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2016’s primary focus is promoting unity between donominations and races
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning Valley Association of Churches began its centennial celebration Sunday with a look back at its genesis, a six-week campaign in Youngstown by Christian evangelist Billy Sunday in 1910.
Among the many thousands who heard Sunday was the Rev. Dr. William H. Hudnut, longtime pastor of First Presbyterian Church who had envisioned the many denominations in the area working together.
The Rev. Mr. Hudnut was moved by the crusade to propose an association of denominations. Unsuccessful for many years, finally in November 1916, the Youngstown Federation of Churches, the forerunner of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches, was formed, said the Rev. Paul Burgeson, a Struthers pastor who spoke and sang about the Rev. Sunday’s life and times.
To help celebrate its 100 years of existence, the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches, in collaboration with the Ohio Cultural Alliance, will have a monthly series on “100 Years of Religious Faith in Our Mahoning Valley – History, Heart, Heritage: An Enriching and Tasty Tour.”
The major focus during the yearlong celebration, which began Sunday at the Tyler History Center with a buffet dinner catered by The Saratoga from Warren, is to promote unity “in the body of Christ” among religious denominations and races, said the Rev. Dr. Robin Woodberry, MVAC executive director.
“The church has a pivotal role in improving those relations,” said Dr. Woodberry, assistant pastor at Bethel Baptist Church.
One thing MVAC intends to implement in 2016 is a pulpit exchange, she said.
“If we can get the pastors together we feel we will get the congregations together ... so their members can get to know and understand each other,” Dr. Woodberry said.
The centennial celebration is not only a chance to socialize and remember our history, it is a time to look to the future, said Tom Sauline, outgoing MVAC president.
In his report, given at MVAC’s annual meeting before the dinner, Sauline said: “The MVAC resolves to work cooperatively in the church and community to bring about the realm of God on earth by promoting diversity, racial harmony, justice, respect and reconciliation with the church and beyond.”
One of the primary issues is racism and how to resolve the conflicts between races, said Chet Cooper, new MVAC president and a professor of microbiology at Youngstown State University.
“Given the things going on nationally and in the Mahoning Valley, this really needs to be addressed,” said Cooper, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, where he is clerk of session and moderator of the Eastminster Presbytery.