By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black

For decades, voting for president every four years was as easy and safe as picking up a loaf of bread from the supermarket: show up to the polls, cast your ballot and move on with the rest of your day. Then, the 2020 election happened. 

There were lies about election fraud and strict voter ID laws some say are racist. Vigilante “poll monitors,” some of them armed, menaced voters and poll workers, often in Black communities. Intimidating new rules that all but declare a blue vote in a red state may not be counted. 

It’s enough to make a faithful voter wish for divine intervention. Faiths United to Save Democracy, however, could be the next best thing. 

A nonpartisan, multi-racial, interfaith organization, FUSD is an organization designed to help and protect voters on Election Day. It dispatches trained, non-partisan volunteers —  poll chaplains — to help ensure free and unhindered access to the polls for members of vulnerable communities. 

Armed with the law

Together with “peacekeepers” — lay volunteers trained with the chaplains —  they support voters, explain the rules or help them report irregularities, including electioneering, harassment and intimidation. The goal: help people navigate rules that could make it more difficult for Black people, young people, the elderly and differently abled to cast a ballot and have it count.

FUSD’s voter protection campaigns this year will take place in the South, including Alabama, Florida and Texas, along with Ohio and several key swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

The organization was created in the wake of the 2020 election to “protect the sacred freedom to vote of vulnerable citizens” because of “wide acceptance of political violence and the increase in anti-voting laws,” Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, a clergywoman and activist, said in a letter to new team members.

Amen, says Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, pastor of the Second Episcopal District of the AME Church in Washington, D.C. 

“We’re going to watch and pray that there be no intimidation, no obstruction and no challenges,” he says. “We just want to keep the peace. We are 100 percent non-partisan in nature.” 

With early voting already underway in more than a few states, Faith United to Save Democracy and partner organizations — including the NAACP, Latino Christian National Network, the National Council of Churches, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Nation’s Mosque — have dispatched some of the peacekeepers and poll chaplains they’ve trained since summer. 

While some right-wing poll watchers show up with loaded guns, the FUSD teams are armed only with knowledge of election rules and laws, nonviolent intervention tactics, a voting-rights hotline, and, of course, prayer. The need for peacekeepers and poll chaplains is clear, according to an FUSD press release. 

Fighting chaos with witness

Since the 2020 election, “voters have faced increasing barriers to exercising their right to vote,” according to the statement. “Nearly 400 voter restriction measures in 49 states, from ID laws to limited access to mail voting, have been proposed or passed. These laws erect barriers that disproportionately limit people of color, the elderly and the poor from being able to vote.”

At the same time, “increasingly violent rhetoric and events throughout the 2024 election,” including election fraud conspiracies and death threats to poll workers, “has given voters credible concern about violence or intimidation at the polls,” according to the statement.

To counter those developments, “trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers will be deployed to cities and polling sites in areas of greatest need in this critical time for the future of our democracy,” according to the FUSD statement.

Though trained together, peacekeepers will be inside polling places as helpers while poll chaplains will stand outside to assist voters as needed. The task is simple, says Dr. James Perkins, pastor emeritus of Detroit’s Greater Christ Baptist Church.

“Be on time, let your presence be known, and be helpful as needed,” he says. “And keep the number of the hotline handy, just in case it’s needed.”

“The involvement of poll chaplains and Peacekeepers is essential in actively safeguarding the vote in local communities,” says Rev. Moya Harris, director of racial justice at Sojourners, a faith-based social justice nonprofit and FUSD member. “This is integral to our call as people of faith — to combat chaos with love and witness.”

The post Souls guarding polls: How church volunteers will make voting safe appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

Every Black Christian worshiper has heard this phrase at one time or another: “Oh, you can do better than that.” It’s often said in reference to the vim and vigor of the phrases of praise offered by the congregation–or the lack thereof. 

“You can do better than that” is repeated, as if what’s being uttered is never good enough for the recognition of God’s blessings. As if more vigorous praise is a more acceptable offering with an added benefit for the “praiser.”

And maybe rightfully so. For many people of faith, praise is more than just a spiritual practice — it’s a tool for better health. From the familiar call to “do better than that” in expressing praise to the quiet strength of individual worship, faith and wellness have long been intertwined. 

”I’ve seen it close up, that people of faith health quicker and require less pain medicine, even if they have had a more extensive disease,” says Baltimore-based licensed practical nurse Tammy Saunders.  who’s been a nurse for years and is now a consultant. 

Referring to her work on a cancer unit, she said, “I’ve always been meticulous about getting meds to my patients on time and often, more often than not, more women than men, would not need the medicine at that time. They’d ask for help going to the bathroom or answering some other need, but it would be almost time for the next dose before they needed more meds.” 

Saunders added, “And I wasn’t even saved then to understand what was going on. I just easily recognized the difference.”

What Exactly Is Praise?

Not to be confused with worship, praise is a show of appreciation for what God has done. Worship is the acknowledgment of God’s essence, the “isness” of God. 

Churches often establish a sort of praise character — some loud, others not so loud. And within that collective praise is the added expression of all the arts, instruments, dance, singing, artistic expression and even reading of scriptures of praise. 

This generally describes the time of “praise and worship” in the average Black church, if there is such a thing as an average Black church.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many traditional Black churches began to exchange choirs for “praise and worship” teams who led the entire church in a section of congregational singing of repetitive choruses in lieu of hymns with three to five stanzas and the gospel hymns that had previously been the mainstay and staple of church music. As an addendum to the singing, congregants are encouraged to lift their voices with chants of phrases like “Praise the Lord,” “Hallelujah,” “God is good,” and “We bless you Lord,” — or whatever else flows out of the heart and soul.

And studies seem to highlight the correlation between the utterances of praise and the health of the praisers.

The Praise and Health Connection

A 2017 study, “Church Attendance, Allostatic Load and Mortality in Middle-Aged Adults” suggested that “people who attend services at a church, synagogue or mosque are less stressed and live longer.” 

The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Researchers found that middle-aged (ages 40 to 65) adults—both men and women—who attend church or other houses of worship reduce their risk for mortality by 55 percent.

One of the researchers, Vanderbilt professor Marino Bruce — who is also a Baptist minister — wrote that they “found that being in a place where you can flex those spiritual muscles is actually beneficial for your health.” 

In “Neurophysiological Benefits of Worship,”  Michael Liedke, a nurse practitioner, suggested that worshiping God causes an increase in BPNF, a neurotransmitter that helps grow healthy brain cells. “Every morning, we wake up with 300 million more brain cells. When we worship, gamma waves are created in our brain that can actually help us feel the presence of God.”

Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of his people, and “we actually get a physical boost as these gamma waves fire in our brains while we worship,” he wrote.

According to Liedke, gamma waves do more than just make us feel better, they actually increase our intelligence, too. 

“Research has shown that as you worship, you increase in wisdom, and there’s an increase in your capacity to understand the goodness of God,” he wrote. “So your relationship with God deepens as you worship him. As you worship, your brain is comprehending wisdom from the living Word helping grow your capacity to understand that God absolutely adores you. Interestingly, just seven minutes of worship every day will change your brain.”

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

The post Praise and worship: A key part of healthy bodies and souls appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

Overview:

Since the 2020 election, far-right vigilantes have begun appearing at polling places, threatening poll workers and voters, usually in Black communities. Coupled with strict voter I.D. laws and criminal penalties for voter fraud, voting can be an uncomfortable experience.

For decades, voting for president every four years was as easy and safe as picking up a loaf of bread from the supermarket: show up to the polls, cast your ballot, and move on with the rest of your day. Then, the 2020 election happened. 

There were lies about election fraud and strict voter ID laws some say are racist. Vigilante “poll monitors,” some of them armed, menaced voters and poll workers, often in Black communities. Intimidating new rules were imposed that all but declare a blue vote in a red state may not be counted. 

It’s enough to make a faithful voter wish for divine intervention. Faiths United to Save Democracy, however, could be the next best thing. 

A nonpartisan, multi-racial, interfaith organization, FUSD is an organization designed to help and protect voters on Election Day. It dispatches trained, non-partisan volunteers —  poll chaplains — to help ensure free and unhindered access to the polls for members of vulnerable communities. 

Armed With the Law

Together with “peacekeepers” — lay volunteers trained with the chaplains —  they support voters, explain the rules or help them report irregularities, including electioneering, harassment and intimidation. The goal: help people navigate rules that could make it more difficult for Black people, young people, the elderly and differently abled to cast a ballot and have it count.

FUSD’s voter protection campaigns this year will take place in the South, including Alabama, Florida and Texas, along with Ohio and several key swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

The organization was created in the wake of the 2020 election to “protect the sacred freedom to vote of vulnerable citizens” because of “wide acceptance of political violence and the increase in anti-voting laws,” Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, a clergywoman and activist, said in a letter to new team members.

Amen, says Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, pastor of the Second Episcopal District of the AME Church in Washington, D.C. 

“We’re going to watch and pray that there be no intimidation, no obstruction, and no challenges,” he says. “We just want to keep the peace. We are 100 percent non-partisan in nature.” 

With early voting already underway in more than a few states, Faith United to Save Democracy and partner organizations — including the NAACP, Latino Christian National Network, the National Council of Churches, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and the Nation’s Mosque — have dispatched some of the peacekeepers and poll chaplains they’ve trained since summer. 

While some right-wing poll watchers show up with loaded guns, the FUSD teams are armed only with knowledge of election rules and laws, nonviolent intervention tactics, a voting-rights hotline, and, of course, prayer. The need for peacekeepers and poll chaplains is clear, according to an FUSD press release. 

Fighting Chaos with Witness

Since the 2020 election, “voters have faced increasing barriers to exercising their right to vote,” according to the FUSD statement. “Nearly 400 voter restriction measures in 49 states, from ID laws to limited access to mail voting, have been proposed or passed. These laws erect barriers that disproportionately limit people of color, the elderly, and the poor from being able to vote.”

At the same time, “increasingly violent rhetoric and events throughout the 2024 election,” including election fraud conspiracies and death threats to poll workers, “have given voters credible concern about violence or intimidation at the polls,” according to the statement.

To counter those developments, “trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers will be deployed to cities and polling sites in areas of greatest need in this critical time for the future of our democracy,” according to the FUSD statement.

Though trained together, peacekeepers will be inside polling places as helpers while poll chaplains will stand outside to assist voters as needed. The task is simple, says Dr. James Perkins, pastor emeritus of Detroit’s Greater Christ Baptist Church.

“Be on time, let your presence be known, and be helpful as needed,” he says. “And keep the number of the hotline handy, just in case it’s needed.”

“The involvement of poll chaplains and Peacekeepers is essential in actively safeguarding the vote in local communities,” says Rev. Moya Harris, director of racial justice at Sojourners, a faith-based social justice nonprofit and FUSD member. “This is integral to our call as people of faith — to combat chaos with love and witness.”

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

The post Souls guarding polls: How church volunteers will make voting safe appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman
Special to the AFRO

On Oct. 5, New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore celebrated a monumental 122nd anniversary. But this year, it was more than just a traditional service. The church also honored the retirement of the Rev. Jerome Stephens, director of community outreach for U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and a devoted member of New Shiloh for 47 years. 

Stephens’ public service has left a lasting impact across the state. His official retirement date is Nov. 30.

Amidst the celebration, the spotlight shone brightly on Stephens’ wife, Paula, whose grace and strength have been a cornerstone of his journey. Seated beside her were their two daughters, Candice Stephens, community liaison for Baltimore County Public Schools and Brittany Stephens, member recruitment lead for Maryland Corps Service Year Option. The look of pride and adoration in their eyes was a beautiful reminder of the family’s enduring bond and shared legacy of service.

Reflecting on his tenure with Sen. Cardin, Stephens said unlike many in power who impose restrictions on their employees, their relationship was “unique.”

“He allowed me to be Jerome on the job. He recognized my strength and connection to the community,” Stephens said.

The director of community outreach position was created to clarify Stephens’ role and demonstrate Cardin’s commitment to the community. Stephens was empowered within the organization and was Cardin’s “connector and bridge.” 

Valuable resources were brought into the Black community through Stephens’ influence, supporting initiatives like the New Shiloh Village, New Psalmist Baptist Church STEM program, AFRO Charities, and Harbor Bank’s tax credit projects for community development.

“My presence on Senator Cardin’s staff was enough to impact a lot of things,” Rev. Stephens said.  “I was ingrained into the community more than the average staffer for any congressional member because of my tenure in the faith community and community at large.” 

Stephens also emphasized the importance of having staff who reflect the community, as they better understand its needs and desires.

The Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter Jr., pastor of New Shiloh, noted that Stephens’ political background positioned him to lead the church’s community development corporation as chairman of the board. Though he later “graciously stepped down” to avoid conflicts of interest, Rev. Stephens raised “the political consciousness of the board” and helped secure a multimillion-dollar grant, Carter said. His guidance was key in the construction of two apartment buildings—The New Shiloh Senior Living and Family Buildings, totaling 212 units—with a third for grandparents raising grandchildren set to break ground in 2025.

Dr. Carter said that Stephens consistently embraced New Shiloh’s vision for community development, focusing not just on buildings but on “building relationships” with the Northwest community and beyond. His strategic, “behind-the-scenes” efforts have been key to getting things done, often without seeking any credit for himself.

The retirement celebration reached a pinnacle as two of Maryland’s most prominent leaders, Cardin and Gov. Wes Moore, shared heartfelt sentiments honoring Rev. Stephens. 

“Jerome has been an incredible source of strength for our office and has represented the community extremely well,” Cardin said.

The longterm lawmaker said Stephens had been a “bridge” between the faith community and the federal government. Stephens used this opportunity to “bring needed resources to strengthen the Black community,” he said.

Partnerships for Public School 103, the historic elementary school in Baltimore attended by former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; Arena Players, and the former Congressman Parren J. Mitchell’s home, are just some of the many examples where Stephens was the bridge to help. 

“He provided a way we could listen to the faith community and also get information out to the faith community,” concluded Cardin.

Gov. Moore, too, had a personal connection with Stephens.

 “This is my man, Jerome!” Moore declared.  

“I want it to be clear:  Without Jerome Stephens, there is no Governor Wes Moore. From the beginning of this process, we started with prayer,” Moore continued. “This is someone who understands the importance of the faith community—not just in decisions made, but in their impact.” 

He continued, “I love this man for how he loves his wife and honors the Word. Jerome Stephens hasn’t just made me a better friend; he’s made me a better public servant, father, governor, and most importantly, a better husband. I love you, and I thank God for you and all you’ve meant to me over the past three years.”

These powerful words resonated throughout the packed sanctuary, where a sea of distinguished guests listened intently. Among them were Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Coppin State University President Anthony Jenkins, Baltimore postmaster LeGretta Y. Goodman, Baltimore Councilman Julian E. Jones Jr. and countless others from across Maryland. 

In a powerful moment, Dr. Carter stepped away from his seat, inviting Rev. Stephens to take his place as the messenger of the day, marking this milestone event with profound respect and love.

Affectionately called the “Country Preacher,” Rev. Stephens captivated the crowd with a lively sermon titled “Oh to Be Kept,” serving as a genuine testament to his enduring faith and steadfast commitment over the years.

He shared personal stories of his journey from Plain Dealing, Louisiana, to his upcoming retirement, marking a heartfelt close to his journey.

Nearly two decades ago, with some hesitation, Stephens embraced this opportunity, guided by the words of the late Rev. Dr. John L. Wright, pastor of First Baptist Church of Guilford in Columbia, Md., who said, “Jerome, it’s not your job. It is the community’s job, and you are there to serve the community!” Those words have stayed with Stephens throughout his career, and he still hears that voice guiding him today. 

Stephens wrapped it up, “I want people to know that I did the best I could to serve the community!”

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By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant was celebrated in a ceremony of life fit truly for a queen, as she was often called during the two-hour homegoing service on Oct. 5. The service included a host of family, friends, politicians and onlookers who came to pay their respect to the highly-regarded community leader, wife and mother. The service was held at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church,  located at 1300 Druid Hill Avenue in Baltimore. Bryant’s husband, Bishop John Richard Bryant, who pastored the church for more than a decade, listened as those in attendance spoke kind and powerful words about his wife of 55 years. 

Recordings of sermons, prayers and songs by Bryant echoed throughout the church during the family hour, carrying the voice of the late missionary to people in multiple overflow rooms of the church and those gathered on the sidewalks outside of Bethel. Famed violinist Dr. Melanie R. Hill, trumpeter and composer Dontae Winslow and the Bethel Community Choir provided music during the service.

A procession of A.M.E. bishops gave greetings to the family as they approached the pulpit. The line was led by Bethel A.M.E.’s senior pastor and first lady,  Rev. Dr. Patrick D. Clayborn and Dr. Sheri Smith Clayborn, respectively. 

Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning, co-pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Md., presided over the service. 

“We all come on this day to Bethel A.M.E. Church and virtually around the world to give God praise and to celebrate the loving life, the legacy and the ministry of Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant. Lovingly, respectfully and affectionately she was called by many as Rev. Mother C and Queen Mother,” said Browning. 

The service continued with scriptures, songs, prayer and praise. Well-wishers delivered messages through their tears reflecting on Byrant’s presence in their lives including former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and friend, Dr. Salima Marriott, sisters Elise Williams and Rev. Quintalyn Williams Phillips. 

Naomi R. Bryant, one of Bryant’s grandchildren, spoke about her “Nana.”

“She was a mother and grandmother even outside her own bloodline.There are so many people around the world who have been blessed by her mentorship, love and support,” said Naomi Bryant. “When you think of Nana, we want you to picture her smiling at you; her laugh. Picture her praying for you and over you, picture her encouraging you and laying hands on you. Nana will continue to live on in our hearts and her legacy and blessings will anoint the many generations to come.”

Together Bryant and her husband, Bishop John Richard Bryant birthed and nurtured two children through adulthood, Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, founder of Empowerment Temple in Baltimore and now pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia and Rev. Dr. Thema Simone Bryant, a licensed psychologist, minister, author, sacred artist and president of the American Psychological Association. 

Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant paid a heartfelt tribute to his mother via his social media platforms. 

“The only reason why I am still alive is because of the grace of God and because of the prayers of Cecelia Bryant,” he said.

Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant spoke for both herself and her brother during the homegoing celebration. Her words brought laughter and tears.

“Behold the woman, behold the mother of multitudes,” said Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant, to those gathered. “In the natural she birthed two children, in the spirit she birthed a movement and we–her fruit– understand her assignment. She mothered generations of intercessors and midwifed global consciousness with a heart for the African diaspora.” 

Bryant’s daughter said that her mother lived by the African proverb, “when you pray, move your feet.” 

“She came with an assignment to set the captives free,” said Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant. “She held up a mirror for women of African descent to see and embrace the truth of our glory… ‘Ma,’ as we– Jamal and I–called her, was known for her commitment to youth and education.” 

“What you don’t know…is the Cecelia Bryant Summer Enrichment College Preparatory Academy Camp that had two attendees: Jamal and Thema,” she continued. “We had to memorize and recite chapters of the Bible; go with her to hospitals and nursing homes where she served communion. Jamal read the scripture and I would praise dance between wheelchairs.  All of this prepared us to catch the baton and carry the movement forward.” 

Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant said that her mother was “a gifted speaker, preacher and poet,” and recalled how her mother would prep her for oratorical contents– which she won every year, except one. The year she wasn’t selected as the top orator, Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant demanded to know why they picked the wrong student. 

“The teachers told her they didn’t pick me because my piece was not age appropriate. Well, I realized this week that she and I practiced that piece over and over again–not so that I could win an elementary school competition– but so that all of these years later, I would hear her voice challenging me now to say the words again– with feeling. Those words were ‘Oh death, where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory?…Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Tell God thank you,” she said, as the crowd rose to their feet. 

Artistic tribute was given by the Akosua Visions Dance Ministry, which includes Bryant’s granddaughter, Ife Davis.

Zephia Bryant, founder and CEO of the Bryant Educational Leadership Group, acknowledged the numerous citations Bryant received, including from Maryland  Gov. Wes Moore, Congressman Kweisi Mfume,  Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Maryland State Senators Antonio Hayes, Jill Carter, bishops from around the world, ministers and many others.

The sermonic selection by Rev. Carolyn Elizabeth Irvin Brailsford, Episcopal Supervisor of the A.M.E. Church’s 10th District, brought smiles to the face of Bishop Bryant.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, president of the National Council of Churches of Christ, delivered the eulogy.  

“I must say that I don’t remember the day or the time in which I met Rev. C., but what I do remember is when I saw her…God spoke clearly in my heart ‘this is my prophet and she’s walking the prophet’s walk.’” 

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie called on those gathered to remember the sterling qualities of Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant’s life and marvel at what God has done through her. 

“Could it be that Rev. C.’s greatest achievement– besides marriage and what she called the adventures of motherhood– is that she stood and she stood as a prophetic voice?,” quipped McKenzie. “She stood at a time when women were historically ignored. She stood demanding courage and unwavering faith in the face of rejection after rejection. She stood with and by her husband in a global ministry spanning three continents from Africa, India, the Caribbean to Canada and all points in between.”

McKenzie went on to explain the uniqueness of who Bryant was to the world and to those gathered. 

“She was a woman who refused to stay in her culturally assigned place. God saw her before she was seen or heard and she said she is the spirit personification of the warrior Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa. She is the warrior Queen Mother and according to the gospel of Cecelia she is the daughter of the Dust; a soul created, redeemed and anointed by Jesus.”

McKenzie encouraged others to live as Bryant did– “without fear and with Christ all the days of her life.” 

Following the procession of the bishops and family, an internment at Kings Memorial Park took place in Windsor Mill, Md.

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A group of White evangelical pastors are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris — and Franklin Graham is not happy.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

In his prime, the Rev. Billy Graham, the legendary Baptist minister and televangelist, was known as the “Pastor to Presidents.” Over nearly seven decades, Graham was a regular presence in the Oval Office, giving spiritual counsel to every sitting president from Harry Truman to Donald Trump. 

Since entering politics in 2016, Trump himself has had the White evangelical Christian vote on lockdown. In the 2020 presidential election, for example, Trump’s tough brand of social conservatism led 70 percent of them to choose him over President Joe Biden.

Now, a group of White evangelical pastors want to break Trump’s political grip on the faithful. They are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, using Graham’s and Trump’s own words to make their case.

And Graham’s son, Franklin Graham — a staunch Trump supporter and an influential figure in conservative politics— isn’t happy about it. 

The younger Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelist Association, has demanded  Evangelicals for Harris (EFH) cease and desist their campaign, and vowed to sue if they don’t stop airing their ad. 

In an interview with Premier Christian News, Franklin Graham slammed EFH, and condemned Harris — the first woman of color to occupy the vice presidency, the first to win a major party’s nomination for the presidency, and who is running neck-and-neck with Trump— as “anti-Christ in her positions.” 

“They are trying to make it look like my father would have supported Vice President Harris,” Graham said. “My father was a strong conservative all of his life, theologically as well as politically. He would have never voted for or supported someone like Kamala Harris — someone who is almost anti-Christ in her positions. She has done nothing to support people of faith and what we believe and what we stand for.”

But EFH is standing its ground. 

“Our communications, our references to Billy Graham, and this larger discussion of our community’s values are absolutely critical to a healthy democracy,” according to a response to Graham’s threat. 

At issue is the decades-long claim conservatives have on evangelical voters. 

By definition, every Christian is an evangelical; the word simply signifies the belief in God as creator and Jesus Christ as savior and signals a commitment to the gospel he taught when he was on Earth. 

Controversy ensues when regular evangelical churchgoers unwaveringly support Trump — a boorish, twice-divorced convicted felon and purported sexual abuser with little familiarity of the Bible and no clear church affiliation. 

Just recently, a group of evangelicals issued a call to return to Christianity’s basic tenets of faith and away from the political draw to Trump.

What seems to most upset the younger Graham about EFH is its video ad comparing his father’s words to Trump’s crude self-assessment. 

For example, the ad begins with a video of Billy Graham preaching: “But you must realize that in the last days, the times will be full of danger, men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money.”

Then, there’s a clip of Trump: ”My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy.”

The membership of EFH includes different races and varied faiths, and they claim credit for helping Biden reach the White House four years ago. Their platform cites the accomplishments of the current administration and Harris’ religious background; they argue she isn’t a newcomer to Christianity and has a platform aligned with Christian values.

“We keep surprising people,” Rev. Jim Ball, founder and chair, said in a statement. “We helped Joe Biden win in 2020 and we’re helping Kamala Harris today.

”Her policies are pro-family. As a former prosecutor and attorney general, she will defend our democracy, the rule of law and continue the drop in crime,” he said. “She’ll keep the government out of private family matters. She’s pro-environment and pro-climate action. And she will keep the economy growing and wages increasing, while continuing to bring prices down.”

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

The post Evangelicals for Harris: ‘She’s a terrific combination’ appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ralph E. Moore Jr.
Special to the AFRO

There are 16 predominantly Black Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, but by Christmas Day 2024, there will only be seven.  

Nine congregations will be removed from their then shuttered church homes and folded into other churches. Under a plan announced earlier this year in May, the number of parishes in Baltimore, sadly, will be reduced from 61 to 23. And unfortunately, the plan entitled obscurely, “Seek the City to Come,” will affect Black Catholic parishes at a greater rate than White or Hispanic parishes. Proportionately speaking, more Black Catholics will be evicted from their church home than any other racial group in the city.

Churches are being merged into other churches because the archdiocese thinks the number of Sunday attendees is too low and the costs of maintaining church buildings are becoming increasingly unaffordable. There is no talk of faith in their calculations– only finance. No talk of the historic racism practiced in Catholic churches for centuries included segregated seating, ushers ignoring Blacks in predominantly White churches and seminaries and convents refusing to admit Blacks. 

African Americans remained faithful to God in the past while waiting for Whites to receive communion first before anyone Black could partake of the Blessed Sacrament– a form of White supremacy even at the highest of Christian religious ceremonies.

Again, Black Catholic churches and schools have routinely been shut down within the Catholic Church in the United States. We have remained faithful through enslavement, segregation, mass incarceration and mass poverty.

And so, church authorities counting on our strong faith in God announced the closing of nine of the 16 Black Catholic churches, surprising members, disappointing and angering most Black Catholics in the oldest Catholic archdiocese in the nation.

The church hierarchy, represented by Urban Vicar Bruse Lewandowski and Archbishop William J. Lori, are treating Black Catholics and others as if pieces on their hierarchical chess board, moving parishioners around while disrupting routine Sunday travel and congregations’ familiar membership and in-house practices.

We are overwhelmingly elderly congregants in the Black churches and most expected to be funeralized from their church home. So, that expectation will itself die. 

The Black Catholic churches that will remain in place are St. Bernadine; St. Ambrose; New All Saints; St. Veronica and St. Francis Xavier. Merged into St. Bernadine will be: St. Edward, St. Gregory, St. Peter Claver and St. Pius V. 

New All Saints Church will absorb St. Cecilia and Immaculate Conception (the church in Baltimore City, not the church of the same name in Towson). Also, Blessed Sacrament Church will be merged into St. Matthew Church along with several others.  Finally, St. Francis Xavier Church will absorb the congregations and incomes of St. Ann and St. Wenceslaus churches, while their buildings will be closed. 

The nine Black Catholic churches will be shut down in the middle of the Thanksgiving to Christmas holiday season. The official date is Dec. 1, 2024. It will make the statement from the archdiocese to Black and other churches: “Merry Christmas, you’re closed!” 

Sounds very heartless, because it is!.

When Baltimore had a majority White population, most Catholic churches in the city were White.  But as white folks moved out of the city to the suburbs following the 1954 Brown decision, which ruled against racial segregation in schools and elsewhere by extension, inner-city church congregations became mostly Black. Even more Whites moved out of the city following the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968.  Black Catholics (the remnant) remained in Catholic Churches sustaining them for decades. 

Certainly, Black folks moved to the suburbs, too.  But most to this day have returned to their home church traveling distances of three, four, five and six miles to get back to the church in the neighborhood where they grew up and where some attended the church’s local Catholic school.  

The Archdiocesan bishops with their “Seek the City to Come” decrees have done nothing but wreak havoc within the diocese.  Some pastors have already been removed.  Vacant church buildings will be added to neighborhoods already struggling with vacant houses. And congregations of strangers in the past forced together by the bishops have often not been able to get along.

The day St. Ann Church closes is the day I leave Catholicism for good. Dec. 1, 2024 I will say goodbye to 72 years of being Catholic since I was three months old.  Others will leave too, I am told.

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By Dara Delgado, Allegheny College

(THE CONVERSATION) Many Black leaders are swinging into action for the Harris-Walz campaign – and clergy are no exception.

On Aug. 5, 2024, The Black Church PAC hosted a “Win With the Black Church” webinar to register voters, sign up volunteers and raise funds for Vice President Kamala Harris. The kickoff event, which organizers said raised US$500,000 and boasted 16,000 attendees, was hosted by the political action committee’s co-founder, Mike McBride – pastor of The Way Christian Center in California.

Apart from politics, McBride shares something else with many of the people on the webinar, including gospel singer Erica Campbell, pastor Jamal Bryant and co-founder the Rev. Leah Daughtry: All draw on Pentecostal faith.

As a scholar of American Pentecostalism and Black Studies, I see this event as but one example of Black Pentecostal and charismatics’ increasing visibility in American politics – a notable shift from the past.

Power of the Holy Spirit

Pentecostalism is a global Protestant Christian movement. As an evangelical Christian tradition, Pentecostalism emphasizes salvation through Jesus Christ and the centrality of scripture. It differs, however, in its understanding of the Holy Spirit: how God’s energy and essence work in the world.

Across most denominations and traditions, Christians believe in the Holy Spirit – part of the Holy Trinity, together with God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son.

Pentecostalism is distinct, however, because its adherents claim that they directly experience the active presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, through spiritual gifts such as healing, prophecy and speaking in tongues – a spiritual experience consisting of a series of unintelligible speech-like utterances and sounds. Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues, or “glossolalia,” is a divine language and an essential means for communicating with God.

Pentecostals draw inspiration from the Book of Acts, part of the Bible that describes the founding of the early church after Jesus’ death. Chapter 2 depicts an event called the Pentecost, when disciples of Jesus were gathered together. Scripture describes them suddenly “filled with the Holy Spirit and (beginning) to speak in other tongues,” yet onlookers heard their own language spoken. In this moment, Pentecostals believe that the power of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Christ’s followers – and that it has been accessible ever since.

Because Pentecostals maintain that this type of spiritual activity continues today, they also emphasize speaking in tongues as evidence that someone experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Glossolalia is seen as a critical entryway to the faith and to personally experiencing the Holy Spirit in your life.

Apart from Pentecostal churches, Christians called “charismatics” have similar beliefs about the dynamic activity of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Charismatic Christians, however, are affiliated with other denominations, from Catholicism to mainline Protestant churches.

Black Pentecostal tradition

Within the global Pentecostal and charismatic landscape, Black American churches form a distinct tradition.

In June 2024, with support from the Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI fellows Youssef Chouhoud, Flavio Rigerio Hickel and Leah Payne and I conducted a survey of 2,418 adults in the United States. Half of the 734 Black respondents identified as Pentecostal or charismatic. Similarly, in 2021, Pew Research Center reported that “half of all Black churchgoers say services include speaking in tongues.”

Scholars of American Pentecostalism maintain that from its inception, the movement was indebted to the religious practices of enslaved Black Christians. Black Pentecostal churches and organizations formed in the early 20th century as a result of racism. In 1914, for example, the white founders of the Assemblies of God, USA decided to disaffiliate from the predominantly Black Church of God in Christ.

