VALDOSTA — Union Cathedral Pastor Bishop Wade S. McCrae has invited all clergy members, business and community leaders and politicians to discuss the rash of violent crimes in Valdosta.

The forum will be held today at noon at the Valdosta City Hall Annex and will focus on developing a plan to combat the crime in the community. McCrae particularly hopes to reach area pastors in the community.

“I felt compelled to call people together so we can find a way to prevent these senseless deaths from happening right in our back yards,” McCrae said.

“We are not the police, but there is something that we can do. We preach to hundreds of people, but it’s all about how we involve ourselves in the community. We have to make the parents, the politicians and the community accountable.”

McCrae said that the forum will include Valdosta Mayor John Fretti, Valdosta Police Chief Frank Simons, Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Joe Crow, the Valdosta Area Ministerial Alliance, counselors from Peaceway Consulting, several preachers, politicians, business owners and community members.