November 6, 1999

CLEVELAND—Several congregations in Cleveland and nearby communities will welcome ecumenical guests this Sunday, Nov. 7, declared as Ecumenical Witness Sunday in celebration of the National Council of Churches 50th anniversary.

Those preaching and bringing greetings from the NCC are among church leaders from across the United States and around the world who are coming to Cleveland, the Council's 1950 birthplace, for the Nov. 9-12 anniversary event. In all, more than 1,000 people including many from northeastern Ohio are expected to participate.

Area churches are encouraged to observe Ecumenical Witness Sunday in any one of several ways, among them welcoming an ecumenical guest to preach or bring greetings; including in their worship a sermon, prayer, litany or hymn focusing on Christian unity; arranging a pulpit exchange within their own community, and ringing their church bells at noon as a symbol of their commitment to unity.

The schedule of guest preachers includes:

• 8 and 10 a.m. Nov. 7, Christ Episcopal Church, 3445 Warrensville Center Road, Shaker Heights, OH 44122; Rev. Eric Shafer, Director of Communications, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, preaching. Pastor: Rev. Kathleen Burn, (216) 991-3432.
• 10 a.m. Nov. 7, Old Stone Church, 91 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113; the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, preaching. Sermon title: "Reconciliation, the Glue of the Good Society." Pastor: Rev. Gary Kornell, (216) 241-6145.
• 10 a.m. Nov. 7, Lakeshore Christian Church, 28010 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid, OH 44132, Elder John Gingrich, a concert artist manager, coordinator of the NCC 50th anniversary hymnbook project and moderator, Presbytery of New York City, preaching. Pastor: Rev. Paul L. Biery, (216) 289-2226.
• 10:30 a.m. Nov. 7, Independence Presbyterian Church, 6624 Public Square, Independence, OH 44131; Julia Mulaha, Director for the Kenya Breast Health Program and former director of the Women's Program for the National Council of Churches in Kenya, preaching. Pastor: Rev. LeRoy Ford, (216) 524-6307.
• 10:30 a.m. Nov. 7, Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, 2592 West 14thStreet, Cleveland, OH 44113; Rev. Al Carmines, preacher, playwright, composer at pulpit and piano, preaching. Pastor: Rev. Laurinda Hafner, (216) 861-7388.
• 10:30 a.m. Nov. 7, Covenant Community Church, 50 Marshall Ave., Akron, OH 44303, Barbara George, Director of Ecumenical Networks, National Council of Churches, preaching. Pastor: Philip J. Smith, (330) 253-6989.
• 10:45 a.m. Nov. 7, St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 1319 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106; the Rev. Dr. Rodney Page, Executive Director, Church World Service, preaching. CWS is the disaster response, human development and refugee assistance ministry of the National Council of Churches. Pastor: Rev. Rosalind Powell, (216) 791-0128.
• 11 a.m. Nov. 7, Antioch Baptist Church, 8869 Cedar Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106; the Rev. Dr. Gordon L. Sommers, Moravian Church leader who is a past president of the National Council of Churches, currently on assignment to coordinate the NCC's 50th anniversary activities, will bring greetings. Pastor: Dr. Marvin McMickle, (216) 421-1516.
• 11 a.m. Nov. 7, St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, 2393 E. 55th St., Cleveland, OH 44104; the Rev. Dr. Morgan Tann, Editor, The Star of Zion, preaching. Pastor: Rev. Audie V. Simon, (216) 991-4763, (216) 431-7716.