Congregations across the nation will participate in ‘Black Life Matters’ on Sunday, December 14, with parishioners wearing black clothing to worship services.
The attire represents a protest against the recent killings by police of unarmed African Americans including Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO; Eric Garner and Akai Gurley in New York City, Rumain Brisbon in Phoenix, AZ and Tamir Rice in Cleveland, OH.
Also, churches will hold a special altar call to pray God’s covering over all young men and boys, and congregations will be asked to ‘buy Black’ by purchasing from African American businesses during the Christmas season.
The action is the result of an invitation issued by the Right Rev. John R. Bryant, Senior Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, and a wide range of Christian leaders have lent their support.
They include Senior Bishop George Battle, A.M.E. Zion Church; Black Presbyterians of Southern California, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Church of God in Christ, Inc.; Bishop Arthur Brazier, Apostolic Church of God; Presiding Bishop Charles Ellis, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
Archbishop J. Delano Ellis, Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops; Presiding Bishop Neil Ellis, Global United Fellowship; the Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church; Presiding Bishop Paul Morton, Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship; the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Trinity United Christ of Christ; President James Perkins, Progressive National Baptist Convention; Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick, C.M.E. Church; President Samuel Tolbert, National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.; and Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner, Skinner Leadership Institute.