Black Pentecostalism teaches that Christians have an obligation to do good in the world. Social engagement has been essential to many Black Pentecostal identities and congregational life since their beginnings, especially material works of mercy – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and educating the ignorant.

Eyes toward heaven

Such commitments were a stark contrast to Black Pentecostals’ civic life and political involvement.

Although there have been Pentecostals associated with politics and community activism, the tradition does “not possess an explicit political theology,” as Pentecostal theologian Steven M. Studebaker observes. Black Pentecostal traditions especially have often oriented themselves away from this world’s sociopolitical affairs, toward concerns about personal and social morality and hope of heaven.

In fact, for generations, American Pentecostals broadly prided themselves on being intentionally apolitical. Black churches and leaders were key to mobilizing the Civil Rights Movement, for example, but Pentecostals believed that their most important contribution was through prayer, as historian Jonathan Chism notes.

Moreover, Black Pentecostals’ absence from politics reflects a history of discrimination and condescension from other Black Americans, including Black mainline Christians. During the early to mid-20th century, Black Pentecostals were often seen as lower class, unlike other Protestant groups such as Black Baptists and Methodists.

Critics feared the emotionality of their religious expression and their tendency toward gender inclusivity, which they worried would make Pentecostals a liability in the push for Black Americans’ rights. Black Pentecostals were not trusted with representing Black social and political interests in the public square.

Recent shift

Since becoming the Democratic nominee, Harris has garnered a wellspring of support from Black faith leaders, including influential Black preachers who either remain in or came up in the Pentecostal or charismatic congregations. Among them are Traci Blackmon, Chrisette Ellis and Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes.

Trump has enjoyed endorsements from a smaller number of Black Pentecostal leaders, but without the same celebrity status as the Black Pentecostal or charismatic preachers backing Harris. Take for example Darrell Scott, a pastor from Ohio, who remains firm in his support. Harry R. Jackson, a prominent Black pastor in conservative circles who died in 2020, was a religious adviser to the former president. Most recently, Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, addressed the Republican National Convention.

On both sides, these developments mark a noticeable shift among Black Pentecostals from private prayers or local social engagement to visible political involvement. This is also true for some of their conservative evangelical counterparts, especially Black Baptists affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, who are leaving that denomination over differences in social and political issues, especially around race.

In the same 2021 report, Pew highlighted the political tensions embedded in race and religion for Black Christians in the United States. Only 10% of Black Americans lean toward the Republican Party, but that percentage doubles for Black Protestants who attend a mostly white church. Still, what this data helps show is that for the majority of Black Christians, their political views are more reflective of their experiences with race than their congregational affiliation.

Contemporary Black Pentecostals and charismatics are turning the page on their history of political apathy – whether through public endorsements, voter registration drives or as part of groups such as the Black Church PAC. Churches have long been a pillar of how Black Americans “hold and build political power in this country,” as McBride told Religion News Service. Pentecostals are working to keep that legacy alive – and expand the proverbial walls of the Black church.

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The Conversation is wholly responsible for the content.

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More than 15 million Christians are not registered to vote so organizations are working to energize and register the faithful.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

For many generations, Christians have been encouraged to participate in the political system in spite of the “Be in the world, but not of the world” scripture used by many to remain aloof. The Black church, especially, has been the center of prayer and protest, and of Jesus and justice.

The upcoming general election in this country — one tasked with “saving the soul of the country,” as President Joe Biden put it — demands the attention of everyone of good faith to make the country better in whatever way they see fit.

”Don’t complain, Vote” is among the many slogans on front lawns around the nation, along with those who profess the candidate of their choice. According to Voter Registration Sunday, a campaign to foster increased voter registrations, more than 15 million Christians are not registered to vote. 

So, organizations of varied faiths have aligned themselves to encourage participation by the myriad members of their combined groups.

From Sunday service to virtual organizing

For some, the message will be emphasized every Sunday through the Nov. 5 presidential election.

“I’m preaching about lessons from the Daughters of Zelephedad (Numbers 27) when women’s rights and human rights were on the line,” says Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook regarding her Sept. 29 sermon at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Gastonia, North Carolina. She says democracy and women’s rights are on the line for history’s sake. 

“These women woke up, spoke up, got up, and acted upon their conditions. As a result, all the laws were changed to reflect rights for everyone,” she says.

”That’s what this Sunday is about, to do our one ‘Black job’ and go out and vote, to make a difference throughout the land.”

The website Vote Your Faith, which facilitates registration, offers information and a comprehensive tool kit that outlines how to sponsor a voter registration Sunday event at one’s house of worship.

In July, the coalition Faiths United to Save Democracy began training volunteers to “provide a calming and moral presence for vulnerable voters at in-person polling sites,” according to their website. They did so mainly because the last election, vehemently protested by the Republican candidate for president, was the scene of potential voters being denied access to the polls and of perfectly safe voting places being called unsafe, not to mention the voter identification laws enacted since that election. 

“Increasingly violent rhetoric and events throughout the 2024 election has given voters credible concern about violence or intimidation at the polls,” according to the FUSD site. Trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers will be deployed to the most vulnerable polling places. At this point, targeted states are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin during early voting and on Election Day, Nov. 5.

“God intends for all creation to thrive. The current state of politics emphasizes the importance of protecting the vote for all people, especially for people of faith. It is crucial to ensure safe access to the polls in all communities,” said Rev. Moya Harris, director of Racial Justice at Sojourners.

“The involvement of poll chaplains and peacekeepers is essential in actively safeguarding the vote in local communities. This is integral to our call as people of faith — to combat chaos with love and witness.”

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware 
Word in Black 

When I became curious about the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, it was Rev. Cecelia Williams Bryant, who started a class at Bethel AME Church in West Baltimore called Power for Living. When my interest in spiritual healing was piqued, it was Rev. C, as she is called, who started a Saturday morning class on healing. I wasn’t even a member of Bethel, but when the hand of God began to tug at my spirit with a call to ministry, there she was again, hosting a “Behold the Woman” conference in a downtown arena. 

It was as if she had been assigned to my case and I’m sure I’m not alone. I’m also sure I was not alone in wondering who would pray for us, who would gather us for prayer, when we learned she had eased out of time into eternity.

It was she who easily summoned the world together in prayer. It was she who prayed before kings and queens, bishops and potentates. 

I was deeply saddened to learn of her Sept. 26 death. 

“Rev. Dr. Cecilia Bryant was a commanding disciple who stood deep and strong in her faith and family, as she remained deeply dedicated to the cause of salvation,” Maryland Rep. Kweisi Mfume said in a statement sent to the AFRO. “As an advocate for community healing and mental health awareness, she committed her whole life to spreading the word of God as a liberating and annointing force to everyone she met. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”

A steadfast relationship with God

It was clear to everyone that Rev. C held a special place in the heart of God and could summon his attention to whatever situations we faced; and we could therefore expect relief because of her relationship with the Lord.

This relationship began years ago through the praying heart and hands of her mother, and flourished throughout her youth and even more in her relationship with Bishop John Richard Bryant to whom she was married for 55 years.

Together they changed the whole scene at Bethel AME Church. 

“The AME church was typically a quiet type of a service, very solemn,” Wanda Watts, director of the Wattsline who joined Bethel AME in 1977, told the AFRO, “and he changed that with choirs that sang contemporary music, and a different way of praising than AME had been accustomed to.”

She said he became everybody’s bishop. 

“If you’re Baptist, he’s still your bishop.”

The community began to come into Bethel AME church. They came in dashikis because that was the mode of the day. They came in jeans. They came in sandals. They came with wraps on their heads. They came happy and they came high– but they came to Bethel AME. And they were well served until the ministry demanded the couple be elevated to bishop and district superintendent.

A spiritual visionary

“Rev. C was an extraordinary spiritual leader and visionary whose impact spanned the globe. As a spiritual director, missionary and women’s empowerment leader, she embraced a calling to bring healing to the nations,” according to a statement from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, where her son, Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant is pastor.

“Her leadership awakened the African and Diasporic Church to critical issues such as health, ecological wellness, development, culture and peace. She co-founded the AME Church in India with her husband and was the founder of the AME Church in the Ivory Coast.”

Bishop Walter S. Thomas, of New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, called her a spiritual lighthouse always pointing to safe haven and referred to the precious love with which she raised her children and stood beside her husband as they did their kingdom work. 

“There was such a vibrancy and zest for life that exudes from her and it was born out of her wonder for God,” he said, adding that “she’s missed already.” 

Rev. C preached on prayer, wrote books on prayer, summoned groups to prayer, called seasons of prayer, but most importantly she was a determined intercessor

Nurturing generations in ministry

Her children in ministry are almost innumerable.

 “I met her when I was 17-years-old, at Emerson College, while attending St. Paul AME Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I’d never seen a dynamo Black Christian team, with afros and dashikis and anointing, male and female,” says Former Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook.

“About 40 of us became senior pastors out of that era, leading congregations throughout the nation and she and Bishop John have always been there for us and with use. For those entering ministry in the 1980s, there were no female role models except Rev. C.”

The faith community can hardly stand the thought of letting her go, even if it is into the arms of God. Many regards of sweet peace have been offered through all the social media platforms, with remembrances of that special touch.

“Last year she sent me prayers for a challenge our family was going through, texting regularly. And for the past few weeks we changed roles and this time I sent her prayers and covered her,” Johnson Cook says. 

“I don’t even have words to describe how I feel, only to say, I thank God for her; her ministry, her devotion, her marriage, her motherhood and her love.”

A homegoing service will be held in Baltimore at Bethel AME Church, 1300 Druid Hill Avenue, on Oct. 5. A wake will take place at 10 a.m., with the funeral service beginning  at 11 a.m.

This article was originally published by Word in Black.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Overview:

One in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, a potentially deadly disease. However, early detection and treatment can be life-saving.

A member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, Dewayne Charleston is comfortable talking openly about his belief in God. That faith was put to the test in 2009, when a doctor’s visit ended with a grim diagnosis: stage 4 prostate cancer.

Prognosis: incurable

“I never thought I would be the type of person who would get cancer,” he told KPRC-TV, a local TV station, in a recent interview. “I knew then that I was in for a journey.”

Charlston’s first step on that journey was prayer, together with his physician in his office. He continued to lean on faith through surgeries, treatments and therapies. At one point he told God he would dedicate himself to educating Black men like himself and fighting the disease “if You give me more years.” 

Now, 15 years after he was first diagnosed, Charleston has kept his promise with the Dewayne Charleston Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching other Black men about prostate cancer and supporting those who have been diagnosed. He also connected it to his bedrock faith with a cancer screening at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church on Sept. 21.

To honor Charleston, the church has announced it will include prostate health in its health ministry. Congregants are being encouraged to mark the occasion by wearing blue on the second Sunday in September. 

Charleston “has lived and thrived with metastatic prostate cancer for more than 15 years and created his foundation to bring national awareness to the need for African American men to have annual PSA tests,” according to the church’s website. “If you have not had a PSA done this year be sure to get tested at Wheeler.”

Disparities persist

It’s an important message for Black men: according to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared with one in eight White men. Making matters worse, Black men are less likely to be covered by insurance or enroll in clinical trials than White men. 

Perhaps most importantly, Black men die from prostate cancer at twice the rate of White men, according to the NIH. 

Charleston is attempting to counter that narrative with his namesake foundation. Aimed at Black men, the Charleston Foundation’s mission, according to its website, is “to help you re-imagine your life and to win the battle against prostate cancer. To share with you personal experiences, clinical trials. beneficial diets and exercise routines, effective treatments, implants, and the advocacy organizations that will help you to live a full and happy life.” 

But he also wants to change the bigger picture, in which Black men are more likely to get diagnosed with the disease, and have worse outcomes, than Whites. 

“Decreasing the racial disparity gap will not only benefit men of color, but will make the cost of medicine and treatments more efficient,” according to the foundation’s website. “In other words, use the treatments best targeted by genes and risk levels and not by color.”

In addition to his foundation, Charleston is also affiliated with the nonprofit Prostate Health Education Network’s Survivor Network (PHEN), which  provides resources and support for  individuals who have been diagnosed.

Spreading the Gospel of good health

The Charleston Foundation also partners with churches like Wheeler Avenue Baptist as well as other organizations to spread the gospel about prostate cancer testing and early detection. Their website offers a range of resources for churches to share with their membership and the surrounding community. 

“We have collaborated with PHEN over a number of years to raise prostate cancer awareness, and we are excited to partner with PHEN to provide educational resources to our churches to support our members and communities in the fight against prostate cancer,” Rev. Dr. Natalie Mitchem, executive director of the AMEC Health Commision said in a statement. “Our goal is to save lives by increasing vital knowledge about this deadly disease.”

Despite the diagnosis and lack of a cure, Charleston has persevered in part by changing his lifestyle — including a healthy diet and plenty of exercise — and by participating in clinical trials, which are structured programs in which the medical industry tests new, cutting-edge medications on volunteers.

Charleston took an aggressive approach to his treatments and experienced a great level of success. As such, he was able to continue his active lifestyle, including a recent trip to Ghana to volunteer at the local schools. He’s still living with the disease, but it hasn’t slowed him down.

Ultimately, Charleston wants to serve as an example for men, inspiring them to take better care of themselves before it’s too late. 

“Don’t be like me,” he said in the TV interview. “Don’t go 10 years — with insurance — and don’t get tested. Don’t eat fried chicken at gas stations. Take care of your health. Take care of your marriage. Take care of your family. All that begins with good health.”

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

It’s no secret Black people in the United States disproportionately occupy Death Row — making up about 14 percent of the populace but 40.05 percent of people awaiting execution. And given that men are nearly 98 percent of the people facing capital punishment, incarcerated Black men are more likely to face death by the state than any other group.

Marcellus Williams, 55, is one of those men, and he’s scheduled to be executed Sept. 24 in Missouri. The prosecutor in his case filed a motion to vacate his conviction due to “overwhelming evidence that Marcellus Williams’ trial was constitutionally unfair, including revelations that the State contaminated the most critical evidence in the case—the murder weapon,” said Williams’ attorney, Tricia Rojo Bushnell. The courts, however, denied the motion.

As such, the case has reignited heated debates about racial injustice and the death penalty — and now faith leaders in the state are joining the fight to get clemency for Williams.

Life instead of death

On Sept. 19, in a letter to Missouri Gov. Michael Parson, 69 faith leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim backgrounds asked for mercy for Williams.

“We are advocating for life without parole and that Marcellus will remain in prison, with the message that his life can remain open to redemption, mercy, and the healing power of God and that he will continue to serve the Muslim community,” the faith leaders wrote.

The group pointed out that Williams himself is a faith leader at Potosi Correctional Center, where he is incarcerated. Now known as Khalirfah ibn Rayford Daniels, Williams became an imam and serves his fellow Muslim prisoners at the facility.

“With lifetime imprisonment, Marcellus will have a chance to continue his service to the religious community that he leads as an Imam,” wrote the faith leaders. 

They pointed out that Williams works with “a group of men, many of whom have been abandoned by society and in desperate need of guidance and strength,” and provides “a vital network of support for the prisoners.” 

Members of the Mid Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation (Mid-MO FOR) a nonprofit organization for “people from many faiths, and no particular faith — all coming together to support nonviolence and justice,” have also advocated for clemency for Williams.

On Sept. 18, they hosted a gathering at the University of Missouri School of Law to discuss the Williams case. One of the speakers was Michelle Smith, co-director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, who said, “Killing someone is final. We should make sure, as a state, as a community, as a government, that there are no questions.” 

The NAACP is also calling on Parson to halt Williams’ execution, noting that the death penalty has been “historically applied in a racially disparate manner,” particularly in Missouri. 

“Killing Mr. Williams, a Black man who was wrongfully convicted of killing a White woman, would amount to a horrible miscarriage of justice and a perpetuation of the worst of Missouri’s past,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and Missouri State Conference President Nimrod Chapel Jr. wrote in an open letter to Parson.

“Put simply, Mr. Williams did not commit the murder for which he was convicted. The prosecutor knows it, and the citizens of Missouri know it,” they wrote.

Accusations of corruption

In 2001, Williams was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, a former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter. 

The prosecution’s case hinged on witness testimonies and circumstantial evidence. However, DNA found on the murder weapon did not match Williams — a fact that has cast significant doubt on his conviction.

Despite these findings, Missouri courts have repeatedly upheld his conviction and death sentence.

According to the Innocence Project, “The State destroyed or corrupted the evidence that could conclusively prove his innocence and the available DNA and other forensic crime-scene evidence does not match him.” The organization notes, “There is far too much uncertainty in this case to allow Mr. Williams to be executed, particularly when the victim’s family believes life without parole is the appropriate sentence.” 

In January 2024, after an independent review of Williams’ case, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell moved to vacate his conviction. However, the circuit court denied the motion, stating there was insufficient evidence of innocence and that claims of racial bias in jury selection and ineffective assistance of counsel had been previously adjudicated. Bell is now appealing the decision to the Missouri Supreme Court, according to Williams’ filing for a stay of execution in the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We will continue pursuing every possible option to prevent Mr. Williams’ wrongful execution,” Bushnell, his lawyer, said. “There is still time for the courts or Governor Parson to ensure that Missouri does not commit the irreparable injustice of executing an innocent person.” 

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Jacquelyn Clemmons-Muhammed
Special to the AFRO

When exploring the nourishment and nurturing of America’s foundation, you will inevitably find it was built upon Black mothers. From caregiving to wet nursing, our foremothers nourished this soil and it is countrymen. The ability to focus on healing themselves after birth was eclipsed by their primary task to nourish those around them. Sadly, the aftermath of this burden has resulted in generations of Black mothers who haven’t focused on allowing themselves to heal and rest postpartum.

The immediate postpartum period can be a challenging time, both physically and emotionally for new mothers. It is important to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being as you navigate the transition into motherhood. Here are three crucial steps that you can take to nurture your mind and spirit after giving birth.

Give yourself grace

The first and most crucial step in caring for your mental and emotional well-being after birth is to give yourself grace. Understand that it is normal to experience a wide range of emotions during this time, including joy, sadness and anxiety. The pressure to conform to societal expectations of motherhood can be overwhelming, but it is important to remember that there is no “right” way to be a mother. Embrace the journey and allow yourself the space to make mistakes and learn from them.

It is essential to be kind to yourself, particularly in moments when you feel overwhelmed or inadequate. Practicing self-compassion can help alleviate the pressure of new motherhood and help foster a positive mental state. It may be tempting to compare yourself to other family or community members, but be reminded that it is ok to take time to figure out what works best for you.

No matter how small they seem, take the time to acknowledge your accomplishments, and celebrate them. Remember that it is okay to ask for help and take breaks when needed. By giving yourself grace, you are nurturing and giving yourself an opportunity to lay a strong foundation for your motherhood journey.

Create healthy boundaries

Another vital aspect of caring for your mind and spirit after giving birth is to create healthy boundaries. Motherhood often comes with a myriad of responsibilities and expectations, and it is easy to feel pressured to meet everyone’s needs while neglecting your own. Setting boundaries is essential for preserving your mental and emotional energy and preventing burnout.

Establishing boundaries can involve communicating your needs to your support system, including your spouse, partner, family and friends. Clearly articulating your boundaries regarding visitors, responsibilities and personal time will help create a supportive and nurturing environment for both you, your baby and immediate family. It’s okay to prioritize your well-being and establish limits on what you can handle, without feeling guilty about it. By creating healthy boundaries, you are fostering a space that allows you to prioritize healing and self-care while maintaining a sense of balance and control in your home.

Plan and accept support

Lastly, it is so important for Black mothers to plan and accept support during the postpartum period. Being a new mother, no matter how many children you have, can be overwhelming. It is crucial to have a strong support system in place to help you navigate the challenges that come with motherhood. This support can come from a variety of sources, including local postpartum doulas, your spouse or partner, family, friends and healthcare providers.

When considering the type of support you will need, assess the existing needs of your family. Some families may need more hands-on support with older sibling care, others meal planning and preparation, while newborn care support may provide much needed rest and respite in other family dynamics.

Plan for support by reaching out to your loved ones or a professional and discuss specific ways in which they can assist you during this time. Whether it is through help with household chores, caring for the baby, or simply providing emotional support, it is important to communicate your needs and accept help when it’s offered, rather than trying to handle everything on your own.

Additionally, seeking professional support, such as therapy or counseling, can provide invaluable guidance and emotional support as you adjust to motherhood. There are mental health providers with specific training and tools to support postpartum families and their unique challenges. 

It is important to recognize that it is okay to prioritize your mental health and seek help when needed. When mothers are doing well mentally, physically and emotionally, their families thrive. By planning and accepting support, you are creating a strong network of care and habits that will uplift and sustain you during the transformative journey of motherhood.

What fathers can do

Fathers play a crucial role in supporting their partners’ healing after childbirth. During the immediate postpartum period they become the gatekeepers of the health and well-being of mom and baby. By ensuring you receive adequate rest, food and emotional support they can help guard the rhythm of the household.

Listening attentively, offering words of encouragement and showing empathy are important ways new fathers can contribute to their partner’s wellbeing. Taking on practical tasks such as preparing nutritious meals, managing visitors and organizing appointments can alleviate the burden on the new mother. By being actively involved in the postpartum recovery process, he can establish and deepen a healthy bond with both mom and his baby. How a couple navigates pregnancy, birth, and postpartum has strong implications to the longevity and health of their relationship. Mindful support in this season is a father’s investment in a strong foundation for his family.

You’re worth it

Prioritizing mental and emotional well-being after giving birth is essential for Black mothers and their families. By giving yourself grace, creating healthy boundaries and planning and accepting support, you can nurture your mind and spirit during this vulnerable and transformative time. Ultimately, investing in your well-being and seeking supportive care will empower you to thrive and embrace the joys and challenges of motherhood while building a resilient and nurturing foundation for yourself and your family.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Overview:

In “Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction,” faith leaders are attempting to roll back the growing link between fundamentalist Christianity and conservative dogma.

In a step unlike any in recent memory, a group of evangelical Christian leaders has issued a confessional document urging the faithful to separate religion and politics, warning against “political idolatry and its messengers” and rejecting “the false idols of power, wealth, and strength rather than the true God.”

Signed by an array of influential pastors and faith leaders, the statement titled “Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction” seems designed to extract their brand of Christianity from conservative politics and left-vs.-right culture wars. It also is framed as a reminder to avoid blurring the lines between the church’s core values and political dogma — or any candidates. 

“We reject the false teaching that anyone other than Jesus Christ has been anointed by God as our Savior, or that a Christian’s loyalty should belong to any political party,” according to the statement. 

In announcing the document with other leaders on Sept. 9, Pastor Raymond Chang, president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, said the confessional is intended to address the “deep political syncretism that has long taken hold of the evangelical church in the U.S.” 

That school of thought “has conflated partisan politics with evangelical Christianity,” he said. “It’s time to recalibrate and unite in our shared commitment to Jesus beyond the divisions of politics.”

Though it speaks in generalities, the document seems aimed at politicians in general, conservative politicians specifically — and Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nominee, in particular. 

The former president is wildly popular among evangelical Christians, despite a public record that includes three marriages, two impeachments, the Jan. 6 attempt to overthrow the 2020 election, a multimillion-dollar civil judgment against him for rape and a criminal conviction linked to paying hush money to an adult film star.

Though Trump is not a regular churchgoer, a majority of conservative voters chose him at the ballot box, and an astonishing 80 percent of them voted for him in 2020. Some pastors and conservative politicians have even referred to the former president as ”God’s imperfect messenger” or “the chosen one”— a viewpoint that accelerated after Trump survived an alleged assassination attempt while campaigning in July. 

For his part, Trump has clearly returned the love. Speaking to a convention of evangelicals in July, the former president promised that if he was re-elected, “you won’t have to vote again, my beautiful Christians.” 

“Christians get out and vote. Just this time,” he said. “You won’t have to do it anymore.” 

The leaders who announced the confessional represent thousands of churches and more than 4 million evangelical Christians. They also announced a commitment to worship and pray together for the week Sept. 8-15.

The tenets of the “Confession of Evangelical Conviction” are to give allegiance to Jesus Christ alone; to lead with love, not fear; to submit to the truth of the Scripture; to believe the Gospel heals every worldly division; to commit to the prophetic mission of the church; to value every person as created in God’s image; and to recognize Godly leaders by their character..  

Dr. Christina Edmondson, co-founder of Truth’s Table, one of the many partner groups, said the statement of faith helps address her concern about Generation Z “because they are concerned about us. They don’t recognize the church that raised them.”

Evangelical Christians are defined as believers who “take the Bible seriously and believe in Jesus Christ as savior and Lord.” The term “evangelical” comes from the Greek word “euangelion,” which means the good news or the gospel. Thus, the evangelical faith focuses on the good news of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus Christ, according to the National Association of Evangelicals.

“In a political realm filled with fear, we have an opportunity as Evangelicals to lead through love rather than fear,” said Karen Swallow Prior, an evangelical Christian author, professor and speaker. “I’m excited about this statement and the vision it casts, cutting across partisan lines to show the world what the church truly is.”

Skye Jethani, author, speaker, and co-host of “The Holy Post” podcast, agrees: “The Confession is designed to hold up a mirror to those who read it. We believe in a God who raises people from the dead, and we certainly believe that God can free Evangelicals from their captivity to political idolatry.”

”Through this revival, we are calling on the church to turn away from fear and divisions and place our faith solely in Jesus Christ,” said Dr. Dan Boom, president of Trevecca Nazarene University and board chair for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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The future of the National Baptist Convention USA, the nation’s largest Black Protestant organization, is clouded by problems related to declining membership and financial struggles of its member churches.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Overview:

With membership upwards of 5 million, the National Baptist Convention USA wields considerable political clout, and was a key stop for aspiring Democratic presidential candidates like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

On the surface, the annual meeting of the National Baptist Convention USA, which wrapped up this week in Baltimore, has been the picture of unity and fellowship. Thousands of members of the nation’s largest Black Protestant organization worshiped, sang, heard guest lectures and even rolled up their sleeves for a blood donor drive. 

Beneath the surface, however, the NBCUSA, as it’s known, is grappling with a leadership crisis — a critical issue that has sharply divided the church, brought simmering tensions into the open and laid bare structural challenges that could threaten the organization’s influence.

The stakes are so high for the august organization that Dr. Jerry Young, the outgoing, two-term NBCUSA president, didn’t sugarcoat his feelings in remarks opening the conference. Young spoke of perilous times, “when we have knowledge without character; when people want to worship but don’t want to obey.”

The NBCUSA, he says, has “preachers who want theology, but no doxology.”

It was a stark reminder of the scope of issues before the Nashville-based organization, which counts between 5.2 million and 7.5 million members nationwide, and wields such political clout that it has become a must-stop for aspiring politicians. 

The organization’s largest, most immediate issue is its presidency: NBCUSA bylaws prevent Young from running for a third term. But only one candidate, Rev. Boise Kimber of Connecticut, has been approved as a presidential candidate.

Yet rank-and-file members have not coalesced behind Kimber, for various reasons. Opponents are organizing for a majority “no” vote against him, but the move would create an extended leadership vacuum for the nation’s oldest Black religious organization, with no clear path forward. 

At issue are new restrictions, based largely on congregation size and financial status, that determine which churches can submit NBCUSA presidential nominees. But many member churches face aging, dwindling congregations, while others — in a post-pandemic era, where in-person worship is declining — are struggling to fill their coffers as well as their pews. That includes several churches which nominated presidential candidates, but saw their favorites disqualified because of the financial and membership restrictions. 

The election will be held before the end of the conference and the outcome is likely to pit the NBCUSA membership against itself. (By the time of this story’s publication, Kimber was elected as president.)

“In a season where denominations are more needed than ever, we’re more divided,” Rev. Breonus Mitychell, Nashville pastor and NBCUSA board member, told USA Today. “And because of our division, people are feeling like you’re not essential anymore.”

Leadership issues aside, NBCUSA attendees heard from a variety of notable speakers, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the state’s first Black governor and a rising star in the Democratic Party. Given the NBCUSA’s strong record on social justice, Moore, an Army combat veteran, touted the state’s aggressive plan to create affordable housing, but he also talked about his faith. 

“Before I left for Afghanistan, my grandparents gave me a little Bible and on every mission I put that Bible in a pocket over my heart,” he said. “In it, my grandfather wrote, ‘Have faith, not fear,’ an inscription that has guided his life. 

Conventioneers also heard from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

Rev. Boise Kimber elected president of largest Black Protestant denomination in U.S.

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By Darren Sands
The Associated Press

A Connecticut pastor will be the new president of the largest Black Protestant denomination in the U.S., bringing to an end a leadership election that stirred division among members.

The Rev. Boise Kimber, senior pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut. — and the only person on the ballot Sept. 5 in Baltimore — was elected to lead the National Baptist Convention, USA as its 19th president, according to the convention. The election was marked with controversy over the eligibility of four candidates who officials said did not qualify.

Kimber won the top post with a vote of 1,744 to 794, and replaces Mississippi pastor, the Rev. Jerry Young, who ran the Nashville, Tennessee-based NBCUSA for a decade. Kimber, who previously served as the NBCUSA board secretary, said he felt a “sigh of relief” once the election results were announced at the convention’s meeting.

Kimber said that while it was a fair election, he remains concerned about uniting the convention and fostering an atmosphere where every member congregation thrives. He said he will embark on a national “listening tour” even as the convention shifts its focus to the election of the next U.S. president.

Those upset by the election procedures think the controversy should rekindle debates over the denomination’s relevancy and role at a time of political and social upheaval. The Rev. Matthew V. Johnson, who leads Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, distributed a manifesto titled “Rebirth,” challenging church members to address issues about the NBCUSA’s future that it has avoided for decades.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced houses of worship nationwide to shut down, both the ministry and congregants adapted to a new, supposedly temporary reality. Like schools and offices, church services would be conducted remotely, streamed over the internet into homes on pandemic lockdown. 

When asked, around 9 in 10 parishioners insisted they would return to in-person worship, as soon as the pandemic ended. They missed the handshakes and hugs of in-person fellowship, the resonant sound of the choir, the feel and smell of hymnals. 

More than three years after the official end of the pandemic, however, about a third of regular churchgoers haven’t returned to the pews — and only about 2 in 5 Americans regularly participate in church services at all.

A survey shows the situation is a bit more acute when it comes to the Black church, according to Pew Research Center. 

“While 13% of Protestants who belong to historically Black churches say they attend church in person and don’t regularly watch services virtually, most say they join services both in person and virtually (37%) or only watch remotely on screens (20%),” according to the Pew report, issued last June.  

The data illustrates a conundrum for faith leaders struggling to meet the new reality of a hybrid method of worship. 

“Pastoring the virtual church creates an accountability and connection challenge,” says the Rev. Jamal Brown, pastor of Family Restoration Worship Center in Philadelphia. “It’s not dissimilar from the traditional congregation challenges,” but the church as well as the individual bears responsibility for the decline of in-person worship.

Virtual worship “offered people an opportunity to hide from the responsibility of giving time, talent and tenth,” he says, referring to donations and tithing. “However, embracing the virtual church also exposed deficits in the church systems. What existed pre was enhanced in the post virtual church.”

Jason E. Shelton, a sociologist and professor and director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, put a finer point on it in a February interview with Christianity Today.

“The future does not look good for organized religion in Black America, especially the historic traditions,” he said. 

“The Baptists are still the largest, but they’re losing people,” he said. “The Methodists are really down small. The Pentecostals are losing, but they’re not losing nearly as many since they’ve always been small.” 

