Baltimore Clergy and Laity Concerned has announced the next round of events in its 4-year-old campaign against racism.
Since 1988, the main work of the social justice advocacy organization has been its Congregations Pairing and Caring program. In that program, approximately 50 local Christian and Jewish congregations have paired off to promote interfaith and racial understanding.
As a rule, each pairing has linked a mostly white congregation with a predominantly black one.
"No one has an easy answer for racism. This program has its flaws. But we're here, doing what we're doing," CALC director John Springer said this week at a luncheon at the Courtyard By Marriott in Hunt Valley.
About 20 CALC officials, local clergy and lay people and media members attended the luncheon, at which Springer announced the following scheduled events:
* A pair of retreats for about 30 people involved in the Pairing and Caring Program, March 6 and 7 and May 1 and 2, both at Trinitarian Monastery in Owings Mills.
* An interfaith Passover Seder for white Jewish and black Christian high school students, April 12 at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
* A two-day conference for religious educators, "Confronting 500 Years of 'Discovery': Myths, Misconceptions and Miracles," May 21 and 22 at Morgan State University's McKeldin Center. The title refers to the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in America.
* The fifth annual Walk Against Hunger in Africa, Oct. 24, starting at Christ Lutheran Church, 701 S. Charles St. About 500 people participated in last year's walk, raising $14,000, Springer said.
Events yet to be scheduled include a fall conference on racism attended by local Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, and various social activities for youths from the Pairing and Caring program.