Back to News>>

View 2008 Program Details>>

News Archives - 2008

The Congregations of  Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Bethel AME Church of Little Rock to Receive The 2008 Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award May 11

Little Rock, AR (April 22, 2008) – The congregations of Bethel AME Church and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, both of Little Rock, will be honored as winners of the 2008 Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award at 3 p.m. May 11, on Mother’s Day, at Temple B’nai Israel, 3700 North Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock.  There is no charge to attend, but the public is encouraged to call 501-413-9212 for reservations.

Trinity and Bethel signed a covenant agreement last Oct. 11 to work together for the good of their congregations and their community.  This covenant between one predominantly white and one predominantly African American church is an affirmation of the spirit of the Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award.

African Methodism in Arkansas is said to have begun with the inception of Bethel AME church.  It was here that the first annual conference was held and Bethel Institute, later named Shorter College, was established.  Bethel is the seed sewn in the soils of faith by a few courageous believers to which Almighty God has given increase.  Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is a "house of prayer for all people." With a history stretching back to the 1880s, many have called Trinity home. Not only serving as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Arkansas, Trinity is also a vibrant, thriving parish with more than1,500 members.

“I am moved by the fact that the Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award  -more- expresses my sons' appreciation for me as their mother.  I taught them to respect each person as an individual, with a right to his or her belief, but also to ‘right wrongs.’ I hoped and continue to believe that we can all live peacefully in the world,” Marie Seeman Spitzberg said.  “This award acknowledges those who make serving others a guiding principle in their lives.”

If you would like to nominate an outstanding Arkansan who has made an important contribution to civil rights in Arkansas, please contact us.