The numbers are part of an overall trend of declining church worship in the U.S. According to Gallup, 42 percent of U.S. adults regularly attended church services two decades ago; now, that number has slipped to around 30 percent. 

Reasons for the dropoff in attendance vary, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Some former churchgoers are still worried about contracting COVID-19; others say they’re facing new physical challenges that keep them from going to church in person; still others say they prefer worshiping from the comfort of home. 

One can hardly argue with the modern comfort and convenience of watching Sunday home worship services, streaming live over a platform like Zoom or Facebook. Yet data from Lifeway Research found that 91 percent of those polled not long after churches shut down said they would return to the pews when the pandemic was no longer a problem.

But “as of the fall of 2022, the average church had 85% of its pre-COVID attendance numbers,” according to the study. A year later, Pew reported 27 percent of U.S. adults faithfully watch services online, compared with roughly a third who regularly attend church in person. 

Among Black parishioners, 2 in 10 prefer to watch worship services online at home, according to Pew.

Part of the reason for the dropoff is “continuing concern about COVID-19, which struck Black communities with particular force,” according to Pew. At the same time, however, “viewers who are members of historically Black Protestant churches are more likely to say they feel like active participants in these virtual services than are viewers who belong to some other faiths.”

Realizing what’s at stake, faith leaders are taking steps to draw their flock back into the pews. Some are reaching out to absent congregants in person; others are holding social events. One minister found that offering water baptism was a draw to some. 

For Shelton, the University of Texas sociologist, the decline in in-person worship is a worrisome trend for the Black church, an institution with a long, storied history in the community. 

“The church has always been the vessel that we as Black people have used to have community and solidarity,” he said. “It’s the church that connects , so as the nones” — Black people with no religious affiliation — “fall away from that, what does that mean for the community? What does that mean for Black music? What does that mean for Black politics? And what does that mean for the long-standing legacy of racial discrimination in this country?”

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Six years ago, I was in Turks and Caicos celebrating my 50th wedding anniversary, walking the entire expanse of the resort and having a great time with the entire family — children, grands, and even great-grands. I had no thought of infirmity of any type. Nothing was slowing me down. 

By 2021, both hips needed surgery, but it was considered cosmetic and had to wait. In the interim, we tried physical therapy and injections. Neither worked. So, in March 2022, I went in for what was to be a typical hip replacement, and the plan was that six weeks later, I’d have another typical hip replacement and get on with my life. Not so much.

It’s 2024. I’m walking with a cane, and I’m grieving the mobility I enjoyed until then. Although I’ve lost too many friends too soon, I chose to mention this loss because it’s often overlooked when we think about grief. 

Grief is all around us. We grieve individually, and we grieve collectively. And it’s compounded by our shared social media culture.

So, what do we do with all this grief? 

I spoke with my favorite counseling psychologist, Toni Boulware Stackhouse, who started her practice, Life Matters Wellness, in 2020 during the pandemic when people were going stir-crazy from being locked up with too many relatives in too little space.

Challenging the Prosperity Gospel

In response to my question of how the church can be more helpful in the grief process, our conversation immediately went to the “prosperity gospel,” which seems t

o suggest, depending on the teacher, that anyone who is on firm ground in their faith should have everything they need and want, and not hurt, be ill, or suffer loss of any kind. She said that’s the problem. 

“One of the things the church can do is be more realistic about the fact that loss and death are parts of life. As much as there will be birth, there will be death. It’s the cycle of life. And that doesn’t speak to people dying prematurely, or prematurely in our sight,” Stackhouse says. “I think the thing with the church is we try to over-spiritualize some things. And we try to make people feel like, in a lot of instances, if you can’t accept things, if you feel like you gotta grieve, or you feel sad, or depressed, or you are anxious, then you are not spiritually mature. Or something is wrong with you. And that’s not true.”

She often references for her clients the scripture that details Jesus’ walk toward the hill of his death and describes him as being exceedingly sorrowful. 

“So when we go through, we use cliches like, ‘I’m blessed and highly favored,’ rather than tell the truth that we’re devastated or in pain. What we have created in the culture of the church is that it’s not OK for you to be not OK, and we need to reverse that,” she says. “The church needs to be the place where we can be and feel whatever we need in that season.

“That speaks to the humanity of Jesus because he came to walk the earth so that he could be an example for us, right? And show us that it’s okay to be human. He knew what he was going to do. He still felt the grief of the process. And the Bible describes it as exceedingly sorrowful. Those words sound like depression, right?” 

Many of Stackhouse’s clients come for more specific situations only to discover the real problem is grief.  For those who find grief to be their current reality, she suggests tools to help get through.

“I tell people to make space for it. When you feel like you need to cry, cry. If you feel like screaming, cussing, whatever it is that you feel like doing, allow yourself to do it because that means you need that release from your body. Grief has stages, and grief also has moments — unpredictable moments,” Stackhouse says.

“Journaling is good, voice or writing. Find ways to keep the legacy or memory of the person, especially for the younger ones in the family. Take up a craft or a hobby of the loved one you’ve lost and keep it going,” she says. “If the person was a gift giver, then give the same kinds of gifts.”

She also encourages people to talk about their loved ones and share memories with those who are also experiencing the loss, allowing them to do the same.  

The Weight of Youthful Grief

Rev. Therm James Jr. ministers to the “cradle to college” crew — between 150 and 175 young people at his church, New Macedonia Baptist Church, in Southeast Washington, D.C. In addition to his gifts and extensive professional training on the subject of grief, this doctoral student is, unfortunately, an expert.

When he was 13, his mother was killed in an automobile accident, and he went through all the expected stages of grief. He argued with God and questioned God’s keeping people addicted to and abusing drugs but taking his mother, “who was always singing and shouting, praising and living a good life.”

He was taken aback when one of his young men said, “Pastor TJ, all this stuff you’re talking about growing up, but who says I’m going to grow up?”

“And it hit me in a different way, hearing ‘I’m not going to be here for a long time, so let me just have a good time,’” he says. “With all the loss they’ve experienced, they raise the question, ‘Who’s to say I’m not next?’”

James says we used to have to pick up the paper to find out what was going on. “But now, every day you’re on your phone, you’re checking out Murder Ink, which houses all the bad things that happen in Baltimore City.”

He says every so often, he just has to disconnect from it. 

Faith in the Midst of Loss

“I see people who look like me, who have murdered people who look like me, and it plays on my emotions. It’s not normal. What we’re trying to make normal is just not normal,” James said, mentioning a recent Bible study on the theodicy of God, when bad things happen to good people. Or what happens when everything goes wrong.

“Job did everything right, and everything went wrong,” he says. “I try to help them understand we just can’t understand God, but that it’s alright to be angry with God. Faith will sustain you, but it always doesn’t feel fair.”

James’ bottom line is, “It’s OK to be angry with God, but just don’t stop talking.”

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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In a joint address, AME bishops called for the creation of ‘accountability measures for every elected and appointed leader within our church

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

(RNS) — The African Methodist Episcopal Church gathered in Columbus, Ohio, for its quadrennial meeting, consecrated six new bishops on Wednesday (Aug. 28) and voted to continue its ban on same-sex marriage while a committee considers ways to guide the denomination concerning sexual ethics.

The decisions were among the major actions of the weeklong meeting of thousands of delegates, which also included a closely watched and much-debated discussion of missing retirement money that has troubled the denomination for the past few years.

The delegates voted 896-722 to delete a bill that would have removed a ban on same-sex marriage from the historically Black denomination’s rule book, according to The Christian Recorder, the AME’s official periodical. “The Doctrine and Discipline” of the denomination says “the AME Church believes that unions of any kind between persons of the same sex or gender are contrary to the will of God.”

The AME bishops, in their written address to the General Conference, seemed to question whether a committee could settle on acceptable changes to church doctrine on LGBTQ matters, saying, in part: “Rational arguments on the matter of sexuality, sexual orientation, same sex marriage, the structure of the family, and the meaning of male and female will not resolve the controversy because the issues have deep theological and psychological roots.”

But the delegates voted that the Sexual Ethics Discernment Committee could continue its work for the next four years. This week the committee presented a 24-page report that includes biblical texts about gender identity and sexual orientation, resources about sexuality and Black theology and a listing of terms used to discuss LGBTQ issues.

The new bishops, who will fill seats vacated by retiring bishops and another who stepped aside, were chosen from a slate of 30 candidates and will head six of the AME’s 20 districts.

They include the Rev. Erika D. Crawford, pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Dover, Delaware, who will serve in the 8th Episcopal District, which includes Mississippi and Louisiana; the Rev. Julius H. McAllister Jr., pastor of Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee, Florida, who will lead the 9th Episcopal District, which comprises several Alabama churches; and the Rev. Vernon R. Byrd, pastor of St. Matthew AME Church in Philadelphia, who has been appointed to the 17th Episcopal District, which includes churches in Zambia and Burundi.

Other newly elected prelates are the Rev. Henry Allen Belin III, pastor of First Bethel AME Church in New York, who will serve in the 15th Episcopal District, which includes churches in South Africa; the Rev. Jeffery B. Cooper Sr., who was the AME Church’s general secretary and chief information officer and now will lead the 18th Episcopal District, with churches in several Southern African countries; and the Rev. Gregory Vaughn Eason, pastor of Atlanta’s Flipper Temple AME Church, who will serve in the 20th Episcopal District, which includes Malawi and Zimbabwe.

McAllister, Byrd and Belin are all sons of ministers who also served as bishops of the AME Church.

Among new general officers is the Rev. Tyronda Burgess, the first woman to be elected to that role, The Christian Recorder reported.

The conference also adopted a resolution aimed primarily at districts in Africa and the Caribbean that enhances “just and fair” appointments of bishops so that they can serve “with no exception on the basis of indigeneity.” Historically, some AME African clergy were restricted by custom to serving within their continent.

“(T)he AME Church shall commit to electing bishops from Districts 14 through 20 with no limitations placed on their districts of service,” reads the resolution.

On Monday, the church announced it had reached a settlement agreement with clergy who sued the church, accusing leadership of mishandling their retirement funds. The denomination’s general counsel said the “partial settlement,” which awaits a judge’s approval, totals $20 million. The 2022 class-action litigation claimed a total loss of $90 million.

The lawyer said the proposed settlement is separate from a suit the denomination filed against former Department of Retirement Services director Jerome Harris, who was accused of embezzling the retirement accounts. Harris died in May of a heart attack.

In their joint quadrennial address, the AME Church’s bishops gave a list of recommendations to AME members on topics such as education, equity and justice, gender inequality and equal opportunities, voter suppression and the 2024 election, and self-care, mental health and health care.

As members did before and during the meeting, the bishops too called for greater levels of responsibility across the denomination, including the creation of “accountability measures for every elected and appointed leader within our church, even to the extent of using civil law to uphold and enforce rules and bylaws.”

The AMEs also heard separate video greetings from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

In their brief remarks, Biden and Harris thanked the denomination’s members for their support and get-out-the-vote efforts. “We still have to do more,” Biden said. “Scripture says God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Harris cited the Gospel of Luke by saying “faith has the power to shine a light on those living in darkness and to guide our feet in the path of peace.”

This article was reprinted with permission from Religion News Service. 

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While joy was a buzzword at the convention to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris, plenty of speakers brought the Black church to the party.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

Word in Black

For generations, the Black church has been a cornerstone of Democratic Party politics, from “souls to the polls” voting drives to hosting candidates who want to reach Black audiences. 

So it was no surprise when Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia lawmaker and ordained minister, took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19 he also took his audience to church. After referencing his mother — who, after years of picking cotton picked her son at the ballot box in 2020 — he compared voting to an act of faith.

“Voting is a prayer we pray collectively for the kind of world we desire for ourselves and our children,” said Warnock, senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was once pastored by Martin Luther King Jr. “And our prayers are stronger when we pray together.”

Warnock was among several voices that intertwined faith, Black church traditions and politics before a national audience at the DNC. The speakers offered faith as a rationale to make Vice President Kamala Harris the next president — itself a mission to save the soul of the country. 

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, D-S.C., one of the party’s elder statesmen, referenced scripture in his presentation for Harris: “As 2 Corinthians informs, we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.

“Our great democracy has been tested, and so has the basic goodness of the American people,” Clyburn said. “But our resolve to remain a great country with freedom and justice for all will not falter.”

Rev. Cindy Rudolph, of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, was one of several clergy who spoke at the DNC. She praised the leadership of Harris and Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and Harris’ running mate, saying it dovetails with Jesus’ teachings. 

“As we look upon our leadership, we see what You require of us: To do justice, like the justice Vice President Harris has championed her entire career,” Rudolph said in her benediction. “To love mercy, like the mercy Governor Walz has modeled as a lifelong public servant and educator. And to walk humbly, like the humility President Biden has embodied with decades of outstanding servant leadership.”

The faith factor seemed widely felt. 

“The inclusion of more deeper faith-based references during night one at the Democratic National Convention was a subtle nod, I believe, to President Biden’s own walk of faith,” says digital creator Linnyette Richardson-Hall, #PoliticalDIVAsez. “He is a deeply religious man for whom his faith is everything and he’s not been shy about telling the world how it’s shaped and sustained him. He’s not ostentatious nor zealous in his profession – he’s as humble as the beatitudes suggest.” 

She called the insertion of faith at the DNC “an excellent way to showcase the stark differences” between Biden and

Trump. One, she says, is “a man who believes versus someone who wants you to think he knows something about faith.” 

Ray Winbush, a professor, researcher and activist at Morgan State University, agreed.

“I think we’ve gotten so used to negative political discussions, it was refreshing to hear and see love expressed publicly,” he said. 

It was a challenge, however, for any other speaker to come close to Warnock. Given the rapturous response to his speech, delivered in the cadence of a skilled Baptist minister, one wondered if Warnock would extend the opportunity to save a few individual souls in the process.

Along with comparing voting to prayer, the reverend went on to express good wishes for his neighbor’s children, the poor children of Israel and Gaza, those in the Congo, in Haiti and the Ukraine, “because we’re all God’s children.”

“And so, let’s stand together. Let’s work together. Let’s organize together. Let’s pray together. Let’s stand together. Let’s heal the land,” he said, to rousing applause. “God bless you. Keep the faith.”  

Commentators instantly lit up social media. On the Facebook page of Win With Black Women, members went wild for Warnock: the tone of his presentation, the possibility it might involve an altar call, wondering why an organ wasn’t playing. They were impressed that he strayed considerably from the teleprompter.

The Black faith traditions Warnock invoked resonated, “but in an actual real way, actual real faith, honest and true,” says Jacqueline Malonson, owner of Jax Photography. “I was struck and heartened. I know it when I see it and feel it, and it gives me hope.”

This article was originally published kn WordinBlack.com.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Modern grandparents seem to customize their titles, not preferring the “grandma” and “grandpa” of the past. Some want to be called “Glamma,” “Nanee,” or “Pop” or even by their first names — which makes sense since most look nothing like the grandparents of previous decades. 

But no matter what they’re called, their influence remains strong. And this year, churches and community groups are stepping up to celebrate their contributions. So as Grandparents Day approaches on Sept. 8, faith communities nationwide are finding creative ways to honor the elders who play a pivotal role in family life.

The day “is an appreciation acknowledgement for grandparents who are caregivers. Not to mention, share wisdom, love, and family history with members of the family and friends,” according to the website of the 107-year-old Pilgrim Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska.

Just as the age and appearance of grandparents has gotten increasingly younger, the role of grandparents has changed so much in the last few decades too.

“I look at the adults who were children when I came having their own children, the cycle of life coming full circle,” says Rev. Stephen Russell, pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in northwest Baltimore. 

His congregation has a substantial number of seniors, like most congregations these days. 

And over the 18 years he’s spent as pastor there, Russell has seen “the integral role grandparents continue to play in the family.”

He referenced Paul’s advice to his young mentee in the familiar text in II Timothy 1:5.

“Paul told Timothy to hold onto the faith given to him, first, by his grandmother and then his mother, Lois. They have a unique position, parenting in both generations,” Russell says. “Paul was letting Timothy know the importance of that guidance. It’s just great to give special space and salutation to our grandparents.”

The History of Grandparents Day

National Grandparents Day was officially enacted by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, although its roots began in 1969, when 9-year-old Russell Capper decided to write a letter to President Richard Nixon. Capper suggested a special day be set aside to honor his and all other grandparents in this country. He received a response from Nixon’s secretary that the president couldn’t declare such a day, but could only act on a congressional resolution authorizing him to do so.

Almost a decade later, Congress finally acted, and President Carter signed a proclamation declaring National Grandparents Day on the first Sunday after Labor Day each year. 

The Catholic Church actually celebrated World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 28, the Sunday nearest the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. Pope Francis, who declared the first of these days in 2021, chose a line from Psalm 71 as the theme for this year: Do not cast me off in my old age.

“By cherishing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly, and the contribution they make to the life of the Church, the World Day seeks to support the efforts of every ecclesial community to forge bonds between the generations and to combat loneliness,” the Pope said in a statement.

A Blessing From God

“Grandparents are a blessing from God,” says the Rev. Lorraine Heigh, who will be the guest preacher on Sept. 8, when residents of Resorts of Augsburg —  a nursing and assisted living facility in Lochearn, Maryland — will be honored with citations signed by Adrienne Jones, the first Black and first woman speaker of the Maryland General Assembly. 

“They play a pivotal role as the foundation of family passing down cultural values and instilling valuable lessons in life with love and compassion to enrich the lives of their grandchildren,” Heigh says.

The event was planned and is being carried out by Augsburg’s chaplain, Eric T. Campbell, who is determined that the “resident grandparents not just know they are not forgotten, but realize how much they are appreciated by their families and by the Augsburg family.”

And in “recognition of their incredible contributions…and profound impact,” Calvary’s grandparents will receive citations from the members of Baltimore’s City Council, signed by Sharon Middleton, the church’s designated representative.

A Global Day of Prayer

The significance of Grandparents Day goes beyond individual congregations, though. The Christian Grandparenting Network designates the September observance as a global Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. The network emphasizes the need for spiritual guidance in an increasingly complex world.

“We recognize the desperate moral and spiritual climate our grandchildren must navigate in a world hostile to truth,” according to their website. Perhaps at no other time in human history is a call to prayer more urgently required than it is today.”

So whether through prayer, celebration, or simple recognition, faith communities are united in their appreciation of grandparents. Their lived experience, wisdom, and unwavering support are not just vital to their families but also foundational to the strength and growth of the community.  

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

As the national conversation around reparations gains momentum, communities across the United States are taking action to address the enduring legacy of slavery and systemic racism. And one Midwestern faith-based organization, the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan, is turning talk into action by addressing the racial wealth gap.

Founded in 2021, the organization is all about repairing the deep wounds left by slavery and systemic racism. White members of area churches committed to healing their relationships with the Black community and making amends for racial harms. Because of that, the “reparations will be committed mainly from predominantly white Houses of Worship as part of their efforts to repair the breach caused by centuries of slavery, inequality of wealth accumulation, and the failure to live into God’s Plan,” according to the Justice League’s website.  

Indeed, the Justice League’s commitment to making things right resulted in them raising a reparations fund of more $400,000, built by payments from area churches and individuals who’ve taken a proactive approach to social justice. And so in early August, the Justice League handed out $5,000 scholarships to 10 college-bound high school grads. 

Recipients were selected based on their 500-word essays that examined the racial wealth gap or generational wealth in America and how that gap has affected their families. Academic grades counted for 25 percent of the total score and finalists were also interviewed.

“A common thread in their essays is that discrimination today has resulted from years of social injustices, and it continues to limit African-American families’ access to basic wealth builders–education, higher paying jobs and home ownership,” says Willye Bryan, founder and vice president of the Justice League. “This doesn’t allow for generational wealth building, nor does it allow for closing the racial wealth gap.”

When he thinks of generational wealth, scholarship winner Zachary Barker, who’s headed to Michigan State University, wrote that, “I think of families like the Rockefellers, Gateses, and Buffets. Recently, some famous Black people have achieved billionaire status like Michael Jordan, Jay Z, Lebron James and Oprah. But the rest of us are still struggling to get by.”

Olivia Burns, who will attend Michigan State University’s Honors College, is a Black transracial adoptee who was exposed first-hand to the racial wealth gap. She wrote about the relative wealth in her White parents’ household compared to her Black biological family’s household.

“Both my adoptive parents went to college paid for by their parents and received bachelor’s degrees,” Burns wrote.  “Neither of my biological parents nor siblings have had the opportunity to attend college, and most were barely able to finish high school because they had other responsibilities like working or providing childcare for my younger siblings. Today my adoptive family owns their homes and no one in my biological family owns their homes.”

Marvin Deh, another scholarship winner who’s also off to Michigan State, reminded us that legal racial segregation was only two generations ago ‚ and so the racial wealth is still very much ongoing.

“Most of our grandparents can describe what it was like to be African-American back then and the struggles they had to face,” Deh wrote. “They couldn’t build generational wealth when the world was actively pulling the rug from underneath them. There’s only been two generations to be given a ‘fair’ chance and enough time to build upon …. On paper the odds are ‘fair’ but in reality we still have to face racism, police brutality, injustice, systematic oppression, lack of influence, stereotypes, and societal pressure.”

“This is not charity and it’s not designed to make you feel better about giving a check,” Bryan said in an interview last year. Along with raising funds for the scholarships, the Justice League hopes to address other systemic barriers to wealth creation by supporting Black home ownership and entrepreneurship.

As J’Kyla Hobbs, who will be attending the University of Michigan, put it: “Investing in affordable housing, improving access to quality education and healthcare, and reforming the criminal justice system are critical steps toward building a more equitable society.”

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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Special to the AFRO

The Rev. Dr. Melanie Rogers Miller shattered the glass ceiling on July 27 at the 52nd General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion) in Greensboro, N.C., by becoming the second woman ever elected as bishop in the church’s 228-year existence. She is now the only living female bishop within the denomination.

Miller’s path to the bishopric began in 2018 when she launched her campaign for the 2021 election. She acknowledges it was an uphill battle as many people didn’t know her, and she was not elected.

Campaigning again in 2022 for the 2024 election, her second effort gained global momentum as she continued with the original slogan, “Traveling the globe to capture the heartbeat of Zion.”

Highlighting her relentless determination, she declared, “I visited five continents, 42 nations, 42 states, and 350 AME Zion churches,” making her presence known far and wide. 

Out of 17 American candidates—14 men and three women—Miller was one of five elected, winning with a two-thirds majority from the 668 delegates that voted, 70 percent of whom are women, marking a major milestone in her journey.

Bishop Eric L. Leake, secretary of the Board of Bishops of the AME Zion Church, where Bishop Miller serves as his assistant and colleague, remarked that she is already a “valuable asset to the Board of Bishops.”

He praised Miller for her “class, commitment, wisdom, and dedication,” noting her deep concern for others and her strong work ethic. He added that she is “humble, not haughty,” and in this election, she was “intentional about making sure she was known.”

Leake mentioned that in AME Zion elections the focus can sometimes lean more toward “popularity” than “qualification.” He noted that, historically, “it’s been a male-dominated board, and people are used to electing men.” However, this time, “the general conference was intentional about electing Melanie Miller as a bishop.”

Bishop Miller also acknowledged the male-dominated system, noting, “We elected our first woman bishop in 2008,” referring to Bishop Mildred Bonnie Hines, the 98th bishop in the line of succession of the AME Zion Church, who passed away on May 23, 2023. In 2024, 16 years later, “I’m the 110th bishop in line of succession.” 

The Rev. Dorothy A. Patterson, pastor of Wallace Temple AME Zion Church in Bayonne, N.J., alongside Miller’s husband, the Rev. Jimmie L. Miller Sr., presented her for consecration.

“What Bishop Miller is carrying right now is life changing,” Patterson said, and “I am so absolutely filled with joy and have this attitude of gratitude to God first for helping us be able to mobilize in a way where we understand that it was time.”

Patterson described Bishop Miller as a person of integrity, humility and genuine care for others. She emphasized that Miller will work consistently, effectively, and transformatively—not for personal recognition, but to uplift God’s people and bring about positive change in the lives of those in local churches.

“She believes in the sacredness of the church,” she added, “and the holiness of the body of Christ. Those things are essential.” 

Patterson concluded that Bishop Miller’s election prompts the AME Zion Church to explore new areas and perspectives, recognizing the greatness within Zion not only in men but also in women, many of whom are equally qualified.

Bishop Miller has been appointed to oversee the Western Episcopal District, encompassing Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Alaska and Colorado. She will continue serving as pastor of St. Paul AME Zion Church in Ewing, N.J., until the end of September while a new appointment is finalized.

Bishop Miller and her husband will reside in Chicago until their Episcopal residence on the West Coast is arranged. Rev. Miller serves as a supernumerary at St. Paul AME Zion and is the first male missionary supervisor in the AME Zion Church.

Bishop Miller encourages women aspiring to leadership roles to have courage—courage to lead with confidence, trusting that God is with you, that He called you, and that you’re doing His work. She advises building a strong support network and supporting other women. Miller also emphasizes the importance of standing up to challenges or systems and navigating through them. Most importantly, she highlights the courage to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus.

According to the St. Paul AME Zion website, Bishop Miller is now retired from the U.S. Navy, where she served as a chaplain. She is a prolific preacher, speaker and teacher of the Bible, having ministered across the U.S. and internationally, including in Angola, Japan, Europe and the Caribbean. She earned a doctorate in higher education from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va., and a doctor of ministry degree in biblical interpretation and proclamation from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.

She also holds a master’s of divinity degree from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and a bachelor’s from Old Dominion University.

Miller began her pastoral career in 2005 at Sycamore Hill AME Zion in Gatesville, N.C. She was appointed pastor of Martin Temple AME Zion in Compton, Calif., in 2010, and Varick Memorial AME Zion Church in Hackensack, N.J., in 2013, where she served until her appointment to St. Paul AME Zion Church in Ewing, N.J. in January 2022.

A native of Paterson, N.J., Miller and her husband have three sons—Jimmie Jr., Jerome and Jason—one daughter, Jetaime, and a nephew, Lamar. They are grandparents to 11, including seven granddaughters and  four grandsons.

Bishop Miller’s victory highlights the growing role of women in leadership within the AME Zion Church.

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By Dana Peck
Special to the AFRO

In a spiritually charged gathering at The Carter Center, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, the visionary senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, spearheaded an empowering event on Aug. 5 aimed at mobilizing voter turnout and educating the community about Project 2025. 

Bryant, former senior pastor of Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple, has a history of galvanizing communities towards non-violent action, having previously served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP, where he guided 70,000 young people globally. 

Bryant’s newest 5-5-5 plan is a direct response to Project 2025. The campaign features four major events held on the fifth of each month leading up to Election Day in November. 

Bryant provided a historical context of democracy, emphasizing the challenges faced by Black communities. He critiqued Project 2025, underscoring its potential negative implications for Black communities. He called for a concrete plan and youth engagement, stressing the importance of voter registration, education, and turnout efforts. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is incumbent upon us not to just talk amongst ourselves, but to go to the barbershops, and to the basketball courts,” Bryant told the gathering. “I want to challenge those of you who are part of the D9 (Divine Nine, Black fraternities and sororities), those of you who are part of civic organizations, those of you who are part of grassroots organizations, and those of you who are connected to faith organizations. 

“I want to encourage you on Oct. 5 and Sept. 5 that this is an all-out [voter registration effort]. I want you to leave no door left unlocked. Let no phone number be left untexted.”

The event began with an opening prayer by Bishop William Murphy, bishop of worship at Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, who invoked the scripture from Nehemiah 4. His message resonated deeply with the attendees, reminding them not to be distracted by external conflicts while working towards their goals. This spiritual grounding set the tone for an evening dedicated to unity, purpose and action.

Bryant invited nine leaders to share his vision with attendees.

Rashad Richey, a strategist representing The Carter Center’s Georgia Democracy Resilience Network, delivered a powerful address on the significance of democracy and the critical role of informed voting. He highlighted the spiritual battle behind physical challenges, urging attendees to manifest change. He called for a coalition of responsibility among community members to safeguard democratic principles.  His emphasis on coalition-building underscored the necessity of collective action in the face of political challenges.

Virginia Harris, president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, stressed the importance of electing leaders who genuinely care about the people. She introduced initiatives such as Mobilize Monday and public policy engagement kits, designed to keep the community informed and engaged. Harris’ call to action was clear: informed voting is essential for true representation and effective governance.

Attorney Mo Ivory, commissioner- elect for Fulton County Commission’s District 4, offered a detailed analysis of the legal implications of Project 2025. She emphasized the importance of local involvement and strategic planning beyond emotional victories. Ivory’s insights into the legal landscape provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the stakes involved in the upcoming elections.

Yatonya Oliver, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Dekalb Alumni Chapter, focused on the critical role of youth engagement in the voting process. She stressed the importance of mobilizing apathetic voters through community engagement and innovative outreach strategies. Oliver’s passion for youth involvement was evident, inspiring many to take active steps toward fostering a culture of informed and enthusiastic voters.

Darrel Taylor, president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Decatur Alumni Chapter, emphasized the necessity of voter education, registration, and civic engagement. He highlighted unique opportunities for voter registration, particularly in high schools, aiming to instill the values of civic duty and participation in the next generation of voters.

Dr. Johni Cruse Craig, social action chair for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Stone Mountain – Lithonia Alumni Chapter,  discussed imperative strategies for Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts. She outlined a multifaceted approach: educate, register, mobilize and protect. Her comprehensive strategy underscored the importance of a holistic approach to voter mobilization, ensuring every eligible voter is informed, registered and motivated to cast their ballot.

Bernard Levett, president of the 100 Black Men of Dekalb, highlighted the chapter’s extensive involvement in civic engagement and the critical importance of youth education on voting. His message reinforced the idea that educating young people about their voting rights and responsibilities is fundamental to sustaining a vibrant democracy.

Mayor of Stonecrest Jazzmin Cobble shared her success in mobilizing voters through effective public policy. She stressed the importance of evaluating policies over emotional attachment to candidates, advocating for a more rational and informed approach to voting. Cobble’s practical perspective resonated with attendees, many of whom seemed to leave with a renewed sense of purpose.

Congressman Hank Johnson, U.S. representative for Georgia’s 4th congressional district, praised Pastor Bryant and the collective efforts of the community. He critiqued the previous Trump administration while celebrating the Biden-Harris administration, highlighting the urgency of protecting democracy. Johnson’s passionate speech served as a rallying cry for attendees to remain vigilant and proactive in their civic duties.

Bryant expressed a heartfelt thanks to the various contributors and organizations. He shared that launching at The Carter Center was a full circle moment for him.

“I went with my parents to play with Amy Carter at the White House at 7 years of age,” he recalled. “I was on the cover of newspapers all over the country because they hadn’t seen a Black kid playing with a White kid on the White House lawn. This was 1977 and so for me to be back in this place is overwhelmingly gratifying.”

Maisha Land, creator of the Stroll to the Polls Movement, said, “It was refreshing to finally hear a discussion with tangible outcomes in mind for civic engagement and accountability for before and after elections. Learning about Project 5-5-5 tonight really focused me.  I realize more than ever that fighting the plans put in for the demise of our communities is not enough, that ‘I have a dream’ is not enough…. We must have a plan. I am looking forward to Project 5-5-5 and helping with the lift.”

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The 91st National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses celebrated both traditional artists and contemporary sounds.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

A celebration of faith, culture, and musical innovation went down in late July in Philadelphia at the 91st National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, which gathers musicians and singers of all genres of gospel music. 

