US church leaders to respond to Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King - Wiki

Leaders of Christian denominations from all over the United States will gather in Birmingham, Alabama, from 14-15 April, to sign a response to Martin Luther King Jr's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' on the 50th anniversary of the letter. The event is sponsored by Christian Churches Together (CCT). Bernice King, a minister and the youngest child of Dr King, will attend and participate in a panel discussion.

Other participants will include Rev Carlos Malavé, executive director of CCT, Rev Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, US Rep John Lewis, Civil Rights leader Dorothy Cotton and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, vice president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

"In taking up the challenges of Martin Luther King's letter, we hope to enhance racial justice and strengthen our bonds with one another," said Archbishop Kurtz.

The event is intended not only to commemorate the 50th anniversary of King's letter, but to provide a long-delayed response from Christian leaders of Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical backgrounds. In addition to the ceremonial signing of this response, the event will also feature keynote presentations and responses, a prayer walk and a panel discussion.

More information on the event is available on the CCT website: http://christianchurchestogether.org/

To read the full text of the letter see: http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html