UCC - Milton leaves rich legacy after 16 years at Franklinton Center

From Worldwide Faith News <[email protected]>
Date Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:38:32 -0800

Milton leaves rich legacy after 16 years at Franklinton Center


Written by Jeff Woodard
November 3, 2010


Grateful for opportunities pursued and blessings
received over the past 16 years, the Rev. Ervin
E. Milton will step down, effective Dec. 31, from
his position as director and team leader of the
<http://www.ucc.org/franklinton-center/>UCC's Franklinton Center at 
Bricks.

"I have wanted all to be treated with respect and
dignity," says Milton, who will remain as pastor
of <http://ucunitedchurchofchrist.com/>Union
Chapel UCC in Burlington, N.C. "In doing so, many
times I have felt that I had received more than I have given."

Milton, who will be honored Nov. 19 with a

fundraising dinner at Franklinton, says he has
always tried to "make the Center available to all
persons, regardless as to where they are on
life's journey. I have tried to see that the
financially rich, as well as the poor, either in
money or in spirit, have been welcomed."

Located in Whitakers, N.C., Franklinton Center is
a UCC conference, retreat and educational center
formed by the merger of two institutions:
Franklinton Christian College, founded by the
James O'Kelly Christian Church in 1880 to train
black leaders for local churches; and Bricks
Junior College, established by Julia Bricks in
1895 through a gift of land and endowment to the
American Missionary Association. Franklinton and Bricks merged in 
1954.

Milton, whose plans include dedicating more time
to family, friends and self-care, says variety in
abundance has shaped his leadership at Franklinton.

"Wealth comes to me through being at peace with
myself and with others. It comes through being
able to sleep at night and sitting at table with
others; it comes through having enough physical
goods to enjoy life each day, and it comes
through those around me having enough to enjoy life as well."

For the Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, executive

minister for Justice and Witness Ministries,
Milton's presence will remain strong. "This giant
in the church, faithful servant and good friend
has been a strong and steady voice of wisdom and
strength for all of us for many years. I do not
intend to say goodbye, because I look forward to
many more opportunities to share in ministry with Ervin."


Milton has served as associate Conference
minister for Eastern North Carolina of the
Southern Conference and as Southern Regional
associate for the Office for Church Life and
Leadership. He has been on the Ecumenical
Partnership Committee for the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) and the UCC; vice president
of then-United Church Board for World Ministries
(now Wider Church Ministries); and on the board
of trustees at Elon University and Shaw Divinity School in Raleigh, 
N.C.


He earned bachelor's degrees in theology from
Union Christian Bible Institute in Durham, N.C.,
and sociology from Barber Scotia College in
Concord, N.C. He holds an M. Div. from Duke
University Divinity School in Durham.

Milton once wrote that Franklinton Center was one
of the few places in the rural south during the
1950s and 1960s where blacks and whites could
meet and eat together. "It served as a spiritual
center during integration, and continues to this
day to be a place of justice and transformation," he wrote.


Every year, several hundred members of UCC
churches of the Eastern North Carolina
Association gather on the first week of August to
celebrate a cultural and spiritual homecoming ? Franklinton Center 
Day.


"Jesus was a rich man because he experienced a
rich life and showed us how to do so as well,"
says Milton. "Therefore, I have learned to live a
rich life by living examples that Jesus has given me."

All funds raised at the Nov. 19 dinner will

support programs at Franklinton Center. Cost of the meal is $20.

Responses and inquires can be made to: Brenda
James, Celebration Committee Chair, P.O. Box
1943, Greensboro, NC 27402. Donations in the form
of checks can be made payable to Franklinton Center at Bricks.