The convention’s continuing legacy is to foster and promote an appreciation and high standard of excellence for gospel music and gospel music performances. It offers sessions for youth and adults who seek to enhance their skills as singers, instrumentalists, educators and leaders. It is also the place to showcase newly written gospel music. 

And as contemporary artists push boundaries and face criticism reminiscent of the gospel’s early days, it provides a space for intergenerational dialogue and sharing new works that keep gospel alive. 

From Blues to Blessings

The convention’s name is long, but its members lovingly call it the Dorsey Convention. Its renowned founder, Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey — the “Father of Gospel Music” — led the convention from its founding in 1932 until his death in 1993. Dorsey wrote more than 1,000 gospel songs, including “If You See My Savior Tell Him That You Saw Me;” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord;” “Peace in the Valley;” and “If You See My Savior.” 

The funny thing about the NCGCC’s founder is that his type of music was disparaged by regular churchgoers back then in the same way as gospel creators such as James Cleveland with his worldly adaptations, Kirk Franklin with his song “Stomp,” and the gospel rappers with their spoken word.

Dorsey is said “to have combined the good news of the gospel with the bad news of the blues,” according to author Anthony Heilburt.

Nurturing Talent, Celebrating Diversity

Eric Scott is one of those whose music was presented in Philadelphia. His composition “With My Whole Heart” features lead vocals sung by his son. His music has also been presented at a past Dorsey Convention in Baltimore and at the Hampton Ministers Conference two years ago. 

Scott and his wife, Pastor Marsha Scott are founders of the Lighthouse Worship Center in Baltimore, a “progressive, multi-generational inner-city ministry expanding the Kingdom of God through sincere worship and preaching of the word of God,” according to its website. 

Scott has been a composer for quite some time and this latest is just one of those shared with the gospel music world. Knowing he was lead student accompanist at Morgan State University under the late Dr. Nathan M. Carter is a dead giveaway to his great giftedness. If you know, you know. But Scott is also out here innovating and keeping gospel alive and fresh.

Other presenters of their own compositions included Chicago-based gospel artist Kevon Carter, and Baltimore gospel artists Daniel Curtis and Eric Waddell.

With performances by luminaries like Bishop Hezekiah Walker and a host of choirs and ensembles — ranging from traditional to contemporary — the convention put the diversity of gospel on full display. And as gospel music continues to grow and evolve, the Dorsey Convention stands as a through-line of Black expression, spirituality, and resilience.  

So next time you hear someone complain about gospel music changing or “not being what it used to be,” remind them that’s the point. It’s always changing, always adapting, but always speaking to the soul. And conventions like this make sure that conversation keeps going, generation after generation.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Marnita Coleman 
Special to the AFRO

Church of God in Christ (COGIC) General Supervisor Emerita Mother Willie Mae Rivers, a revered leader and a beloved figure within the faith community, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 26, 2024. 

A viewing will be held on Aug. 5 at Calvary Church of God in Christ, located in Goose Creek, S.C.  at 302 Jeffs Circle. Mother Rivers’ viewing will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a service to celebrate her life and work.

The national homegoing service for Mother Rivers will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., hosted by the Church of God in Christ, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn.

Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard conveyed his heartfelt condolences about the death in a statement sent to the AFRO, saying “Mother Willie Mae Rivers was a beacon of light and a pillar of strength in the Church of God in Christ.”

“Her unwavering dedication to the work of the Lord and her exemplary leadership have left an indelible mark on the lives of countless people,” continued Sheard. “Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations, giving us comfort. We will sorely miss her, but her spirit will remain with us forever.”

According to information in her obituary, released by Rivers Funeral Home, Mother Willie Mae Smalls Rivers was 98 at the time of her death. The Goose Creek, S.C. native was born on Feb. 20, 1926.

“At the tender age of five, she sang her first solo at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (North Charleston),” reads Mother Rivers’ obituary. “By nine years old, Willie Mae was singing on Mt. Zion’s adult choir, teaching catechism class, representing her church at the AME District Sunday School Conventions and giving the official report in front of the Mt Zion congregation upon her return.”

As it was more accepted in her day, Mother Rivers, then known as Willie Mae Smalls, became a wife at the young age of 15 on June 26, 1941. 

Together, she and her husband, David Rivers,  gave life to 12 children during a marriage that spanned five and a half decades. Her husband died on May 15, 1997. 

In 1946, Mother Rivers  experienced “a profound spiritual awakening and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.” She then helped co-found Calvary Church Of God In Christ (Goose Creek), along with others from the community who shared this life-changing experience,” according to her obituary.

Not long after starting Calvary COGIC, Mother Rivers was elevated to the position of “Church Mother.” She was just 20 years old. 

By 1968, Mother Rivers was serving as state supervisor of the department of women for the COGIC’s South Carolina Jurisdiction. At the time of her death she had served in numerous departments, serving in a variety of roles and capacities. 

According to information released by COGIC, the following roles were held by Mother Rivers on a national level:

• International Marshal Women’s Convention
• Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors
• Member, Executive Board
• Member, Screening Committee
• Member, Program Committee General Church
• Coordinator – Leadership Conference
• Instructor – District Missionaries Class
• Member, Steering Committee – Women’s Convention
• Chairperson – Exhibits – Women’s Convention
• Third Assistant General Supervisor
• Second Assistant General Supervisor
• First Assistant General Supervisor

Though she held all of these different roles, she still made time to make an impact on an individual level. 

Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis, the current general supervisor for COGIC’s international department of women, said in a statement sent to the AFRO, “Mother Rivers was not only a mentor, but also a dear friend.” 

“Her wisdom, grace and unwavering faith were evident in everything she did,” continued Lewis. “She was a true servant of God who touched the lives of so many, including her children, grandchildren, and the entire COGIC family. Her legacy will live on in our hearts and in those she touched.”

Danielle Hodges spoke with the AFRO about guidance she received from Mother Rivers over the years. 

“I was considered her girl,” said Danielle Hodges, First Lady of Impact Church of the Lowcountry, in North Charleston, S.C. 

Hodges said Mother Rivers was like a grandmother to her, a confidante, mentor and guiding light. As their families were connected via the church, from the tender age of eight she felt something was special about Mother Rivers. During revivals at Johnson Temple COGIC in North Charleston, S.C., Hodges said her family would host Mother Rivers at their home for weeks at a time. 

“She was the epitome of grace,” Hodges recalls. “She poured into me like no other.” 

Hodges said Mother Rivers shaped her into the woman she is today, and proved to be a devout woman with a heart for the millions of women she served globally. 

Elder Jeremy Q. Henry, lead pastor of the Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ of Milwaukee, Wis. shared his memories with the AFRO as well. 

“My most memorable birthday was spent with Mother Willie Mae Rivers at her home in Goose Creek, S.C., surrounded by the warmth and love of her family,” he said. “Her hospitality and kindness were truly remarkable. We shared words of encouragement and laughter, creating cherished memories.” 

“I was especially honored when she sang a Jubilee rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. That day remains etched in my heart— a testament to her extraordinary spirit and enduring influence,” recalls Elder Henry. “She requested that I return so we could sing more songs together, but I believe she has now found a greater audience to sing praises to–for all glory, honor and praise belong to God.”

Bro. Steve Harris, a West Angeles COGIC member and producer for the annual COGIC Convocation, described his two-decade relationship with Mother Rivers as “epic, warm and genuine.” 

He noted that Mother Rivers was exceptionally generous, and was known to personally sponsor young missionaries from around the globe who lacked the means to attend the COGIC women’s conventions. He said she was a “walking encyclopedia” of history and life, her knowledge and wisdom were unparalleled.

Mother Rivers’ dedication extended beyond her strong commitment to the church , as she was a loving mother to her sons, the late Robert Lee Rivers and Samuel Rivers, and is survived by 10 daughters (Flossie, Alfreda, Eleanor, Barbara, Francine, Joyce, Debra, Vernece, Sondra, and Angeline), 20 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, three great- great-grandchildren, three sisters and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and community members. 

Her devotion to her family was evident in every action, as was her unwavering commitment to the Grand Ole Church of God in Christ.

“Mother Willie Mae Rivers will be deeply missed and never forgotten,” said Elder Henry. “Genesis 17:16 says, ‘Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations.’ Mother Rivers was a beacon of love and strength, a mother to the nations, and her legacy and impact on the world are immeasurable.”

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By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Biden-Harris Administration has made addressing climate change collaboratively a focus of their administration, which includes Black faith leaders.

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been focused since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration on helping to lead whole community climate resilience. What we recognize is that when communities are affected by disasters, unfortunately, Black communities have been disproportionately impacted,” Marcus T. Coleman, Jr., director of the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (DHS Partnerships Center), told the AFRO. “What we wanted to do was create a series of engagements to bring together faith leaders, community leaders, non-government organizations and begin to be proactive about what we can do to help mitigate against the impacts of climate change.”

According to the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, the results of climate change such as damaged property and increased health issues due to dangerous heat exposure or a lack of clean air and water, can significantly hinder the potential for Black socioeconomic mobility.

Black populations are also more vulnerable to physical hazards due to their concentration in areas more susceptible to extreme weather. Around half of all Black people in the U.S. reside in 11 southeastern states, which include Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland and Tennessee, where intense heat, hurricanes and flooding are particularly high.

“The roundtable that was hosted in June was one of several iterations of conversations we’ve been having again since 2021 and reflects our focus on making sure that before we have our next major disaster, we’ve built relationships with a broad array of partners,” said Coleman. 

The roundtables and related meetings have been conducted by the Department of Human services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), gathering groups of non-profits, federal agencies and faith-based organizations under the White House’s National Climate Resilience Framework.

Objectives under the framework include equipping U.S. communities with the resources they need to determine climate risks develop solutions and help neighborhoods become more safe, equitable and resilient.

Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune of the National Council of Churches is one of the partners who attended an April multi-faith leader climate resilience roundtable. Copeland Tune shared her experience at the meeting.

“It was really helpful to hear how FEMA and DHS negotiate responses to emergencies, and how they do the preparedness piece, and knowing the resources that are available to churches and faith-based communities for grants and other programmatic initiatives,” said Copeland-Tune. “You have a better idea of if you were an affected community, how you might engage with them to get the best response.”

One thing Copeland-Tune said that she believes could be improved is ensuring information on grants and resources is easily available to all churches throughout the U.S.

“Just dealing with what’s going on in their local congregation, it takes a lot of time and energy and effort,” she said. “It’s making it as easy as possible, as simple as possible, having connection points, those are the things that make the difference in ensuring churches get the resources that they need when they need them.”

Even so, Copeland-Tune says she’s experienced great communication from Coleman and Nicole C. Wood, deputy director of the DHS Partnerships Center, when she’s needed assistance.

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The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi is being formally installed July 20, and she is the first woman and first Black person to hold the post.

The Rev. Dorothy Sanders Wells was elected bishop in February and has been in the leadership role since May. She is being ordained and consecrated by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Wells succeeds former Bishop Brian Seage, who was elected in 2014 and had been in the role since the 2015 retirement of his predecessor.

The Mississippi diocese has about 17,600 members in 87 congregations.

Wells is a native of Mobile, Alabama, and studied vocal performance at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She earned a law degree from the University of Memphis and practiced law for 18 years in Memphis before becoming a priest.

She earned a master of divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Emory University.

Wells told the Clarion Ledger that she does not focus on being the first woman and first African American to become the Episcopal bishop of Mississippi.

She was previously rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown, Tennessee, and chaplain of the church’s preschool. She had been there since 2013. She said leaders of the Mississippi Diocese are looking for ways to help small, rural congregations serve their communities.

“It is a priority to re-energize and get people excited again about all of the ministry opportunities that we have,” she said.

Wells said she wants people to emphasize their faith in everyday interactions.

“If it ends when our time together ends on Sunday mornings, then we have already missed the message,” Wells said. “That should be the beginning. When we walk out the doors, that becomes the beginning of us showing that radical love and hospitality.”

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By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com

For many years now, in one corner of southwest Baltimore, Stillmeadow Community Fellowship has been taking progressive steps to help their neighborhood adapt to climate change. They have worked towards building a ten-acre forest, installed an urban apiary, and are one of the city’s resilience hubs. 

Turning neighborhood churches into resiliency hubs is one of the many initiatives the Baltimore Office of Sustainability has created to help palliate the effects of climate change within the city. The office, founded in 2007, is focused on creating an environmentally safe atmosphere to improve the quality of life by lowering the amount of greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions. 

Mayor Brandon Scott has worked closely with the Baltimore Office of Sustainability to reach the goal of making sure the city becomes carbon-neutral by 2045. 

“From the start of my administration, I have made it clear that sustainability and improving the lives of all residents is a priority,” Scott wrote in a press release. 

Climate change has become more recognized as a global phenomenon with studies showing that droughts, wildfires and extreme rainfalls have been the effect of greenhouse gasses caused by our daily lifestyle. This has prompted urban areas across the country to cope with the ever-changing paradigm shifts in the environment. 

Cities in particular are facing big issues such as rising sea levels, drought and scorching heat temperatures. However, certain parts of Baltimore have faced flooding and damage to local infrastructures. 

The Baltimore Social Environmental Collaborative has worked extensively with the Office of Sustainability since September 2022 to codesign climate change solutions and to improve the wellbeing of residents. 

Dr. Benjamin Zaitchik, professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University described how these emissions are created and emitted throughout the atmosphere. 

“Greenhouse gasses refers to any molecule in the gas form, so anything that we put into the air ends up warming the planet. [Which] includes things like carbon dioxide that gets in when we burn coal or oil or some other sources as well as a bunch of other industrial chemicals; and when they get into the atmosphere, essentially they act like a blanket absorbing some of the heat the earth is trying to radiate toward outer space and that ends up warming the planet,” Zaitchik said. 

Zaitchik shared how the harmful effects of these emissions have caused neighborhoods to experience more heat than other parts of the city. 

“Baltimore is experiencing that general warming and you end up with some of the neighborhoods that are experiencing heat. The heat affects everyone and then it can be several degrees warmer in some of these neighborhoods. Some of those neighborhoods are the same places where people maybe don’t have air conditioning, but Baltimore is already going to be hotter because it’s a city and we’ve got this vulnerability,” said Zaitchik. 

According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, many urban areas within the United States have experienced heat waves because of the heat island effect which has caused health-related concerns among civilians. 

“Roofs and pavements can constitute to about 60 percent of the surface area of a U.S. city. These surfaces are typically dark in color and thus absorb at least 80 percent of sunlight, causing them to get warmer than lighter-colored surfaces. These warm roofs and pavements then emit heat and make the outside warmer.” 

Zaitchik elaborated on his work with several community members and noted that the temperature was higher at night throughout the city. 

“Baltimore is a pretty substantial urban heat island and over the past few weeks we’ve seen at night, which is the time the urban heat islands tends to be biggest—it was up to seven degrees warmer at some locations in East Baltimore than it was in the suburbs to some of the greener neighborhoods on the north side of town,’ said Zaitchik. 

Nonetheless, the Office of Sustainability created the climate action plan to keep track of greenhouse gas emissions and how to deal with the impacts of climate change. 

Zaitchik said that although the climate action plan is still quite new he believes the planning can help get the city on the right track. 

Baltimore’s Office of Sustainability reported how the urban heat island effects have had an impact on the city but also listed the components to reduce these emissions.

“Several elements are known to reduce the impact of UHI’s: permeable surfaces on roadways, sidewalks, parking lots and alleys, vegetated or green roofs, urban tree canopies, or green spaces on urban lands,” the office wrote. 

In addition to the beehive and work to revitalize the urban forest, Stillmeadow volunteers have been working on steps like planting trees in the peace park to help reduce the heat island effect. They have also created walking paths for people to spend time in nature, and help their mental health. They have also installed rain barrels and cisterns to collect rainwater, which they use to water their vegetables and other plants.

Yorell Tuck, director of operations at Stillmeadow Community Projects, discussed the particulars behind Stillmeadow and how a flood damaged the neighborhood in 2018, which prompted them to realize how they contributed to the flooding.

“This area is a flood zone and every decade there’s a major flood,” she said. “Our stream in our peace park goes through a culvert and a tree had fallen [which] blocked it, and so that water had nowhere to go but up and out. Part of us recognizing that incident with the flood helped us to realize that there’s ways in which our property contributed to the flooding for years,” said Tuck. 

Tuck admitted they have taken preventative measures to keep floods from happening again. 

“If there’s a tree or limb that falls we cut it and we get it out of the way, and then we’ve also installed rain barrels and cisterns to catch our stormwater runoff from our roof which we’ve repurposed to water our gardens,’’ she said. 

Tuck also explained what prompted Stillmeadow to create an urban apiary in front of the church. 

“Grass is not an attractor to pollinators which as you know we need bees, butterflies, moths, and birds. Our front lawn has a lot of plants that are native to Maryland and they’re there for beauty, and we have a few different plants and flowers that really mesh well with the native pollinators to this area so that we can promote that ecology,” she said. 

Nevertheless, Stillmeadow has continued to be a beacon and a force to be reckoned with. Tuck also explained the future goals and how locals have responded to their efforts to reduce the amount of climate change in the surrounding neighborhood. 

“Our goals are to be a model,” she said.“We want to continue to expand our workforce development programs, we want to continue our education programs and we also want to get into community solar,” said Tuck. 

Even though climate change has proved to be a global phenomenon one must wonder if it is too late for us to erase our carbon footprint and reverse the damage that’s been done. 

Zaichik shared different ways we could work together to do something about climate change. 

“Driving less, getting around town with public transport, walking, biking, things like that are a big deal. I’m not going to tell people to turn off their air conditioning but maybe find levels of comfort that are comfortable without turning your house into a refrigerator and taking advantage of opportunities for change as we go,” he said.

Tuck agreed and shared how faith has continued to inspire Stillmeadow to take care of their neighborhood. 

“I don’t know, I can’t say if we can officially reverse it. I don’t know if that can happen but I do know that with anything it’s important to at least do your piece,” she said. “We believe as a church that God gave us the earth as an amazing gift, and that any gift that he gives us he expects us to manage it well.”

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black

When you talk to Rae Lewis-Thornton, you discover that she’s full of faith and humor—and she’s determined to live life to the fullest. 

The ordained Baptist minister, 62, does so even though she has AIDS. Her days, which she spends educating people about the disease, demand a strict regimen of survival strategies. But she’s up to the challenge.

“The life expectancy of AIDS is certainly different than when I was diagnosed in 1987. I mean, if you had lived three years, you were a long-term survivor,” Thornton says. “But living with AIDS is a lifelong challenge.” 

And her life has always been about faith and purpose.

The role of faith in her journey

Thornton’s faith journey started in childhood, guided by her grandmother who took her to church. She says she was always loved by the pastors of the two churches she attended until she was on her own. Later, the support she received from her pastors and other members of the faith community helped her navigate the difficulties of her diagnosis.

“AIDS was still new, and people didn’t know what to do,” she says. “We knew about gay, white men being afflicted, but when it landed in the Black community — especially the church community — it was a real problem.”

However, Thornton says “The church has come a long way since many pronounced AIDS to be a punishment from God.” 

The enduring HIV/AIDS crisis

While her personal faith community has always been present and supportive, Thornton is concerned that many people mistakenly think HIV and AIDS are a thing of the past, or at least not much of a problem. Data, however, shows exactly the opposite.

According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 31,800 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2022. Annual infections in the U.S. have been reduced by more than two-thirds since the height of the epidemic in the mid-1980s. Further, CDC estimates of annual HIV infections in the United States show hopeful signs of progress in recent years.

Although people who identify as Black and/or African American made up approximately 12 percent of the population of the United States in 2022, they accounted for 37 percent of the estimated new HIV infections — more than any other racial or ethnic group. 

Thornton says people also think care and maintenance if you get HIV is minimal, as is the need for testing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I’m no longer on 31 pills a day,” she says. “My specific HIV regimen is eight pills, but I’ll never be able to do the one pill a day because I’ve been infected for a very long time, and I’ve developed a resistance to some of the meds because that was all we had. And compliance is incredibly important.” 

Caring for her mental health

And it’s not just the physical concerns that she deals with. 

“I experience a couple days a week with some level of fatigue, which shouldn’t happen theoretically if your viral load is undetectable. But sometimes, it’s just hard to get through the day. Depression is also common with HIV,” Thornton says.

“So I take my antidepressants and see my therapist regularly. People say to me, well, you’re happy. Yes, I’m happy because I’m doing what I need to care for my mental health as well as the physical.”

She says she’s probably happier than she’s been in a very long time because she’s at peace.

A private diagnosis made public

Thornton initially kept her HIV diagnosis to herself. But in 1994, she made the transition to AIDS. 

The first person she told was Rev. Jesse Jackson — then head of Rainbow/ PUSH. Thornton worked as the national youth director for Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1984 and 1988. She also told his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, who had taken Thornton under her wing as her special charge. 

“They immediately prayed for me and even suggested I move back into their household, because a diagnosis back then was nothing less than a death sentence and they didn’t want me to die alone,” she says.

A mission to educate others

That same year, she became an AIDS educator, speaking at public schools across Chicagoland. She soon took her message of hope wherever she was called to go. In December of 1994, her activism landed her on the cover of Essence. The headline read: “I’m young, I’m educated, I’m drug-free, and I’m dying of AIDS.”

Two years later, “in 1996, I did a series with CBS ‘Living with AIDS’ that I won an Emmy award for,” she says.

Those same two pastors from her childhood churches found out about her status after they saw the program on their local Chicago CBS affiliate.  

“The one pastor who always called me Rae Rae, called the television station. When I answered, he asked, ‘Is that my Rae Rae?’ As he had done since I was a child.”

She was likewise supported by her Chicago pastor, Rev. Clay Evans, an internationally known gospel singer, and pastor of Fellowship Chicago Church of God. 

“He was loving and tender and also found out by seeing me on television. He called me to the front of the church during the service, and I was terrified because this was something he was known to do, and who knew what would come next? He asked if that had been me he had seen on television. When I said yes, he just said, we’ll have to have you talk to our young people. And that was that.”

As she wrote in her memoir “Unprotected,” published in 2022:  

“I was a full member of the Christian family. I now belong to a family that wanted me. I cried tears of happiness… I was too young to fully understand what it meant to become a Christian… but if I had not found the church when I did, I don’t know how I would have made it… what I know for sure today is that God heard my cry literally and created a path for me that the light to help me maneuver through the darkness in my life.”

Her faith family has been an unexpected — but so necessary — gift to Thornton’s survival. Despite the headline of the Essence cover story, Thornton’s still alive and aging with HIV. She continues to advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, proper testing, and comprehensive care, and she’ll never stop giving thanks to God.

“You’re going to need a God, whoever your God is,” Thornton says. “It’s imperative. You’re going to need God every step of the way.”

This article was originally published on WordInBlack.com.

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The National Council of Churches is spearheading a new wave of social justice activism, to motivate folks to take action and head to the polls.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

As technology continues to reshape every aspect of life, churches face the challenge of evolving their practices to remain relevant and effective. Just as communion and worship have evolved from traditional in-person gatherings to those that are hybrid or totally virtual, evangelism has morphed into likes, shares and online engagement. To thrive, churches must continuously adapt and find never-before-imagined ways to expand their ministries.

In this landscape, the National Council of Churches is equipping its members and partners for the journey at hand and ahead. By embracing modern tools and revisiting the lessons of the past, the NCC aims to foster a new wave of social justice activism, reminiscent of the pivotal Freedom Summer of 1964.

“In 1964, NCC, with a deep sense of urgency, immersed itself into the troubled waters of racial injustice in Mississippi to engage in direct action in the struggle of African Americans for racial justice,” NCC President and General Secretary Bishop Vashti McKenzie said in a statement.

“There was a belief that it was going to be a decisive moment in American history. As it was then, so it is now. We are at a pivotal point in a polarized country. We must retrace our steps to build upon the foundations of justice left by previous generations.”

The NCC’s Freedom Academy is a key part of this effort, designed to train and mobilize faith leaders to inspire and guide their communities to also become people of faith.

Through a Sunday school-style Bible study curriculum, the academy will provide theological grounding from the biblical teachings of Luke 4. The first session in a six-part series of classes, “The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me – Sacred Spirituality of Freedom/Theology of Freedom,” will be taught by Rev. Stephen A. Green, pastor of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, on July 7.

“On the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer, I am honored to lead the Freedom Academy for the National Council of Churches. This milestone reminds us of the enduring legacy of those who fought tirelessly for civil rights and social justice. As we reflect on their sacrifices and achievements, we are inspired to continue their work with renewed vigor and dedication,” Rev. Green says. 

“Our mission is to educate and empower leaders who are committed to advancing social change and justice in our communities. Through comprehensive training and collaborative efforts, we aim to equip a new generation of advocates with the knowledge and tools necessary to drive meaningful progress. Together, we can build a more equitable and just society for all.”

The Freedom Academy is merely one part of the broader Freedom Summer Agenda. Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, chair of NCC’s Governing Board, emphasized the urgent need for action in light of recent setbacks to voting rights.

“The Freedom Summer of 1964 led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 making it possible for thousands of disenfranchised to vote. In 2013 the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act enabling new restrictions to the constitutional right to vote. The Freedom Summer of 1964 turned deadly. The Freedom Summer of 2024 is still a matter of life and death. We dare not stand idle — too much is at stake,” Eaton said in a statement.

“We call upon all people of faith, our member communions, and partner organizations to mobilize for this movement. As we follow in the footsteps of Freedom Summer 1964, let us educate, engage, and empower voters around the country to take part in the democratic process this upcoming election season. ‘For freedom Christ has set us free’ (Galatians 5:1 NRSV).”

Continuing the legacy of the original Freedom Summer, where nearly 1,500 volunteers, including 254 NCC-sponsored clergy, worked in project offices across Mississippi, this year’s Freedom Fellows will help organize congregations to engage in voter registration, community canvassing, and phone and text banking.

The Freedom Summer Agenda also includes the Freedom Riders initiative, which will empower and engage communities through faith, food, and fellowship with stops in Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Durham, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; and Jackson, Mississippi.

So as the church adapts to new technological realities, its commitment to justice and equity remains steadfast. And through this initiative, the NCC will, no doubt, mobilize a new generation.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

When national faith leaders, including Poor People’s Campaign co-chairs, Bishop William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, held a press conference on June 10 at First Congregational Church Sanctuary in Northwest D.C., their goal was to drum up support for the June 29 “Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington, D.C. and to the Polls.” 

The vision was realized just days ago, after thousands descended on the capital in support of economic justice and voting rights.

Barber and his colleagues were not disappointed with the level of commitment and passion displayed by those in attendance on Saturday, June 29 – men and women representing their home states that included New Jersey, Alabama, California, New York and more than a dozen others. 

Speakers both at the microphone and in the crowd seemed to have one thing in mind: devising and following a strategy that will force America’s political elite to take notice of the needs of the poor. 

“Congress can pass legislation providing $20 million for war but cannot pass a budget to house the homeless. We deserve a place to live and we will take our demands to the ballot box this fall,” said Bryant. 

One attendee, Patricia Bryant, shared her view in the form of a spoken word manifesto. 

“Dearly beloved, 140 million people are gathered here and across the nation to form a more perfect union – that man and women who struggle daily to stay alive yet poverty is the way they die,” she said. “We are strong– not weak. Our votes are our voices. The ballot box should be our choice. We will lift ourselves up from the bottom and rise. And we will demand that America give this land of the free back to the people – to the natives – to the poor.”

Similar to the first Poor People’s Campaign, a two-week initiative that began on Sunday, May 12, 1968, this year’s Campaign and March brought hundreds of activists and concerned citizens back to the National Mall. The first march included powerful sermons, speeches and personal testimonies about the myriads of challenges faced by the poor. 

Exactly 56 years later, what began as a labor of love by Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, following the tragic death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, continues. However, unlike in 1968, Barber and his colleagues are employing a new strategy that significantly expands the goals of the Poor People’s Campaign. 

Armed with a 17-point agenda, Barber said they will call on all candidates running for elected office in the 2024 general election in November to step up and answer the needs of the poor.

“In this time, poor people, low-wage workers, religious leaders and moral advocates are bringing our voices together to tell America that we’re ready for protest and agitation in the street; litigation in the court and legislation in the suite; and we’re bringing our massive swing vote to the ballot box,” Barber said. ”We are not accepting the silence from the media and political establishment that ignores 800 daily deaths of poor and low-wealth people. Together, we will take this nation to higher ground.”

A look at the numbers reveals America’s burgeoning working poor 

Barber’s co-chair, the Rev. Dr. Theoharis, emphasized her colleague’s words. 

“Poverty is a death sentence in the United States and it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Dr.Theoharis. 

According to a 2021 report by the Brooking Institution, the pandemic hurt low-wage workers the most – and so far, the recovery has helped them the least. 

The report defined low-wage occupations as those with a media hourly wage no greater than $17.50 per hour. Further, it is estimated that 53 million Americans ages 18 to 64 – 44 percent of all workers – earn low hourly wages. Their median hourly earnings are $10.22 and for those working full time year-round, median annual earnings are about $24,000. 

While other Americans are optimistic about life in the “new normal” era of post pandemic life – the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that minimum wage workers have little chance of escaping the throes of poverty – at least not without state- or federal-based programs. 

Keith Bullard, deputy director for the Union of Southern Service Workers, said he’s had enough. 

“When workers’ rights come under attack, we fight back,” he said. “Workers today are being forced to work in this oppressive heat while we should be protected from it. Because of the negligence of our employers – the big corporations – workers are being denied even the most basic of needs. America’s major corporations make billions of dollars, so they have the money to do what’s right. But we know that the only way they’ll do the right thing for workers is if we are willing to stand up, keep standing up, speak up and continue to speak up,” Bullard said. 

In 2022, 78.7 million workers, 16 and older in the U.S. were paid at hourly rates, representing 55.6 percent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, 141,000 workers earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 882,000 workers had wages below the federal minimum. Together, these 1.0 million workers with wages at or below the federal minimum made up 1.3 percent of all hourly paid workers – little or no change from 2021. 

America’s poor advised to vote for the change they require 

Barber emphasized that poor people — whether they identify as Democrats, Republicans or Independents – represent one of the largest untapped voting blocs in the country. Based on statistics compiled by the Poor People’s Campaign, he posited that poor and low-wealth people do not vote to their full potential, even though they represent nearly 30 percent of the national electorate and close to 40 percent of voters in battleground states.

He then challenged listeners to consider what would happen if the poor were to vote with full strength – how they could give their support only to candidates who endorsed policies critical to them and to others facing poverty – from voting rights and raising the federal minimum wage to housing issues, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change.

“Like the Prophet Moses, honored by Jews, Muslims and Christians, led the people out of bondage of Egypt, it’s time to rise,” Barber said. “Like the dry bones in the valley of Ezekiel’s vision, we’ve got to rise.” 

One participant at the March and a fellow minister, the Rev. Hannah Broome, agreed with Barber saying the time to make their demands is now. 

“As moral leaders, we cannot afford to waste time when the cries of the oppressed call for immediate action,” she said. “We are the swing vote that can steer our nation toward compassion, shift the political landscape for all and not just the few and can ensure that all voters have equal and guaranteed voting rights.” 

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

One of the most exciting pieces of news from the 2024 Hampton Ministers Conference is the launch of Hampton University’s School of Religion, which offers the usual degrees in religion and theology, and is now the first HBCU to offer a doctorate. 

“It’s more than a dream come true. It’s much needed at this time in the life of the Black church and the Black community. Churches need as much support and assistance as we can give them,” says the Rev. Dr. Debra L. Haggins, founding dean of the School of Religion, executive director and treasurer of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, and Hampton’s first woman chaplain.

