For Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility that was between us.
–-Ephesians 2:14
Dear Friends in Christ;
Three months ago, during his inspiring pilgrimage to the Diocese of Pittsburgh, our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry issued a challenging call for racial reconciliation and evangelism. Hundreds of people attended the various events around +Michael's visit, and many have been asking what they can do next to help further God's work.
On Sunday June 11, from four to six o'clock, the Reverend Dr. Darryl Canady and I will host a gathering of prayer, praise, teaching and conversation at Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, 6111 Rodman Street in East Liberty, for what we hope will be a major step toward racial unity through the churches in this region. We are calling it A Church Without Walls, and the premise is simple.
We are asking those called to commit to form small, racially mixed groups…
- To meet three times between June 11 and October 15
- To break bread together
- To learn about each other's lives
- To study together the Word of God
- To offer prayer for one another
- To regather on the afternoon of October 15th, at four o'clock, to give thanks, bear witness to what God has done, and discern our next moves.
The groups will be assigned, as far as possible, prior to June 11, but that will be the day when we actually meet one another face-to-face to plan our initial meetings.
To assist us in planning we are asking you to pre-register online at www.episcopalpgh.org/walls. This will also allow us to keep you informed of further details as we move closer to the day.
This may seem a small effort, but we believe it will be great in God's eyes. No true reconciliation can happen without authentic relationships, and given the history of racial separation in our region those relationships must be brought about intentionally. We ask you prayerfully to consider whether God may be calling you to take this step towards unity in the Body of Christ as a witness to hope in a divided world. If your answer is Yes, please visit the registration page and fill out the form. Then, continue to pray for all of those whom God will bring together, that we may be filled with joy and expectation as the Lord's work among us unfolds.
Faithfully your bishop,
(The Rt. Rev.) Dorsey W.M. McConnell, D.D.