Two faith communities, divided along racial lines for more than 140 years, planted new seeds of reconciliation at a recent Pentecost worship service in North Carolina. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ International, (sometimes referred to as the Assembly churches) worshiped together on May 31 in Goldsboro, N.C. General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) delivered the closing sermon held at St. Mark’s Church of Christ in Goldsboro. St. Mark’s pastor, Alton A. Smith, was recently installed as general bishop of the Assembly churches.
"Seen from a historical perspective, the Pentecost Fellowship Service was very significant," said Watkins. "It was an honor to share in the worship with General Bishop Smith. It’s the significance for the future that is so powerful about this event… a future where we hope to overcome the brokenness of the past and display instead the wholeness of one human family as God intended us".
John Richardson, Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Carolina, participated in the worship service and in written comments said the service, "opens a door we walk through together – black and white – to work together toward faithful solutions." Read reflections from Timothy James, Associate General Minister and Administrative Secretary of the Convocation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
To read a news summary of the event, visit DisciplesWorld at: www.disciplesworld.com/newsArticle.html?wsnID=15422
