The Pasquotank County-Elizabeth City Community Relations Commission’s “State of the Community” report in 2006 included the following recommendation: “The (community’s) two ministerial associations should interact and interface more so as to eliminate duplication inconsistent with racial and ethnic diversity. Religious groups should interact more with groups other than their own.” Without addressing the adequacy with which the government, local institutions, and community groups responded to all of that report’s recommendations, it can be said with genuine admiration and massive respect for those involved that the recent “Unity Service” was a significant step toward addressing the Community Relations Commission’s recommendation. Treating groups other than your own as “cockroaches” — as some have suggested — is counterproductive. The actions of the Cornerstone Baptist Church is the reverse of such hate and represents what the leader of Christianity said 2,000 years ago.

At the Cornerstone meeting the ministerial associations, the Community Relations Commission, the Garden of Hope, and multiple local churches were represented. I heard leaders of groups willingly confront their own group’s contribution to racial/ethnic disharmony and indicate a willingness to police their own ranks. It was not an evening of passing the blame but of verbalizing what we must achieve and how we all benefit from love and respect. Holy Communion was shared by all.

REED ADAMS

Elizabeth City