Washington Informer

Leadership of the nine largest historically Black denominations recently announced the launch of The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC). The organization, representing a combined membership of more than 30 million people and 50,000 congregations throughout the United States and the African Diaspora, filled the void for a unified voice of faith advocating on behalf of African Americans and other underserved populations on health, education, social justice, and economic empowerment issues.

CNBC held its first annual consultation titled, a “For the Healing of Our People, from Tues., Dec. 7, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The gathering of faith and community leaders addressed targeted social and economic issues, provide clergy and lay leaders training in public policy, and honor African American leaders from both the private and public sectors.

“This holiday season’s heightened focus is the hardships and economic challenges facing many in our churches and across the country,” said Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of CNBC’s Board of Directors.

“For that reason we chose this time and season to officially launch the Conference of National Black Churches. We are focused on channeling our unique voice of faith into advocacy to produce sustainable solutions to pressing issues. The conference marked the beginning of a long-term efforts of working together using the power of the faith community, the private sector and legislators to resolve the challenges we face.”

Annual Consultation Activities

During the three-day gathering where more than 300 guests included: Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., President of Healing of the Nations Foundations; Marian Wright Edelman, founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund; Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of the UNCF; The Right Reverend Sarah Francis Davis, Presiding Bishop from the 16th Episcopal District of the AME Church, which includes Haiti; Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Jones, Mayor of Richmond, Virginia; and Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Senior Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.

On Wed., Dec. 8 an ecumenical service featuring Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), was opened to the public and held at Israel Baptist Church, in Northeast. The gala dinner will be held on Thu., Dec. 9, honoring The Honorable Andrew Young; Pernessa C. Seele, founder and CEO of Balm in Gilead; and Black Enterprise magazine founder and publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr.

About the Conference of National Black Churches

The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) is comprised of the national leadership of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME); African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ); Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME), Church of God In Christ (COGIC); Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBCFI); National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., International (NBCA); National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA); National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc.(NBC USA); and Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc (PNBC).

CNBC uses the influence and power of the leadership of the historically Black denominations to serve as a critical organizational base, voice, and influence to advocate for African Americans. Through CNBC, the member denominations work collectively to become a permanent point of inter-denominational coordination for addressing systemic social change that will ultimately result in improving the quality of life for African Americans and other underserved populations as they seek to reach their full potential in American society.

For more information about the Conference of National Black Churches and annual consultation schedule of activities, visit www.thecbnc.org.

A well-known church in Southeast recently honored individuals who hail from a variety of backgrounds and fields of study on a day dedicated to the memory of an iconic civil rights leader.

Faith Tabernacle of Prayer hosted an awards ceremony to recognize the contributions of more than 112 individuals on Mon. Jan. 17. The event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

More than 700 people of all nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, political affiliations, and faiths attended the ceremony at the Clarion Hotel in Oxon Hill, Md.

The Rev. Dr. Judy Talbert, pastor of Faith Tabernacle of Prayer served as the host pastor for the event. Rev. Talbert, a native Washingtonian, said that she wanted to acknowledge the efforts of the many wonderful people who have made great personal sacrifices in order to serve.

The event echoed the clarion call of Dr. King to harness the drum major instinct of service.

“We must help somebody to help somebody and carry out the biblical mandate as written in St. Matthew 25:35 – ‘For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat…’” Rev. Talbert said.

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner of the Skinner Leadership Institute in Southern, Md., offered a prayer that focused on the ideals of Dr. King. In the prayer, Williams-Skinner asked for healing of the nation which included Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and other victims of the recent Tucson, Ariz., tragedy.

Guests enjoyed a performance by 12-year-old Wheeler Thompson, IV, who moved the crowd with a stirring rendition of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and a skit performed by two young men who are brothers.