“Theological education is changing. It’s a post-COVID education. People are going to church differently with different expectations,” Haggins says.

She says COVID brought to the forefront a culture of consumerism in the church, and people are making choices unlike those previously made.

“Not only have we survived COVID, but the paradigm has literally shifted. We now rely on the creative side of worship; technology to broadcast, social media platforms like Meta live. Technology came together to keep the church alive, and we rely heavily on it now,” Haggins says. 

Not only is the school already in full operation, but its first partnership has been formed with the Church of God in Christ Second Jurisdiction of Virginia.

“We are thrilled to announce that the Church of God in Christ is our very first partner with the School of Religion,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams in a statement. “Together, we are shaping the future of religious education and leadership, stepping forward to support our mission of preparing inspired and effective leaders for the 21st century.”

The Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world. Founded in 1907, C.O.G.I.C. is known for its commitment to spiritual growth, community service and social justice.

“The collaboration between C.O.G.I.C. and Hampton University’s School of Religion is a remarkable opportunity to enhance spiritual education and leadership,” said Bishop Michael B. Golden Jr., one of the youngest bishops of C.O.G.I.C. “We are honored to be the inaugural partner in this endeavor, and we look forward to the positive impact this will have on our communities and beyond.”

“The School of Religion is a dream realized for Hampton University and the faith community,” said Haggins in a statement. “This institution will provide a comprehensive and inclusive platform for theological education, research, and spiritual development. We are excited about our partnership with C.O.G.I.C. and we’re committed to fostering a new generation of leaders who are well-equipped to address the challenges of our time.”

The School of Religion offers a diverse range of programs and initiatives, including:

• Degree Programs: Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in theology, religious studies, and ministry.
• Continuing Education: Workshops, seminars, and certificate programs for clergy and lay leaders.
• Research and Publications: A robust agenda of research projects and publications aimed at advancing religious scholarship and practice.

“Our online classes are cutting edge technology, custom built and contextually appropriate,” Haggins says, adding that applications are being accepted for the doctoral level through July 15 and all other levels through July 30.

The new school is also bringing 32 new professors to Hampton, and they’ve already experienced extensive training and two faculty retreats. 

One of those new professors is the Rev. Drew Kyndall Ross, senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, who says his passion for teaching at a seminary level started while studying for his master of divinity in 2011. 

“It was then that I began having a desire to teach preaching,” Ross says. “Last year, I started a Ph.D. program to eventually teach preaching. When I saw that Hampton University’s new School of Religion was accepting new professors, I quickly applied.

“The opportunity at Hampton has been a dream come true. It gives me a chance to teach in a field of study that I love. It also allows me to make an impact on preachers who are seeking to sharpen their skills. I am looking forward to this new journey as an extension of my preaching and pastoral ministry.”

This story was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the retired and first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, used the pulpit of The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to render a searing sermon calling the faithful to “put feet to our prayers” as she set the stage for America’s celebration of Juneteenth on June 19. 

McKenzie, president of the National Churches of Christ, delivered the morning message at the Cathedral on June 16, and went straight into dissecting the rationale behind America’s cultural wars in the form of book banning, and laws passed restricting how history is taught in schools across the U.S. 

According to the Black Education Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, 18 states have imposed restrictions and bans on teaching race and gender since 2021.  At least 32 states have jurisdictions that have passed some form of book ban.     

“If we are a truly great nation, the truth cannot destroy us,” McKenzie said, quoting from Nicole Hannah Jones’ Pulitzer Prize winning 1619 Project. She then asked the congregation: “If you could change the narrative to your liking, what would your truth look like? “

McKenzie led the audience on a whirlwind historical “roll call” of efforts to revise the narrative of cultural events around the globe, including in Hungary, China, and the United States. She reminded the audience of efforts to ban books and restrict the rights of Jews. 

 “Are you breathing?” she stopped and asked the congregation before reeling off a second roll call of U.S. riots, rebellions and mass shootings from 1863 to today, designed to restrict and destroy Black American institutions and communities. 

“Here in the home of the brave and the land of the free, the New York City assacre, The Memphis Massacre, the Camila Massacre, The Opelousas Massacre, The Danville Riot, Springfield Massacre, Tulsa Black Wall Street Massacre, The Orangeburg Massacre, Charleston South Carolina Mother Bethel Massacre, Massacre at Tops Market, the Jacksonville, Dollar Store Massacre…,” McKenzie said in the space of two minutes.  

“That’s here,” she added as the audience became silent. 

“Are you breathing? Are you still in the room?” McKenzie asked as she moved on quickly to share more.

“Remembering Juneteenth serves as a historical reminder of what did happen,” she said before taking the audience through a vivid tour of brutal historical events characterizing slavery and the disenfranchisement of Black people.

 Reflections from the audience were varied. 

Longtime parishioner Jim Fulton thought McKenzie’s sermon was needed at the National Cathedral. 

“This is the kind of message I want to hear, and I want other people to hear,” he said. 

Others added that the sermon was so packed with information, they needed to do a second take. 

“For some of our audience, people may be hearing the historical references for the first time. But this is an audience that will listen carefully to the sermon, go back, study the transcript, and ask questions,” said the Rev. Jo Owens, pastor for digital ministry.

Owens said National Cathedral is considering an online community for people who want to ask follow-up questions and reflect more deeply after messages like McKenzie’s. 

Grace Matthews was one of those parishioners who was ready to ask the deeper questions right away. Matthews admits she has political positions on most issues and wants to ensure her views are consistent with her faith and values. 

As she listened to McKenzie’s description of the often bloody and brutal history leading up to Juneteenth and continuing today, she has questions about how America moves forward with its troubling past and present divisions. 

“Where is the line between forgiving and forgetting when you’ve turned the cheek so many times that you’ve run out of cheeks?” Matthews reflected after the sermon.

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By Dr. Leeland A. Jones

“Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” ~ Malachi 4:5-6 NKJV

There are many reasons why Father’s Day is so different from Mother’s Day.

Thank God that most of us can celebrate our mothers and our mother figures. But Father’s Day seems to be another story. So why do we have such a canted view of Father’s Day? 

We are not too many generations removed from the horrors of slavery and the violent racism that has emasculated our men and destroyed the lives of many a person and family. This horrid abuse for generations has certainly hindered our ability to be healthy nurturing parents or see a father’s image – including God – as a blessing.  

Negative father transference

These negative experiences have caused a prejudicial and even hostile perception of what “father” means. Our heroes and role models have also often been distorted, giving us an inability to develop a healthy intimate relationship with others in the father or leadership position. “It’s not you, but who you represent,” we say. “Whether in my conscious mind or in my memories of others ‘like you,’ it’s hard to trust a ‘father’ – period.”

The belief of a benevolent type father that gives us “exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think” is hard to swallow. It’s no wonder that we have such a canted and hostile view of authority figures, especially if they are pictured as White. The thought of even calling him “God” or picturing him as a “loving Father” is totally absurd and irrational. We reject this passive, dependent, even masochistic position which only humiliates us and calls for more abuse and suffering. “Father” becomes a bad word.

We know that this racist society has done much to keep this emasculation of men of color in place, especially the Black father figures. They are seen as main threats to destroying White superiority; and heaven forbid a Jesus as “a man of color” or God the Father as not “snow white.”

The truth that sets us free

Thanks to my grandfather Carl Murphy, who had a massive library with fascinating books that detailed the rich history of Blacks, I developed a sense of “I’m Black and I’m proud” decades before James Brown’s shocking song.  But many in the Black community did not. So, a person in our community in a “father role” – human or divine – starts from the bottom of the ladder.

As a minister I’ve seen how this distorted image of a favorable life causes such a strong hindrance to having strong faith, or even believing in a healthy higher power at all. How can any authority be trusted, after all. This “negative father transference” (felt as a subconscious trauma) can lead to a plethora of unhealthy symptoms and methods to relieve the suffering and pain.

Salubrious secrets

Still, God the Father has bestowed on his children spiritual gifts that are not only to bless others, but also themselves.

As a psychiatrist, I like to ask my patients: The heart pumps nutrient-rich blood and oxygen to every cell and organ in the body. Which organ is the first to receive? Which is the most important? Many answer “the brain” or “I don’t know.” The answer, of course, is the heart! It must feed itself first, through the coronary arteries. When the heart does not receive blood, we call this angina (pain), a coronary (heart attack) or worse, sudden death. To put it another way: The chef or cook will taste the food before it is served. Then it is served when it is really ready.

Spiritual gifts are the same, in the sense that they are given to us first to empower us to better serve them up.  As a psychiatrist, I tend to recommend this to many of my patients and that they learn to maximize their strengths and gifts. You’d be very surprised to know how your spiritual gifts can not only relieve your sufferings, but can also bring a panoramic perspective of how to be more successful in life in general.

Have you taken the gift test?

I’ve noticed that many have taken spiritual gift tests for life, business or in their church. But many don’t know how to maximize this “secret information.” I notice that when a person comes to understand how to use their giftings, they are not only healthier, but they can live a more successful life, especially when they learn how to appreciate their calling and even monetize their gifts.

The primary gifts I am referring to here are called the “gifts of the father” or motivational gifts, from Romans 12: 6-8. The Spirit Filled Life Bible has a section on these gifts and also the “gifts of the Son” and “gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

Get more of a taste of these Heavenly Father’s blessings next week.

The post Fathers’ best gifts appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Darren Sands
The Associated Press

CALVERTON, Md. (AP) — The Rev. Matthew L. Watley says it’s not happenstance his suburban Maryland congregation, part of the historically Black African Methodist Episcopal denomination, landed at the top of a list of the fastest-growing churches in America.

From hearing his call to ministry while dancing with his Step Afrika troupe in South Africa to giving up his law school aspirations and enrolling at Howard School of Divinity, all paths led to the pulpit — and eventually Kingdom Fellowship AME Church — for this son and grandson of AME ministers.

“There’s a phrase that says, ‘In America we believe in God, but in Africa, they depend on God,'” said Watley, who also met his wife, a lawyer and federal lobbyist, at Howard. “I had never seen faith like that before.”

In 2019, the year Kingdom Fellowship AME was founded, the church had about 3,000 members and an average weekly attendance of about 1,800 people, according to the church’s figures. Today, membership has swelled to nearly 8,000, and its weekly services draw about 2,500 attendees altogether.

On a recent Sunday morning, Watley, 50, preached to a packed sanctuary from the Gospel of Luke about Zacchaeus’ transformative meeting with Jesus. The short and corrupt tax collector changed his ways after climbing a tree to see Jesus over the crowd.

“When Zacchaeus climbed that tree, that was his way of doing what he needed to do to become whole — to become healed from the stuff he’d been carrying his whole life,” Watley said.

Afterward more than 20 people, some with tears in their eyes, retreated to an intake room for new members. Kingdom Fellowship is averaging about 110 additions per month, according to the church’s count.

Before Kingdom Fellowship, Watley built a robust following for years through a ministry called Power Lunch, the first of which drew about 300 people. These were midday worship hours held in the District of Columbia and the greater Washington metropolitan area that provided attendees with a to-go meal before they headed back to work.

Watley also brought a church to the people, taking note of the scores of Black Americans relocating from D.C. to the suburbs and in need of a place to worship. Although outside the District, Watley and Kingdom Fellowship have remained in the capital’s political orbit, sharing his pulpit with Baptist pastor and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.; and hosting Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff for the inaugural service in its new church building. They have also welcomed Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee challenging former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, among other politicians.

But Kingdom Fellowship still wants to be identified with its homespun hospitality and a culture that puts its members on equal footing regardless of what they do outside the church.

“We appreciate that you’re the CEO, whatever. We need some help on the parking lot. It’s great you’re … the head of the ER medical unit. We need somebody to hold this door. And that’s the culture,” Watley said.

Kingdom Fellowship began as a satellite campus of the growing Reid Temple AME Church in nearby Montgomery County, which is where Watley served as executive pastor, overseeing the budget, local ministries and its 132,000 square-foot-facility featuring a sanctuary, credit union and bookstore that was completed in 2004. Watley also served as the de facto chief of staff for Reid Temple’s senior pastor, the Rev. Lee Washington.

“He had a lot of ideas,” said Washington, who recently retired. “I gave him the freedom and the flexibility to do what he thought was best.”

With Washington’s blessing, those ideas included launching Reid Temple North with a small contingent of volunteers. They held the first worship service in 2006 in the Montgomery Blair High School cafeteria, where they met until 2010. The growing congregation moved into a renovated building in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Watley added a second Sunday service in 2011 and a third in 2013. The campus eventually became financially self-sufficient.

Instead of naming Watley his successor, Washington with an eye on retirement opted to spin-off Reid Temple North as an independent church. It was renamed Kingdom Fellowship AME and Watley became its inaugural senior pastor in 2019.

“Our church was growing by leaps and bounds, and I did not believe in hoarding,” Washington said. “I believe in sharing.”

Watley, even as a young leader, was noticed within the denomination for his maturity and strong opinions, said Bishop James Levert Davis, the presiding prelate for the AME district that includes Kingdom Fellowship. Davis has selected Watley to be part of his district’s delegation to the upcoming AME General Conference where the denomination’s ban on same-sex marriage is expected to be debated — an issue Watley hopes won’t cause a schism.

“I tease Matthew constantly telling him that he’s the oldest young person that I know,” Davis said. “Between his father and his grandfather, he has been anchored and nurtured by the best of who we are.”

Watley’s role as the first leader of Kingdom Fellowship also came with a nerve-wracking capital project — building a new worship center with sky-high ceilings and an amphitheater-style sanctuary. Not only was there a recent example of a similar project falling apart at another church in the region, but Kingdom Fellowship was preparing to break ground when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“I was very cognizant of that. Absolutely,” Watley said.

But no one pulled out: neither the bank nor the contractor or the congregation. Instead, members of Kingdom Fellowship increased their giving, and the congregation celebrated their first service in the new worship center in 2022 for Easter. Recently, Outreach magazine named the church the fastest growing, a ranking based on a self-reported Lifeway Research survey that compared average weekly, in-person attendance for February and March 2023 to 2022 numbers.

In the U.S., Black Protestants’ monthly church attendance declined 15 percent from 2019 to 2023, a larger drop than any other major religious group, according to a 2023 Pew Research study. They are also more likely than other groups to take in religious services online or on TV, with more than half (54 percent) saying they attend services virtually.

The pace of growth at Kingdom Fellowship AME has been rapid but seamless, said Sharon and Billy Watts, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. What has remained constant is the kindness and care of church staff, they said.

The couple previously attended Reid Temple North where they got to regularly witness Watley’s gift for preaching and reaching people. Watley inspires outside the church, too, said Sharon Watts, noting the speech the pastor gave at her husband’s retirement party that had the crowd of soon-to-be retirees wondering how and where they could hear Watley again.

“It’s something about that man and what he brings forth in his preaching,” said Sharon Watts, who first noticed Watley’s knack for drawing crowds in the Power Lunch days. “To me it seems like we’re called to bring the community together, to hear the word of God, to not just prepare them spiritually, but to prepare the whole person.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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And the advice is pretty useful for the rest of us, too.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black 

This is the time of year when connectional church bodies — like AMEs, United Methodists, and AMEZs — meet and renew their covenant, mission and goals. They also send returning and new pastors to begin a new ministry year. There’s something about newness that always sparks the heart and mind to start out with new energy, conviction and direction.

How many pastors fail within the first couple of years? Many tales are told of unhappy unions between pastors and people that ended badly and much too soon. How many make regrettable first steps that could have been avoided with the right counsel? There’s no way to know. But a little advice might be helpful.

1. Be clear about who you’re married to

“If you’re married, always remember you’re married to your spouse, not the church,” says Pastor Eric Scott, who pastors the Lighthouse Worship Center in Baltimore along with his wife, Pastor Marcia Scott.

“The church is God’s bride!” 

This must work for him since they’ve been married for more than 30 years.

2. Remember people are people

Scott also says not to allow the size of the crowd to affect your delivery, how you minister and preach.

“If 10-20 people show up, feed them the best meal you can,” he said.

It’s also important to remember church people are just people.

“I will never forget the deacon who could barely read, but who loved the Lord and me. Nor can I forget another church member who confronted me with an attitude that was hardly godly,” says Dr. Chuck Lawless, dean of doctoral studies and vice president of spiritual formation and ministry centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. “God’s church is people — and people can be a blessing one day and a heartache the next. Nevertheless, they are all God’s people, and they deserve our love.”

3. Get comfortable being uncomfortable

Perhaps the first thing is to get comfortable living in the land of the awkward because you’re going to spend the rest of your ministry there, as suggested by the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership to young pastors.

“Engaging with diverse personalities, comforting the grieving, or addressing sensitive topics can often feel awkward and uncomfortable, remembering that even Jesus faced awkward moments during his ministry, and it is in those moments that we often experience breakthroughs and connections,” senior pastor Steve Tillis wrote in his blog.

4. Accept that you aren’t perfect

Another suggestion is to accept the fact that you will make a wrong decision, let someone down, or say something you regret.

“Perfection is an unattainable goal, even for pastors. It is essential to remember that mistakes are opportunities for growth and humility, and when you stumble, seek forgiveness,” Tillis wrote.

With all the things sure to create stress in a pastor’s life, such as weekly sermon preparation, fundraising and relationship building, finding and maintaining balance between work and play, church family and personal family is a must-do.

The post Words of wisdom for new pastors appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

While some question the reality of what we’ll refer to as “church hurt,” others, especially those who’ve had the experience, have no doubt. They might be unable to explain it, but when you know, you know.

“I define church hurt as the emotional, psychological and religious harm done to parishioners either intentionally or unintentionally due to religious dogma and unhealthy leadership practices,” says Atlanta-based therapist Dr. Jesaira Glover-Dulin. 

“About 75 percent  of my clients seek out services to resolve and make sense of the church hurt they’ve experienced down through the years.”

What Church Hurt Looks Like

There are as many types of church hurt as there are people trying to heal from the painful experiences. Sometimes, it happens when the family unit has experienced a trauma, a death, or a divorce — something that changes the way one can relate to the church family.

“Much of the hurt comes from parishioners feeling coerced and manipulated into lifestyles that don’t align with who they really are. Oftentimes, this is sexism for the women, and they feel forced into roles that are not truly who they are,” Glover-Dulin says. 

“Maybe the pastor had an affair or the congregation fought over money or the leaders were disguising gossip as ‘prayer,’” author and former pastor Stephen Mansfield wrote in his book, “Healing Your Church Hurt.” 

And then there’s outright discrimination. In his book, Mansfield, who is White, detailed “how a predominantly white, affluent congregation treated my Hispanic daughters. All of my daughters are adopted, and two of them are from a Latin American country. While my wife and I were welcomed with open arms by the congregation, the distasteful treatment accorded to our little girls in their Sunday school classes — by teachers and students alike — made it impossible for us to stay put. Once again, the gap between what was preached and what was practiced made it unbearable for us to remain in our church home.” 

Glover-Dulin says hurt can also evolve “from unmet and unrealistic expectations from the church and its leadership.”

This happens because some people see their spiritual leader as someone they are willing to take advice from, someone whose voice they respect to guide them. We often mistakenly place these leaders on a pedestal and are crushed when disappointed. 

New Jersey-based therapist Siomara Wedderburn offers yet another type of church hurt.

“One type of hurt is the instance of a professional person feeling their gift should make room for them within their church, but getting no encouragement and sometimes are discouraged by the leaders they respect,” she says.

“When there is a prescribed path toward leadership, but then favoritism or power dynamics come into play — where certain families or individuals are obviously preferred over others. This can be earth-shattering to a new Christian who just wants to fit into the church,” Wedderburn says.

Church hurt “also shows up as bullying, emotional abuse, verbal abuse from the pulpit. These women are also overworked in church ministry and lack self-care and healthy boundaries,” Glover-Dulin says.

The result is that many, if not most, leave the church — and may not return to the church where the abuse occurred.

Deciding to Leave Your Church

We sometimes talk about church as if it’s nothing, but most people have invested a lot of time and energy into their church of choice. It is often the church their family has attended for generations, and leaving cannot be an easy option.

Christian research agency Barna Group says a significant number of people who leave their churches cite negative experiences as a key reason. Their studies have found that nearly 40 percent of people who’ve stopped attending church regularly point to “personal hurt” as a primary reason. LifeWay Research, another organization that focuses on church trends, found that 66 percent of churchgoers who stopped attending church regularly reported they left because of personal conflict or painful church experiences.

Glover-Dulin says most of the women she’s worked with who experienced abuse at church didn’t return to their congregation.

“While there tends to be a love of God, there’s a strong disdain for the institution called church. They don’t feel heard, seen, or validated,” Glover-Dulin says. 

“People do often leave because of the turmoil over even the fact that the relationship has been severed. And it’s so painful,” Wedderburn says. “But it’s not a decision that’s been made lightly, and it is connected to your relationship with Christ. And especially for people who thrive on fellowship and being in a body has become part of your spiritual practice and discipline, leaving that has some big implications.”

How to Heal From Church Hurt

To help her clients heal from church hurt, Glover-Dulin says she helps them identify their core values and work towards value-based alignment and living. 

“I also teach them the importance of establishing a consistent self-care regimen and clear boundaries,” she says. She adds that her clients are subconsciously living according to religious roles and outdated archetypes not reflective of their values.

“It is important for these individuals to redefine and clarify their identity beyond the religious circle, which will assist with managing expectations while fostering a healthy, balanced self-concept.”

Wedderburn helps her clients examine their situation. 

“Are you connecting? How are you connected? How are you reaching out to become a part of and understand the unique rules of engagement of that particular congregation?” she says. 

She also suggests joining a smaller group to learn the dynamic before attempting full church leadership.

“Go only if and when the Lord says so” is the advice Jenni Lien, founder of the online ministry the Yay Project, offers on her website and in her podcast. She readily shares her experience and understands that church hurt is a difficult pain to overcome.

Lien’s number one tip is to cry out to Jesus. 

“No matter what others might say, we can have 100 percent confidence that God cares about our hearts. He’ll definitely lead us to his truths and help us act in his ways,” Lien said. “We are his daughters and can speak with him honestly.” 

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

Congratulations are in order for Rev. Jamal Bryant and Rev. Dr. Karri Turner, as the two are now engaged to be married. The couple announced their engagement on social media via a video that was shot during Sunday service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on May 26, where Bryant currently serves as senior pastor. 

In the video, shared by Bryant on Instagram, he is seen explaining his decision to propose to Turner before bringing her out on stage. 

“Sometimes your blessings will be right in front of your eyes and you don’t even know what God’s got for you. an amazingly beautiful woman, an amazingly brilliant woman. Last year she graduated with her doctorate degree” he recalled. “As I saw her walk across that stage and get her degree the Lord said ‘You big dummy, what are you waiting on?’”

Congregation members stood and cheered as Bryant continued to gush over his now fiance, noting how special she is to him. 

 “She makes me a better man. I wanted to marry her because I wanted her to be the moon, because I don’t want there to be a night that I don’t see her,” declared Bryant. “I wanted her to be the sun, to be a reminder that the dark season of my life is over. I wanted her to be a rainbow, just to be a reminder that God’s promise is still good for my life. I wanted her to be the rain to let me know that the harvest is coming.”

“For five years you’ve just had a pastor– but going forward for the rest of my days you’re going to have a first lady.”

Since December of 2018, Bryant has been the senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He was previously married to reality television star Gizelle Bryant, of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” from 2002 to 2009.”

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

On June 2, when thousands of ministers representing all ages, genders, and cultures descend upon Hampton University’s campus in Hampton, Virginia, the convergence will be unlike any other in the world.

For the 110th time, ministers, chaplains, pastors, choir members, organists, musicians and directors will gather with great anticipation of yet another time of worship, learning, and fellowship, to attend the school’s annual Ministers Conference and the 90th Choir Directors and Organists Guild Workshop.

Attendance at last year’s conference had not yet returned to pre-COVID numbers. But this year’s registration numbers seem to indicate that people are ready to come back — and that doesn’t include those who register on-site, as many do.

“I’m excited because of the number of women participating,” says the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, founding and senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, and current president of the conference. “My goal was to increase the numbers of women in ministry as well as the young ministers and pastors of all cultures.” 

Dr. Hale says there had been wisps of dissension because of the ongoing changes, but she knows her assignment. “Finally, I’m at a place where I can do what God has called me to do, and that is to position ministers so they can grow and excel.”

The theme for this year is “Tools for Transforming the Life of the Leader,” and the highly anticipated presenters for this year are:

• Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, mid-day preacher, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia.
• Rev. Marissa R. Farrow, morning preacher, associate at Allen AME, Jamaica, New York
• Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, lecturer, senior pastor
• Rev. Dr. Shareka Newton, women in ministry hour
• Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes, conference preacher
• Rev. Dr. Cynthia James, senior stateswoman
• Rev. Dr. Raquel Lettsome, lecturer

The Ministers’ Conference got its start in 1914, born from the collaboration of the Negro Organizational Society, the Conference for Education in the South, the Southern Education Board, and the Cooperative Education Board. These groups, confronting the urgent issues facing African-American churches and their communities, found a powerful ally in Hampton Institute. This institution, with its strong community ties, became the birthplace of the original Ministers’ Conference, then known as The Conference of Negro Ministers.

Its first home was in the campus chapel, Memorial Church, with only 40 ministers from four denominations. By its 14th anniversary, attendance had grown to 800 ministers representing 19 different denominations. And in 1934, the conference grew by the addition of the Choir Directors’ and Organists’ Guild.

More than a century later, “We are pleased to present a stellar program of powerful prolific preachers and proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus Christ from across the nation,” Dr. Debra L. Haggins, executive director and treasurer of the Conference, said in a welcome statement online. 

Hale is especially excited about the young preachers and how they worship after all the other planned activities for the day are over.

“They have their own preaching series, and it is absolutely incredible. They’re in all stages of their journeys, some in seminary, some pastoring, others preaching. They have praise and worship, but then this ring, I call it a boxing ring, in the middle of the floor in the Student Life Center; and the preacher goes up there, and they literally just circle the preacher,” she said. “There is wonderful affirmation and excitement.”

There is also much opportunity for learning during the week. Participants can attend two sessions of workshops. 

“They are relevant, they are practical, and speak to their needs right where they are,” Dr. Hale says.

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

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A Howard University student renouncing her membership in Delta Sigma Theta, reopened the debate over whether Black Greek Letter Organizations are cults.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Choosing which sorority or fraternity to pledge is a decision often made before college students arrive on campus — usually based on chosen occupation, what your friends may be doing, and which group offers the most prestige for their future. And, of course, if legacy plays a part, it’s really decided. 

Every now and then, however, the issue arises as to whether the values of the Divine Nine — historically Black fraternities and sororities — are in sync with students’ personal Christian values.

Such was the case on May 20 when Howard University rising senior Zora Sanders posted an open letter to Instagram that said she was renouncing her membership in one of these Black Greek Letter Organizations.

“I am a Spring 2024 Initiate of Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. I am writing this letter to inform Nationals that I have officially renounced and denounced membership in this organization,” Sanders wrote.

Sanders said that she’d done her due diligence in researching her chosen sorority, but “despite all the research and information I had gathered, I was not aware of the specific requirements.” She then detailed what she now considers to be ritual parts of the Delta initiation that she felt betrayed her faith.

“In order to become a member, I had to make a pledge, swear an oath of allegiance, and perform a ritual ceremony that involved kneeling/bowing at an altar,” Sanders wrote. 

Ultimately, she concluded the process of crossing over to become a Delta involved “idolatry, a sin that costs eternal life.”

Going public in this manner sparked a firestorm of reactions across social media platforms, with many folks upset that Sanders denounced her membership in the Alpha chapter — the first chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Folks pointed out that she may have taken the spot of another woman who wanted to be in the sorority. Other folks were upset that Sanders shared private information about the initiation process in a public forum. But most of all, folks took issue with the insinuation that BGLOs are in some way cultish or satanic. 

Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Whitehead, host of WEAA’s “Today with Dr. Kaye” show in Baltimore, has been a Delta since 1989. She finds Sanders’ assertion surprising and thinks it’s just TikTok fodder, where everything is done publicly for likes and monetization.

“I am a Christian, a pastor’s kid, and a Delta. I am what people call a crib Baptist, in that I was stuffed with the word when I was in the crib. There has never been a moment when I felt that my faith conflicted with my sorority values,” Whitehead says.

“We pray together, attend church together, and lift each up,” Whitehead says of her fellow Deltas. “We have a large number of members active in their local churches — from deaconesses to pastors to ministers to bishops to prayer warriors.”

Poet, theologian, and educator Ajanaé Dawkins, a fourth-generation member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she was once “deep in a toxic religious space that almost convinced” her to denounce her membership. 

“Theologies that isolate you, demonize the world around you, & demand allegiance to God through public performance creep slowly.”

Dawkins wrote that initially, her membership in AKA wasn’t an issue in her faith community. But the idea of denouncing her membership “was introduced slowly until one day it was being demanded in altar calls.”

And in an op-ed he wrote in February, Rev. Keith Magee, chair and professor of practice in social justice at Newcastle University noted that “some Christians have denounced their BGLOs, publicly attacking them for being ‘idolatrous’ in their use of symbolic Greek letters and for causing members to put loyalty to their organization above loyalty to their faith.”

Magee is convinced “that through the story of Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and soon-to-come return, the message He is sending us, in His wisdom, is one of love. I try to embody that message in everything I do.”

He also said he’s “a proud member of two Black fraternities, Kappa Alpha Psi (one of the Divine Nine collegiate BGLOs) and Sigma Pi Phi (for professionals). Kappa was founded by 10 principled Christian men. With Kappa, I was younger when I crossed and not quite as knowledgeable as I am now about my faith.  Nevertheless, at no point in my life have I ever entered into an unorthodox, uninformed, or ungodly alliance with a Greek deity. Nor have I ever sworn an oath that would in any way hinder, absolve, or negate my Christian beliefs.”

The Rev. Dr. Danielle L. Brown, senior pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, New Jersey, encouraged some of the upset commenters on social media to leave Sanders alone. She also raised the issue of whether denouncing has become a trendy thing to do.

“Unfortunately she represents a generation where social media is an idol,”  Brown wrote in a comment on Instagram about Sanders. “Denouncing is the latest trend. If this was done out of a new found desire to represent the Lord loudly, let’s just pray it goes beyond this one post. Nothing else on this page suggests such devotion, so perhaps it’s new.”

Brown also wondered if what Sanders “considers idolatry extends beyond an organization. Ultimately, her money, her choice, and wasted time.”

And, as Dawkins warned folks on X, “If you’re a Black woman or Black queer person being swept up by neo-conservative/harmful theologies, you aren’t the first or last. Avoid echo chambers. Question everything. Learn the difference between man made shame & the voice of God.” 

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Given its rich history, it’s safe to say that New Psalmist Baptist Church is as much a part of  Baltimore as crab cakes, Orioles baseball games and “The Wire.” 

Founded in the basement of a house just a few decades after the CIvil War, the church grew from a few dozen souls in the late 1800s to a congregation that at one point reached 7,000 active members. Revs. Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson have visited; so has Pastor T.D. Jakes, former President Bill Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama. It ministers to the poor, the deaf, the homeless and the formerly incarcerated, among others.  

Yet in 125 years of existence, through growth and change, New Psalmist has had just three pastors shepherding its congregation: its founder, Rev. Junius Gray; his successor, Frederick C. Atkins; and its current leader, The Right Rev. Walter Scott Thomas Sr. 

Passing the torch

Recently, however, the church received its fourth leader. After 49 years at the helm, Bishop Thomas stepped down as the church’s pastor to make way for New Psalmist’s next leader: his son,  Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr. 

