Westlake church to host monthly conversations on current concerns

Because we believe that God is incarnate in history and that “God is Still Speaking,” Dover Congregational UCC will initiate a monthly series of conversations on a variety of social and community concerns. The first conversation will be held at the church on Sunday evening, Feb. 12, at 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Hall. Dover is located at 2239 Dover Center Road in Westlake.

The Reverend Richard Gibson, pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church and co-chair of Greater Cleveland Congregations, will be with us to discuss the racial/class divide in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County from the black perspective of life in Cleveland’s inner city. Pastor Gibson is also an attorney working to overcome the inequities of the criminal justice in Cuyahoga County.

The series will continue on the second Sunday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m. and will include continued conversations about the racial/class divide, environmental justice and LGBTQ concerns plus any concern of interest to members of the congregation. Because this continuing series will be dedicated to listening for the voice of God the questions will be, who are the voices of God of our time and what are they saying. 

Invited speakers include: John Dorhauer, UCC President; Brooks Brendt. UCC Minister for Environmental Justice; and Traci Blackmon Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries. The PBS documentary movie "Slavery by Another Name" will introduce us to a little known period of our history. Other movies, plays and books will be used to stir our conversations. These conversations will be aimed at discovery through thoughtful listening and speaking. Come, join in the conversation. Any questions, please call Keith Stuart, Dover pastor, at 440-871-1050.