On Saturday, July 1st, the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ and the
denomination's National Setting will co-host a Gala dinner, "Building a Just World for All," featuring The
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II as the keynote speaker.
Rev. Barber, pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro, N.C., is the
architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement that gained national acclaim with its Moral Monday
protests at the North Carolina General Assembly in 2013. These weekly actions drew tens of thousands
of North Carolinians to the state legislature as more than 1,050 peaceful protesters were arrested,
handcuffed and jailed.
A highly-sought after speaker, Barber has spoken to a variety of audiences and keynoted hundreds of
national and state conferences, including the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He has served as
president of the North Carolina NAACP, the largest state conference in the South, since 2006 and sits
on the National NAACP Board of Directors.
The time is now for the United Church of Christ to harness the energy, the power, and even the despair,
to shape a future that is bold, prophetic, and connected. We have an opportunity to seize the moment
by building on the solid foundation of our tremendous history, celebrating that which is working in
today's church environment, and taking risks that will lead us into being the relevant Church that God
calls us to be!
Sponsorship packages are available for General Synod 31 that include tables at the Gala. Individual
tickets are available for $150. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Shaping Our Future Campaign to
endow the Office of the General Minister and President and fund start-up initiatives.