“I’m excited to see him run against the wind and to accomplish the sight you see when you make that last turn and start heading down the straightway,” he says. 

As one of the nation’s most influential Black churches — and Thomas’ profile as Bishop and Presiding Prelate of The Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors — the installation ceremony received national attention. 

But Bishop Thomas also knows it’s time to pass the torch. 

“The last thing I wanted for New Psalmist was for them to be left with a vision of me dying in the pulpit,” he joked, acknowledging it’s not an unusual occurrence. “We often see a church in transition because someone has died or even left the church, and there’s no time for the new leader to glean from the previous leader.”

A lifetime of preparation

Fortunately for him, Dr. Thomas has had a lifetime of preparation to fill his father’s enormous shoes, even though he found the idea daunting in the beginning. 

“First, just the thought that my pastor was retiring — that was a big thing to take in,” he says. Then came the decision whether to leave First Baptist Church of Steelton in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he’d been senior pastor since 2014, and move his wife and young children to Baltimore. 

But the young minister said he and Jarrette, his wife of 15 years, prayed continually until they were content with their decision. 

Dr. Thomas grew up in New Psalmist and will now pastor people who have known him his entire life. As with most preacher’s kids, his experience included doing maintenance, cleaning up trash, working with the catering ministry, serving food and cleaning the bathroom. But his call to ministry seemed almost preordained. 

After hearing the call to ministry in 2001, the preacher’s son graduated Cum Laude from Morehouse College, majoring in religious studies with a minor in psychology. He then went on to obtain his master’s of divinity from Howard University and his doctorate from United Theological Seminary.  All the while, his ties with New Psalmist deepened. 

The succession process

Dr. Thomas says him being his father’s successor wasn’t guaranteed. 

“The church had to vote and they could have said yes or no,” he says. “I’m grateful that the process was one where the vote happened while my predecessor, my pastor, is still in position, so we can walk this journey together.” 

As for the ceremony itself, it was filled with “praise and worship, great preaching by the Bishop, as well as much of the traditional pomp and ceremony,” Dr. Thomas says. “We were trying to streamline the service, but we agreed this was a time to do what was needed and desired, and not worry about the time.”

He hopes other churches will follow the succession model they’re putting into practice, leaning into what a blessing the senior pastor can be to the incoming pastor.

For Bishop Thomas, it was an emotional moment watching his son take the church into the future. But he plans to share the space with Dr. Thomas as the handoff takes place. After that, “I’ll serve with him through the year and then he will be running that race — and I’m excited to see what that leg will look like.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black. 

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By BlackPR Wire

(BlackPR Wire) – Before nearly 800 delegates and hundreds of observers, Bishop Tracy S. Malone, resident bishop of the East Ohio Conference, recently took the mantle as the new president of the Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church. In so doing, she became the first Black woman in the history of the global denomination to ascend to the pinnacle of episcopacy leadership.

Bishop Malone accepted the gavel from outgoing President Bishop Thomas Bickerton to a standing ovation at the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, which is taking place at the Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.

“I am honored to serve as the President of the Council of Bishops in the midst of these challenging and hope-filled times in the life of our beloved United Methodist Church,” she said.  “Fresh winds of God’s spirit are moving across the Church and creating missional pathways for the next visible expression and witness of The United Methodist Church.”

Bishop Malone was elected as president during the COB meeting at Lake Junaluska in November last year.  She will lead the COB for two years.

“I stand here tonight hope-full, encouraged, grateful, and excitedly expectant,” Bishop Malone said as she received the gavel at a COB meeting April 20, “for what God will do through my leadership and through our leadership together as we trust in God’s provisions for the now and the emerging next expression of The United Methodist Church.”

Bishop Malone said at that meeting that she is offering nothing less than herself to the ministry of leading the COB.

“I am prepared to bring all of who I am and my gifts, wisdom, and experience to my role as President of the Council of Bishops and to my leadership and role in the Church,” she said.

Bishop Malone, who was elected bishop in 2016, added that she has “unshakable confidence” in how the bishops will lead the “whole church,” she said.

She will lead a COB leadership team that includes Bishop Ruben Saenz, resident bishop of the Central Texas and North Texas Conferences, as president-designate; Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Conference as secretary; and Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the New York Conference as the past president of the Council.

The other members of the COB leadership team are Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, resident bishop of the West Ohio Conference, who will become new executive secretary; and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and Bishop Rosemary Wenner as new co-ecumenical officers. The executive secretary and ecumenical officers begin their four-year terms on September 1 of this year.

“We celebrate what God has done and what God is doing as we, together as a Council, lead and help to shepherd this beautiful, beloved United Methodist Church into its next expression, God’s vision for God’s Church,” Bishop Malone said.

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While violence in houses of worship isn’t new, attacks have more than doubled since 2022 — including an attempted shooting near Pittsburgh last weekend.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

The Rev. Glenn Germany, pastor of Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in Pittsburgh, was halfway through his sermon last Sunday when a young man in jeans and a black T-shirt got up from one of the pews and walked to the altar. 

Holding a silver handgun, he aimed at the preacher and pulled the trigger. Germany dove behind a wooden lectern, the only cover he could find. 

That’s when the gun jammed. As a parishioner tackled the gunman, Germany ran over and wrestled the gun out of his grip and helped hold him until police arrived. 

Unfolding on the church’s live webcast, the incident was shocking, but not uncommon. This year alone, armed intruders have opened fire inside several houses of worship, including the Texas megachurch of celebrity pastor Joel Osteen. There, security officers shot and killed a woman who shot and wounded several people, including an 11-year-old boy. 

Studies show the number of shootings in houses of worship — fueled by political dissent, personal conflicts, non-specific mental health outbursts and even the overflow of domestic disputes — have more than doubled from 2022 to 2023. And  threats against both Jewish and Muslim worship communities have spiked since the  Israel-Hamas war began. 

The worrisome trend has prompted the federal government to set aside more than $400 million to help 

churches protect themselves with extra security equipment, with an application deadline of May 21. But there has also been an emergence of private companies that are specializing in providing security to churches. 

Donell Trusty, owner of Trusty Training Solutions, has provided security to churches since launching his company  in 2021. He says he trains his agents to assess the situation, then handle it swiftly and calmly. 

“We have encountered individuals with mental issues who have come into the place of worship and caused disturbances,” Trusty says. “In these instances we have to understand the condition of the person and be able to navigate in a manner that will not disrupt the service or drive people away from future worship opportunities.”

Violence against communities of faith in houses of worship is not new.

The Sept. 15, 1963 bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama — an attack that killed four little girls — is etched in civil rights history. In June 2015, a gunman hoping to stoke a race war killed nine worshippers attending Bible study in Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Three years later, an assailant gunned down 11 people at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in U.S. history.

Still, the violence has become more common in the era of mass shootings and widely available handguns. Some 430 incidents occurred in 2023, more than double those in 2022 and eight times those of 2018, according to a Family Research Council Report.

Trusty, the security company owner, says providing security for a house of worship typically calls for discretion, among the key traits he looks for in prospective employees.  

“We always screen individuals to ensure they understand the sensitivity of the assignment. We don’t just find a random security office and send them,” Trusty says. “We want to ensure that they are sensitive to the needs of the house.”

Besides providing security, Trusty says he also provides training to help churches enhance their own security. 

“We have encountered individuals who have had life-threatening situations occur to them” who have come for training “to help deal with the trauma,” he says. “But they were able to overcome their issues. So while we do provide training for people to get certified for firearms, tasers, etc., our training also can serve as a form of therapy.”

Janice Lee, owner of Afterhourz Security Consulting and Protection Services, counts churches among her government and business clients. She even attends services herself.

When her agency was smaller she had to personally guard the pastor. But it’s grown large enough that she can enjoy worship, knowing her agents are in place. Most churches need someone to guard the offering time and space and someone for the pastor, “unless there’s a particular threat,” Lee says.

This article was reprinted with permission from WordinBlack.com.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black
Residents of Flint, Michigan, still don’t drink the water. 

They drink bottled water. They use filters to purify the water that flows from their faucets. But after 10 full years, and much assurance from political leaders, they still don’t trust that the quality of their water — once so contaminated it was compared to an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site — is now safe enough for their consumption.

Therefore, the churches of Flint still don’t regularly conduct baptisms. Not yet.

“For many years since the inception of the problem, we did not baptize at all,” says Bill R. Quarles, deacon at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Flint. “We had one about eight months ago, but we still don’t baptize on a regular basis.”

It’s a stark departure from their faith, given the importance of baptism in religious ceremonies. But it also indicates the degree of trauma inflicted on the church by the Flint water crisis a decade ago, and a desire to keep congregants safe.

The problem, however, is much more than just the loss of the baptism ritual. 

In 2014, Flint had a population of just under 99,000 people. By 2022, the most recent year U.S. Census Bureau data is available, only 79,854 residents remain in the city. 

“Five Black churches have closed in the last three months,” says Rev. Derrick Aldridge, senior pastor of Second Chance Church. And due to the inability to easily cook with water, First Trinity still has no fellowship meals, which is a hardship in Baptist churches.

Roots of the crisis

On April 25, 2014, not long after officials switched the city’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River in a cost-saving move, residents began to complain the water looked filthy, smelled foul, and tasted of chemicals. Officials insisted the water was safe, but those who could afford it switched to bottled water. 

Further testing, however, revealed that the water contained dangerous levels of bacteria and lead, leaching from the city’s aged, decrepit water system. The crisis became a national scandal: a majority-Black city with a 40.1 percent poverty rate became a high-profile example of environmental racism. 

Then-Gov. Rick Snyder sent in the National Guard to distribute bottled water to poor residents while local, state, and federal government officials bickered about how to solve the problem, who was to blame — and who would pay for it. 

As the crisis dragged on for many months, officials eventually agreed on a plan to overhaul Flint’s water system, gradually upgrading pipes, enhancing the filtration system and making the water safe for all. By then, however, residents had come down with mystery illnesses, strange rashes, and hair loss, and tests revealed children had alarmingly high levels of lead in their blood. 

While the water crisis disrupted everyday life, from doing dishes to learning loss in schools, not much attention was paid to how it affected the city’s faith community. 

The toll on Black churches

Quarles, of First Trinity Missionary Baptist, has been closely involved with the church for over 42 years. He says he has worked tirelessly to find solutions when people’s lives and health were threatened by unfit water.

Through their Flint Water Relief Mission, Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, partnered with First Trinity for over two years, providing 20,000 cases of water to Flint residents. “They sent teams to work with us, and we’re still in touch,” Quarles says.

Nowadays, the church is still “blessed to have partners, so we have water boxes that hold and filter water before it’s given out in 2- or 5-gallon containers,” he says, which they do every Wednesday and Thursday.

Some churches joined in the distribution of bottled water to poorer residents, and churches served as repositories of important information and updates. They also helped bring people together, forging resiliency in a time of crisis. But not much thought was given to how it changed the ritual of baptism. 

Redefining baptism

Flint-area pastors collectively reflected on and developed principles around baptism in the city. In a 2022 paper published in “Sacramental and Liturgical Theology of Healing and Crisis Rites,” the pastors wrote that “Baptismal faith and identity were expressed in networks of solidarity that both facilitated church parking lots piled high with pallets of water and sustained those who sat around countless tables in tense rooms demanding accountability and justice.”

They “found themselves examining their own understanding of baptism — what it is, what it means — during a time when the water was a sign of dehumanization and environmental racism.” 

As a result, “The call to pastoral care rapidly expanded outward as folks recognized a need to act beyond the church walls,” according to the paper. 

Significance of baptism

Most churches celebrate new membership with some form of baptism, christening, or drizzling. For Baptists, full immersion is the most often employed method — dipping the new member’s entire body into a water-filled tank, or a nearby body of water. But if the water is not clean enough, most pastors look for alternatives.  

While salvation is not dependent upon baptism — baptism is an outward sign of an inward transformation — it is quite important in the life of the church and of the family. Fully immersing a candidate in water symbolizes a formerly sinful person’s metaphorical death and resurrection into a new life in faith. 

Faith-based calls for accountability

Despite an ongoing, massive overhaul of the city’s water system, Flint’s faith community is still not sure their water is safe enough for baptism, one of the church’s most sacred rituals. 

Aldridge, of Second Chance Church, says baptism “was a big deal, like a bar mitzvah.” Families would gather to celebrate the event, with meals and fellowship with the congregation. 

Since the water crisis emerged, Aldridge says, baptism “has lost momentum and is now disconnected from the church’s purpose.”

Fortunately for Aldrige, his church building gets water from a different source.  But he is frustrated that, a decade after the first cup of dirty water was drawn from the Flint River, no one has been held to account for the problem. 

“Someone needs to take responsibility,” he says “Someone needs to be held accountable. The people of Flint need to be made whole again.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black. This story is part of “Flint’s Still Fighting,” Word In Black’s series about the decade-long water crisis, and the struggles and triumphs still transforming the majority-Black city.

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By John Hope Bryant

(NNPA NEWSWIRE) – How do you salute a man who walked amongst the angels? You start by making sure that history accurately reflects his name. This is my modest contribution to the telling of his vital history and legacy.

The Rev. Dr. Cecil ‘Chip’ Murray changed my life—literally.

He was more than a mentor or a supporter or a good friend to a “young man coming up.” He was in every way — particularly during my young evolving years as a young man in the making — my spiritual father.

Rev. Murray and I met originally through my brother and friend Mark Whitlock, who is now the Rev. Mark Whitlock, leader of one of the three largest AME churches in the nation – Reid Temple AME Church in Maryland. Back then, he was an executive in the making, first at a property title company, and then a banker at Wells Fargo. But what Mark nor I knew then was Rev. Murray had already decided, in his spirit, that our lives would both be transformed into a life’s calling.

Very seldomly do you meet someone that you believe is “otherworldly,” someone that you genuinely believe, walks their talk, and might even qualify as a saint on this earth. A true prophet from on high, representing God almighty right here on earth. That there is one Rev. Dr. Cecil ‘Chip’ Murray.

It is impossible to communicate in an op-ed the power and transformational impact that this man had on my life, but I will try by telling you a couple intimate stories about Dr. Murray.

When I first showed up at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, the Rodney King Riots of 1992 had engulfed the city, and everyone important at the time seemed to be sitting in Rev. Murray’s office.

This included the governor (the Republican Pete Wilson), the mayor (the legendary Democrat Tom Bradley, also an early mentor of mine), civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Catholic bishop, the Jewish rabbi, the Muslim imam and every other who’s-who from the city had crammed into this one man’s office — all seeking his approval and wise counsel.

As a young man of 26 that Rev. Murray had reluctantly agreed to mentor, I was invited to come in and take a seat, even though I had zero role nor power nor responsibility. One might say, I was actually in the way. But Rev. Murray saw something in me, and invited me in to take a quiet seat in the corner when I showed up at his office, looking for a way to help following the citywide unrest. It was after—and in many ways because of this meeting—that I ultimately founded Operation HOPE.

Rev. Murray told me to take my business skills (and my high contacts in local finance) and put them to work “rebuilding our community.” Within the week, on May 5, 1992, I organized the first Bankers Bus Tour through a still smoldering South Central Los Angeles. The result of this first tour was a commitment from the assembled bankers to fund the rebuilding of Handler’s Pharmacy, a Black-owned pharmacy located at Western Ave. and 42nd St.

That was the first commitment to “rebuild” by anyone, and involved leaders from government, community and the private sector. It also focused on a quality that later became my strength and global calling card: outcomes and results. I ended up founding Operation HOPE in 1992 with a $61,000 grant requested by then-Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley from then-Republican President George H.W. Bush. It was an SBA 7J grant, made on a bipartisan basis. This also became a quality I would find useful for 30 years of “getting stuff done.”

On the 10th anniversary of the Rodney King Riots – 22 years ago today – Rev. Murray and First AME Church partnered together to host then-U.S. President George W. Bush in South Central Los Angeles to salute the rebuilding, joined by 700 leaders from across the Southern California community, inclusive of both major political parties and all racial groups. Classic Cecil “Chip” Murray.

Today, Operation HOPE is the largest financial literacy coaching, counseling and economic empowerment organization in the nation, with 300 full-time HOPE Inside offices in 40-plus states, and its partners have invested more than $4.5 billion into our communities, raising credit scores, lowering debt, increasing savings and creating minority homeowners and small business owners.  The 1MBB (1 Million Black Businesses) initiative has inspired, created and grown more than 400,000 Black businesses since 2020 alone, equal to more than 12 percent of all Black businesses in America. This is the living legacy of Rev. Cecil Murray, which began in 1992.

But Rev. Murray also sparked and inspired something much closer to home. He inspired me, but he directly mobilized my brother and friend Rev. Whitlock, along with his most trusted senior team members, the Rev. Dr. Steve Johnson and Peggy Hill, to lead his newest church initiative back then, something he boldly called FAME Renaissance. 

Just some of the results of FAME Renaissance, included: 300 jobs for teenagers at Disneyland every year for 10 years; 3,000 jobs; a Fame Renaissance loan fund; a Fame Renaissance venture capital fund; a Fame Renaissance Transportation Program that transported 1 million people annually; a Fame Renaissance environmental protection program, which saved 1.5 billion square acres of water; a Fame Renaissance commercial office building of 75,000 square feet; a Fame Incubator Program, which trained 1,000 entrepreneurs and started 400 small business; a Fame Renaissance Home Loan Program which funded 500 homes, a FAME Housing program that built affordable housing projects of 700 units with low- to moderate-income tenants, encompassing seven buildings; and so much more.

Sometimes you run into someone that changes your life, and the world we all live in too. That man, for me at 26 years old, was the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray.

And this one thing I know – and hope that you now understand this to be true, too – his powerful, one-of-a-kind legacy, lives.

John Hope Bryant, the founder of Operation HOPE and spiritual son of the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, can be reached at jhbhope@operations.org. 

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By Ericka Alston Buck 
Special to the AFRO

The soul-stirring melodies of gospel music filled the air at the historic Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on April 27 as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) presented its highly anticipated GospelFest 2024. Led by conductor Dr. Henry Panion III, the evening promised a symphonic celebration of faith and music– and it delivered that and much more.

Grammy award-winning gospel superstar Donald Lawrence took center stage alongside the BSO, captivating the audience with his powerful vocals and infectious energy. But Lawrence wasn’t alone in delivering a mesmerizing performance– he was joined by two distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) choirs: the Howard Gospel Choir, under the direction of Reginald Golden, and the Morgan State University Choir, under the direction of Dr. Eric Conway.

From the moment the first note rang out, it was clear that this event would be more than just a concert– it was a spiritual experience. Waves of attendees swayed and sang along, punctuating the air with heartfelt “amens” and “hallelujahs.” The atmosphere was electric, reminiscent of a Baptist church revival, with choir members and audience members alike caught up in the spirit of the music.

Tuba player Aubrey Foard, a seasoned member of the BSO, reflected on the experience. 

“For me, it’s not a typical gospel experience. There’s a lot of energy. There’s a lot of enthusiasm. There’s a lot of support when you’ve got a crowd behind you of friends and colleagues cheering you on.” 

Foard reflected on how the choir supported the lead vocalists with praise, hand claps, affirmations and praises as they performed powerful numbers for those gathered.

Freshman Morgan State University student Zion Waters shared her enthusiasm once the concert was done. 

“This experience has been amazing,” she said. “I love the fact that we were able to work with Donald Lawrence, one of the greatest gospel artists out here. I’m blessed and I’m very happy.”

The evening’s repertoire was nothing short of spectacular.  Hits like “The Blessing of Abraham” and “Healed” had the audience on their feet, singing along with the performers. 

Lawrence shared touching anecdotes, including the story of finishing the late Dr. Andre Crouch’s “Bless Me Indeed,” a song that left Crouch in tears upon hearing its transformation.

A highlight of the night was when award-winning songwriter and poet “Wordsmith” joined the HBCU choirs and the symphony orchestra for a remarkable rendition of “Glory” from the movie Selma, leaving the audience spellbound.

In the end, GospelFest 2024 was more than just a concert– it was a celebration of faith, unity and the transformative power of music. 

As Lawrence himself proclaimed, the evening was simply about getting the audience ready for church in the morning. And indeed, it was an experience that left hearts lifted and spirits renewed, a testament to the enduring power of Gospel music.

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By Peter Smith
The Associated Press

The United Methodist Church lost one-fourth of its U.S. churches in a recent schism, with conservatives departing over disputes on sexuality and theology. 

Now, with the approach of its first major legislative gathering in several years, the question is whether the church can avert a similar outcome elsewhere in the world, where about half its members live.

The question is particularly acute in Africa, home to the vast majority of United Methodists outside the U.S. Most of its bishops favor staying, but other voices are calling for regional conferences to disaffiliate.

At the upcoming General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, delegates will tackle a wide range of proposals – from repealing the church’s ban on same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ people, to creating more autonomy for regional conferences to set such rules, to making it easier for international churches to leave the denomination.

Delegate Jerry Kulah of Liberia said he believes it’s time for African churches to leave.

He said that when he first attended a General Conference in 2008, he was shocked by proposals to liberalize church rules. Since then, he helped mobilize African delegates to vote with American conservatives to create ever-stricter denominational rules against same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ people.

But progressive American churches have increasingly been defying such rules and now appear to have the votes to overturn them.

“We know that we are not going to the General Conference to necessarily win votes,” said Kulah, general coordinator of the advocacy group UMC Africa Initiative. “So our goal is to go and articulate our position and let the world know why it has become very necessary to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, because we cannot afford to preach different gospels.”

But Jefferson Knight, also a delegate from Liberia, opposes disaffiliation. He said a schism would amount to forsaking the rich spiritual legacy of the UMC in Africa and would severe its valuable international bonds.

“Liberia was the birthplace of the United Methodist Church on the continent of Africa in the 1800s,” said Knight, of the advocacy group United Methodist Africa Forum. The church has developed leaders in education, health care and evangelism across the continent, said Knight, who also works as a human rights monitor for the church.

Knight said schism isn’t necessary.

He shares the widespread opposition in Africa to liberalizing policies on marriage or ordination, but he favors a proposal that would allow each region of the church – from America to Africa to Europe to the Philippines – to fit rules to its local context.

“The best way out is to regionalize and see how we can do ministry peacefully and do ministry within our context, our culture,” Knight said. 

The United Methodist Church traces its roots to 18th century revivalist John Wesley and has long emphasized Christian piety, evangelism and social service. It has historically been present in almost every U.S. county.

But it’s also the most international of the major U.S. Protestant denominations.

Generations of missionary efforts brought Methodism across the world. Local churches took root and grew dramatically, particularly in Africa. 

Today, members from four continents vote at legislative gatherings, serve on boards together, go on mission trips to each others’ countries and are largely governed by the same rules. U.S. churches help fund international ministries, such as Africa University in Zimbabwe.

More than 7,600 U.S. congregations departed during a temporary window between 2019 and 2023 that enabled congregations to keep their properties – held in trust for the denomination – under relatively favorable legal terms, according to a UM News count.

That provision applied only to American churches. Some say the General Conference – running April 23 through May 3 – should approve one for other countries.

“Our main goal is to ensure that African and other United Methodist outside the U.S. have the same opportunity that United Methodists in the U.S. have had,” said the Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, vice president of the conservative advocacy group Good News.

Opponents say overseas churches already can disaffiliate under church rules – and some conferences in Eastern Europe have taken such steps. But proponents say the process is too cumbersome.

Further complicating the matter is that churches operate in a range of legal settings. Some African countries criminalize same-sex activity, while in the U.S., same-sex marriage is legal. 

Most departing American congregations were conservative churches upset with the denomination’s failure to enforce its bans on same-sex unions and the ordination of LGBTQ people. Some joined denominations such as the new Global Methodist Church, while others went independent.

The departures accelerated membership losses in what until recently had been the third-largest American denomination. The United Methodist Church recorded 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022, a figure sure to plummet once disaffiliations from 2023 are factored in.

A detailed study by the UMC’s General Council on Finance and Administration indicated there are 4.6 million members in other countries – fewer than earlier estimates, but still approaching U.S. numbers.

The United Methodist Church has been debating homosexuality since the early 1970s, steadily tightening its LGBTQ bans through its last legislative gathering in 2019.

That year, “the traditionalists won the vote but they lost the church” said the Rev. Mark Holland, executive director of Mainstream UMC, which advocates for lifting the church-wide bans and for a “regionalization” proposal allowing each region to decide on such rules.

He noted that numerous regional church conferences in the United States reacted to the 2019 vote by electing more progressive delegates to the upcoming General Conference. 

Progressives believe they have adequate votes to repeal language in the governing Book of Discipline barring ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” and penalizing pastors who perform same-sex marriages.

Less certain is the fate of regionalization, which would increase regional autonomy. 

Regionalization involves constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds General Conference majority and approval by two-thirds of local conferences worldwide.

Proponents say regionalization would also bring parity to different regions, saying the current system is a U.S.-centric relic of an earlier missionary era. The regionalization scenario could also allow churches in some regions to maintain LGBTQ bans while others remove them. 

Church regions outside the United States already have some leeway in adapting rules to their settings, but regionalization would define that flexibility more precisely and extend it to U.S. churches.

The UMC-affiliated church in the Philippines – the only one in Asia, with about 280,000 members – would maintain its opposition to same-sex marriage, which is not legally recognized there, a church official said. It will also not allow openly LGBTQ people to be ordained.

Most African bishops oppose disaffiliation, even as they oppose LGBTQ ordination and marriage.

“Notwithstanding the differences in our UMC regarding the issue of human sexuality especially with our stance of traditional and biblical view of marriage, we categorically state that we do not plan to leave The United Methodist Church and will continue to be shepherds of God’s flock in this worldwide denomination,” said a statement signed by 11 African bishops at a meeting in September.

Among those withholding signatures was Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna.

Nigerian Methodists in December celebrated 100 years of the denomination in their country, but its future remains uncertain. Deeply conservative views on sexuality are widespread in Nigeria. A spokesman said the bishop’s position on disaffiliation would be determined by what happens at the General Conference.

Same-sex marriage “is unbiblical and also is incompatible with Christian teaching according to our Book of Discipline,” Yohanna said at a January news conference, in which he also said “no to regionalization.”

___

AP reporters Chinedu Asadu in Lagos, Nigeria, and Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this article.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

From helping businesses with recruitment or workforce development, to aiding folks who need help tailoring their resumes and prepping for interviews, Hennither Gant has it covered. The Baltimore-area resident and founder of Career Image Solutions, has spent the past 12 years bringing her human resources expertise, entrepreneurial expertise, and common-sense approach to her work.

“Through insightful consultations and assessments, we collaborate closely with our clients to uncover their professional identity and chart a course toward rewarding career paths aligned with their values and goals,” she tells Word In Black.

Gant’s drive is rooted in her faith. 

“I love God, all things business and HR is my vehicle to bring change in the world,” she says on her website. Indeed, her enthusiasm for effective hiring strategies and integrity-based leadership in the workplace makes her a sought-after coach, panelist, and trainer. Word In Black caught up with her to find out more about how faith drives her work, and her approach to bringing the best out of everyone.

Q: What tools do you use to place people in the appropriate jobs?

Hennither Gant: Through an initial discovery call and a series of questionnaires focusing on their passions, work history, aspirations, and work habits, I guide individuals towards suitable career paths. By delving into their intrinsic motivations rather than simply following trends, I strive to align them with roles that resonate with their true calling. Sometimes, I incorporate personality assessments to gain deeper insights.

Q: Do people who already have a job often come to you because they are not satisfied with their job?

HG: Absolutely! It’s a common scenario. I often advise professionals that the optimal time to seek a new role is when they’re currently employed. Interestingly, dissatisfaction with the current job often stems from a deeper disconnect rather than surface-level grievances. Through coaching, we unearth that individuals may not be in touch with their authentic selves and aspirations. Taking the time for self-reflection often reveals their true desires and directions.

Q: In your dealings with employees, do they seek people who are spiritually gifted, or naturally gifted in certain areas?

HG: Yes, many employers, particularly smaller ones, emphasize desired personal attributes alongside technical skills. These qualities often include self-motivation, intuition, emotional intelligence, effective communication skills, solution-oriented mindset, and strong work ethic. I have particularly found that working professionals who are confident in who they are and know what they want, tend to stand out among the crowd of other applicants. Employers recognize the significance of holistic traits in potential hires beyond just technical proficiency.

Q: From your experience, what’s the value or outcome of having job satisfaction? Mentally, emotionally, and socially.

HG: Numerous studies consistently highlight the profound impact of job satisfaction on various aspects of well-being. It intricately links to mental and emotional health, productivity, and even physical well-being. Chronic dissatisfaction at work can elevate stress levels significantly. Considering that a considerable portion of one’s life is spent at work, aligning with meaningful pursuits can foster fulfillment and happiness, positively influencing other areas of life, including social connections and personal relationships. A helpful strategy is to reassess your life every 3 to 6 months, posing the question: “What should I stop, start and continue?”

This article was originally published by Word in Black.

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By Darren Sands,
The Associated Press

No woman had ever preached the keynote sermon at the Joint National Baptist Convention, a gathering of four historically Black Baptist denominations representing millions of people.

That changed in January when the Rev. Gina Stewart took the convention stage in Memphis, Tennessee, — the Southern city home to Christ Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as senior pastor — and delivered a rousing message, asserting that Jesus not only included women in his ministry, but identified with their suffering.

But what happened next put a spotlight on the obstacles women in Christian ministry continue to face as they carve out leadership space within the patriarchal culture of the Black Church in America. Several women pastors told The Associated Press that it should serve as the breaking point.

“This is an example of no matter how high you rise as a woman, you’re going to meet patriarchy at the top of the hill,” said Martha Simmons, founder of Women of Color in Ministry, which helps women navigate the process of getting ordained. “The next Norton Anthology of African American preaching is probably 20 years away, but that sermon will be in there.”

Despite the enthusiastic reception for Stewart, the original recording of her historic sermon disappeared from the convention’s Facebook page, setting off a social media firestorm – driven mostly by women – protesting its removal. A recording of the sermon later appeared, but it was followed by accusations the convention edited her closing remarks, which challenges the four allied denominations to support women in ministry.

National Baptist Convention, USA, President Jerry Young did not reply to requests from The Associated Press for comment. He said at another January meeting that he believed the Facebook page had been hacked and he planned to involve the FBI.

“I still don’t know what happened with the sermon, but what is clear is that this was a form of erasure,” Stewart said. “I was just as shocked, stunned and surprised as everyone else.”

It is symptomatic of a larger problem, according to several Black women pastors interviewed by the AP. They emphasized how they were worn down by the physical and psychological toll of working in a male-dominated culture.

In some denominations, women have made progress. The African Methodist Episcopal Church estimates that one-fourth of its total staff are women, including 1,052 ordained ministers.

In the Black Church as a whole, male pastors predominate, though there’s no comprehensive gender breakdown. Simmons estimates that less than one in 10 Black Protestant congregations are led by a woman, even as more Black women are attending seminary.

The conditions aren’t new, but the public discourse over women’s equality in ministry has rapidly gained ground due in large part to the bullhorn social media provides, said Courtney Pace, scholar-in-residence with Memphis-based Equity for Women in the Church. Pace noted how Facebook afforded Eboni Marshall Turman a venue to publicly share her grievances before filing a gender discrimination lawsuit in December against Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York.

The late theologian and civil rights activist Prathia Hall underscores this dynamic, said Pace, who wrote “Freedom Faith: The Womanist Vision of Prathia Hall.” In the book, she details how Hall was a key inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

“The kind of thing that happened to Gina Stewart happened a lot to Prathia Hall,” Pace said. “When she was doing her work, we did not have social media, or cell phones with voice recorders and cameras in every hand. So who knows what the response to Prathia would have been with an empowered public like we have today.”

