Christians for a United Community
From Mountain Views, March 2004
In early 2003, a group of Christian clergy and laity came together to offer a message of peace in a time of pending war. The group hosted a community meeting with Dr. James Forbes, a well known civil rights leader and preacher from the historical Riverside Church in New York City. The Forbes event brought together a multi-racial group of over 600 people of faith from around the Asheville area. The outpouring of interest lead to the formation of Christians for a United Community (CUC). "We quickly realized that one way to work for world peace is to begin breaking down the barriers such as racism and poverty that keep us separate and in pain in our own community," said founding member Mark Siler.
Christians
for a United Community is an inter-denominational, multi-ethnic
organization of churches, lay people and clergy who share a common
commitment to Jesus, and his vision of justice, peace, reconciliation
and non-violent social change.
During the summer and fall of 2003, CUC organized 5 gatherings that invited people from different congregations and racial communities to participate in Bible studies, meals and small group discussions about justice issues in greater Asheville. Through these gatherings, CUC has grown in size to around 70 participants representing16 area congregations (8 African-American and 8 European-American).
The gatherings were an opportunity for people to explore issues
of racism, economic disparity, and educational disparity. At
the January 2004 meeting, CUC participants signed-up for one
of the following project teams: Church Unity, Advocacy/Justice
and Reclaiming Our Youth. Each team is currently meeting monthly
to gather additional information, identify and explore potential
partners, and create interventions to address issues in each
program area.
CPC continues to provide support to CUC on activities such as
fundraising, planning, obtaining their non-profit status, and
hands-on leadership training and development.
An Interview with Christians for a United Community
From Mountain Views, March 2004
In February, 2004 CPC staff member Thomas Watson interviewed four CUC founders and current board members about their work. In the conversation were Dr. L.C. Ray, Greater New Zion Baptist Church and One Youth At A Time; Rev. Jim Abbott, St. Matthias Episcopal Church; Ms. Robbie Williams, Hill Street Baptist Church and One Youth At a Time; Mark Siler, Circle of Mercy Congregation.
Thomas: Why do this work?
Dr. L.C. Ray: Passion for the mission. With passion, you can do things that others can't and won't do. I have a real passion for CUC and our work.
Robbie Williams: I feel like this is what God wants us to do. We are working to create a Christian movement toward peace and justice where all men, women, boys, and girls are treated equal. CUC is continuing the struggle started by generations past - the struggle for peace, equality, and justice.
Rev. Jim Abbott: God has helped open the doors for CUC. We looked around and saw this great separation between people in the Church and in our communities combined with other issues of injustice. We decided it was time to come together for action and to fulfill Jesus' vision that we can all be one people.
Mark Siler: For me, a major part of the Christian experience is finding ways to work together for the common good. CUC has an important role in bridging the race and class divide to become a powerful voice for the common good of all people. The Church has historically focused mainly on charity, which is important, but by coming together we can create the power necessary to shape the systems that create the need for charity.
Thomas: What has CUC accomplished over the last six months?
Rev. Jim Abbott: The main thing we have accomplished is relationship and trust across race and denomination. We have also built a grassroots, bottom-up organization owned by the people themselves.
Mark Siler: We have started an inter-racial, inter-denominational organization where everyone feels ownership and no one person leads the agenda. We've built a lot of trust, had fun, and created a burst of energy in the Christian community.
Robbie Williams: I also think building trust between different groups of people has been one of our biggest accomplishments. Trust is always the biggest barrier for people working together but we have worked hard to break down those barriers. You have to have trust before anything else can happen. Another accomplishment is that we have listened to our young people. The youth are a vital part of CUC and our society. They are not only our future but also our here and now.
Rev. Jim Abbott: Trust and relationships are the key to success. We've seen a lot of projects take off and die because they didn't take the necessary time to build trust and relationships. CUC is building a strong base that will last for the long haul.
Dr. L.C. Ray: We have formed a common vision for what the Christian community can accomplish.
Thomas: What has made CUC successful thus far?
Robbie Williams: Lay people are the leaders.
Rev. Jim Abbott: The spiritual base. We've put God at the center of CUC. The diversity within the group, often times a group will start with one community and then try to bring in another, but from the start CUC has been a multi-racial organization.
Robbie Williams: The laughter: to see people come together, to feel people's happiness is what really speaks to me.
Rev. Jim Abbott: Looking out at every CUC meeting and seeing people from all denominations and ethnic backgrounds singing together, praying together, discussing difficult issues, and enjoying each others company. That's what made this successful.
Mark Siler: People feel that they are creating something new - an organization where everyone has a voice, a role, and some control in how things work. CPC has helped us keep participation as a foundational part of this effort.
Rev. Jim Abbott: I also want to acknowledge CPC's help and support. They have played a significant role in CUC's development.
Dr. L.C. Ray: The people had a mind to work. I feel CUC was God led from the beginning - without that CUC would perish. It is our time {the Christian community} to come together to address the issues of racism and injustice.
Thomas: What does CUC's future look like?
Mark Siler: I think CUC will continue to enliven the Christian community in greater Asheville. We will help connect Christian people to the justice side of the gospel in order to transform our community, break down the barriers that keep us separate, and be energized by our faith.
Dr. L.C. Ray: Because so many churches are coming together, CUC will have the power to do things that were not possible before. CUC will be the Christian voice speaking to the issues that affect our community.
Robbie Williams: I want to see Sundays be less segregated and that we all become one people.
Rev. Jim Abbott: The future is energizing. We don't have a blue print, but we have faith that the people and the spirit will lead us in the right direction. A direction towards peace, harmony, and justice.
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