Powell, a Negro, also is pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist church in Harlem. He has called for a day of prayer March 28 in connection with race tensions and violence in the South.

The Baptist Ministers Fellowship, composed of ministers of churches Negro communities in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, reported today that the charge against Powell was made at a meeting Tuesday.

The Rev. James R. Moore, executive secretary of the group, said it was the general feeling among Fellowship members that Powell was promoting the day of prayer "as an opportunist, for his own political prestige."

An Abyssinian Baptist spokesman denied the charge.

The Long Island ministers, who said their churches have congregations totaling 25,000 members, said the Fellowship set March 26, 30 for "fasting and praying for freedom from oppression of all minority groups throughout the world."

On each of these days, eight churches in central locations in the three counties will hold prayer services at noon and at 8 p.m. collections will be taken up to further the efforts of clergymen in Montgomery, Ala., who are leading a bus boycott in protest against segregation policies.