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October 25th event at the Amistad taking shape
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May, 2003
On October 25th, the Freedom Schooner Amistadwill be docked in Boston Harbor, reflected in the curved glass of the Joseph P. Moakley Courthouse on Fan Pier.
Hundreds of people from Massachusetts Conference churches across the state will be touring the ship and taking part in activities in the courthouse including listening to storytellers, musicians and re-enactments. Finally, they’ll have a chance to attend worship at Our Lady of the Good Voyage down the street.
At least – that’s how organizers are envisioning the day.
“This will be a special opportunity for our folks to visit the vessel and learn the Amistad story and our connection with that,” said Bill Fleming, Seafarer’s Friend Chaplain and chair of the task force planning the event. “There will be something for all ages.”
Organizers had to change the date of the Conference Amistad event from October 18th to October 25th due to the tides. A low tide on the 18th would have put the schooner well below the level of the pier; while a high tide on the 25th will put it right at eye level as people arrive.
The ship will be in Boston and open to the public from October 14th through October 26th. The Conference is the chief sponsor of the visit.
“We’re all so excited about this visit because it will be a chance to tell the story about the abolitionists, to tell the story about our forefathers, and to raise consciousness about issues of race and justice,” said Peter Southwell-Sander, who is chairing the Conference committee working on the visit. “Also, the Conference being a leader in bringing Amistad here will raise our profile in the public eye.”
Of course, all this can only happen with the support of the churches. In order for the ship to come as scheduled, and for the Conference event at the courthouse to go forward as scheduled, the planning committee needs to raise $90,000.
Those funds will go to such things as berthing the ship for the two weeks and paying and housing the crew, as well as the rental fee for the courthouse for the 25th.
“We’ve gone forward in faith, knowing that the churches will catch the excitement and realize the opportunity we have here,” Southwell-Sander said. “That is why we are asking for a minimum of $200 from each church to support this effort.”
Southwell-Sander said some churches have already begun to jump on board. His own church, for example, Grace Church in Framingham, held a special Amistad service in which the Amistad story was told and individuals were invited to contribute. The small, downtown church raised $330 and already has 50 people signed up to take a bus to the Moakley Courthouse for the big event.
Another church, Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lexington, voted to contribute $500 out of the church budget.
“We are sure that wonderful stories like this will be repeated again and again across the Conference,” Southwell-Sander said.
An appeal to individuals – clergy and some lay leaders in the Conference – has already brought in $15,000 in contributions.
Churches are also being encouraged to start making plans to attend on Oct. 25th. Bus parking will be provided, and buses will be able to drive right up to the pier where the ship is docked.
While the Conference event at the courthouse and chapel will be free for groups from Conference churches, those groups will still need to pay $5 per adult, and $3 per children, to tour the Amistad. That fee goes directly to AMISTAD America, the ship’s owner.
Churches that cannot send groups on October 25th can tour the ship at any other time while it is in port for the same price.
Southwell-Sander said he hopes churches will also work to promote the Amistad’s visit in their local schools and communities. A non-Conference Host Committee is working to secure corporate sponsors to hold educational forums and events related to the visit and to distribute an Amistad curriculum to the public schools.
“Churches can really take a great lead in letting people know about this visit,” Southwell-Sander said.
Churches have been sent an Amistad poster
and bulletin insert about the visit. In
June, a
packet will
be sent to each church
containing
details
on how to
register for the event. That packet will
also include Amistad-related materials
that can
be used for worship, Bible study, church
school, youth group gatherings and multi-generational
church events.