ELLENTON — After the May 4 service of repentance and reconciliation for racism at the United Methodist 2000 General Conference, the Rev. Tom Otto, former pastor of Ellenton United Methodist Church here, decided the same kind of service held locally could melt some of the division between people here.

That service was held June 11 when members of the Ellenton church and Turners Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in nearby Palmetto participated in a "Litany of Racial and Community Reconciliation" at Ellenton’s 10 a.m. worship service.

Although Ellenton is not a racially tense city, Otto says it is a place where blacks and whites exist in peaceful separation. "There’s just an awareness that we’re separate, that we don’t mingle much," he said. "We wanted to melt down and soften some of those feelings that I’m afraid still exist in Christendom and Methodism."

A recent increase in the visibility of drug activity in the community also highlighted the importance of different people working together. "There are issues like that [drugs] that we need to face together," he said. "We need to give people dignity and let them know God can give them all they need through Christ."

Herb Kromrey, a worship leader from the Ellenton church, said that although several people were wondering why the church was having a litany when they had "never been mean to any black people," the service did have an impact on the church. "It left me with the impression that we ought to get together more often," he said.

"We wanted to show that we love them for who they are and that we are together in proclaiming Jesus Christ to the community that is separate in parts of the week and on Sunday, especially," Otto said.

Nearly half of the AME church’s 60 members and more than 100 members of the Ellenton congregation attended the service. The AME choir participated, and its assistant pastor, the Rev. Equillia Washington, spoke.

"It was beautiful, the communion between the people," Washington said. "Everybody was lovely and kind, and it was very spiritual."

Kromrey said he enjoyed the service, especially the choir. "They let it all go and were very enthusiastic," he said. "The preacher was quite charismatic. She sure was enthused about how good God’s been to her and her church family."

During the service Otto and his wife, Annie, gave two youth from the AME church scholarships to this year’s United Methodist summer youth camp.

The reconciliation service was Otto’s last at the church. He is now serving Flagler Beach United Methodist Church in Flagler Beach. The Rev. Steve Bruns has been appointed to Ellenton.

Despite the change in pastoral leadership, members at both churches hope the service will be the beginning to a new era of cooperation among the people here.