BLACK CHURCH SUMMIT

ATLANTA - Leadership of the nine largest historically Black denominations have announced the launch of The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC). The organization, representing a combined membership of more than 30 million people and 50,000 congregations throughout the United States and the African Diaspora, will fill the void for a unified voice of faith advocating on behalf of African Americans and other underserved populations on health, education, social justice and economic empowerment issues. CNBC will hold its first annual consultation titled, "For the Healing of Our People," from December 7 - 10, 2010 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The gathering of faith and community leaders will address targeted social and economic issues, provide clergy and lay leaders training in public policy and honor African American leaders from both the private and public sectors.

"This holiday season's heightened focus will be on the hardships and economic challenges facing many in our churches and across the country," said Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of CNBC's Board of Directors. "For that reason we chose this time and season to officially launch the Conference of National Black Churches. We are focused on channeling our unique voice of faith into advocacy to produce sustainable solutions to pressing issues. The upcoming conference is the beginning of our long-term efforts of working together using the power of the faith community, the private sector and legislators to resolve the challenges we face."

During the 3-day gathering where more than 300 are expected, guest participants include: Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., President of Healing of the Nations Foundations; Marian Wright Edelman, founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund; Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of the UNCF; The Right Reverend Sarah Francis Davis, Presiding Bishop from the 16th Episcopal District of the AME Church, which includes Haiti; Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Jones, Mayor of Richmond, Virginia; and Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Senior Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. On December 8 at 7:30 p.m., an ecumenical service with preaching by Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), will be open to the public and held at Israel Baptist Church, 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE, Washington, D.C. A gala dinner will be held on December 9 at 7:30 p.m. honoring The Honorable Andrew Young; Pernessa C. Seele, founder and CEO of Balm in Gilead; and Black Enterprise magazine founder and publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr.

About the Conference of National Black Churches
The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) is comprised of the national leadership of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME); African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ); Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME), Church of God In Christ (COGIC); Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBCFI); National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., International (NBCA); National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA); National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc.(NBC USA); and Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc (PNBC).

CNBC uses the influence and power of the leadership of the historically Black denominations to serve as a critical organizational base, voice and influence to advocate for African Americans. Through CNBC, the member denominations work collectively to become a permanent point of inter-denominational coordination for addressing systemic social change that will ultimately result in improving the quality of life for African Americans and other underserved populations as they seek to reach their full potential in American society.