Presbytery of Greater Atlanta celebrates the heritage and hope of African-American Presbyterians

Read highlights from the 200th Anniversary Celebration of organized African-American congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia
By Elder Toni Griffin-Fields

The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, pastor of Liberation Community Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee, was the guest speaker at the celebration. Photo courtesy of Peachtree Presbyterian Church.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and the Atlanta Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus celebrated 200 years of organized African-American congregations in the Presbyterian Church on July 10, 2007. Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, held the event during a special worship service prior to the July presbytery stated meeting. The inclusive worship service was led by a special liturgist team: Alan Jenkins, a Columbia Theological Seminary graduate; Brady Radford, a recent graduate of Johnson C. Smith Seminary; Elder Toni Griffin-Fields, president of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus and a youth, William Tanner II from Church of the Master PC(USA), who read the Prayer for Illumination.

The worship service was an inspirational time of praise and fellowship that celebrated the heritage and embraced the hope of African-American Presbyterians with African drums, liturgical dance and singing. Bettie Durrah, who received the Edler Hawkins award at the 39th convention of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, wrote and presented her choreopoem, “Heritage, Witness, & Hope” with Barbara Leath and Dzifa Akoto.

Participants gathered for the celebration. Photo courtesy of Peachtree Presbyterian Church.

The guest speaker, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, pastor of the Liberation Community Church PC(USA), Memphis, Tennessee, is a noted advocate for the poor, ecumenical preacher, consultant, writer and workshop leader.  His message challenged us to “witness to our hope in the Kingdom of God in a new and vibrant way for the purpose of strengthening local congregations so that the church can be a vessel of liberation within our communities, nation and world. The imperative is to model a posture of strength through self-help and self-determination.”

Representatives from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and the General Assembly shared in the blessing of this special worship service: The Rev. Dr. Edwin W. Albright, executive presbyter; Elder Cassandra Morrow, associate executive presbyter; Elder Neema Cyrus-Franklin, youth director; Elder Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly; the Rev. Cliff Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly; and the Rev. Joan Gray, moderator of the General Assembly.

Future events focusing on youth and young adult ministries are being planned for the fall of 2007 and the winter of 2008. Stay tuned!