By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP - Four miles separate Northminster Presbyterian Church and Winton Hills Community Presbyterian Church.

After Saturday, a wall will also divide them.

The two churches, one white and the other African-American, are building the wall at 9 a.m. together at Northminster so they can tear it down April 12.

"It's something that's a little bit different and dramatic, but we hope it will be a catalyst for better relationships, not only between our congregations but within the community at large," said Jeff Hosmer, pastor of Northminster, 703 Compton Road.

The project is an idea Hosmer took from Ephesians 2:14, which reads: "For he (Jesus) is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility."

He approached Rev. Chip Hall, pastor of Winton Hills, 5255 Winneste Ave., about the idea.

"We thought we could do something more dramatic, and do something not only symbolic but we could build a lasting relationship," Hall said.

The wall-building is accompanied by a series on race. Hall will speak Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Northminster.

"I want to challenge people as to what our definition of culture is and what our definition of community is," he said. "It takes us to move out of comfort zone to truly be cross-cultural."

On April 2, Gregg Tracy, principal of Finneytown High School, will speak about building community within schools at 7 p.m. at Northminster.

Then on April 12, from 1 to 4 p.m., there'll be a wall-breaking ceremony, complete with prayers, music and refreshments.

Not spring break

More than 5,000 students from 59 college campuses, including the University of Cincinnati, will not be heading to a beach for spring break. The students instead will participate in Alternative Break programs.

Where they're going:

• 11 students to Reynosa, Mexico, to build a rural elementary school.

• 14 students will build a dormitory for future volunteers and help with home improvements in Carboneras, Mexico.

• 20 students with Habitat for Humanity will travel to the Miami area to build housing.

• 25 members of Collegiate Ministry will go to New Orleans to repair homes and tutor.

• The UC Lutheran Campus Ministry will go to the Cumberland Mountains to work on home improvements.

• The St. Monica/St. George Newman Center will go to Bell County, Ky., to assist in roofing, painting and landscaping.

Pilarczyk to speak

Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk will speak at the book-signing of Vatican II: Forty Personal Stories (one of the stories is Pilarczyk's) Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Pavilion, 2692 Madison Road.

The book, which is edited by William Madges, chairman of Xavier University's theology department, and Mike Daley, is a narrative approach to Vatican II, held between 1962 and 1965.

Send religion items to kvance@fuse.net or fax to 755-4150.