St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-12-07

Glenwood redevelopment program
and had already started a new
building fund program.
Border is one of the few Negro
Methodist churches in the coun-
try which is a member Of the
Methodist conference of the area
in which the church is located
Most Negro churches affiliated
with that denomination are MEM
bers Of a national conference de-
signated as the Central conference
OF which all Negro churches Of the
denomination are theoretically
members.
Border was invited to join the
then all-white Minnesota confer
ence several years ago and ac-
cepted the invitation.
Sundays invitation to Border
members to join Hennepin Ave-
nue. Methodist was delivered by the
Rev. DR.. Chester Pennington, min
lister at Hennepin. who was ac-
companied by Bishop d. Stanley
Coors, presiding prelate Of the
Methodists of Minnesota.
The two appeared at Border
church Sunday, following the reg
ular church services. A group of
100 members of Border heard the
invitation. They heard Bishop
Coors say, This is a proposal OF
Christian love and fellowship. ]
believe this December 2 will be re-
membered as one of the most sig,
nificant days in the history OF
Minnesota Methodism."
DIR. Pennington, speaking for
Hennepin Methodist said:
we believe that our invitation
is simply a personalizing of the
policy of Christian love to which
we are committed. We extend the
invitation with the utmost SINGER
ity. We do not wish TO compel YOU
decision, but we invite you will
sincere warmth, believing tha
such an action would contribut,
most to you and to u.s."
He also told the Border mem
bers that in the event of accept
ance, their minister, Rev. Mr.. Sex
ton, would be given a larger minis
try on the district or conference,
level, and would be assigned TO
the interim period to the Henne
pin-Border merger.
with his leadership, we cal
make a genuine contribution t,
the whole matter of racial fellow
ship in the churches of the city
and even throughout the state.
DIR. Pennington concluded.
The announcement of the invita-
ton was front page news in tn
daily papers in this region an,
most of the dailies in the northern
and western cities carried tn
press association reports.
The interest was due to tn
prestige of Hennepin Avenu
Methodist in which many Of tn
city's leading and most promin
ent families have their member
ship.
It was important news that sue
a church would actually invit
members of a struggling Negr
congregation TO join it.
Public approval was heard o
buses, on the streets and anon
the Christmas shoppers in tn
Twin City loops. There was som
disapproval expressed, and som
doubt that the invitation was ger
uine.
One white woman chatting
the lobby of a bank said sh
thought the race liked to worshi
''by themselves. Another youn
advertising agency head walkin
along Second Av s, on the wa
to his club. halloed a reporter
this paper saying. Wasn't n
news from Hennepin Avenu
Methodist grand"
A Lutheran minister remarke
that his church has had three NJ
gro families in the congregatio
since 1919.
A white member Of Lake Hal
net Methodist church was please
by the move made by Hennepi
Avenue Methodist. but remarke
that several Negro families haV
been members Of Lake Harr'
for several years,
A leading Minneapolis Negl
pastor applauded the action, b
added. Il hope the members
Border make their own decisio
Our congregation has about
white members already and seve
al children attend our sunds
school"
Another colored minister said
felt that Negroes should not desc
the Negro church" When r
minded that the two churches CO..
sidering the merger were Of u
some denomination. he said We
I suppose that's right"
DR.. Charles NJ. Sexton, minist