FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: The Rev. J. Bennett Guess Phone: (216) 773-9222 E-Mail: newsroom@ucc.org
Friday, June 08, 2007
Obama to address his own church's national convention on June 23
Cleveland, OH- U.S. SEN. BARACK OBAMA will address more than 10,000 fellow members and clergy of the 1.2-million-member United Church of Christ, when he speaks to the UCC's biennial General Synod, June 22-26, in Hartford, Conn.
Obama will speak at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on Sat., June 23, at the Hartford Civic Center.
Aides have confirmed that Obama will offer a 45-minute "substantive" address on faith and public life, when he speaks as one of the UCC's own at the church's 50th anniversary celebration. Obama has been a member of Trinity UCC in Chicago - the denomination's largest congregation - since 1988.
Issues related to faith and public life have become central in the 2008 presidential election. Obama, who writes about his faith journey in his bestselling autobiography, "The Audacity of Hope," has often chided fellow Democrats for not reaching out more effectively and earnestly to people of faith.
Obama (D-Ill.), who was invited to address the UCC's national gathering before he was a presidential candidate, joins a long list of presenters during the church's five-day anniversary celebration, including BILL MOYERS, legendary journalist (Sat., June 23, 9:30 a.m.); MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN, prominent civil rights activist (Mon., June 25, 2:30 p.m.); and LYNN REDGRAVE, actress and UCC member (Tues., June 26, 8:30 a.m.).
Obama's Saturday appearance also coincides with a day-long "Synod in the City" event that includes 60 presentations, performances and experiences held in a dozen venues across downtown Hartford. A guidebook is available at http://www.ucc.org/synod/pdfs/sitc_guide.pdf.
The UCC has 5,600 churches located throughout all 50 states. It is the largest and oldest Protestant church in New England.
The UCC was formed in 1957 with the union of the Congregational Christian Church in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. An ecumenical experiment of the post-war 1950s, the UCC was the first marriage of historically unrelated Christian traditions in the United States. More than 10 percent of present-day UCC churches were formed prior to 1776.
Press registration is required for all journalists, photographers, reporters and technicians.
Media inquiries: The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, UCC News Director, 216-736-2177 or 216-403-9862; Connie Larkman, press coordinator, 216-736-2196 or 216-773-9222; e-mail: newsroom@ucc.org URL: http://www.ucc.org
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