For many years, the World Council of Churches has declared Jan. 18-25 the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

During this time, congregations are encouraged to learn more about the diverse ways in which we worship and to pray for a greater sense of unity as one church.

Appropriately, clergypersons in the Natchez area have an opportunity to build on this unity on Tuesday. On this date the Natchez Area Ministerial Alliance will meet for its first meeting of 2010.

All licensed and ordained clergy who are retired, in an active pastorate or in an institutional ministry in the Natchez area are welcome to attend.

The purpose of the Natchez Area Ministerial Alliance finds its best summary in two words: To Serve.

This group serves as a space for fellowship among Christian leaders, as an advocate for the concerns and works of charity in our area, and as a resource for one another and for community leaders. Monthly meetings of the alliance provide time to share such concerns and opportunities in the spirit of Christian fellowship.

The alliance also coordinates the National Day of Prayer in May and the Community Thanksgiving Service in November. Annual dues are $20 per church.

Monthly meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m., with the exceptions of November and December. The alliance does not meet during the summer months.

Each month the alliance meets in a different location, usually the churches or ministerial buildings in which the clergy serve.

The meeting on Tuesday will be at Grace United Methodist Church, 2 Fatherland Road, in Natchez.

As the new president of the Natchez Area Ministerial Alliance, I would like to extend an invitation to clergy in the area to become an active part of this gathering.

In a world so often divided, let us begin 2010 by moving towards unity with one another.

Rev. Darian Duckworth is the president of the Natchez Area Ministerial Alliance and the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church.