Church of the Brethren Annual Conference moderator Paul Mundey has announced plans for the next Moderator’s Town Hall on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). The featured speaker will be Andrew J. Young, veteran civil rights leader and former US ambassador to the United Nations. The focus of the town hall will be: “Racism: Deeper Awareness, Bolder Action.”
Ambassador Young has earned worldwide recognition as a pioneer and champion of civil and human rights. His lifelong dedication to service is illustrated by his extensive leadership experience of over 65 years as a member of Congress, ambassador to the United Nations, mayor of Atlanta, Ga., and ordained minister, among other positions.
During the 1960s, Young was a key strategist and negotiator during civil rights campaigns that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Appointed as an ambassador to the UN in 1977, he negotiated an end to white-minority rule in Namibia and Zimbabwe and brought President Carter’s emphasis on human rights to international diplomacy efforts.
Currently he serves on several boards, including the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change. In 2003, he and his wife, Carolyn McClain Young, founded the Andrew J. Young Foundation to support and promote education, health, leadership, and human rights in the US, Africa, and the Caribbean. He lives in Atlanta and serves as chairman of the foundation.
The author of three books, Young is sought after as an advisor to world leaders, along with being active as a speaker on the lecture circuit. An ordained minister with the United Church of Christ for more than six decades, he continues to preach and considers the work of his foundation an extension of his ministry and of the Civil Rights Movement.
To register for the town hall go to http://tinyurl.com/modtownhallsep2020 . Organizers are encouraging early registration, as the event is limited to the first 500 registrants. Questions may be emailed to cobmoderatorstownhall@gmail.com .