Good news: Churches of God join

It is always good whenever I can bring some good news. We always hear bad news but seldom good news. There is some recent good news that has happened. It involves the Virginia Church of God that is headquartered in Anderson, Ind. I have to make this distinction because there is a Church of God headquartered in Cleveland, Tenn.

After approximately 87 years of separatism and racial division, the Virginia Assembly of the Church of God and the Virginia Association of the Church of God has united as one body, thereby dismantling the walls that have prevented God's people from living out unity.

The Virginia Assembly of the Church of God is made up of a body of Christian believers consisting of all Anglo Saxon/white congregations in the Virginia. The Virginia Association of the Church of God is made up of a body of Christian believers consisting of all minority/African American congregations in the Virginia.

This is amazing and two of the men who helped to spearhead this change are Roanoke pastors. They are Rev. Raleigh Quarles Sr., pastor of Staunton Avenue Church of God and the Rev. James Milner, pastor of First Church of God. They served as presidents of the Association and Assembly, repsectively.

When interviewing them, Rev. Milner stated "this is a situation that we inherited and have decided that now is time to correct it." Rev. Quarles stated "we have voted to live our faith consistent with the scriptures, for in Christ there is no division." They both stated that this move has been five years in the making.

I have always maintained that the 11 a.m. Sunday morning worship is the most segregated hour in America. I personally thank Pastors Quarles and Milner as well as the congregations of the Church of God for making such a giant step.

The Church of God in Virginia has proven that we must do whatever it takes to right a wrong. It takes a lot of time, sacrifice and commitment, but it must be done. We must do what's right because it is right to do what is right and God will take care of the rest.