Atlanta’s Sacred Heart Church was designated by the Vatican as a minor basilica this year — the first basilica in Georgia and the announcement came as the church celebrates its 130th anniversary. Founded in 1880, Sacred Heart has the oldest continually operating St. Vincent de Paul conference in Georgia and has long been active in serving the poor both locally, through its HIV/AIDS ministry, and abroad in St. Pierre, Haiti. Visit Sacred Heart on line for more about this friendly diverse congregation and to hear an interview with its Pastor Fr. T.J. Meehan.

The Board of Trustees of The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) has called the Rev. Dr. Ronald Edward Peters as its eighth President. Currently, Dr. Peters is the Henry L. Hillman Associate Professor of Urban Ministry and the first Director of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's Metro-Urban Institute, an interdisciplinary program of religious leadership development for urban society. Founded in 1958, ITC has been training men and women for Christian leadership and service in the Church and global community for a half-century. The pioneer in ecumenical graduate study, the consortium comprises six different denominational constituent seminaries; Morehouse School of Religion (Baptist), Gammon Theological (United Methodist), Turner Theological Seminary (African Methodist Episcopal), Phillips School of Theology (Christian Methodist Episcopal), Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) and Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary (Church of God in Christ). Students of varying denominations beyond the six affiliates are welcomed to the Harry V. and Selma T. Richardson Ecumenical Fellowship. There is also a Lutheran Center at ITC.

Congratulations to Collie Burnett, Jr., President and CEO of Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters an original member of the Regional Council of Churches. He has been named to the Atlanta Business League list of Men of Influence for 2010--men who have demonstrated their commitment to the citizenry of Metro Atlanta by maintaining significant involvement and participation in community and civic activities.


Rev. Peter M. Wallace, Executive producer and host, 'Day1'
is featured in the Huffington Post. Read BP Oil Spill: Is the Earth Bleeding for Our Sins?

Jazz@Ebenezer, July 16, 7 p.m.,features Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Scotty Barnhart who grew up hearing the choir in that historic church. Ebenezer Baptist Church is located downtown at 400 Auburn Avenue. The concert is free;donations will be taken to support the Martin Luther King Sr. Community Resource Center at Ebenezer.


A Roman Catholic parish in the northern suburbs of Atlanta has begun raising the dollars to import, piece by piece, a closed Buffalo church. The 99-year-old St. Gerard's would get a second life as Mary Our Queen in Norcross an up-and-coming parish that has outgrown the 600-seat sanctuary that opened a dozen years ago. Supporters see it as "preservation through relocation" of a unique structure that already shows signs of deterioration since it was closed in January 2008 as part of a diocese-wide restructuring. Read the story
Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta member St. John's Lutheran Church identified by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as a congregation nourished for its mission by worship renewed for relevance in today's world. Rev. Bradley Schmeling says, Everyone is welcome in this dance.Renewing worship for relevance in today's world is a priority for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). To help make that happen, partners in evangelical worship are being identified in the 65 synods of the church.Partners in evangelical worship serves as the next chapter in worship renewal, said the Rev. Robert G. Schaefer, executive for worship, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. St. John's is located at 1410 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE. and the website is StJohnsatlanta.org Jeanette Burgess is Music Director and Robby Johnson is Youth Minister. Call the office at (404) 378-4243 for more information on this "partner in evangelical worship" of the ELCA.

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