Hall was born in Philadelphia in 1940, the daughter of a Baptist preacher. As a youth, she took part in local speech competitions where she melded folk religion and liberation theology.

But not all of Hall’s relationships within the insular preaching fraternity of the National Baptist Convention were as collegial as her relationship with King, whom she said in later years did more with “I have a dream” than she could have.

Many theologically conservative Christian churches, including some Black Protestant denominations, prohibit women from preaching. They frequently cite certain biblical passages, including one they interpret as saying women ought to “be silent” in churches. Even in denominations without explicit bans, women with leadership aspirations often must contend with a patriarchal culture.

Last month, the audience was dotted with young Black women at an event hosted at the Howard Divinity School in Washington. A group convened a panel about the evolution of Black women’s role in the church.

Inside the cavernous Dunbarton Chapel that Howard Divinity shares with the Howard School of Law, a half-dozen Black women representing a range of independent churches and Black Protestant denominations spoke about persevering through instability and transition.

Their current duties, some of the women said, left them exhausted and unable to grieve the members they lost to COVID-19.

One speaker was the Rev. Lyvonne Briggs. In 2019, she was being overworked and underpaid as an assistant pastor of a large Baptist church in California. Her marriage dissolved.

She restarted her life in Atlanta. During the lockdown one Sunday morning in her apartment, Briggs went live on Instagram and held a self-styled worship space for 25 people to share their experiences. It became known as The Proverbial Experience, which Briggs describes as an “African-centered, womanist series of spiritual gatherings to nourish the soul.”

In two years, Briggs grew her church into a digital community of 3,000. She also wrote “Sensual Faith: The Spiritual Art of Coming Back to Your Body,” a treatise on liberation from the sexual politics and objectification of Black women’s bodies in the church setting.

“I don’t ascribe to this idea that the Black Church is dead,” Briggs told the AP. “But I do acknowledge and promote that we have to eulogize what it used to be so that we can birth something new.”

One preacher who fashions himself an expert on the topic of women’s role in the church, Walter Gardner of the Newark Church of Christ in Newark, N.J, sent a video link of one of his lectures when queried by the AP about his beliefs. At the end of one session, Gardner suggested that women, overall, ignore Scripture and are incapable of being taught.

That’s a mindset Gina Stewart would like to change, on behalf of future generations of Black women.

“I would hope that we can knock down some of those barriers so that their journey would be just a little bit easier,” said Stewart, who has continued to charge forward.

In a given week, her preaching schedule can take her to multiple cities. As an example, she traveled to Washington earlier this month after accepting a sought-after invitation to preach at Howard University’s Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel.

Stewart’s goals mesh with those of Eboni Marshall Turman, who gave the Martin Luther King Jr. Crown Forum lecture in February at Martin Luther King’s alma mater, Morehouse College. In December, after not being named a finalist, she had sued Abyssinian Baptist Church and its pulpit search committee for gender discrimination over its hiring process for its next senior pastor, an assertion the church and the committee disputed. No woman has ever held the post.

A former Abyssinian assistant minister, the Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore, said in an email to The Associated Press that of the several dozen applicants for the senior pastor job, “none were more exciting, promising and refreshing than Eboni Marshall Turman.”

Added Moore, who now is pastor of New York City’s First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, “Pastoral searches in Black congregations, historically socially conservative, are often mired in the politics of discrimination, including biases based on gender, sexual orientation, marital status and age.”

Marshall Turman, a Yale Divinity School professor, offered pointed critiques in her first book at what she deemed the inherent patriarchy of Morehouse’s social gospel justice tradition. She adapted her recent lecture’s title from the last speech ever given by King, the all-male college’s most famous alumni.

The title was blunt: “I’m Not Fearing Any Man.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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The Associated Press undefined

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, an influential pastor and civil rights leader who used his tenure at one of Los Angeles’ oldest churches to uplift the predominantly Black neighborhoods of South Los Angeles following one of the country’s worst race riots, has died. He was 94.

Murray died on April 5, according to an announcement from the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He died of natural causes, his son, Drew Murray, told the Los Angeles Times.

Born in Lakeland, Florida, in 1929, Murray spent 27 years as the pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. The church was small when he took over. But by the time he retired, it had grown into an 18,000-member megachurch.

In 1992, the acquittal of four police officers who were caught on video violently beating Rodney King triggered an explosion of violence in the predominantly Black neighborhoods of South Los Angeles.

Murray emerged as a calming presence and was a frequent guest on national television news shows. He used his connections with the city’s political and business leaders to raise money for recovery efforts, including loans for businesses and assistance for people displaced by the violence.

“While many famous preachers have roots in Southern California, Chip Murray is unparalleled in his ability to mobilize the city of Los Angeles to heal the inequities related to race and income inequality,” said Donald E. Miller, the Leonard K. Firestone Professor of Religion at USC and co-founder of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

During his time as pastor, First AME became a must-stop for prominent politicians, including former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton along with former California governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Under Murray’s leadership, the church worked to transform the community through a host of programs and initiatives, including job training, support for foster children and developing affordable housing units for low-income families.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Murray dedicated his life to service, community and “putting God first in all things.”

“I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel,” Bass said. “My heart is with the First AME congregation and community today as we reflect on a legacy that changed this city forever.”

After retiring as First AME’s pastor, he joined the faculty at the University of Southern California as the Tansey Professor of Christian Ethics, where he trained about 1,000 faith leaders in the “Murray Method”of church leadership.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black

Bishop Leah Daughtry was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., into a family where church was their life, which is the definition of a preacher’s kid. She began teaching Sunday school at 13 but carries none of the usual “PK” cynicism. “Usher, church administrator; being a preacher’s kid in a smaller church, you had to do all these things. We didn’t get to sit and wear pretty clothes,” she says. 

But a PK component emerged when asked if she’s ever cleaned the church bathroom.

“Yes, Ma’am, the bathroom, the kitchen, sweep the floor, make the bulletins in the old days with the mimeograph machines,” she says when I interject, having to clear mistakes on the bulletin master with a razor blade. She continues, laughing, “Buy the chicken, fry the chicken, serve the chicken, raise the money, count the money, take the money to the bank.”

Daughtry had no expectation of formal ministry until the call came in 2000. And she answered in a wholehearted way. 

She is now the presiding prelate of that church, a Pentecostal Assembly founded in 1929 by her grandfather, Bishop Alonzo Daughtry. It’s formally called The Church on the Mount, but the national fellowship of churches is called The House of the Lord.  

That fellowship describes its mandate as prophetic, political, pastoral, priestly, pedagogical and programmatic. 

A church full of registered voters

“We believe in the small church model, which is biblical,” she says. “It’s important that the shepherd be able to count the sheep. Know them by name. Know what their conditions are. There’s no need to go through lots of layers to get to the shepherd.” 

The members of The House of the Lord are educated in the necessity of voting and required to register; they are enlightened about the issues.

“We give them tools to make assessments for themselves. We don’t tell them who to vote for. They don’t have to vote, but they do have to register. When candidates come to speak, they know they’re addressing a church full of registered voters.”

So they immediately see the dichotomy in a platform that declares itself pro-life but has no care about the quality of the child’s life once it’s here.

“Abundant life in all its phases. Food. Shelter. Water. Good schools. Safe streets,” the Bishop says. 

“I want to be clear that I am not fighting for abortions. I’m pro-choice, but not pro-abortion. That’s between the women and their God. Everyone has a God-given right and a God-given ability to make personal decisions, including who you want involved in those decisions, but definitely not the government.”

She said we should have autonomy over our being and personhood. We are endowed with the right and freedom.

The bishop responds to the revisionist history being propagated. “The boldness of the lie is quite stunning,” she says. “That people learned skills, had housing. What housing? Our responsibility is to challenge the lie. It’s just a lie.”

And her tone softened as she recalled the family history that recorded her then fourth-grade-age grandmother having been raped, and chosen as the bed partner for the slave master. He legally claimed the son as his own, but who would deny the violence perpetrated upon a child?

Bishop Daughtry says the same force wants to make decisions for us — basic life decisions and choices: “It is the same force that made decisions over our grandparents. People outside myself make decisions. It’s the same demonic force.”

A Capitol Hill start

“My first vote was for Jesse Jackson for President in 1984. In my junior year of college, I interned for U.S. Rep., the Rev. Ed Townes of New York,” she says. 

She says working on Capitol Hill for those four years gave her an on-ramp into the Washington political establishment through his values lens, which reflected her own values and showed that faith and politics could be intertwined without losing their parameters. 

She also worked for Democratic National Committee Chair Ron Brown and had a hand in logistics for the 1992 convention. She was also an administrative assistant for Alexis Herman, the first African American to be Secretary of Labor

Trump surprise? Not. 

Bishop Daughtry says she’s not surprised that Trump is once again the Republican front-runner. 

“Because this country is what it is. We’ve never really repented for the sins of slavery, racism, sexism. When you dehumanize God’s creations, making them less than you…you commit a sin. Because our country refuses to deal with the sin of racism and sexism at its core, we’ll keep coming back to the consequences…Trump is one of the consequences,” she says. 

“My deeply held faith drives me to believe that every single human being is a person of worth, in whom God has invested His own time and His own breath to bring into being. I am compelled therefore to love and care for God’s handiwork — my sisters and brothers on this earth — and to see them as reflections of God’s love, grace and joy.”

For Bishop Daughtry, voting means choosing the person who represents her and her values. “Trump in no way represents my values. I don’t want my young nephews spending four years looking at him as a leader, as president or thinking his views are OK.”

What about the young people who are threatening to withhold their vote from the Biden administration because of Gaza?

“I’m really disappointed in the administration and the way it’s managed Gaza. There are 30,000 innocent dead people, people who had absolutely nothing to do with Hamas. They just happened to be living where Hamas is the political party in power,” she says. 

“And our country is funding the weapons Israel is using to kill Palestinians. They’re pushing them from Gaza to Rafa. Where are they going to end up?”

She prays every day and works every day to get the current administration to do the right thing, 

“I’m devastated at what’s going on in Gaza. But I’m also concerned about what’s happening on the South Side of Chicago, what’s happening in Bed Stuy. In Oakland. In Atlanta,” she says. 

“Trump ain’t going to help with none of them. If Trump was president now, Israel would have obliterated Palestine by now. That’s what he said.”

What have I done?

What have I done? That expression of regret is what Bishop Daughtry wants no voter to feel the morning after any election. Regret at having chosen the wrong candidate, or no candidate at all for the wrong reason. Everyone’s worst nightmare. 

There has been much conjecture as to the number of votes that will be lost because of the way the Biden administration has acted during the war in Gaza.

“The Democrats are my party, and I support them. I don’t support everything that they do.  And I definitely don’t support the way they’ve handled the situation in Gaza,” she says. 

“I was happy to hear President Biden say he was going to build a port city so the U.S. and other countries could provide food, clothing, medicine, and other essentials of which they are currently deprived.”

But what if Trump had been president when this happened? “Israel would have obliterated Palestine by now. He said out of his own mouth that Israel should just get it over with.”

And, says Daughtry, “President Biden said something no recent president has said, that there needs to be two states. The Palestinians should be able to govern themselves, without oversight of Netanyahu.”

A missed opportunity

Some people, especially Christians, say they’ll vote for the House and Senate, but not the top of the ticket.

“They should read Project 2025. It’s the Trump manifesto. It states what they plan to do if they get another go at the White House,” the Bishop says. “They’re going after everything they want with executive orders, all that don’t require congressional approval.”

She says they’re planning to deport Muslims, and half her family members are Muslims. 

“I’m concerned. They’re going to overturn laws — replace them with new laws. The top of the ticket matters,” she says.

Not voting is a missed opportunity.

“And you end up with, ‘Oh my God, what did I do?’”

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

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By AFRO Staff

Sandra E. Crouch, senior pastor of New Christ Memorial Church, has died at age 81. 

According to Billboard, the death came on March 17,  while Crouch was at Northridge Hospital in Northridge, Calif. Crouch had been admitted to the hospital after receiving treatment for a non-cancerous lesion on her brain. 

Crouch, the twin sister of the famed gospel artist, Andraé Crouch, was well known in the faith community and in the entertainment industry as a Grammy-award winning singer. In 1983, according to information from the Recording Academy, Crouch took home the Grammy Award for best soul gospel performance by a female artist. In addition to her vocals, she was known for her work in the percussion arena as well. Most notably, she played percussion for the Jackson 5’s hit classic, “I Want You Back.” 

According to information released by the church that she pastored, Crouch “was ordained as an elder in 1998, but learned how to teach and preach long before that by watching her father the late Bishop Benjamin J. Crouch. She was a “dynamic and passionate servant of God” who strove to “make His Word relatable for all age groups.” 

A musical tribute and viewing will honor Crouch on April 16. A celebration of life will be held for Crouch on April 17. All ceremonies will be held at New Christ Memorial Church, located at 13333 Vaughn Street in San Fernando, Calif. 

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By AFRO Staff

For persons trying to escape the shadow of a criminal history, help may be on the way. 

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA), in partnership with Reid Temple A.M.E. Church of Glenn Dale, Md., is hosting a free expungement clinic at the church on April 27. Individuals with a criminal history will have an opportunity to be advised by legal professionals and have petitions prepared on site. This includes people with cannabis-related charges who may be newly eligible for expungement.

The one-on-one assistance could be life-altering for the thousands of persons whose lives were tainted by a criminal history. Experts say for those who have run-ins with the law, that history could pose a steep barrier to gainful employment, stable housing and general reintegration into society, leading to higher chances of recidivism. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 44 percent of persons released from state prisons are re-arrested within a year. And over a nine-year period, that number increased to 83 percent.

“Successful reentry is measured over time and the ability of a person to expunge their criminal record, where appropriate, can be critical to their ability to move forward,” said Nancy La Vigne, director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in a statement.

Expungement is a means for offenders to remove information about their criminal cases from legal and law enforcement records, which prospective employers and landlords may tap into when conducting background checks.

In Maryland, a resident can file for an expungement if that person’s case ended with disposition of acquittal, dismissal, probation before judgment (PBJ), nolle prosequi (prosecutor dropped case), stet (indefinitely postponed), or not criminally responsible. No fee is required.

In the case of a guilty verdict, Maryland law allows certain criminal convictions to be expunged after satisfactory completion of the sentence, including parole, probation or mandatory supervision. The nature of the crime determines when that person can file for expungement. The nonrefundable application cost is $30.

To find out more about the free expungement clinic, visit online at: https://www.mdlab.org/reid-expungement-clinic/ 

This includes people with cannabis-related charges who may be newly eligible for expungement. This one-on-one expungement assistance can be life-changing for the vast number of people who qualify.

What:
Maryland Legal Aid / Reid Expungement Clinic

When:
Saturday, April 27, 2024

Where:
Reid Temple A.M.E. Church
11400 Glenn Dale Blvd.
Glenn Dale, Maryland 20769

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By Special Release 

The Studio Acting Conservatory will host a six-day public view of the Last Supper sculpture, created by artist Akili Ron Anderson, coinciding with the Easter holiday. The event will kick off on March 22, from 2 to 5 p.m., with select days until March 30. Attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in this masterpiece’s rich history and profound significance through engaging discussions led by knowledgeable gallery docents. 

As stewards of this artwork, the Studio Conservatory is committed to fostering dialogue and understanding by providing public openings and educational programming to explore its relevance in today’s socio-religious environment. This groundbreaking artwork amplifies the representation of religious art in the 21st century, serving as a testament to the enduring significance of cultural diversity and inclusion.

Akili Ron Anderson, a remarkable AfriCOBRA artist, created the Last Supper sculpture in the 1980s for the New Home Baptist Church. The sculpture portrays Jesus and his disciples as African American men hidden behind drywall for many years. During renovations by the Studio Acting Conservatory in November 2019, the sculpture was discovered. Anderson’s stunning work of art is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the lasting impact of art on our lives.    

As we reflect on Holy Week, we are grateful to share the Last Supper sculpture with you, inviting you to experience its beauty and resonance firsthand.

When: Friday, March 22, Saturday, March 23, Sunday, March 24 – 26 from 2- 5pm and Friday, March 29 from 11-5pm and Saturday, March 30 from 2-5pm. Check our website for other open hours. https://lastsuppersculpture.org/

Where: Studio Acting Conservatory | 3423 Holmead Place, NW, Washington, DC 20010.  Enter through the main entrance at the top of steps. ADA entrance on the south side of the building. More  information about parking and Metro at https://studioactingconservatory.org/about/location 

Cost: Free 

Please contact Bacarri Byrd via email at  bacarri@studioactingconservatory.org  or by phone at 443-961-5366 for more information. 

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By Mylika Scatliffe,
AFRO Women’s Health Writer

For centuries, church has been the pillar of the Black community with members and non members coming to the church and its leaders for solace, refuge, prayer and respite.

With increasing rates of suidice among people of color and historical taboos and stigma surrounding suicide among Black people in particular, we must think differently about access to mental health care.

“We recognize that suicides are trending upward in the Black and Brown communities, even while they have started to trend downward in other communities,” said Vic Armstrong, vice president for Health Equity and Engagement at the American Foundation for Suidice Prevention (AFSP).

Soul Shop for Black Churches is a one-day training workshop designed to instruct members of the Black faith community on the impact of suicide as a health outcome, and to provide training on how to address suicide related issues.  The AFSP is committed to health equity for underserved communities and addressing the increased rate of suicide among Black people. The creation of Soul Shop for Black Churches was driven by this commitment.

“We need to think differently about how we reach people in underserved communities for a number of different reasons. One is that we have to consider how we create access to services and think differently about what access means,” said Armstrong.

Access is about providing resources that are relatable to lived experiences, culturally relevant, and that you are willing to utilize. 

“When we think about access to resources of the Black community, one of the most effective ways to reach Black people is to utilize the church. We know that faith based organizations traditionally have been the gateway to the Black community,” Armstrong continued.

Most Black people grew up hearing suicide was not a Black problem and that African-American people are resilient for having survived slavery.  However, the Pew Research Center states that a little over 50 percent of any church congregation has been impacted by suicide in some way. 

“There are people sitting in the church pews that have been impacted but have not been able to talk about it because we don’t create space in our faith based settings; so they carry the pain around with them, “ said Armstrong.

According to the AFSP website, Soul Shop for Black Churches is aimed at leaders in the faith community, whether clergy or laypeople, that are on the front lines of the mental health crisis to minister to those impacted by all the faces and struggles with regard to suicide. The workshop leverages the  prominent position of the church in the Black community for a positive impact on suicide prevention and focus on loss and healing for those whose lives have been affected by suicide in some way.

Talking to someone about suicide is difficult, especially in a culture where the subject is taboo. The eight hour training provides practical skills on how to help make talking about suicide easier. 

“We do some role paying, to get them comfortable enough to learn how to have a conversation with someone experiencing suicidal desperation,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong makes it very clear to workshop attendees that they are not expected to be clinicians as a result of the training. 

“We want you to know what steps to take if someone comes to you, or you recognize warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide or making a suicide plan that you feel able to talk to them and intervene,” added Armstrong.

The ultimate goal for Soul Shop for Black Churches is when encountered with someone experiencing suicidal desperation in that moment to help move them from a point of desperation and connect them with resources for professional help.

Attendees of the training are taught the acronym CALL:

• C – commit to talking someone if you are experiencing suicidal desperation or if you think someone else is considering ending their life.
• A – ask. Be willing to ask an individual if they are thinking about killing themselves. We provide language to help you have the ability to actually ask those questions. 
• L – listen. Be willing to listen to what the person is sharing and not interject yourself.  Listening provides you with opportunities to know what and how to connect that person with services.
• L – lead.  To lead someone to safety so that they are in a position where they either no longer want to kill themselves or remove them from the risk of harm.

Armstrong emphasized that in that moment of helping someone it is not your job to cure them.  “Your role is not to try and fix them, but to lead that individual to safe and good hands,” said Armstrong.

To Armstrong, one of the most important distinctions about Soul Shop for Black Churches is that while there is no lack of secular training, this is the only one he’s aware of designed specifically for Black faith leaders

“There is still some stigma attached to this because often faith leaders often struggle with the message that suicide is an unforgivable sin, and are not sure where to start with the conversation,” said Armstrong. “There’s still some stigma that’s probably not going away, but I think that little by little we can chip away at the negative connotation and faith leaders can see this as something they can fold into their ministry.”

Soul Shop for Black Churches is about thinking about suicide prevention in a new way: reaching people before they get to the point of wanting to die.  

The goal is to learn to recognize the risks and warning signs before an individual reaches that point, and to be able to minister to family and community members impacted when someone dies by suicide.

For more information on Soul Shop for Black Churches can be found at socialmovement.org or afsp.org.

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By Kofie and Lachele Bryant

Cancer, an unyielding adversary in our lives, has marked its presence in every community. For far too long it has been a story of diagnoses coming too late, treatments too burdensome and cures too elusive.

The disparities in cancer outcomes are stark and unsettling. A report from the American Cancer Society brings this sobering reality to light: despite strides made in recent years, significant gaps remain—gaps that disproportionately impact people of color, those with lower socioeconomic status and rural residents. These communities face a harsher cancer reality, one where the social determinants of health—like access to education, income and quality healthcare—sharply dictate outcomes.

But recent medical and technological breakthroughs have the potential to help bridge these chasms and alter the course of cancer diagnosis and treatment for the better. Known as multi-cancer early detection (MCEDs) tests, these new tools have the ability to detect dozens of cancers from a single draw of blood – many of which currently have no screenings available.

MCEDs stand as a testament to our collective scientific progress and could be the reason we may be soon living in a world where many more cancers can be detected early, before symptoms appear. Currently, these tests await FDA approval, bolstered by extensive clinical trials, including those emphasizing representation from historically marginalized groups. And while science advances, so too must public policy.

The largest pool of people who could immediately benefit from MCED tests are senior citizens covered by Medicare. Yet, the program’s current rules do not allow timely coverage of preventative services like MCED tests even if they’ve been approved by the FDA. Changes are needed to the law to ensure that no time is lost and that Medicare can immediately establish a pathway to coverage for these tests.

Here’s where Maryland’s Senator Ben Cardin is leading the charge. He is one of the leaders of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act and we thank him enormously for his efforts to bring together widespread support for this bill.

Senator Cardin’s bill is currently supported by large bipartisan majorities in both Houses of Congress as well as over 400 organizations from nearly every corner of the cancer advocacy community. As leaders in the faith community, we are adding our voices to this chorus and fight for a change that we know will save lives.

As Congress returns to session, lawmakers will be faced with a critical deadline to pass a bill funding the government through the rest of the fiscal year. While that effort will dominate the headlines, it is also an opportunity to pass this much-needed change to Medicare.

With so many people feeling the brunt of a cancer diagnosis as a patient or a caregiver, we often rely on our faith to help guide us through those trying times. In fact, research shows that “spirituality might be an important aspect for quality of life for cancer patients and that it may, in fact, be especially salient in the context of life threatening illness.”

In this moment, the confluence of faith, science and policy has the power to reshape our fight against cancer. Let’s seize this opportunity and ensure that the future of cancer care is driven by hope, equity and healing for all.

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By Luis Andres Henao and Jessie Wardarski,
The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The young crowd at a Nashville nightclub was ready to dance under the strobe lights to a throbbing mix of hip-hop, rap and Latin beats. But first they gathered to pray and praise God. The rules were announced on the dance floor by a mic-carrying emcee to more than 200 clubgoers blanketed by thick smoke machine fog: “Rule No. 1: No twerking. Second rule: No drinking. And a third rule: No smoking.” The last unspoken rule seemed obvious by then: No secular music — the playlist would be all Christian.

Welcome to The Cove.

The pop-up, 18-and-up Christian nightclub was launched last year by seven Black Christian men in their 20s — among them an Ivy League-educated financial analyst, musicians and social media experts — who sought to build a thriving community and a welcoming space for young Christians outside houses of worship. The launch comes at a post-pandemic time of dwindling church attendance, especially among Black Protestants that surveys say is unmatched by any other major religious group.

“We ourselves experienced a pain point of not being able to find community outside of our church, not knowing what to do to have fun without feeling bad for doing stuff that’s conflicting to our values,” said Eric Diggs, The Cove’s 24-year-old CEO.

“There wasn’t a space to cultivate that. So, we created it ourselves out of that pain point — the loneliness, the anxiety, depression, COVID, and the long quarantine.”

PROVING THAT CHRISTIANS CAN BE COOL — NOT CORNY

Before their first monthly party in November, they set an ambitious goal: get 1,000 followers on social media. “We ended up getting more than 10,000 followers before our first event, which was insane,” said Eric’s brother, Jordan Diggs, 22, who manages the club’s social media presence.

“Christians get a rep for being corny. And we want to show that Christians can be normal, can be cool. And they can have fun.”

A second equally popular event was timed to ring in the New Year. A third was held in February.

For weeks, on its Instagram account — under hashtags like #jesuschrist #nightclubs — club organizers asked people to be ready to dance the worship night away and look their best: “When you pull up, we expect to see you in your Holiest Drip.”

At the mid-February event, many in the racially and ethnically diverse crowd wore a rainbow of vivid colors — fluorescent turquoise, electric orange, neon pink — in their Nike, Adidas and New Balance sneakers. Or hoodies with images of Jesus and varsity jackets with Scripture from the Bible.

“What surprised me the most is the diversity, honestly,” said Aaron Dews, one of the club founders. “With us being seven Black guys, just seeing the expansion of the type of people that we can bring in, and the unification around one idea has been incredibly encouraging.”

Food trucks in the parking lot awaited hungry clubbers. Inside, Benji Shuler sold vintage clothes with religious messages that hung from racks. A white T-shirt with the iconic Pepsi logo read: “Jesus: The Choice of a New Generation,” echoing the soda company’s tagline from decades ago.

In lieu of alcohol, vendors sold sports drinks, bottled water and soda. Organizers cheerfully set up early. They hung Christmas-style lights from ceilings, sang a cappella and rehearsed their best choreographed moves.

CLUB BECOMES A DESTINATION FOR CHRISTIANS NEAR AND FAR

Before he impressed everyone with his dance moves, Garrett Bland, 20, listened on his phone to “Deliver Me,” by gospel singer Donald Lawrence. “It’s about letting the Lord into your life,” he said, wearing a gold medallion around his neck inscribed with the Lord’s Prayer and a beige hoodie that read: “God first.”

He admired what The Cove’s founders are trying to do, saying, “they want to create a space for believers who want to come to the faith and have fun.”

Wearing a blue hoodie embroidered in white with “young sons of God,” Eric Diggs asked organizers and volunteers to join him in prayer. “Dear God, thank you for this night,” he said. “Amen!” the group said in unison before they huddled like a basketball team before a game — and yelled: “The Cove!”

Nia Gant, 18, attended the club for the first time. She moved from Grand Rapids, Michigan, four months ago and said she had been praying to make like-minded friends. “I think joy and religion can go together,” said Gant, who wore nose piercings, Air Jordans and ripped jeans. “God,” she said, “is joy.”

Soon after, a line of people who had bought tickets in advance snaked outside to enter the nightclub. At the door, security officers in bullet-proof vests frisked clubgoers. Inside, they chatted, laughed and greeted each other with high fives.

Word quickly spread around that a couple had traveled 9,000-plus miles from their home in Brisbane, Australia, to the Christian club in the Tennessee capital known as Music City. It was true: Haynza Posala, 23, and his wife, Kim Posala, 24, heard about The Cove through a faith-and-culture podcast co-hosted by Darin Starks, one of the club’s founders.

“We thought, this is cool — it’s God glorifying,” Haynza Posala said.

“It’s surreal,” said Kim Posala, looking around as people in trucker hats, berets and baseball caps streamed into the club and were handed bracelets of different colors. “It’s community, and that’s what church is about.”

Mic in hand, Carlton Batts Jr., a musician who is one of the founders and who was the designated DJ and emcee, asked people on the dance floor questions, dividing them into groups: “If you prefer listening to music, come over here,” he said pointing to one side. “If you prefer podcasts, over here.”

“In church people can be really cliquey,” Batts said. “So here, we give them prompts, so when we start the DJ set people are really comfortable dancing.”

The crowd went wild when the DJ played “Alacazam,” by rapper Caleb Gordon, who has grown popular for his faith-inspired songs, especially Christian hip-hop. They gasped and cheered when 21-year-old Dillan Runions, a former competition dancer, performed a backflip on the dance floor.

DANCE PARTY BLENDS INTO AN EMOTIONAL WORSHIP SERVICE

Eventually, it turned into a revival of sorts: Some wept or knelt with eyes shut in prayer. Whispering, someone in a small group asked God “to keep away negative suicidal thoughts.”

Many belted out a gospel song that everyone seemed to know by heart: “A God like you” by choir director, rapper and songwriter Kirk Franklin.

The feedback has been mostly positive. Club founders have also faced criticism on TikTok from some who say that dancing and worship don’t go together — or even see it as a sin. Jordan Diggs says he embraces the attention, good or bad — “just the words Christian and nightclub is going to start a lot of conversation.”

Other generations are noticing. At some point, Shem Rivera, 26, a worship leader and a founder walked up to 18-year-old Noah Moon on the dance floor, and asked him how he had heard about The Cove.

“My mom told me about it — she sent me a video on Instagram,” said Moon, who had just moved from Kansas to Nashville the day before. “That’s fire!” Rivera responded smiling.

At the end, they all silently prayed. “It sounds oxymoronic — a Christian dance club,” said Nicholas Oldham, who manages the club’s business. He was initially skeptical and even wondered if it was sacrilegious.

“Fun is the lure; it’s bait,” he said, adding that what happens on the dance floor is so much more than that.

“What it says for old fogies like me, is that the young are hungry for the word of God,” said Oldham, who is in his 40s. “The church isn’t the building, and these young people are catching up to that.”

__

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By Gene Lambey,
Special to the AFRO

Rev. Lee Michaels has retired after over 40 years as a gospel radio host for “The Morning Experience” on Baltimore’s Heaven 600 radio station. 

Michaels, who officially retired on Dec. 31, 2023, told the AFRO that his time as host of Heaven 600 “The Morning Experience” was “fun and fulfilling.” 

As a retired radio host, Michaels plans to continue his work as a voice for the Baltimore community. He also looks forward to continuing his ministry in the Christian faith at Manifest Wonders Christian Center. And then there are plans on writing a book about his life and his journey. 

Michaels celebrated his retirement at the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore on Feb. 18. 

The AFRO had the opportunity to speak with Michaels about his journey to becoming one of Baltimore’s most renowned figures on gospel radio. Raised in the Perkins Homes public housing project  in east Baltimore, which at the time was known as “the Bottom,” Michaels knows a thing or two about working his way to the top.

“Geographically, it was called ‘the Bottom’ because it was the lowest point of public housing before you got to the undeveloped area towards the waterfront,” Michaels recalled. Perkins Homes was rough and tumble development where his mother raised him in a single parent household. 

“All of the trappings that come with living in an economically depressed area and the behaviors that go along with that–all of that was what I had to face and I was able to get out,” said Michaels.

He grew up listening to many radio personalities like “Fat Daddy,” Kelson “Chop Chop” Fisher, Sir Johnny O and many other early 70’s Baltimore radio hosts. However, the first radio host that took Michaels “under his wing” was Maurice “Hot Rod” Hulbert.  

“These guys were bigger than life to me. They really inspired me through the years. To finally find myself sitting in that chair that I admired–that was fun,” said Michaels. 

