In the spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., two pastors — one black, one white — have set out to remove walls from segregated churches.

The Rev. Lee Williams and the Rev. Clint Tolbert used the weekend leading to today’s commemoration of Mr. King’s birth with an integrated worship service, uniting First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, an all-white congregation, with believers from Search-Lite Community Church, which is nearly all black.

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Mr. Tolbert, who is white, said the service is intended as a stand against church segregation, noting Mr. King’s frequent observation that “Eleven o’clock Sunday morning is the most segregated hour and Sunday school is still the most segregated school of the week.”

The joint service, drawing more than 50 people, was a first. Other efforts are planned to integrate their members and their lives.

“This is just a baby step,” Mr. Tolbert said.

The two churches share another common interest: Search-Lite, a year-old church with about 20 members, worships in the smaller chapel of First Presbyterian at 200 E. Broadway.

Under the arrangement that began in November, First Presbyterian, with 400 members, uses the newer, larger sanctuary for traditional and modern services.

First Presbyterian was chartered in 1820, and its first church was built in 1837.

There are no plans for a merger, both pastors said.

Their styles of worship are too dissimilar, as evidenced with the “A Song of Praise” sung by Marcia Jones, along with three back-up singers and pianist Mark Smaw.

The congregation clapped and swayed to her uplifting call-and-response song that drew hearty applause.

The contrast to the solemn, traditional hymns often heard in the mainline Christian church was evident.

“Presbyterians have a nickname,” Mr. Tolbert confided to the worshippers. “We’re also called the ‘frozen chosen.’ But we just thawed out a bit.”

The two congregations will continue to worship in the traditions their members are comfortable with, but will continue to honor Mr. King by joining together on special occasions, such as Lenten services, Mr. Williams said.

“We have the space here for kingdom-building,” he said.

Mr. Williams also serves as chaplain for ProMedica St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee, a position he’s held for four years. He said he’s been a minister for 12 years.

The service included two gospel readings, from Mark and John, that recalled the anger of Jesus when confronting the money changers in the temple, a theme that Mr. Williams continued in his sermon, “Not in My Father’s House.”

Mr. Williams touched on the issues of liberation from slavery, both the Jews from Egypt and blacks in America.

He noted the role of the Underground Railroad, which had a stop in Maumee.

That site, the “House of the Four Pillars” at 322 E. Broadway, is near the First Presbyterian Church.

Slavery continues today, Mr. Williams said, in the form of sex slavery, racial profiling, and extortion of the poor, as just a few examples.

Pastors and churches, black and white, have to be on guard to fight those forms of oppression, he said.

“If we don’t sound he alarm, who will,” he asked. “It’s our responsibility.”

Observance of Martin Luther King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1929, continues today with the city of Toledo’s unity celebration that begins at 9 a.m. at the University of Toledo Savage Arena on the main campus.

The event is free and open to the public, and it will feature remarks by UT President Nagi Naganathan and Mayor D. Michael Collins. There will be performances by the Toledo School for the Arts’ Afro-Caribbean Dance and Drum Ensemble and FU5ION. A free community luncheon will follow the ceremony.

In addition, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Kitchen for the Poor will hold its annual celebration at 10 a.m. at Lo Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 660 Vance St., followed by a noon luncheon at the kitchen, 650 Vance St. Special guests will be William Ward, principal of Martin Luther King, Jr., Academy and students from the school.

Contact: Jim Sielicki at jsielicki@theblade.comor 419-724-6050.

First Published January 19, 2015, 5:00 a.m.