By Tyra Jackson

The Selma Times-Journal 

The schedule for Concordia College Alabama’s civil rights symposium is full of educational and spiritual events next week.

The week-long will start with chapel service featuring a drama team production before the viewing of the movie “Selma Lord Selma” on March 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kreft Center’s theater room. After the movie, author Sheyann Webb Christburg will conduct a Q&A session at 7 p.m.

Tuesday will feature keynote speakers the Rev. Don Johnson, author of “Broken Parts Missing Pieces,” and Tim Young Eagle of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee Foundation. Johnson and Eagle will discuss their roles as Native American leaders at the Leadership and Civil Rights seminar at 7 p.m. in Wright Auditorium.

“Don Johnson and Tim Young Eagle had to overcome lots of things in their lives, and they’ve emerged to become leaders,” said Concordia public relations director Abby Campbell. “That’s the reason they’re leading the seminar.”

The following morning the Rev. Victor Belton of Peace Lutheran Church in Decatur, Ga. will hold a chapel service at 11 a.m. in Wright Auditorium. Hours later, the “Recollections of ’65” event detailing the experiences of former students of Alabama Lutheran Academy who witnessed events of 1965, will begin. The first half of the event will begin at 5 p.m. and the second part will begin at 7:15 p.m. in the Wright Auditorium. The Rev. F.D. Reese, former Selma mayor James Perkins Jr. and Selma’s first African American fire chief Henry Allen will offer their testimonies.

“It’s going to be a very interesting perspective to hear the people from 50 years ago, and what they went through,” Campbell said.

On Thursday, there will be only one event. Ambassadors of Reconciliation, an international Lutheran ministry, will host a presentation called “Reconciliation: How do We Heal the wounds?” at 6 p.m. in Wright Auditorium.

Another chapel service featuring Rev. Roosevelt Gray, director of LCMS Black Ministry, will start at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 6 in the Wright Auditorium. The Jenkins Center will house a student discussion panel entitled “Cultural Views from Around the Country: Challenges and Solutions from a Student Perspective” at 12:30 p.m.

Students from Concordia University Irvine, Concordia College New York, Valparaiso University, and other colleges will participate in the discussions. Students will discuss how civil rights are viewed in different areas around the country.

At 1:30 a women’s discussion panel will begin at the Jenkins Center.

At 5 p.m., a mock trial hosted by the Selma Jubilee Committee will be in Wright Auditorium.

Saturday morning, the Rev. William Griffin will speak at 10 a.m. The Rev. Joseph Ellwanger, author of “Strength in the Struggle,” will reflect on his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement in Selma at 11:30 a.m.

“Joseph Ellwanger was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement,” she said. “I think that’ll be a great one for people to attend. He has a good perspective, I think.”

In addition, Dr. Kathryn Galchutt of Concordia College New York will present a seminar about Lutherans and their work in Civil Rights Movement.

The week will end with a Community Church Service at 10 a.m.

For more information about the week, call (334) 874-5700, ext. 19818 or go online to www.CCAL.edu.