The Newly Launched Council of Churches to Establish Regional Areas of Focus in the New Year

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta will begin the process of determining its first areas of focus in partnership with the Christian community and local ecumenical groups throughout the region.

               “Our vision is to magnify the work, worship and witness of the body of Christ in the Atlanta region by focusing on key issues facing the region, and as we begin our Board and Advisory Council wants to ensure that the voice of the community is heard in the discernment process,” said the newly installed President of the Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, The Reverend Anthony M. Alford, Sr., “We will seek input and consensus on which of the many possibilities we are called to address in our initial year through a series of meetings to be held at various locations in the region.  The schedule will be available after the first of the year and we invite and hope for broad participation from Christian leadership in every locale,” he continued.

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta launched its new organization at an inaugural ceremony on Thursday, November 6, 2003 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. The event was attended by over 350 religious and community leaders throughout the Atlanta region who brought with them a highly contagious energy.  

The event began with fellowship and was followed by a program and an installation ceremony.  David Dillard, Minister and Organist at Trinity United Methodist Church and Sam Hagan, Tenor opened and closed the ceremony with hymns that served to lift the spirits of all who were present.  Speakers at the inaugural ceremony included, Dr. Jimmy Allen, Chaplain Emeritus, Big Canoe Chapel and past President of the Southern Baptist Convention; The Reverend E. Claiborne Jones, Rector, Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, and Dr. Robert Franklin, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics, Candler School of Theology at Emory University. 

Mayor Shirley Franklin sent a letter that was read by, Rev. Michael A. Jones, constituent services specialist. She wrote, “…I wish you much success in all of your endeavors to bring various faiths together …on crucial issues that affect our city, state and nation.  As faith leaders you have always played a major role in our society.  We look for spiritual guidance and collectively your Christian network will provide leadership and amplitude in focusing and shaping the faithful response to the issues that we now face.”

Dr. Laura Mendenhall, President of the Columbia Theological Seminary installed the new officers stating, “To speak on behalf of all the churches in the Atlanta region…To bridge denominational and ethnic boundaries by lifting a united and prophetic voice through the leadership and service of the body of Christ in this big, international and ever expanding city.  This is your charge.”, addressing:  Reverend Anthony M. Alford, Sr., Pastor of the Butler Street CME Church in Atlanta – President; Reverend Kimberleigh Buchanan, Pastor at the Pilgrimage United Church of Christ in Marietta - Vice President;  Dr. Alan Culpepper, Dean of the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta - Vice President; Reverend Dr. Mark Lomax, Pastor of the First African Presbyterian Church in Lithonia Vice President; Reverend Adrian Pleus; Pastor at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Paulding County - Vice President; Dr. C.P. Huang, Senior Consultant of Systems Integration with Lockheed Martin,  active committee member for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and founding member of the Atlanta Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain – Secretary; and Ms. Dorothy James, an attorney and business planner who also serves as treasurer for the North Georgia Annual Conference of the CME Church and member of the Butler Street CME Church, Atlanta- Treasurer.

After the formal installation, Rev. Alford delivered a resounding oration that was inspiring and exhilarating to everyone gathered in the room.  Rev. Alford’s message focused on the theme of Elijah as the “troubler of Israel” from a pericope of scripture in the 18^th chapter and the 17^th verse in the chronicling of Israel and Judah’s Kings: 

“This idea of a Congregation of Congregations brings powerful affirmation to who we are and what we ought to be doing.   We intend to look more for issues that bring us together than separate us.  We will seek out opportunities to bridge gaps that now pit Buckhead against Bankhead, Paulding against Palmetto, Walton County against Willow Brook and Fayetteville against Fairburn.  We will become the voice of prophetic pronouncement that will cause the policy makers to take note of the pew at times other than at election season.  We will “trouble Israel” by calling our great region to come to its fullest measure in terms of quality of life issues and questions of race, social and economic inequities, remembering that the troubling is always followed by the word of assurance from God and the real aim is effected to bring confirmation that God is God and that we are the sheep of his pasture.”

  The newly formed mission of the Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta is to develop relationships, foster dialogue and advocate collaboration among all Christians throughout the 20 county Atlanta region.  This will be accomplished by:

Ø   Amplifying and strengthening our voice on key regional issues, events and policy decisions to cultivate leadership and social responsibility.

Ø   Fulfilling our Christian call for social and economic justice through advocacy, education, facilitation, and action taken in partnership with existing infrastructures and agencies.

Ø   Building unity and consensus through fellowship and ecumenical activities.

 Dr. James Lamkin and The Reverend Dr. Timothy McDonald, the

Regional Council brings together denominations, congregations and other

Christian bodies to deal with major faith-based issues and public policy

matters. The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta fills the void left by

the closure of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, last year. 

Working together, those who choose to join The Regional

Council will work for the common good on policies and decisions that affect the lives of people in our region, yielding more influence than any one member can achieve individually.  Through partnerships with congregational members, ministries, and other faith-based groups, RCC of Atlanta can combine a regional approach with local action to create a real and lasting impact.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.rccatl.org, call 404-389-0590 or e-mail info@rccatl.org.