By Morgan Mizell

NATCHEZ — The Natchez ministerial alliance is as active today as it was when it began in the 1960s.

The foundation of the organization in this area can be traced to a time when there were tensions of various kinds in the community and to one man specifically, the Rev. Joseph A. McConnell III of Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church.

An article published more than 14 years ago spoke about McConnell’s desire to form the organization in response to the many problems existing between races.

As it stands now, the alliance has a purpose statement with six key points: to serve as a means for fellowship and to bring unity among Christian leaders; to be a resource for advice to community leaders and organizations on matters of concern affecting citizens and to disseminate information to its constituents; to serve as advocates for works of charity and relief in the area; to serve as advocates for concerns of the total community; to serve and meet with representatives of other community service agencies; and to promote brotherhood among all citizens in the area.

The Rev. David O’Connor of St. Mary Basilica said he remembers an instance in the 1980s when the alliance was able to help diffuse a situation after a company laid off several black employees just before Christmas.

“A boycott resulted, and people took their business across the river,” O’Connor said. “The ministerial alliance was able to form a group of black and white pastors who came together to talk about the situation, and from there, invited in members of management and the mayor to talk about the situation. In a matter of a week, it got resolved.”

O’Connor mentioned the alliance meetings as a time when the pastors also get updates on area projects like the Stewpot, Catholic Charities, and Habitat for Humanity.

Rev. Scott Green, pastor of The Natchez First Assembly of God, currently serves at the president of the alliance. He feels strongly about the role of the alliance as it pertains to pastor support and the building of God’s kingdom.

“I have been in Natchez for eight years, and I recognized that as a pastor, there was not a lot of support for struggling pastors other than fellow pastors,” Green said. “One of my goals is to build friendships and relationships between pastors so that we are developing one another like iron sharpening iron. The other is to connect the community to Christ. No one church is responsible for building the kingdom, and if we focus on building the kingdom together, He will build our individual churches.”

The Rev. Clifton Marvel of the Greater Macedonia Baptist Church currently serves as the vice president. He has been a member since the 1980s and says if pastors are willing to participate, it can be a tremendous success.

“I think the ministerial alliance is important to build bridges between the races and church denominations for the glory of God and the building of the kingdom,” Marvel said. “There is still a lot of division in the body of Christ.”

Currently, the alliance is trying to gain members. Membership is open to all licensed or ordained clergy who are active or retired and wish to attend the meetings and pay the annual $20 dues. The meetings are the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at a location specified by the alliance.

“We recently held a pastor appreciation breakfast at Natchez Coffee Company and invited area pastors to attend,” Green said. “We had more than 25 attend and we are expecting a large number to become alliance members.”

Annual alliance events include participation in the National Day of Prayer in May and a community Thanksgiving service. In the last year, the alliance has begun a monthly day of prayer at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Gazebo on the Natchez Bluff.

Anyone seeking to get more information about the alliance or wishing to join can call the Rev. Scott Green at First Assembly of God at 601-442-3178.