US churches recognize Atlanta peacemakers
Ten individuals and organizations from Atlanta and surrounding areas will be recognized for their peace and justice-making efforts at the annual meeting of the United States Conference for the World Council of Churches (WCC), beginning today in Atlanta, Georgia.
The US Conference for the WCC is the main platform of the WCC's 34 member churches in the USA, and the annual meeting is expected to gather hundreds of church leaders and ecumenical activists from throughout the US and other countries.
The ten peacemakers from secular, ecumenical and interfaith communities will receive the "Blessed are the peacemakers" awards. These awards are an initiative of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence to acknowledge creative and courageous peace and justice-making efforts in the world.
Peacemakers to be recognized are:
Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc - This interfaith, interdenominational, non-partisan organization has been active in many aspects of promoting peace, including peace rallies, forums and workshops on peace issues and seeks to address homelessness, hunger, housing, economic development, education, juvenile justice, and health issues in Metropolitan Atlanta.
Adopt-a-Minefield, Atlanta Chapter, one of the recipients, will receive an award for its fund-raising efforts to clear six minefields in Mozambique. This Atlanta-based organization has also been involved in peacemaking and advocacy in support of the Landmine Ban Treaty and educating groups about the scourge of landmines worldwide.
Also receiving the award is Hodan Osman, a Somalian refugee who has helped to build bridges among children of different faiths and cultures. She has studied peace and justice through the Friends Service Committee and has provided leadership to children and teenage girls to learn to live with others.
Other recipients include:
The American Friends Service Committee, Southeast Regional Office - The committee's program on the Middle East brings education about justice, peace and violence in the Middle East to the Atlanta community.
The Decatur Cooperative Ministry's "Hagar's House" - This shelter provides temporary, emergency housing and support services for women with children.
The First Congregational United Church of Christ - Known for providing the first public water fountain in Atlanta that was available for use by blacks - and any others who wished to quench their thirst - upon completion of the construction of the current building in 1909.
Harmony: Atlanta's International Youth Chorus - This broad-based multicultural community group is dedicated to choral excellence, known for its partnership with peacemaking leaders and groups. The chorus has sung for Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu, among others, and participated in events such as the Georgia First Lady's Summit on Our Children and Africa's Children's Fund.
Rev. Dr. Henry Jee - The late doctor was a native of Korea who received numerous awards from secular, religious and intercultural organizations for his 30 years of community relations work in Atlanta.
The Open Door Community - This residential community does advocacy work on behalf of prisoners, the homeless and other oppressed persons.
The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta - Once known as the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, this organization's 1957 "Ministers' manifesto" was signed by 315 local clergy in support of public school desegregation.
The "Blessed are the peacemakers awards" will be presented during the closing worship of the meeting, which will take place on October 6, at 20:00, at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Media contacts:
John Baker Brown +1-404-523-5554 jbrown@faithandthecity.org
Joan Harrell +1-404-527-5713 harrelljoan_@hotmail.com
Lisa Yablonsky +1-973-907-0911
See also the WCC press release of 27 October 2004
www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/pr-04-44.html
Detailed programme and more information on the meeting:
Decade to Overcome Violence website:
World Council of Churches website:
