WORKING TOGETHER

The nation has watched as churches serving black congregations -- and whites too -- have gone up in smoke in recent months. The scene has been reminiscent of similar burnings and lynchings in the 1930s. And there have been echoes of the turbulent years of the civil rights movement.

As targets go, churches -- particularly rural churches with no one around to spot arsonists and no handy fire department to douse the flames -- are easy pickings. The fires are still under investigation, and there is still no definite link that says even a majority of the fires are part of a racially motivated hate campaign. But the fact that so many fires have occurred in a relatively short time span at churches that minister to black congregations leaves a strong feeling that this is more than coincidence.

Although it has been slow in coming, many groups around the country, both religious and secular, are making pledge to aid the stricken churches as they seek to rebuild their buildings and their spiritual lives.

Against this backdrop, two small congregations -- one in Chaffee and one in Cape Girardeau -- have quietly embarked on an effort to overcome racial barriers. For the past 13 months, the all-white People's Full Gospel Church in Chaffee and the all-black New Horizon Missionary Baptist church in Cape Girardeau have been holding regular joint services.

The joint worship services have been accepted for the most part by members of both congregations, but there have been a few bumps along the way. This was expected, and the purpose of the combined services has been to build bridges, not walls.

So far, supporters of the joint effort believe they are, in their own way, demonstrating the possibilities of racial harmony. More power to them as the continue to find ways to work together.