In the midst of the recent deluge of neighborhood violence in the city and cries from the community for action, Saint John’s United Church of Christ (UCC) is working with its partners to try to answer the question, “What is the church doing?” with “The Beloved Community: Equipping the Saints for the Work of Justice,” an ecumenical conference that will provide practical tools and information that citizens and communities of faith can put into action immediately.  The event will be held November 5-9^th at Saint John’s UCC, 4136 North Grand Boulevard, at the corner of Grand and Lee Avenue.  It includes two worship experiences, a play by The Black Rep, three separate ministry institutes, a discussion on faith and politics and two community service opportunities.  Conference partners and supporters include the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the UCC, The African American Pulpit Journal (Memphis, TN), The Black Rep, Washington Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Christ the King UCC, St. James A.M.E. Church, joining State Representatives Chris Carter and Don Calloway, Jr.

The Beloved Community vision championed by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called us to work toward a multiracial, multicultural community of peace, justice and human dignity, where love is the governing ethic.  The aim of this Conference is to encourage and equip communities of faith to shape their ministries to this end.

The conference will launch on Thursday, November 5 at 7 p.m. with an interfaith worship service featuring praise and the prophetic voices of the Rev. Dr. Robert C. Scott, pastor of Central Baptist Church and Rabbi Susan Talve, founding rabbi of Central Reform Congregation.  Music will be provided by The Community Gospel Choir, an interdenominational, multiracial choir, based in Kirkwood, MO, pursuing racial solidarity through the African American gospel tradition. 

On Friday, November 6, the Clergy and Christian Education Institute will begin with the Rev. Jeffrey Whitman, Conference Minister of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ, presenting the charge, entitled “The Just Peace Church and Beloved Community.”  A lecture about using religious education for community transformation will then be shared by the Rev. Dr. Leah Gunning Francis, professor of Christian education at Eden Theological Seminary.  The executive director of the Institute for Peace and Justice, Kathy McGinnis, will then present a workshop regarding a congregational curriculum for justice designed by the Institute called “Peacemaking & the Powers:  Promoting Justice & Peace in Post 9/11 America.”  The day session will conclude as religious educators are joined for lunch by local policymakers in a discussion of faith and politics.  Confirmed public officials include Mike Jones, Executive Assistant to County Executive Charlie Dooley, State Representatives Rachel Storch (D-64), Donald Calloway, Jr. (D-71) and the host legislator Chris Carter (D-61).   Later on Friday, the entire community is invited for a free 7:00 pm performance of “Remembrance of and Voices from Harlem” presented by The Black Rep and starring Ron Himes and Linda Kennedy.

On Saturday, November 7 the conference addresses youth and music ministries.  From 9:00 am to noon, Dr. Diane White-Clayton, Director of Chorale Music for Faithful Central Bible Church in Los Angeles will conduct the conference’s music ministry institute on “Embracing Diversity in Music.”  At the same time, Charles L. Alphin Jr., Executive Director of the Building Life Foundation will conduct a youth ministry institute on Kingian Non-Violence Strategies for Teens. Lunch will follow.

Illustrating commitment to service, the conference will continue with “Blankets and Blessings,” at St. John’s morning worship beginning at 10:30 a.m.  The community is asked to bring new blankets to the church.  They will be distributed to the homeless and those in need in the neighborhood through Saint John’s Community Service Ministry’s Food Pantry.  The event will conclude on Monday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. with “Community Witness” through the Neighborhood Prayer Breakfast, a monthly effort when members of St. John’s prepare and serve breakfast to those in need as service to the “Beloved Community” the second Monday of each month.

All events are open to the public. Institutes and meals do require registration.   For more information on individual or congregational registration call 314.534.0323, send email to sjucc@yahoo.com or visit www.sjuccstl.org.