Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples
Encyclopedia
The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples is an intercultural, interracial
, interfaith
and interdenominational organization dedicated to "personal empowerment and social transformation through an ever deepening relationship with the Spirit of God in All Life."
Neighbors are familiar with the church's use as a polling place,and the leaning bell tower. Neighbors have held meetings at the church, as have other groups. In the 1980s, Fellowship Theater Guild revitalized the church's longtime involvement with the arts. Productions have included "I’m Not Rappaport," "LUV", "Member of the Wedding," and "An Evening with Martin and Langston" with Danny Glover
appearing as Langston Hughes
and Felix Justice as Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 2005 Justice returned in "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train," and in 2006 local jazz singer Kim Nalley
starred as the legendary Billie Holliday in the West Coast premiere of "Lady Day in Love." In the summer of 2007, the Church began hosting the Howard Thurman Forum Series of free lectures in its building.
Each October at the Church's annual Convocation (open to the public), the Howard Thurman Award honors an exceptional contributor to community and social justice. Past recipients include Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California's 9th District; Rev. Nelson Johnson and Joyce Johnson of Greensboro, NC; and in 2008, Chaplain James Yee, the former US Army Chaplain who served as the Muslim Chaplain for the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Interracial
Interracial is an adjective related to a supposed racial group. It can have different connotations in different contexts:* Interracial marriage is marriage between two people of different races....
, interfaith
Interfaith
The term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels...
and interdenominational organization dedicated to "personal empowerment and social transformation through an ever deepening relationship with the Spirit of God in All Life."
The Church today
The current presiding minster is the Rev. Dorsey Blake. The co-minister is Kathryn Benton. In the recent past, there were other popular associate ministers. The congregation presently consists of a small number of active supporters, many of whom are longtime members. The off-white stucco façade is embellished by three street-level arched inset doors, and crowned with a leaning belltower. Below the sanctuary at street level is Thurman Hall, named after Dr. Thurman, where meetings, plays, lectures, and music are performed.Neighbors are familiar with the church's use as a polling place,and the leaning bell tower. Neighbors have held meetings at the church, as have other groups. In the 1980s, Fellowship Theater Guild revitalized the church's longtime involvement with the arts. Productions have included "I’m Not Rappaport," "LUV", "Member of the Wedding," and "An Evening with Martin and Langston" with Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
appearing as Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
and Felix Justice as Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
In 2005 Justice returned in "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train," and in 2006 local jazz singer Kim Nalley
Kim Nalley
Kim Nalley is an American jazz & blues singer known for her powerful, 3½ octave range that can fill a room with no amplification, melodious scat, and striking stage presence. Nalley is "like Jessica Rabbit and Louis Armstrong at the same time," writer Giorgio Santeria said of her performance at the...
starred as the legendary Billie Holliday in the West Coast premiere of "Lady Day in Love." In the summer of 2007, the Church began hosting the Howard Thurman Forum Series of free lectures in its building.
Each October at the Church's annual Convocation (open to the public), the Howard Thurman Award honors an exceptional contributor to community and social justice. Past recipients include Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California's 9th District; Rev. Nelson Johnson and Joyce Johnson of Greensboro, NC; and in 2008, Chaplain James Yee, the former US Army Chaplain who served as the Muslim Chaplain for the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.