November 28, 2007 - Meeting a Living Legend
It isn’t often that a man gets to meet one of his boyhood heroes.
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June 10, 2007  - Reconciliation Service: “Let the Walls Fall Down”
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July 15, 2007 - I will be speaking at a church service in Atlanta, Georgia.
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June 20, 2007 -ORM PROMOTIONAL DVD COMING SOON 
On June 20 I had an interview as part of our ORM Promotional DVD to be sent out to different organizations. It discusses our reconciliation work including our Pasadena City Dialogue Sessions on bridge building among people, our mission, scope, partnerships and other aspects of the ministry. We will post it on the ORM website when it is finished, along with all the particulars on how to obtain a copy.

May 15, 2007 - White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
On Tuesday, May 15 and Wednesday, May 16, Curtis May will attend a conference in Phoenix hosted by the White House and the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development, Education, and Homeland Security, the Agency for International Development, and the Small Business Administration to help social service organizations learn more about President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. These conferences are geared towards faith-based and community organizations that have no history of applying for government grants, as well as those that have applied, but have not yet been successful.

The conference is part of a series of regional events that are being held around the country. The conferences provide participants with a general overview of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, information about the government grants process and available funding opportunities, and an overview of the legal responsibilities that come with the receipt of Federal funds.

April 27, 2007 - Curtis May attended the 7th Annual Ethnic America Conference in Seattle. Here are excerpts from his report:
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April 12, 2007 - Curtis May participated in the March 22--27 events in London marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in England.
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April 5, 2007 - Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth spoke at Christ Community Church on April 5.
Read more...

March 30, 2007 - Here’s a message Curtis May sent prayer partners/chapter leaders on his trip to England.
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March 1-24, 2007 -  The final stage of the epic seven year Lifeline Expedition journey will conclude in 2007 with the March of the Abolitionists which is a National Project for the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. There will be two walks - the first a 250 miles journey from Hull to Westminster from March 1-24 and the second journey linking the former slave ports of London, Bristol and Liverpool from June 4 - July 11. 
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March 1
MARCH RECONCILE LETTER
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March 1
In the Biblical Book of John Jesus prayed that we would have complete unity as His followers. In this His longest recorded prayer, and just before His crucifixion He prayed for oneness among us. Read this article by ORM
supporter Tony Murphy on the subject.
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February 7, 2007 -Listen to the WCRF [Cleveland, OH] radio interview of Curtis May by Marnia Warebey on Racial Reconciliation recorded February 1.
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February 3,2007 - The Annual Los Angeles Semi-Formal Reconciliation Dinner and Dance
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June 7, 2006 - Curtis May and the Office of Reconciliation Ministry received the Harry Sheldon Organization Award. For the invitation to this honor,
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December 1, 2005 - Here’s some more information from Curtis May about his address at the 40th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Monrovia Nov. 18.

“As it was sponsored by the Rotary Club, many present and former Rotary Club members were in attendance. Also in attendance were one state senator and one state assemblyman, a number of city officials, police officers, school teachers, school board members, pastors and others.

“The message I gave on John 4: The Samaritan Woman—an Example of Reconciliation, seemed well-received. After the meeting a number of leaders expressed appreciation and I was asked by a Monrovia School board member about the possibility of speaking in the school system about the subject of sexual abstinence.

“A school teacher also expressed interest in me presenting something on race relations.

“I was also surrounded by several African American leaders who told me stories of their struggles against racism. We are far from unity even among Christians.

“However, as I see it, the Holy Spirit is working throughout the Body of Christ and is transforming it on a daily basis. Knowing this helps in facing the massive problem of divisions and walls that Satan has erected among us humans. God speed that day when we will all be one even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—the Holy Trinity. For that is our model. We in ORM seek that unity.”

Here is a photo taken by Tom Hansen of Mayor Rob Hammond (right) making a presentation to Curtis May. Curtis received this certificate of thanks from Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

June 25, 2005 - Click here for information regarding dialogue with the Pasadena community.

September 13, 2003, Mr. May conducted a Racial Healing and Reconciliation Workshop at the old Lufkin Junior High School auditorium.

Mayor Louis Bronaugh welcomed everyone. Speakers and subjects were Faye Townes, Racism Against Black Women; Jaqueline Harmon, pastor of Kelty's United Methodist Church, Racism Against White Women; Walt Scalen of Stephen F. Austin University and Word of Life Church, Racism in General. The speakers showed that reconciliation is needed in all phases of life.

Mr. May spoke on Racial Healing and Reconciliation, showing three videos, two of which showed blacks being discriminated against even today, and contributions blacks have made to our society that have not been made known to the public.

Attendees learned that Christianity could never coexist with racism. As we let the love of God flow through us, our thoughts will become action. This will become the healing process through which ignorance, social conditioning and stereotyping will be replaced with the love of Jesus Christ. Cynthia Krieger.

Pasadena Police Department
Hosts ORM Director

On July 31, 2003, Office of Reconciliation Ministries director Curtis May conducted a community race relations workshop for the Special Enforcement Unit of the Pasadena Police Department.

About two weeks previously Lieutenant John E. Perez and Officer Brad May (Curtis' son) had met on campus at Curtis May's office and requested the workshop for the department.

Present at the workshop were one lieutenant, two sergeants, one corporal and about 20 other officers.

