Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 29, 2016, edition 1 / Page 6
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OPINION The Chronicle Ernest H. Pitt Publisher Emeritus - 1974-2015 617 N. Liberty Street 336-722-8624 WWW.WSCHRONICLE.COM Donna Rogers Managing Editor wali D. Pitt Digital Manager paulette L. Moore Office Manager Our Mission The Chronicle is dedicated to serving the residents of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County by giving voice to the voiceless, speaking truth to power, standing for integrity and encouraging open communication and lively debate throughout the community. Ministers' Conference shows unity amid diversity While political activities this year exposed divi sions within American society, one organization in Winston-Salem has forged ahead. Its diversity has helped, not hindered, its progress. The Ministers' Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity has accomplished a great deal with its lead ership and members, which vary by sex, race, denomination and title. The Conference elected new officers last week as its outgoing president, Bishop Todd Fulton, gave his end of the term presentation. The organization has committees that spearhead the various activities of the group. They are the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Food Justice, Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Health and Wellness and Ministry of Economics. Fulton, who served for two years, out lined how the Conference's work touched many aspects of the lives of Winston-Salem residents. (SEE STORY ON PAGE B5) Among its work, the Conference has worked and says it will continue to work for the release and exoneration of Kalvin Michael Smith, who has been accused in a brutal beating of a pregnant woman. The Conference also raised money for people hurt as Hurricane Matthew whipped the North Carolina coast. On May 5, 1930, the roots of the Minister's Conference were laid. In the beginning it was geared toward Baptist ministers, but has grown to include a wider group of Christians. The history of the Conference says the preachers were the only group that was not beholden to the white power structure and did not have to worry about any economic, polit ical, or job related backlash. The history continues to say that in the mid-1970s, the leadership style began to evolve from a closed-door/backroom style to a more confrontational in-your-face/this-is-where we-stand approach. The Conference changed the name to Ministers' Conference and Vicinity. This was done to be more inclusive of the entire commu nity. Its Facebook page says: "The Conference contin ues to diligently work to ensure the best solutions to common problems; seek the most workable approaches to worthy concerns; and advance the general interest of the cause of Christ. We also advo cate social justice for all persons, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, or socioeconomic status." We hope that with the new leadership coming in in 2017, that the Ministers' Conference of Winston Salem and Vicinity will continue to be a voice and vehicle for action in the community. Watch out for 2017 2016 was a dynamic year, with so much happening in various aspects of American history. The democratic process produced the United States' first president without any governing experience, the old est president elected and a president known to waffle as he tweets his way to the White House. TV networks bring out all kinds of experts to talk about what they expect will happen. But no one really knows what will happen to the United States as a nation. In Winston-Salem, expectations are high that the Central Library will open on time in the spring and that the city will move closer to becoming the City of Arts and Innovation, but what about those in poverty? Expectations are high that the mayor's Poverty Thought Force will yield some action in that respect, but when will that be? We'll have to wait and see. We have a new governor in North Carolina, finally, but we still have the GOP majority in the General Assembly, which has proven how it is power hungry and wants to thwart Democrat Gov.-elect Roy Cooper's power. Expectations are low that any progress will be made in the areas Cooper want work on, but with the expected new elections for the General Assembly next year, some have hope that that won't be the case. Let's see what 2017 will bring, but you'd better keep up so that you can continue the fight for the rights that have been trampled upon and the new ones that could join them. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Local elected officials declare New Year's resolutions BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE . Several officials on Winston-Salem City Council and the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recently were asked, "What is your New Year's resolution?" Here are their responses. "To begin serious implementation of our poverty reduc tion strategy." Mayor Allen Joines ul would like to see some of our individ ual areas in the urban area grow and develop. I would like to see us move forward on other issues in crim . inal justice reform." City Council Member James Taylor 'To fight for what's right and what's just and hope that the citizens, after this year's election, will become more en gaged than ever knowing how impor tant the democratic process is in their lives." City Council Member Denise "D.D." Adams "In light of our cur rent atmosphere, to resolve to not be afraid of a fight that is just and right on behalf of the peo ple." City Council Member Derwin Montgomery "To keep the welfare of the citizens of our county uppermost in my mind: their health, their security and, above all, their ability to enjoy a quality of life that you cant find any where else but Forsyth County." County Commis sioners Chairman Dave Plyler "My New Year's res olution is to get an early and middle college at Winston Salem State Univer sity." County Commis sioner Everette Witherspoon "Making sure that minority contractors get their fair share of the $430 million bonds, that's my New Year's resolu tion." County Commissioner Walter Marshall
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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