A coalition of Christian leaders is pledging new efforts at racial dialogue and reconciliation in the wake of highly charged racial incidents nationwide over the past year.

Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania issued the statement today in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the epic Selma-to-Montgomery, Ala., civil rights march.

“Racism still pervades every arena of American society — perhaps most grievously of all, our churches,” the statement said. “Although the Bible teaches that Christians ‘are all one in Christ Jesus,’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s observation is still correct: ‘The most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.’ ”

Christian Associates represents local denominational bodies from a broad range of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions. While it includes historically black denominations, most of the actively participating leaders are from predominantly white groups.

Citing the ongoing season of Lent, which involves self-examination and the mending of one’s ways, the group pledged “an intentional process of listening and relationship-building. We must diversify the voices in our fellowship and listen more carefully to the experiences and insights of people of color.”

The statement said this would include dialogues with historically black Baptist, Methodist and other bodies.

“We understand that in order for that to happen, our agenda has to change,” said Bishop Kurt Kusserow of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and one of those who worked on the document.

“We may not know what that change would have to be until we listen to those we want to include,” he said.

While marking the Selma march, the statement also was inspired by more recent events, such as the protests against police treatment of black suspects.

It’s “a time when all the dialogue in the culture and the conversations in the church and our own compulsion from our faith to address these issues are all coming together,” said the Rev. Liddy Barlow, executive minister of Christian Associates. “We felt the time was right for us to speak.”

Christian Associates, founded in 1970, brings together leaders of 26 local bodies — such as dioceses, synods and presbyteries — representing 16 denominations in 10 counties in the region.

First Published: March 25, 2015, 4:00 a.m.