Reconciliation in
West Virginia

By Michael Greider

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia—Curtis May, director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, conducted a reconciliation conference, June 22, in Huntington.

Hosts were the Huntington congregation, the Pastoral Department of Cabell Huntington Hospital and Mission Tri-State Ministries. The event took place at the Encouragers’ Fellowship Church, a black congregation, and involved many congregations across the city. Six pastors and 50 lay members attended.

After lunch, a diverse panel of individuals shared how different kinds of prejudices and racism had affected their lives. The panel included:

Silvia Ridgewan, acting president of the local chapter of the NAACP.

Christopher Worth, a physically impaired student at Marshall University.

James Ivy, an African-American policeman in Charleston, West Virginia.

Majed Khader, a Pakistani-Muslim professor at Marshall University.

Barbara Means, a European-American chaplin at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Ida Callins, an African-American secretary for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Bob Hunt, a European-American mining engineer for Berwind Land Co.

On Sunday, June 23, the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, a predominantly white church, was host to the Encouragers’ Fellowship Church, a predominantly black church, for a morning church service. Mr. May gave a sermon about how Jesus modeled reconciliation as he reached out to the Samaritan woman in John 4. Afterward, the two congregations mingled in fellowship.

Then, Michael Greider, pastor of the Huntington congregation and coordinator for Mission Tri-State Ministries, said, "We consider this a true success and an important first step in the process of reconciliation in the city of Huntington."

John Riley, pastor of the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, said: "The conference helped me to see how many people today have been marginalized because of different prejudices."

John Martin, pastor of Encouragers’ Fellowship Church said: "It really opened my eyes to see other denominations are as close to God as our members. It showed me just how much in common we have with other believers of different denominations."

RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE—Attendees
meet in Huntington, West Virginia.
[Photo by David Greider]

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002