(CNN) – Dozens of faith leaders from across the
country recently gathered to attend The Stand Up Education Policy Summit
in Atlanta, Georgia, to talk education reform. The daylong conference
was hosted by education organzations StudentsFirst, founded by Michelle Rhee and Stand Up,
led by her husband, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. The purpose of the
event was a call for action for clergy to take part in the national
movement to transform public education.
CNN spoke with some prominent religious leaders in the
African-American community to find out their views on the role faith
institutions should play in public education.
Rev. DeForest Soaries, Jr., a senior pastor at First Baptist Church
of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, laid out what he believes
are three roles of the church in education.
"One is programs. Some churches have their own schools that would be
on the programmatic level, after school programs and literacy programs.
The second is political dealings with the various political forces that
impact and control public schools: Making sure people run for school
board, making sure people vote for school board, and monitor what's
happening. And, the third is policy: Advocating for policies that
enhance the likelihood of success."
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