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CHARLOTTE — Martin Luther King Jr. once said 11 a.m. on Sunday was the most segregated hour in America.

In honor of Dr. King, some Charlotte faith leaders want to change that by participating in a sermon exchange. The program allows faith leaders to address to "swap" congregations for one day. It is the second year Mecklenburg Ministries, Crossroads Charlotte and Temple Beth El are coordinating the swap that will continue until May.
 
During the 11 a.m. service Rabbi Judy Schindler of Temple Beth El gave the sermon at the First Baptist Church West in Charlotte.
 
"I think it forces us to ask great questions about each other and learn from our religious rituals as well as learn about the issues that matter most to each community," said Rabbi Schindler.
 
Last Friday night, Dr. Ricky Woods, Pastor of First Baptist Church, addressed Schindler's congregation at Temple Beth El during their Shabbat service. The Johnson C. Smith University choir also performed.

“One of the things these kinds of events help the community and help us to do is to talk more about our commonality rather than those kinds of differences as it relates to our faith,” said Woods.

The goal of the sermon exchange is to improve race relations. Last year, more than 50 faith leaders participated and more are expected this year. They hope to model what they would like to see more of in the Charlotte community.