Curtis May began the session by asking that all who had weapons turn them in to Mrs. May. They chuckled, but none complied. Curtis told them that he likes to "disarm" his audiences. He also shared with them that we in the Worldwide Church of God pray for them. The workshop went very well as Curtis focused on law enforcement with people of color in the inner city and why the police are often met with resistance.

Curtis discussed walls that separate people, such as race, gender, religion and economy. He then shared the following steps toward reconciling relationships: 1) Confession, 2) Repentance (Change), 3) Reconciliation and 4) Restitution (Restoring and mending broken relationships).

Mr. May explained different types of racism and the cycle of oppression. He used a video-taped message on the subject of racism given by their own Police Chief Bernard Melekian in the Pasadena church to establish a common ground. In discussing the cycle of oppression Curtis pointed out that we're all socialized into accepting as truth false history, stereo-typing information and other biases. It's reinforced by our educational institutions, the media, churches and other people. The net result of these falsehoods is disillusionment, anger and guilt.

He shared a number of personal experiences with racism in general and with the police. He talked about having the police called on him to get him out of a particular neighborhood more than once; and even having a gun pulled on him and being subjected to verbal abuse by the police.

A lively discussion developed and numerous questions were asked. "Almost every officer came up and gave positive feedback and thanked us for coming," Mr. May said. My advisor, Brad, helped a lot. The audience was made up of Whites, Hispanics and African Americans.

Mr. May ended the session by asking if he could pray for them. All heads bowed. He explained to them that the Bible showed that they are servants of God as they help enforce the law and keep the peace. He thanked them for their diligent service to our community. Lieutenant Perez said he'd like to meet the following week to debrief and discuss further strategies in addressing the subject of community and race relations.

National Summit on Racism in the Church

June 11, 2003, Mr. May and his wife, Jannice, attended a conference on Racism in the Church, June 11 to 13, put on by the Cincinnati Area Pastors (CAP) and shared by the National Religious Broadcasters.

CAP is "committed to working together against racism and animosity within the body of Christ."

Speakers included Mark Noll, Wheaton College; Glenn Plummer, chief executive officer of National Religious Broadcasters; T.D. Jakes; Bill Hybels; and Fred Price.

Pastor Ray McMillian, conference leader, said: "The church in America has never been one, therefore we have not shown the world that we are Christ's."

National Summit
on Racism in the Church

On June11-13, 2003, my wife, Jannice, and I had the opportunity to attend a conference on Racism in the Church put on by the Cincinnati Area Pastors and shared by the National Religious Broadcasters. Cincinnati Area Pastors (CAP) is a diverse group of senior pastors and church leaders in the Cincinnati area. "We are committed to working together against racism and animosity within the body of Christ," they wrote in the program highlighting the event.

The conference leaders mobilized a large number of speakers from diverse backgrounds including Dr. Mark Knoll from Wheaton College; National Religious Broadcasters board of directors CEO, Glenn Plummer; T.D. Jakes; Bill Hybels; Dr. Fred Price and others.

Conference leader, Pastor Ray McMillian said, "The Church in America has never been one, therefore we have not shown the world that we are Christians." He went on to say, "We must separate Christianity from Americanism and patriotism. Patriotism and the church are not one and the same. Skin color is not our connection [to each other]. It's Jesus." He also pointed out that down through history the Church has married the culture.

Dr. Mark Knoll stated, "During the founding period of the United States the problem of race is as endemic and prevalent as apple pie. In the Christian effort…it's just as present among them."

Willow Creek Senior Pastor Bill Hybels gave an insightful message comparing the biblical Joseph and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He pointed out that they both were dreamers, both were arrested unjustly and they both chose reconciliation and forgiveness over violence and revenge. He quoted Dr. King as saying, after 30 arrests, 50 death threats and one stabbing, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." Hybels went on to say, "My prayer is that the lives of Joseph, Martin Luther King and Jesus would change some lives." Hybels ended by exhorting everyone to "go out of here with a divine dissatisfaction!"

National Religious Broadcasters' Board CEO, Glenn, Plummer, said, "When Israel came out of Egypt they couldn't quite get there (to the promised land) because they could not overcome the Egypt in them." He went on to explain that we must overcome internalized racism in order to move forward. Not forgetting our past experiences but learning from them and not allowing them to control us.

General Manager of a radio station and television broadcaster, Tracie Hunter, discussed racism in the media. She talked about its impact not only on society at large but the church. She is an ordained elder. She is also African American. Hunter defined mass media as "a process of communicating information presented in such a way as to arouse intended meanings." She said the media often tells us what to think and that racial biases are very prominent. She went on to say, "Media constructs our culture. They don't tell you what they're doing, but media shapes our realities." She explained that we're being affected by media even when we're not aware of it. It is a passive system of communication. It uses covert messages. It programs us on what to think, feel, hate, cherish or despise. Mass media stereotypes people.

I thought that Dr. Mark Knoll summed it up well in a nice written statement he gave me after I discussed the history of the Worldwide Church of God with him and our efforts in the Office of Reconciliation Ministries to make a difference. Here's what he said and I agree wholeheartedly: "The great Reconciliation was what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross of Calvary. Believers in Jesus, because of Jesus, have been given the privilege to proclaim and share in God's reconciling work. But reconciliation is a difficult business—we are prone to alienate others because we are sinners. That is why it is so encouraging to hear about efforts at reconciliation that are making a difference—whether far from American shores or in the block where we live. God give this effort ongoing strength and courage in going still further in the great work of reconciliation."