The historic church, founded in 1823 by slave Isaac Jones, will host a pre-dedication ceremony at the church, 7030 Reading Road, at Jordan Crossing, Bond Hill. The church dedication is set for 4 p.m. May 23.

Allen Temple is the oldest black congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains and was named after Richard Allen, the founder of the AME Church.

The Rev. Donald H. Jordan, the pastor who led the congregation in the $10 million building program, said the pre-dedication will include the opening of the 1,200-seat sanctuary, offices and board rooms.

Jordan said several congregations are negotiating to rent the Allen Temple Worship Center, a temporary facility where the Allen Temple Congregation met while the church was being built.

"The cost on this phase of the construction is $4 million," Jordan said. "A second phase, which will include classrooms, a gymnasium and a youth department, will cost $6 million."

The mall where the church is located, formerly Swifton Commons, is named in honor of Jordan.

"The church building is a part of the Jordan Crossing mall, which includes an extension of Wilberforce University and a $15 million development for the Cincinnati Hamilton County Community Action Agency.

Jordan said Allen Temple has also entered into a partnership with Tryed Stone Baptist Church, the city of Cincinnati and a local developer to build single-family housing on 60 acres adjacent to Jordan Crossing.

Jordan, who was pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church, led that congregation to build a new building in Forest Park.

"I am not going to build another new church,'' Jordan said. "After this, I am finished. I am going to Heaven."

Hamilton wins awards

The Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission will receive six awards of excellence for 2004 at the annual meeting of the National Association of County Information Officers in Phoenix in July.

Len Keso, awards program coordinator for the association, said there were 541 entries from all over the country.

Among the honors going to the county are a meritorious award for its annual report, titled "The Planning Partnership Annual Report 2003," and the excellence award for its brochure, titled "The Vision for Hamilton County's Future."

It also won an excellence award for Citizen Education, titled "State of County Report Series: Community Compass."

The Citizen Education program also won a meritorious award for its "Census 2000 Community Profiles: Political Jurisdictions of Hamilton County."

An excellence award went to the commission's external publication, titled "Update: The Planning Partnership Newsletter."

In addition, a report titled, "Mired in the Inertia of Sprawl," won a meritorious award.

POSITIVELY KIDS: 2 from West Chester troop receive Eagle Scout award

Two members of Troop 940, sponsored by St. John Church of West Chester Township, have achieved the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America: the Eagle Scout award.

Justin Landers, a sophomore at Lakota East High School, created a nature center in the courtyard at Independence Elementary School in Liberty Township for his community service project. Justin is the son of Connie and Tom Landers of Liberty Township.

David Monroe, a senior at Lakota West High School, constructed a meditation labyrinth at St. John Church for his eagle community service program. The son of Mary Ann and John Monroe of West Chester Township plans to major in engineering at Ohio State University in the fall.

3 local students to travel to Washington to meet leaders

Kelsi Dwyer of Goshen High School, Michael Fender of Turpin High and Steve Wright of Madeira Junior-Senior High were selected to participate in a National Young Leaders Conference, "The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today," in Washington, D.C.

The conference is for students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit. Over six days, they interact with newsmakers in an exploration of the three branches of government, the news media and the international community.

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