Katrina effort unites African-American Baptists

Posted: 4/28/06

Katrina effort unites African-American Baptists

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

DALLAS (ABP)—Three historically African-American Baptist denominations have agreed to raise $1 billion for ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The National Baptist Convention USA, the National Baptist Convention of America and the Progressive National Baptist Convention have created the National Baptist Convention Develop-ment Initiative to oversee the effort, which will include funds for rebuilding houses, churches and businesses in New Orleans. Some funds from the plan will be earmarked for new homeowner classes and help with credit and mortgage problems.

The plan, besides being by far the largest amount of Katrina relief proposed by a religious group, also is a milestone of cooperation for three Baptist groups who have had sometimes-contentious relationships. Convention leaders have differed in the past over civil rights and other issues.

Formed in 1895, the National Baptist Convention USA spawned the National Baptist Convention of America in 1915 and the Progressive National Baptist Convention in 1961.

Progressive Baptist leaders chose to split with the mother convention because its leadership was not supportive of the civil-rights tactics of its founders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Mays and Ralph Abernathy.

Politics aside, initiative officials say the organization will bring a cooperative renewal to the area, especially when it comes to raising and using the funds. They plan to get the money through financing from Chase Bank and from celebrities associated with New Orleans. The first projects funded under the initiative are slated to begin in June, and anyone in the city who suffered loss will be eligible to receive help.

Russell Odom, special projects director for the organization, said the main focus will be to get businesses—and life—back to normal for the victims of the hurricane. That goal is no small task: Katrina is estimated to be responsible for $75 billion in damages and at least 1,604 deaths, according to USA Today reports.

“Our goal is to work with local pastors and their congregations to get our churches reopened; to assist homeowners with renovating their homes, if possible, or rebuilding, if necessary; and to help businesses reopen,” Odom said.