman, 
Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund, along 
with other long-time colleagues of Ambassador Young and NCC 
officers. 
 
-more-

NCC 50th Anniversary/Oct. 25, 1999/Page 2

  WCLV 95/5 FM Cleveland will carry the installation of 
Ambassador Andrew Young as the NCC's President beginning at 8 
p.m. Eastern time Nov. 11 via local broadcast and national 
"Web cast" on its Web site, www.wclv.com.

  Gala National Council of Churches 50th Anniversary Banquet Nov. 
11, with an address by Ambassador Young on his visions for the 
ecumenical movement in the 21st century and his goals for his 
NCC Presidency (2000-2001).  The program will give occasion to 
consider the significance of Ambassador Young's election to 
the U.S. ecumenical movement.  The Rev. Jesse Jackson and 
other members of the U.S. ecumenical delegation to Belgrade 
that freed the three U.S. soldiers in May will be among 
honored guests; his daughter, Santita Jackson, will sing.
 
  Nineteen forums and several other special events will feature 
the Rev. Prof. Peter J. Gomes, author of The New York Times' 
bestseller Reading the Good Book; the Rev. Dr. Bruce M. 
Metzger, Chair of the Standard Bible Translation Committee and 
Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological 
Seminary; Carole Collins, Coordinator for Jubilee 2000/USA, 
and David Hornbeck, Superintendent of the Philadelphia Public 
Schools, among others, on topics as diverse as ending racism, 
strengthening public education and tapping the Bible's ancient 
wisdom in the 21st century.  Participants will explore the 
interplay of music, faith and culture; consider issues in 
Bible translation and the Bible's place in contemporary life; 
join guests from several living religions on what it means to 
live faithfully in a diverse, materialistic and violence-prone 
America, and examine ecumenical perspectives on "societal" 
issues on the eve of a new millennium, from health care to 
poverty, from racism to environmental justice, from public 
education to interfaith relations.  Various times Nov. 9-12.
 
  The annual meeting of the NCC's highest legislative authority, 
its General Assembly, Nov. 10-12, is expected to approve new 
policies urging priority support for public education, 
defining approaches to interfaith relations, and proposing 
"pillars of peace for the 21st century," including support for 
the United Nations; elect a new General Secretary, and chart a 
course for the NCC as it seeks to ensure ongoing financial 
stability - and, ultimately, to find new models for U.S. 
ecumenism that more fully include Roman Catholics, 
Pentecostals and Evangelicals.
 
  "Artistry as Gift and Calling," a special arts program being 
mounted Nov. 7-12 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary 
celebration.  An Anniversary Bookstore will feature several 
book signings; an Exhibit Area will include a large display of 
photos from the NCC's archives.

 In all, some 1,000 people are expected to participate in the 
NCC's 50th Anniversary Celebration, including top leadership of 
the Council's 35 Protestant, Orthodox, African American and 
Anglican member denominations.  For additional information and to 
register, contact the NCC 1-800-328-NCCC, Code 1999, before 
October 29.  Or call the Cleveland Office at 216-736-3207, or 
register on site.  On Nov. 8, registration will be open from noon 
to 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Cleveland City Centre Hotel, Sixth 
Floor.  Nov. 9-12, come to the Cleveland Convention Center Main 
Lobby (7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 9 and 11; 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
Nov. 10; 7:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 12).  Full information also is 
available on the NCC's Web Site, www.ncccusa.org, which will be 
updated with news and feature coverage throughout the Anniversary 
Celebration.

-end-
 -0-