VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 9/13/17)—In light of recent racially charged events, such as the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) proudly supports New Baptist Covenant’s (NBC) reconciliation- and justice-related 2017 summit on Sept. 18 and 19 at the Atlanta (Ga.) Marriott Marquis.

Keynote speakers are Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader, U.S. representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district and a past recipient of ABHMS’ Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace and Justice Award; the Rev. Dr. Darryl Aaron, pastor of Providence Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C.; the Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri, regional executive minister of American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin; and the Rev. Alan Sherouse, pastor of First Baptist Church of Greensboro. American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer will bring greetings at a plenary session on Sept. 18.

The event will include workshops, small group discussion and worship. Anyra R. Cano-Valencia, advocacy outreach specialist for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Texas, will examine how the church can be a catalyst of love and healing for immigrants, including Dreamers who were brought to the United States as children. Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty Education and Outreach Specialist Charles Watson Jr. will discuss the election process and dilemmas related to church endorsement of candidates. The Rev. Jason Coker will present about ways to fight against glaring systematic economic inequalities in the United States.

An 8-mile Pre-Summit Civil Rights Bike Ride will begin at 9 a.m. on Sept. 18 at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta.

The Ella Baker Justice Dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

For more information, visit newbaptistcovenant.org > Latest News and Events > Summit 2017.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.