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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Kansas City Churches a Model for Racial Reconciliation
Two Metro Kansas City Congregations – One Largely White and One Largely African-American – Hold Joint Services on Labor Day Weekend

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (ANS) -- Despite all the advancements made in civil rights during the last 50 years, Kansas City – the 13th most racially-segregated city in America – continues to struggle with racial intolerance issues.

For this reason, two local church congregations have decided to confront the issue, starting with what has been called the most “racially segregated hour in America” – the Sunday morning worship hour.

According to a news release, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, led by Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton, and St. James United Methodist Church, pastored by Congressman (and former Mayor) Emanuel Cleaver, II, will combine services on Sunday, Sept. 2, to promote unity within the local church body.

The two congregations will worship together at Kansas City's historic Starlight Theater, with Hamilton and Cleaver sharing sermon duties. The two churches’ choirs, orchestras and praise bands will join forces to lead the worship music.

Following the morning service, the members plan to have a picnic lunch on the grounds, which they hope will provide opportunities to foster friendships and strengthen relationships across racial lines. The day's events will conclude with an opportunity for the church families to visit the local zoo together, encouraging the congregants to both worship and play together.

Hamilton thinks events such as this are important not only for promoting a sense of community among Christian believers, but also in sending the message that through common faith, answers to this problem can be found.

“I am convinced that the single greatest force for breaking down racial barriers is the gospel," Hamilton said in the news release. “In the first century, it broke down barriers between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female. Today, in our city, I believe the gospel can break down racial barriers and play a pivotal role in transforming our society. This service is just a symbol of that.”

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City: A Call to Service." Additional details about "Homeless" are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.
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