In pews and on knees, at the steps of City Hall and the grass of Oakley Square, people of faith are praying for the city of Cincinnati.

        More than 250 Tristate churches have been invited to pray for healing at City Hall tonight, which coincides with the National Day of Prayer.

        Christian Scientists will host a race-reconciliation event next week. Catholics, Muslims and Jews joined together to pray during the riots; and the United Methodists were beseeched last week by their bishop to recognize racism within themselves.

PRAYER EVENTS

Today:    5:30 p.m.: Meeting of clergy and members of Council of Christian Communions to discuss the churches' response to the city's race problems. Open to the public. Old St. George, 42 Calhoun, Corryville. Information: 559-3151.    6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Prayer vigil on the Central Avenue steps of City Hall. Information: 621-2873. Sunday: 5 p.m.: Potluck supper and conversation to promote peace and racial harmony. Sponsored by the Ohio River Deanery, composed of seven Cincinnati Episcopal churches. Bring a dish to share; entree provided. Church of Our Saviour, 65 E. Hollister St., Mt. Auburn. Information: 241-1870. May 12:    11 a.m.: “Bridges of Unity.” Speaker is South African Dorothy Maubane, who will discuss the spiritual side of reconciliation and healing. Open to the public. Second Church of Christ, Scientist, 2843 Clifton Ave., at Probasco, Clifton. Information: 271-8887.

        While elected officials and business leaders grapple with ways to rebound from Cincinnati's race conflicts last month, religious groups are turning to a higher power for solutions.

        “As churches and groups come together in the community, it helps us remember we're connected,” says Sister Rosie Miller, who teaches theology at Xavier University.

        “It's not black and white. God does not discriminate. Prayer reminds us of that.”

        But some ask, where were many of these faith leaders before the riots?

        “We've got homeless and hungry people here 365 days of the week,” says Greta Benton, a retired teacher who lives in Over-the-Rhine.

        “Why wait for a catastrophe to happen? Now everybody wants to put their Band-Aid on the sore. It's a little bit too late.”

        Churches and other faith groups historically have been instruments of social change.

        “It's called living the Gospel,” says Sister Rosie. “If we take Jesus seriously, then I think we have to take all those social justice issues seriously.”

        Faith-based outreach programs already pepper Over-the-Rhine, Avondale and other inner-city neighborhoods. Volunteers — white and black — from throughout the city donate their time and money.

        But there's a sense many suburban churches and members weren't truly committed to improving race relations.

        “Our eyes have been opened. We've been shocked,” says Nina Rogers, a Mariemont grandmother who is coordinating a special race lecture for the Christian Scientists. “We should have been doing it before.”

        Three months ago, at a forum sponsored by The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., criticized the lack of white ministers involved in race relations.

        Today, “It's just the opposite,” he says. White pastors “are coming out of the woodwork, which is very, very refreshing. If this had happened prior to (the riots), we probably wouldn't be in the situation we are. It's sad this had to happen to get people involved.”

        He cautions: “It just can't be a fluff, window-dressing, one-time thing.”

        Churches and faith groups have a chance to make a difference, says Mrs. Benton.

        She watched the riots from her apartment on the corner of Vine and Liberty streets. She saw the police in riot gear, and kids running, looting and taunting.

        She also could see the doors of St. Francis Seraph wide open. Nuns and friars stood outside, talking to people, offering water and a place to pray.

        “This church was not harmed,” she says. “That tells me that somewhere in the upbringing (of the young adults on the street), they learned a deep respect for the church.”

        Suburban churches that really feel called to help should, she says. But their commitment needs to be long-term, Mrs. Benton says. She's seen too many groups swoop in for a weekend, go home feeling better about themselves and leave the community to fend for itself.

        Burr Robinson supports the prayer services. They “help release the power of God through people's lives. But it can't stop at the prayer service,” says Mr. Robinson, executive director of Jobs Plus Employment Network in Over-the-Rhine. “It's not (just) feeding them, housing them, clothing them, jobbing them. ... That's not where the hurt is. The hurt is inside. It's a lack of love in their lives.”

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