Their ministerial association is diverse in terms of race, denomination, and age of the pastors. There is a wonderful camaraderie. But it wasn't always that way, explained the pastors. This has always been a place where good and evil gather. The alliance was formed in 1994 to address, among other challenges, youth violence in Wilkinsburg.
Pastors here are worried about racial tension escalating in the wake of the shooting.
The gunman allegedly targeted white people. They talk about where they've seen recent racially charged graffiti, what they're hearing on the streets, and what they can do about it. After all the work that Wilkinsburg residents have done to build positive race relations, the shooting has discouraged some people. The pastors purposely opened the service with hymns of praise and thanksgiving. Sometimes a tragedy like this opens a door.