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Church Plans Weekend Events in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. By JAKOB SCHILLER

Friday January 14, 2005

For members of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church on Ashby Avenue, the best way to celebrate the upcoming anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is to take action and continue his legacy, instead of just reminiscing about it.  

Accordingly, the church organized a three-day event addressing women’s rights. They chose that theme, event organizers said, because church members saw it as one the most pressing social justice issues today. 

“I think it’s time to have a new perspective on how we can take Dr. King’s dream and make it more relevant for all of us,” said Jackie DeBose, one of the organizers. “What better way to recognize women and their struggle than to do it around the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was the epitome of struggle and liberation?”  

Included in the event, which runs from Saturday through Monday at the church, is a panel of guest lectures, two prayer services and a liturgical dance workshop. 

The AME Church has had its own struggles with women’s rights, DeBose said, but is gaining ground, electing its first woman bishop in 2000. St. Paul in Berkeley has always had women leaders, she said. 

The upcoming event was organized by the church’s Women’s Missionary Society, which also runs programs for the local community and participates in events around the world. Two members recently traveled to Mozambique to donate birthing kits to communities where babies were being born in unsanitary conditions. 

The public is welcome at the weekend church events. Organizers are especially encouraging people to attend the Saturday dance workshop showcasing what is emerging as the newest form of worship at the church. 

The dancers, all women, range in age from 2 to 60. For Faye Combs, an older participant, the dance is one of her favorite ways to express herself in church. It’s also good exercise. 

“I don’t dance as well as some of the younger members but I do a little something something,” she said. 

The panel on Sunday morning, called “What Would Martin Think of Women Today,” features several African-American women clergy, as well as Ka’Dijah Brown, a 13-year-old church member, who will address issues concerning young women today. 

Other events in Berkeley include what Rabbi Ferenc Raj said is at least the fifth time that Congregation Beth El and the McGee Avenue Baptist Church will be celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. together.  

On Sunday, both groups will participate in a service at the McGee Avenue Baptist Church where participants will pay tribute to King and discuss his relationship to the Jewish community. Afterwards, there will be a potluck with traditional food cooked by members of both Beth El and the Baptist Church. Both events are open to the public. 

Also, a musical tribute to Dr. King will be held at the Calvin Simmons Theater and a celebration with Vukani Mawethu at Ashkenaz. For times and dates for all the events, or for more information, see the Arts and Berkeley This Week calendars in today’s issue.