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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE For
more information: SIGNING
OF DOCUMENT CALLING FOR END TO RACISM IS MEMPHIS,
Tenn.— January 21, 2002—The
leaders of 10 United States Protestant churches stood on the balcony of
the Lorraine Motel Monday morning and signed an appeal to end racism in
the church and in society at large as a
public manifestation of their new relationship. The
signatures were solemnly placed on the document on the spot where Martin
Luther King Jr. was slain, on the day that now officially commemorates
his life and legacy. The Lorraine Motel now is part of the National
Civil Rights Museum. The
event on the balcony followed a mile-long march from Memphis City Hall,
led by Mayor Willie Herenton and the leaders of the churches. Churches
Uniting in Christ was inaugurated in a worship service Sunday at the Mt.
Olive Cathedral, a Christian Methodist Episcopal congregation. CUIC is a
new effort toward Christian unity, said Dr.
Jeff Newhall, presider of the organization. He said the formation of
CUIC was significant in helping local churches to begin working and
worshiping more closely together. Newhall
added that the churches now have a common mission to fight racism, both
within the church and in American society, as the most important barrier
to full reconciliation. CUIC
is the immediate successor of Consultation On Church Union, which came
together in a plenary of delegates at the Marriott Hotel in downtown
Memphis on Friday, January 18. Over the weekend the delegates voted to
dissolve COCU and to give birth to CUIC. The
10 churches who are part of CUIC, and their leaders who participated in
the signing of the appeal to end racism were: Bishop
William P. DeVeaux Dr.
Harrison D. Bonner The
Rev. Dr. Richard L. Hamm Bishop
Nathaniel L. Linsey The
Rt. Rev. Arthur Williams Jr. The
Rev. Michael E. Livingston The
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick The
Rev. John H. Thomas Bishop
Elias G. Galvan Rev.
Jon Enslin ###
Editor's note: For photos from the march and the signing of the appeal as well as head shots of various participants, please visit the CUIC image gallery. |
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