Photo by Julie Stenger Bishop Jermaine V. Moore Sr., founder and presiding prelate of the One Body Covenant Fellowship and pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville, is preparing for the fifth-annual Holy Convocation and the Official Day Ecumenical Liturgy. Events will take place Thursday through Saturday at the church, located at 221 N. Seventh St. Events are open to the public.

STEUBENVILLE — Take a look at the world around you … the world as it is today.

We are living in a time when people should be uniting with one another, but, instead, are becoming more divided.

We are living in a moment when our society should be joining together, but we are growing farther apart from each other.

One local religious leader is hoping to change all that by bringing Christians of all denominations together for a great reconciliation.

Bishop Jermaine V. Moore Sr. is the pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville. He also is the founder and presiding prelate of the One Body Covenant Fellowship, which is hosting the event. The international, multi-denominational ecumenical movement is based in Steubenville.

Moore announced a Holy Convocation is planned for later this week — a uniting of fellowship members for the purpose of learning and spiritual enrichment. This will be the church’s fifth liturgical service, which is meant to increase collaboration and unity among Christians.

The three-day event will include a signing event for Moore’s new book, entitled, “The Great Reconciliation.”

The event’s kickoff begins Thursday with a Woman’s Night at the church, located at 221 N. Seventh St. Residents from around the Ohio Valley are invited to attend this special event.

Participants can register at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, after which greetings and scripture readings will begin at 9 a.m. Moore will introduce lecturer the Rev. LaCretia Pratt, OBCF overseer of international affairs, who will speak on the topic, “The High Cost of Division.” The goal of this lecture is to awaken a deeper awareness of the devastating cost of division, and to inspire a renewed commitment to biblical unity, reconciliation and collective purpose.

From 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., the Rev. Rasonia Nicholes, OBCF board member and international women’s director, will introduce part one of “The Evolution and Integration of Women in Ministry.” At 11:30 a.m., Nicholes will instruct guests on “Preaching Proficiency: Is it One-Dimensional?”

Lunch will be served from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. At 2 p.m., Missionary Rose Marie Slaughter will speak on word, wisdom and anointing.

Thursday will include an intercessory prayer, which is praying on behalf of others. The activity will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The opening Women’s Night of worship is open to everyone and takes place at 7 p.m.

On Friday, prayer will begin the day at 8:45 a.m., with greetings and scripture readings following at 9 a.m. Chapel will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., featuring the lecture topic, “A Commitment to No More,” presented by the Rev. Lionel Walker, first assistant to the prelate. The lecture’s goal is to disrupt complacency and inspire a renewed hunger for truth, humility and growth.

Nicholes will instruct guests on “The Evolution and Integration of Women in Ministry,” Part 2, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Moore’s book release signing will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday inside the church sanctuary. A book review lecture is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.; an interview with the author will run from 11:40 a.m. to noon; a question-and-answer period is slated from noon to 12:15 p.m.; and the opportunity to purchase a copy of the book, have the book signed and take photos is scheduled from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Attendees will break for lunch from 1-2 p.m., after which the Alliance Theological Institute Launch Ceremony will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday’s launch ceremony features opening remarks, an overview of ATI’s purpose and mission and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Great Processional Lineup will begin at 6 p.m.

The Service of Consecration will be held Friday, with Bishop Jerry Staples of Beckley, W.Va., serving as the diocesan for the One Body Covenant Fellowship.

A processional is set for 7 p.m., along with a presentation by the Rev. Reloy Gainey, second assistant provider of OBCF and chairman of the OBCF College of Bishops. The litany will be given by the Rev. Philip Jones Sr., prelate of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

The OBCF seal statement will be given by the Rev. Cameron Bowman, prelate of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Moore will preside over the act of consecration.

Saturday’s Official Day Liturgy will begin at 10 a.m. City officials and community leaders will be in attendance, with Moore presenting the Official Day message.

Discussions among pastors and bishops will be held for the purpose of continuing pastoring amid current crises. Guests will include Rose Marie Slaughter; Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo; mayoral candidate Ralph Petrella; Bishop John Coats; Ronald C. Todd II, who will be a representative from the office of Gov. Mike DeWine; and Brent Sleasman, president of Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

Moore explained this event is for anybody who recognizes there has been a breakdown in our society, including young people and adults. He noted how the killing of Charlie Kirk has brought about a great deal of divisiveness in the country, saying rather than people coming together, society is divided, and has no sense of unity.

When churches of various denominations can come together and pray, and are able to converse with one another, it will be a major step forward into rectifying that division, Moore explained, adding this liturgy is the first step toward reaching that goal.

“Nothing comes together divided,” Moore stated, noting this event will be an opportunity to hear a message and others’ thoughts and decide if we are able to relate to the belief in the pursuit of pushing unity, not just in the city of Steubenville, but in the county, the state and beyond.

“How can we expect, as Christians, society to be better, when the church is divided?” Moore asked. “The government should rest upon the shoulders of the church, but it is the other way around.”

“There is a bigger picture than all of us,” Moore added.

The overall message Moore said that he wants to convey comes from Corinthians 12:12, which says, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

This refers to the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, showing how different denominations and different members can work together and form one cohesive entity, he added.