m City's Black Neighborhoods
By Jalyae Strong
Pot* Staff Writer
Rev. Richard Parry has been
ushering the predominantly white
members of the executive board of
the Lutheran Church in America,
N.C., Synod, throughout Charlotte’s
black community and to special
points of interest connected to the
city’s black neighborhoods
As the director of Inclusive
ministry for the Synod, Rev. Perry
says he is a “bridge builder.” His
project Is to bring people together;
specifically the Lutheran Church
and the citizens of Charlotte’s black
communities.
"One hundred years ago, there
were three black Lutheran Churches
located in Charlotte: St. Paul's
Lutheran, St Mark’s Colored Lu
theran, and Mt. Zion Lutheran. All
three later merged to become St.
Andrews Lutheran. Finally, from St.
Andrews was formed Prince of
Peace Lutheran located on Beatties
Ford Rd.,” tails Rev. Perry.
Today, Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church remains aS the only pre
dominantly black Lutheran Church
in the Charlotte area. Though be
would like far his efforts to in
crease the number Qf black mem
bers in Lutheran churches, at the
very least Rev. Perry hopes to
bring about a better understanding
between blacks and Lutherans.
He’s been showingthe members of
the executive board of the Lutheran
Church in America such institutions
within Charlotte’s black neighbor
hood as The Charlotte Poet News
paper and other b)ack-owned
businesses. He’s alee met with the
communities’ politicians and the
people. “I've been pointing out the
strengths of the black community,”
relates Rev. Perry, "how the rid
—
.Mary l.ove-Joyner
.Vying for title
Mary Lorojoyiier
Has Special Qualities
For A Queen
One special quality for a queen
should be her dedication to a cause.
Perhape that’# the reason why
Group One of the Omega Phi
Fraternity chose Mary Love
Joyner aa its contestant for quean
for the annual Mardl Gras dance.
Mary Lov e-Joyner is s dedicated
lady. For years she has been ac
tively involved as a member of the
Charlotte chapter and the National
Alumni Foundation of the Second
Ward High School
For her, working with her alma
mater Is a labor of love. "It'a really
the only special hobby I have." An
employee of Lance, Inc., Ma.
Joyner is a member of Greater Mt.
Sinai Baptist Church. If-you’re in
terested in helping this lady become
the next Mardi Gras queen, call her
at home at 377-6841.
The Mardl Gras dance will be held
at the Convention Center (formerly
the Civic Center) on Saturday, No
vember 8, at 9 p.m,
Tennyson Johnson is chairman of
Group One.
Workshop For Youth
On Saturday, October 5, 45 stu
dent* from local high schools par
ticipated In the second of a series of
workshops sponsored by Alpha Kap
pa Alpha Sorority.
Realizing the potentiality for
achievement in students who de
velop leadership skills during their
formative years, the sorority pro
vides opportunities for high school
students to improve study skills, to
learn management of time and fi
nances. job-search skills, profes
sionalism, and effective social rela
tionships.
The introductory workshop on
September 25. led by Don Steger,
assistant city manager, addressed
students on the topic, "Influencing
the Behavior of People by Effec
tive Communication."
Faclliators for the second ses
sion were Mrs Linda Corbett,
teacher at Alexander Graham Ju
nior High School, who spoke on
"Test-taking Skills"; and Mr
Michael Turner, principal, North
west Junior High, who conducted a
workshop on "Time Management
and Survival ”
mm handle their concerns and what
they're doing to build their com
munities."
Rev. Perry reasons that this
action helps round out the execu
tive board members’ perspectives of
black Ufa in Charlotte, counter
acting the often negative portrayal
shown by conventional media that is
oftentimes the only glim pee they get
of black communities.
Then basad on new knowledge
gained (Tom experience, theee board
'members can go back to their
churches and make more Informed
decision* ^points out Rev. Perry. He
elaborates stating that churches do
make decisions that affect com
munities and they can also be in
strumental in Initiating programs
that can solve community problems.
Rev. Perry Is convinced that
interaction between the black com
munity and the Lutheran Church
can be beneficial. The 37-year-old
minister has been a member of the
Lutheran Church for 31 years.
“The attraction was the church's
emphasis on education and its
strong programs, notably the Luther
League,” he claims. He also re
lates that he developed discipline,
F-— 1 ----
Recently the executive board members of the
Lutheran CtMKch In America, N.C. Synod visited the
offices of The (Janette ^est Newspaper and publisher,
BUI Johnson. They are (front row l-r): Rev. Massle L.
' ' •' jC-'-i
Kenaard, Roth Kookea, Catherine Norria. Virginia
Stachel, Rachel Cobb, and Rev. John Cobb; (back row
In*): Rev. Floyd Root. Rev. Richard Ferry. Rimer
Loti, Rev. WtHtam Milhotland, and BU! Johnioa.
leadership and communication
skills through his church Involve
ment.
However, what has been keeping
most blacks out of Lutheran church
' ■ .. ... ■——■.
es, according to Rot. Perry, to the
church’* style of wprshfc. "Blacks *
think the services in the Lutheran
Church are cold and rigid,” be
confesses. ’That is, they do ndt
__
reflect the traditional Methodist
and Baptist styles."
But when Lutheran Churches,
with black membership, most in the
northeast, begin to reflect the black
' _ -
Christian leason/reveals' R«v,
Psrry, who attends an Integrated
church. “It is another aspect of what
It means to be part of the Christian
community," ho explains, "I need
not bo afraid people who are dif
ferent than I.”
ik Enthusiastically, Rev, Perry a£sd
acknowledges- that Mack Involve
* *#*■# can bring spedaimikllttea to
the Lutheran Church, He lista them
as “a strong sense of faith, en
thusiasm about life and the spirit of
living, and the bounty of telling it
Hkelt all qualities which -
could loosen some Of the “stodgi
nsas" associated with the church, he;
- notes. ■ "'•■‘"y'i'&fi ' .^2
Most importantly, concludes ReV.«
Perry, black Interactionlwith pre-?
dominantly white Lutheran church-;
os, "will give the church a sense oft
doing what It says. When we make!
pronouncements about racial equal-;
lty we can put them into practice.'' !
Rev. Perry la married to Theresa,!
a social worker. ; f
“Wa’ra Jmt vi
LgTItba Ratliff,
team to be aaytag
Friends LaToya Cunningham and Marcus Chambers
play in the front yard of LaToya’s home on West
Kingston Avenue. Skateboarding and bicycling ate lust
——-. _'
two of the ways foar-year-old LaToya aad six-year-oM
Marcus eagage in outside fax. (Photo by Audrey
Lodato) _
"Ready or not. Here I come" describee Sharon RotHft
perfectly. Her Iwtcnetty moat he Infectlem because It’s
•prtiding right
dt»pl»ytng hw wife unite. (Photo by B—fd ft——)
Three-moo th-old De Shawn Tarry la waiting patiently far hi* daddy to
come oat Of tha dry cleaner* on a recent tunihlny day. Of cemrae. It'*
mom, Wanda Terry, who * gat the harder part of waiting aroaad. The
Tarry* live on Comet Way. (Photo by Audrey Lodato)
D*ro*i MBh art Daaay McKay have
Coakf the twa '
•cbcmetawta