Carter urges faith leaders to combat 'resurgence of racism'
Source: Associated Press
Carter urges faith leaders to combat 'resurgence of racism'
Sep 15, 1:22 PM EDT
By KATHLEEN FOODY
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) -- Jimmy Carter says the United States is experiencing a "resurgence of racism" and he's calling on Baptist faith leaders to foster change in their churches and communities.
The former U.S. president spoke Thursday at a summit hosted by the New Baptist Covenant, which he convened in 2007 to unite Baptists of different races, ethnicities and theologies. Carter's keynote address came during a three-day meeting in Atlanta aimed at creating partnerships between black and white churches to work together on pressing issues in their community.
Before Carter spoke, leaders of two Baptist churches in Macon, Georgia, located less than a block apart but split by race, discussed their congregations' partnership. Carter called such relationships "a very powerful potential weapon to set an example not just among Baptists, not just among churches, but in communities."
Carter said some white Americans stay quiet when they see discrimination or segregation, fearful of losing a "privileged" position in society. He said that amounts to acceptance of "discrimination and animosity and hatred and division."
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