The newly elected leader of one of Baltimore's largest church groups says members plan to expand beyond their historical borders and focus on the city's youth in an attempt to curb violence.
"We are going to have quite a few changes. The primary goal will be a big push on our youth," said the Rev. Johnny N. Golden, president-elect of Clergy United for the Renewal of East Baltimore (CURE).
Golden, who takes over the 120-member church group Jan. 1, said he plans to meet with state and city school leaders early next year to map strategies for strengthening the churches' and schools' influence on youth. He also will seek to meet with Mayor Martin O'Malley to share the group's concerns and its agenda: public safety, economic development, health and education.
Golden, pastor of New Unity Baptist Church near Clifton Park, said the performance of city elementary school pupils on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program tests -- only 16.9 percent scored satisfactorily -- indicates deep social problems, some of which trigger violence.
"We've got to take some innovative, creative and perhaps even drastic measures in order to rectify this problem," Golden said.
Baltimore's east side has consistently led the city in violent crime in the past several years, according to police statistics, and has had nearly double the number of homicides of other areas. High concentrations of police this year have been credited with halting the district's record-setting pace -- through September, 35 killings in the area represented a 28 percent drop from the 49 recorded at the same time last year, which led the city.
"It's still unacceptable," Golden said. "It still says that we are not doing all that we need to do and that public safety still is an area that has not received the attention it needs, particularly in the East Baltimore corridor of our city."
Golden said the 120-member umbrella group also intends to expand into other church affiliations. "We hope to reach out beyond East Baltimore, reach out beyond the traditional Baptists," he said.
Golden, who has been affiliated with the organization for nearly four years, was among CURE's new leadership announced last week. He will replace the Rev. Melvin Tuggle II of Garden of Prayer Baptist Church as president.
The Rev. Christina Holtsclaw, pastor of the East Baltimore Deliverance Center, will become first vice president. The Rev. Iris Lewis, pastor of Centennial-Caroline Street United Methodist Church, will be second vice president, and the Rev. Mamie Cooley, pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church, will be treasurer. A formal induction ceremony will be held Jan. 21.
CURE meets the third Tuesday of every month at the church of the standing president. Information: 410-366-6094.
Sun staff writer Peter Hermann contributed to this article.
