50 Years After the March to Montgomery, the Rise of the Reconciled Church
On the 50th anniversary of the world-altering Civil Rights march into Montgomery and Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech from the statehouse steps, The Reconciled Church movement–Christian leaders, nationally, from across denominational and racial lines, armed with a seven-point plan–continues the march to racial equity, peace and justice.
“The Church sparked and stoked the Civil Rights Movement, and the march continues,” Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Washington, D.C., said. Bishop Jackson, with Bishop T.D. Jakes and evangelist James Robison, assembled the first meeting of movement leaders–including Bernice King and Andrew Young–in Dallas this January. Leaders representing more than 40 million Christians sat down, signed a reconciliation covenant, and committed to immediate action to heal the racial divide in the U.S. Later that evening more than 6,000 people attended an internationally televised communion service at the world famous Potter’s House Church. From that meeting spurred by the Ferguson and Staten Island deaths sprang the Reconciled Church movement.
“Among other things, this movement–multiracial and multi-faceted–will empower through best practices and through the concentrated prayer of America’s largest grassroots army: the local church,” Jackson said.
On Wednesday, March 25, under the Reconciled Church banner and in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., two separate panels meeting in Alabama State University’s John Garrett Hardy Student Center will fine tune and develop a set of next actions for Montgomery and the state of Alabama. That evening a citywide worship service comes together at 7 p.m. at Fresh Anointing House of Worship in Montgomery.
The day’s schedule:
9 a.m. — Criminal Justice Reform — Bernard Houston facilitates panelists J.C. Watts (former Congressman from Oklahoma), Jim Liske (President of Prison Fellowship, Landsdowne VA), Bob Armstrong (District Judge, Selma Alabama), Darryl Bailey (District Attorney, Montgomery County), Johnny Hardwick (15th District Circuit Court Judge, Montgomery County), and Charlie Hardy (Chair of the Faculty Senate, Alabama State University).
10:40 a.m. — Youth Empowerment — Judy Trautwein facilitates first steps planning with Larry Brandon from Louisiana (Third Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship), Gwendolyn Boyd (President, Alabama State University), Rusty Nelson (Pastor, Rock Church, Huntsville), and Elton Dean (Chair, Montgomery County Commission).
7 p.m. — Citywide Service — Bishop Jakes opens by video, followed live by Bishop Jackson, Fresh Anointing Bishop Kyle Searcy, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, First Baptist Church of Montgomery Pastor Jay Wolf and many others.
“The term ‘believers together’ encompasses experts, leaders, foot soldiers–and all races–together,” Evangelist James Robison said. “White, black or brown Americans can scan The Reconciled Church roll call and see a face like their own, and that’s our strength.”
The Reconciled Church’s Seven Bridges to Peace:
Prayer and Reconciliation
Education Reform
Civic Engagement
Community Outreach & Service
Marriage and Family
Criminal Justice Reform
Economic Development
“A national solution to racial tension–particularly in the wake of the Ferguson and New York City deaths–transcends government action,” Prison Fellowship President and CEO Jim Liske said. “The issues include education, poverty and justice, and the Church holds the key to lasting transformation.”
The first Reconciled Church meeting at Jakes’ Potter’s House church in Dallas included private prayer and information-sharing with Christian leaders and a panel discussion on best practices for racial reconciliation. Building on that, a closed-door panel of leaders meets the morning of March 25 at Alabama State University in Montgomery.
“This is a clarion call for the church to regain its relevance in the community by influencing the culture and helping to unite the country,” Bishop Jakes said. “To do so we must face our own divisions and move from rhetoric to relationship with each other. The church must arise!”
(Source: Christian Newswire)