He recalls his time working in the radio industry as fulfilling because of his faith. While there were bumpy periods, he said he ultimately found his “way back to a place of faith” through the experiences bestowed upon him. One such opportunity came on a Sunday evening while eating dinner alone, the words of a radio evangelist encouraged him to combine his skill sets from the Air Force, the Army Reserves, brief studies at Coppin State University and the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland (BIM) to get into broadcast radio. 

His first broadcasting job was with WCEM/WESP-FM Cambridge, Md.  radio station in Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The FM genre was rock. The AM genre was big band. Both arenas featured music formats he “knew nothing about,” he said. 

“I tell everybody to this day that was the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” Michaels told the AFRO. The circumstances of his new opportunity forced him to study and adapt, learning how to present the genres to listeners. 

He organized a handful of disc jockeys who worked at four clubs in Baltimore. Through that group–the Disco Knights–he made contacts with music producers and learned the ins and outs of the broadcast music industry, eventually meeting key players in the upcoming rap music industry. in the early 80’s. Among the new connections was a relationship with New York City record producer who would become the famous business mogul, Russell Simmons. 

Though the thrills of mainstream radio were ever-present, eventually Michaels answered a higher calling and decided to move into gospel radio. He got his start in Christian radio under Pastor Naomi DuRant at WBGR, but it was his time at Heaven 600 that has made Michaels a household name in Christian homes and cars across the area. 

Today, streaming has become the new normal for the radio industry and through it Heaven 600 has forged a global outreach. Michaels said connection with organizations like the Gospel Announcer’s Guild, out of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, allowed him to understand the impact of technology.

“You must always keep in mind that your presentation in radio has to be one dimension better than the accepted practice in radio–which is information and entertainment,” said Michaels. “We understand that people come for those two things.”

Now that his time on air is done, Michaels told the AFRO he looks back with gratitude and can only hope he has been a good example to others.

“Having had this opportunity to live what I call a ‘fulfilling life,’ and a fulfilling career, I would hope that my journey and my story in some way, form or fashion as a source of encouragement and a reminder that God does still honor faithfulness–if you are true to your commitment,” said Michaels. “Live a godly life, God will reward it. I really believe that because that is what I lived.”

Gene Lambey is a resident of Washington D.C. He is writing for the community.

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Ministry name, location and length of service to date: New Unity Baptist Church, 2908 Hamilton Ave., Baltimore, Md., 21214. Celebrating 30^th Pastoral Anniversary this year of 2024!

Education: Graduate of Forest Park Senior High School Class of 1970; Baltimore, Md. Graduate of University Maryland at Baltimore County (UMBC) with Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies majoring in Philosophy, Religious Studies, African American Studies, and Sociology. Attended Howard School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. and the St. Mary’s Seminary & Ecumenical Institute of Baltimore, Md.

Community you serve and main focus: Though a Baptist by denomination, I subscribe to the philosophy of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement who is credited with saying that “the world is my parish.” Wherever there is hurting humanity that’s where I want to be – perhaps not physical simply due to the limits of time, space and distance but certainly actively supporting via prayer, financial resources, community organizing, agitation and other avenues of raising conscious awareness.

I am a firm believer that “we cannot teach ourselves what we do not know,” therefore we must constantly and continuously immerse ourselves in the activities and actions of the community and the world around us. Even in a world of remote aloofness, there is an undeniable fact that we are all inescapably and inextricably interconnected. No man/woman on an island no man/woman standing alone.

The uniqueness of your ministry. The uniqueness of our ministry lies not in its leadership but in its followers. In the diversity of age and gender, we pride ourselves on being known as “The Equipping Ministry Empowering the People of God for the Work of the Kingdom.” There can be little to no expansion of the Kingdom without true followers of the Savor’s mandate to “Preach, Teach, Baptize.”

Ministry challenges: Challenges reveal dedication to the mission, our decision abilities in the times of crisis and perhaps most importantly our dogged determination to see the mission completed. Challenges build muscles – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual; they are the building blocks of a strong and vibrant ministry. The satisfied leader avoids them, the strong ministry overcomes them.

Mentors: I have been schooled by the absolute best. My mentors are people of great integrity, intellect, and intuition. And I must not overlook the hundreds, yea, thousands of books, and other written material that have been my steadfast guidepost.

I would like to offer men and women such as Bishop Eugene Graves of Philadelphia, Pa., the Rev. Dr. Harold Dobson, Rev. Marion C. Bascom, Bishop Douglas Miles, Rev. James Wardrop of Youngstown, Ohio, Sister Dorothy Pullen Carroll of Quiche, Guatemala, Pastor Nettie Ellison, my Sunday School teacher Sister Gertrude Waters, my highly esteemed and inestimable pastor and man of men, the Rev. Harold A. Carter, Sr. Lastly, in the words of the African proverb, “never a great man who did not have a great mother” (you may justifiably argue the descriptor ‘greatness’ as it applies to me but that of my mother, Mrs. Rosa B. Porter, is unassailable).

Recreation choices. In my leisure time I love to read – anything/everything, play card games or anything dealing with numbers and history, garner and grow from the wisdom of my ten outstanding grandkids as their Babu (Swahili “grandfather, me) talk, share and bask in our love’s golden grandeur for each other.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware,
Word in Black

Imagine working 64 hours a week and being unable to cover basic needs like food, shelter and utilities. Imagine working that many hours at more than one job and still not having adequate health coverage for yourself or your family.

Millions of people in the United States live like this. In 2022, 17.1 percent of Black folks lived in poverty, twice the rate of White people, according to U.S. Census Bureau data — and elected officials often ignore their voices. But the Poor People’s Campaign has a master plan — a 40-week blitz to mobilize the political might of 15 million low-income voters in 30 states in time for the Nov. 5 presidential election.

“For far too long, extremists have blamed poor people and low-wage people for their plight, while moderates too often have ignored poor people, appealing instead to the so-called ‘middle class,’” said campaign co-founder, activist and pastor Bishop William Barber II, while announcing the effort on Feb. 4 at the Press Club in Washington, D.C. 

“Meanwhile, poor and low-income, low-wage people have become nearly half of this country. And we are here today to make one thing clear: Poor and low-wage brothers and sisters have the power to determine and decide the 2024 elections and elections beyond,” he said.

Barber made the announcement with his fellow campaign leaders and several folks who will be putting boots on the ground — self-characterized poor people.

Together, they’re kicking off the campaign with a bold statement on March 2, orchestrating major actions at 30 statehouses across the United States. And they’re inviting hundreds of thousands of “poor” people, people of faith and activists to show up at their respective statehouses to raise hell and demand to be seen.  

And they’re not stopping there. On June 15, these same people– and probably many more– plan to show up at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to sound the same alarm at Congress’s door. The message? Working folks in the United States shouldn’t be living worse than folks in countries we call “underdeveloped.”

And they have the goods: votes. This campaign could deliver millions of votes from poor people and low-wage workers who haven’t previously voted, although they’re eligible to do so. 

According to the Pew Research Center, in the 2020 election, about 158.4 million people headed to the polls, but that was only 62.8 percent  of people of voting age. Get those 87 million eligible voters to cast a ballot, and that’s an election game changer.

“It is time for a resurrection and not an insurrection,” Barber said.

During the event, Shailly Gupta Brown, national policy director for the campaign, said there are 39,000 eligible non-voters in Georgia alone, nearly four times greater than the 10,000-vote margin of victory in the last election.

This is another move in what Barber has coined the “Third Reconstruction: Fully Addressing Poverty and Low Wages From the Bottom Up.” 

“Poverty is claiming 800 lives a day in this country. It’s time to build a 3rd Reconstruction and abolish poverty as the 4th leading cause of death,” according to the Poor People’s Campaign website. 

Barber and his team met with Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) and Barbara Lee (D-Cali.) to secure a resolution of the same name and intention: to ensure a livable wage, expanded Medicaid, fully funded public education, and an expanded childcare tax.

Indeed, the campaign’s website details that they’re seeking “a revival of our constitutional commitment to establish justice, provide for the general welfare, end decades of austerity, and recognize that policies that center the 140 million poor and low-income people in the country are also good economic policies that can heal and transform the nation.”

Barber’s faith team, determined to restore that hope, includes leaders of all faiths, ordained and lay leaders committed to organizing and mobilizing.

It also includes workers with stories of homelessness, sickness, trying, and rarely succeeding because the system works against them. Beth Shafer said, “I’m exhausted,” and she should be– working 64 hours every week.

Liz Theoharis, director of the campaign partner, the Kairos Center — a national anti-poverty organization housed at Union Theological Seminary — spoke against a political system that could end poverty tomorrow if it chose to. Instead, decisions to end pandemic relief policies will ensure 700,000 people will have lost Medicaid by March. 

“But we’re mobilizing, organizing, educating and motivating. More than a thousand voter suppression bills have been passed since the last election, and poverty is on the rise since the pandemic policies have lifted,” Theoharis said.

Poverty is the fourth leading cause of death in this country, according to Rev. A. Kazimir Brown, executive director of Repairers of the Breach, who added the fact that “46 million people still don’t have safe drinking water.”

Barber said, “We won’t be silent anymore. If we have to make Election Day a labor strike day, we will.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black.

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By The Associated Press

The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi recently chose Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells as its new bishop, making her the first woman and first Black person elected to lead the church. 

Wells was selected from a field of five candidates by delegates from 87 congregations. She will replace Brian Seage, who was elected in 2014 as the diocese’s 10th bishop. Seage said the historic vote reflected positive changes within the church. 

“This is a historic moment and this marks a new chapter in our history,” Seage told the Clarion Ledger. “It’s the first time we have elected a woman and the first time we have elected an African American as the bishop of the diocese. I think this speaks dramatically for this movement within our church.”

Wells ascends to the position after serving as rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown, Tenn., where she was also the chaplain of the church’s preschool. A native of Mobile, Ala., Wells graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis with a degree in vocal performance. She also holds graduate degrees in law and divinity.

Wells will be ordained on July 20. After the vote, she told the Ledger she will be focused on public service amid reports of declining church attendance. 

“I am truly humbled by the confidence that the council has placed in me, and I am so looking forward to working with the good people of the Diocese of Mississippi,” Wells said.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware,
Word in Black

I can’t use her name, even if I could remember it after all these years. What I do remember is the visceral pain I felt as I listened to my seminary classmate confess that her husband assaulted her physically, emotionally, and sexually on a regular basis. Most days. But always on Sundays. Just before she was scheduled to assume her role as pastor, just before she had to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. 

I felt foolish telling her what I thought was obvious. You are in no way obligated to stay in an abusive relationship. She seemed relieved. It was as if she’d never heard it before.

And she was not alone then. She is not alone now. Many Christian women stay in abusive relationships because they feel it would be unchristian to leave, or because they don’t find the kind of support they need in their church. Or any other church.

Brittney Guary’s story is different, although it’s all one horror story. She could see the warning signs before her relationship was consummated in marriage, but she forged ahead with her plans. In fact, the church offering premarital counseling encouraged her to get married and not worry about the signs that should have dissuaded her.

“I should have known when I saw so much porn around him. It seemed to be an obsession, but he always pushed aside the suggestion that it was a problem. Just like he pushed aside my questions regarding the often naked women in his phone who were starred as favorites,” she tells Word In Black.

She didn’t even fight so much when the physical and emotional abuse was limited to her instead of their children.

“I couldn’t make plans for myself. I couldn’t withdraw money from the bank, but he could without explanation. I finally realized I was losing my voice.”

It wasn’t even when he began to purchase and store large guns with night vision scopes and silencers.

“More than $10,000 would disappear from the same account I couldn’t touch, and he would always minimize his behavior as if I were imagining what was going on,” Guary says.

And when she went to their church for guidance, she was advised to hang in there and maintain her household.

But she did find what she needed.

She found a church that helped her gather strength to get away.

At that point, she wasn’t staying anyway. He’d finally made a move she wouldn’t tolerate.

“He picked up our son by the arm and threw him against the wall. I wasn’t going to allow him to abuse our children. It was bad enough what he’d done to me.”

When she confronted her husband about his abuse of her, he’d always apologize. When she confronted him on his abuse of their son, he’d say he hadn’t been exposed to children and didn’t know how to handle them. There was always an excuse. 

“I just knew I had to get away. I couldn’t take a chance on what he might do next.”

Her new church helped her do everything she needed to get away. “They counseled me and assured me while God does hate divorce, he certainly doesn’t hate the people involved, and he definitely didn’t want me to stay in that situation,” Guary says.

She did get away, and, when she’s telling her story that she captured in her book “Breaking Free: Healing from Abuse and Trauma,” the number one question she’s asked is, “How did you get away?”

She’s happy to respond because she’d love to be the reason another woman breaks free. And there are so many that need that help.

The Black Women’s Health Project determined that domestic violence is the number one health issue facing Black women: “The data tells a painful truth: 40 percent of Black women will experience domestic violence across their lifetimes, compared to 30.2 percent of White women.”

One has to wonder, if 1 in 3 women will report being abused in their lifetime, how many cases are going unreported? That’s a question asked on the website of Shine a Light on Domestic Violence, a faith-centered ministry that provides domestic violence education, as well as support and resources for victims. Shine a Light calls itself a safe place and also offers training to churches and other entities that would want to be safe places, too. 

The Black church gets passing and failing grades in its treatment of domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV). In her article “Domestic Violence: In Praise and Rebuke of the Black Church,”  Carolyn Morgan, chairperson of the Women of Color Task Force for the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, explains how while the church has proven to be the supportive, healing place as promised, it has the tendency to commit some unforgivable sins when it comes to IPV.

“Women in the Black church are most often the victims of DV and abuse, and women comprise the majority count of Black church membership,” Morgan wrote. “Men in the Black church are most often the perpetrators of DV and abuse, and men comprise the majority count of Black church leadership. In part, this dynamic contributes to what commonly follows for Black women seeking help from the Black church.”

Morgan ultimately suggested to Black church helpers:

• Do not advise her to stay and pray and allow God to work it out
• Do not meet with her and her spouse or partner together
• Do not tell her to keep the abuse a secret
• Do not suggest to her what has worked for you

And ultimately, do not blame the victim because she hasn’t changed her abuser’s behavior. 

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

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January 26, 2024 — Word In Black, a groundbreaking collaboration of 10 legendary Black news publishers and a program managed by Local Media Foundation, has received a $300,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to establish a religion and social justice desk.

This funding will allow Word In Black to delve into the intersection of race, religion and social justice within the Black community, as well as the Black youth perspective. These stories will humanize what audiences are experiencing and offer religious-based solutions.

Word In Black has hired an award-winning journalist and editor, the Rev. Dorothy Scott Boulware, for this new position. She has worked at the AFRO American News Co. for more than 20 years, beginning as a reporter and progressing to managing editor of the 131-year-old publication. She also served as editor of the Mustard Seed Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for young adults with Christian values. 

Alongside her journalism career, she served as an urban pastor for 17 years, and as a charter professor for the Determined Biblical and Theological Institute of New Shiloh Baptist Church of Baltimore. She’s a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Coppin State University (B.S.-English/ journalism), and Leadership Baltimore County, 2021.

“We are grateful to the Luce Foundation for funding Word in Black’s religion and social justice reporter. The AFRO is especially pleased that our special projects editor and former managing editor, the Rev. Dorothy Boulware, has been tapped for this important position. Dorothy is a talented writer who is a perfect fit for this position,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO and publisher of The AFRO in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and chair of the Word In Black board of directors. 

“Developed in response to the Luce Foundation’s recent request for proposals for projects seeking to advance public knowledge on democracy, race, and religion in America, Word in Black’s new initiative will support journalism that examines the role of religion in African American life and explores how Black faith communities put their spiritual understandings of justice and democracy into practice in a diverse range of social, cultural, and institutional contexts,” said Jonathan VanAntwerpen, program director for religion and theology, Henry Luce Foundation. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support this effort, which will build upon an innovative media collaboration that seeks to amplify the voices of Black Americans by sharing stories about African American communities across the country.” 

About Luce Foundation 

For more than 80 years, the Henry Luce Foundation has invested in knowledge makers and ensured that their work informs public discussion. This commitment to public knowledge derives from its founder. Henry R. Luce created Time magazine to disseminate the most important news, ideas, analysis, and criticism to a mass audience.

About Word In Black

Word In Black is a groundbreaking collaborative representing 10 legendary Black news publishers. Word In Black promises to confront inequities, elevate solutions and amplify the Black experience by reporting, collecting, and sharing stories about real people in communities across our country. We believe that by joining forces and providing a platform to examine these experiences in one place, we can shape how the nation understands and addresses systemic issues of race, justice, and equity.

About Local Media Association and Local Media Foundation 

Local Media Association brings all media together to share, network, collaborate and more. More than 3,000 newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, digital pure-plays, and research and development partners engage with LMA as members or constituents of our programs. As a 501(c)(6) trade association, LMA is focused on the business side of local media. Its programs and labs focus on revenue growth and new business models. LMA helps local media companies develop their strategies via cutting-edge programs, conferences, webinars, research and training.

Local Media Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable trust, serves as the innovation and transformation affiliate of LMA. Incorporating our four strategic pillars — business transformation, journalism funded by philanthropy, industry collaboration, and sustainability for publishers of color — LMF helps provide local media companies the strategies and resources for meaningful innovation and impactful journalism projects.

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By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black

A student who misbehaves in Houston, Texas, might find himself in the library — or what used to be the library.  Nowadays, students looking for reading resources from a library would find no librarian, only a few books, and the space occupied by students who are in trouble. They might find what used to be the library is now an in-school detention center.  

This is the situation that has captured the attention of the social justice ministry of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston.

“With all of the challenges that face Brown and Black children, their education should not be subjected to these sorts of roadblocks,” the Rev. Dr. Angela Ravin-Anderson, head of the ministry, tells Word In Black.  

She says their first instinct was to put a stop to the detention libraries as soon as possible.

“So we began a writing campaign to make our voices heard, to let the powers-that-be know they don’t know what they’re doing. We went to the school board meeting and presented close to two thousand letters we’d collected at church.”

Ravin-Anderson says there was such an outpouring of support at the church that they’ve now started a second campaign.

“We know how critical it is for children to be on point with reading by third grade, so we were very concerned.”

Rev. Ravin-Anderson says books would be in the library, although the librarians would not be there.

“How do you associate something fun with someplace you go when you’re in trouble? The libraries were reconfigured into detention centers.”

Houston neighbor Sandra Thomas initially thought it might be a good idea when she heard about it, but that soon changed.

“It was presented to me as a way to keep children in school, where they’d be safe, rather than send them home because they misbehaved,” Thomas says. “But when I realized it meant the librarians were losing their jobs and the children would be left to their own devices for help with their reading, that was an entirely different story.”

She says it was a real shock to the entire community.

Wheeler Avenue’s outrage is equally shared by the Houston branch of the NAACP.

“Nelson Mandela stated that the clearest depiction of a nation’s character is seen in how it treats its children. That needs to sink in deeply because what we are witnessing presently in HISD are actions towards our children that are beyond egregious,” said NAACP Houston President Dr. James Dixon, according to the Houston Defender.

“The thought of closing and repurposing libraries in schools is not only insulting, but it’s also repulsive,” Dixon said. “It reveals a measure of disrespect and disregard for our children’s need to have access to the best and most functional libraries and schools available. And that includes professional staff.”

This article was originally published by Word In Black. 

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By Darren Sands
The Associated Press

Over its 215-year history, the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City has earned a reputation as the flagship of the Black church in America.

Based in Harlem, it became a famous megachurch with the political rise of the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., perhaps the most influential of the many men who have led the congregation. Powell, pastor from 1937 to 1972, served in Congress for 26 years.

Among the countless believers making Abyssinian their spiritual home was Eboni Marshall Turman, who came to believe she could become the first woman to be the church’s senior pastor. She rose through the ranks and in 2007 became the youngest pastor ordained in Abyssinian’s history.

After longtime senior pastor Calvin O. Butts III died in 2022, Marshall Turman — by then a professor at Yale Divinity School — was among dozens of people who applied to fill the vacancy.

She was full of optimism that she would be chosen. Instead, she wasn’t even a finalist, and is so convinced that sexism was the key factor that she has now filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing Abyssinian and its search committee of gender discrimination.

Along with the church, the lawsuit — filed Dec. 29 — specifically names the search committee chair, Valerie S. Grant, accusing her of behaving inappropriately by asking Marshall Turman questions and pressing issues not broached with her male counterparts.

“Gender discrimination motivated the decision not to hire (Marshall Turman), a fact discussed openly during meetings of the Committee, including by Grant and another Committee member, who said that Abyssinian would only hire a woman as its Senior Pastor ‘over my dead body,'” the complaint states.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages from the defendants for “lost wages, lost benefits, other economic damages, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, and mental distress,” as well as an injunction forbidding any hiring-related gender discrimination.

The Harlem church and Grant, who also is a board member of Morehouse College in Atlanta, disputed the lawsuit’s discrimination accusations.

“While she and others were considered for the role because of their impressive backgrounds, she ultimately fell short of some key requirements for the role, where other finalist candidates prevailed and moved forward in the process,” said Abyssinian spokesperson LaToya Evans. In her statement, she said the church is prepared to defend itself against the allegations.

Grant, who described the search process as rigorous, said Marshall Turman was one of 11 people who advanced from a 47-applicant field. While some committee members may have felt she was the strongest candidate, she did not receive enough votes to advance to the next round, Grant said.

Due to varied beliefs on whether women can have authority over men, the Black church broadly has been a minefield for women aspiring to pastoral leadership. Beyond that, the question of who gets to preach from the pulpit has caused deep rifts in denominations and congregations all across Christian America.

Marshall Turman, who did not respond to requests from The Associated Press for comment, researches gender politics in Black churches and related issues. It also is the focus of her forthcoming book.

“I further interrogate theological erasure and violence against Black women in Black churches,” she said about “Black Women’s Burden: Male Power, Gender Violence, and the Scandal of African American Social Christianity” in a September post on Facebook.

“Currently, life is tracking my theory.”

The remaining Abyssinian finalists are men. The lawsuit gives reasons why Marshall Turman believed she stood a real chance of filling Abyssinian’s top job, including being told by committee members that she was the obvious pick and being held in high esteem by Calvin Butts, her ministry mentor.

Grant said the process “was designed to be fair to everyone.”

“I have an issue with people characterizing this process as discriminatory and designed to deny opportunities to women,” she said. “It’s simply not the case.”

The process was the same for every candidate, she said, adding that her job was to tell the committee to set their biases aside. Some wanted an older person, or a younger one; some wanted the candidate to be married and others wanted them to have existing connections to Abyssinian, she said.

She took issue with the lawsuit’s accusations against her own interviewing of Marshall Turman. Grant explained that every candidate was asked a series of common questions, and additional ones tailored to each person were asked as well. Grant said Marshall Turman was asked certain questions that other candidates did not get “because she was the only woman” candidate.

When Butts died in October 2022, after a bout with cancer, Marshall Turman felt that God had called her to the moment.

She wrote an application to Abyssinian’s senior pastorate that reflected her credentials, including a master of divinity and doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and experience on the Abyssinian staff as a minister for Christian education.

Butts called her the best assistant he had ever had, and the smartest, too, according to the lawsuit.

Marshall Turman was among those invited to apply.

But after not making it to the final round, she alleged in a Facebook post on Sept. 23, 2023, that the hiring process was tainted by secrecy and gender bias. She contended that Abyssinian deacons had worked alongside “an energized group of Morehouse supporters and committee leadership to systematically eliminate all female applicants from the pool of candidates.”

“I write only to underscore that gender bias has no place in God’s house,” Marshall Turman continued in her post. “Moreover, gender bias is illegal in the City of New York in 2023 no matter the prior legacy of the organization involved.”

Among the remaining contenders for the open senior pastor job are the Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson, formerly of the historic Bright Hope Baptist Church in North Philadelphia, and Derrick Harkins, who was recently working for Marcia Fudge at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development.

For years, as detailed in the book, “Witness: Two Hundred Years of African American Faith and Practice at the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, New York,” women’s treatment in the church has been an unsettled issue among its members.

In her book, “Toward a Womanist Ethic of Incarnation: Black Bodies, the Black Church and the Council of Chalcedon,” Marshall Turman critiqued the Morehouse social gospel tradition, even interviewing Butts.

In terms of Black women as pastoral leaders, Butts told Turman that at Morehouse the thought of women as pastoral leaders had never crossed his mind. “It was not an issue at Morehouse,” said Butts, in an excerpt from the book. “I just never even thought about it.”

She described finding herself in a world where Black women aren’t listened to, but also one in which their labor is essential to Black survival.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Ministry name, location and length of service to date: Miracle Church, 3000 Huntingdon Ave Baltimore, MD  21211 for 10 years

Education: Lake Clifton/Eastern High School, Morgan State University, accounting major, University Of Maryland Global Campus: Masters degrees in Business Administration and Business Management

Community you serve and main focus: Greater Remington, Food Vulnerabilities

Ministry challenges: Maintaining growth through the pandemic

Mentors: Archbishop Ralph Dennis, Bishop Dwayne Debnam, Rev. Dr. Cecilia Bryant

Recreation choices: Reading and movies

The post #Faithworks Pastor of the Month: Pastor Clarinda Burston-White appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Associated Press undefined

The tradition of Watch Night services in the United States dates back to Dec. 31, 1862, when many Black Americans gathered in churches and other venues, waiting for President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation into law, and thus free those still enslaved in the Confederacy.

It’s still being observed each New Year’s Eve, at many multiracial and predominantly Black churches across the country.

What is the historical background of Watch Night services?

As the Civil War raged on, Lincoln issued an executive order on Sept. 22, 1862, declaring that enslaved people in the rebellious Confederate states were legally free. However, this decree — the Emancipation Proclamation — would not take effect until the stroke of midnight heralding the new year.

Those gathering on the first Watch Night included many African Americans who were still legally enslaved as they assembled, sometimes in secrecy.

“At the time, enslaved Black people could find little respite from ever-present surveillance, even in practicing their faith,” explains the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “White enslavers feared that religion, which was often used to quell slave resistance, could incite the exact opposite if practiced without observance.”

How have Watch Night traditions evolved?

Over its 160-year history, Watch Night has evolved into an annual New Year’s Eve tradition — it not only commemorates freedom from slavery, but also celebrates the importance of faith, community and perseverance.

This description from the African American museum offers some details:

“Many congregants across the nation bow in prayer minutes before the midnight hour as they sing out ‘Watchman, watchman, please tell me the hour of the night.’ In return the minister replies, ‘It is three minutes to midnight’; ‘it is one minute before the new year’; and ‘it is now midnight, freedom has come.'”

The museum notes that the Watch Night worship services were traditionally followed by a “fortuitous meal” on New Year’s Day, often featuring a dish called Hoppin’ John.

“Traditionally, Hoppin’ John consists of black-eyed peas, rice, red peppers, and salt pork, and it is believed to bring good fortune to those who eat it,” the museum says. “Some other common dishes include: candied yams, cornbread, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese.”

How are congregations observing Watch Night this year?

Some of this year’s services will be conducted virtually, without in-person attendance. Beulah Baptist Church in Philadelphia and First Congregational Church in Atlanta are among those choosing this option.

Among the many churches offering in-person services are Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland; and Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey.

In Salem, North Carolina, the Rev. William Barber II, a prominent anti-poverty and social-justice activist, will be leading an interfaith Watch Night service at Union Baptist Church along with its senior pastor, Sir Walter Mack. The event is billed as a “service of lament, hope and call to action.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By Reverend Dr. RB Holmes Jr.

“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” – Malcolm X

A statewide task force has been launched, in conjunction with the Florida General Baptist Convention, to demand that the governor of Florida and the State Department of Education, teach Black history accurately, factually and forthrightly. The Reverend Dr. Carl Johnson serves as president. 

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the state of Florida, we organized a task force labeled, “Teaching Our Own History.” 

Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week, encouraged us to not sit idly by and allow this system to “mis”-educate Black people.

Our Task Force will present to the government a comprehensive curriculum that correctly and effectively teaches Africa and African-American history to students in Florida’s public schools. Moreover, we will develop 40-plus “Freedom Schools” by 2025. We will not sit idly by and allow any governor, to erase the accurate teaching of Black history.

The Objectives of “The Teaching Our Own History” Task Force are as follows:

1. To encourage the accurate and unbiased teaching of African-American history, culture, experiences and invaluable contributions in the state of Florida and this nation

2. To develop strategies and solutions to support and strengthen public education in marginalized communities

3. To develop and adequately support 40 Freedom Academies across the state of Florida

4. To create significant after school programs for students in Title One schools in marginalized communities across the state of Florida, using an age appropriate African American History Curriculum to strengthen reading, writing and mathematics skills

5. To create summer “Freedom Schools” to teach youth the importance of African Americans contributions, self-respect, personal responsibility, and African American contributions

6. To empower and encourage the three private HBCUs in Florida to develop laboratory schools on their respective campuses by 2025

7. To cultivate and create partnerships with foundations, businesses and philanthropists to support programs and events that consistently celebrate the contributions of African American history, culture, literature, faith and heritage

We all must redouble our efforts to fight for social justice, voting rights, civil rights, diversity, equity and inclusion. The dismantling of programs of diversity, equity and inclusion are shameful and insulting.

Over the next several weeks, selected members of “The Teaching Our Own History” Task Force will publish articles for dissemination through The National Black Press, addressing the critical components for teaching our own history. I encourage our readers to enthusiastically engage in meaningful discussions in their various constituent groups and organizations as we speak “truth to power.”

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By Ericka Alston Buck
Special to the AFRO

The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. was graced with the presence of extraordinary women whose dedication to ministerial excellence has left an indelible mark on their communities on Dec. 1. Aptly named “The Unsung She-roes Awards,” the event was aimed at honoring 24 “dynamic” and “trailblazing” women with “an evening of elegance,” according to information released by organizers.

Rev. Dorothy Boulware, an award-winning AFRO journalist and editor, has joyfully served at the AFRO American Newspapers for more than 20 years, evolving from a reporter to the managing editor of the 131-year-old publication. Boulware currently serves the publication as special projects editor, and her work has been recognized by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the Baltimore Association Black Journalists (BABJ) and the Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia (MDDC) Press Association. She has also received the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference Spirit Award for Outstanding Journalism.

“Dr. Susan ‘Sujay’ Johnson Cook has been a champion of the Black Press for all the years I’ve known her, and to have her call my name is a supreme honor,” Boulware said in awe of the Unsung Sheroes honor. “Her belief in excellence and her specific focus on women makes all of us feel special and even more determined to be light wherever we’re planted.” 

Boulware’s passion for authoring faith-based texts led her to publish “Keep Walking in Prayer…Until You Can’t Come Back,” in 2016. Since then, she has authored seven more books, coached budding writers and made significant contributions to the worlds of ministry and journalism.

Notable in the crowd were the Soul Sisters, Selah Sisters, BWIM Sisters, clergy colleagues, women in ministry, trailblazers, history makers, community partners, lay and ordained individuals, all gathered to honor those who have made significant impacts in the realm of ministry.

The highlight of the gala was the recognition and celebration of outstanding individuals who have excelled in various aspects of ministry. The list of honorees included Reverend Dr. Seretta Washington; Reverend Dr. Angela Johnson; Dr. Angel White; Dr. Elizabeth Rios; E. Paulette Sheffield; Reverend Alberta Ware; Reverend Salena Perry; Reverend Minnie Washington; Elizabeth Murray; Reverend Dr. Jennell Riddick; Reverend Cynthia J. Terry; Reverend Dr. Anita Gould; Delle Banks; Reverend Annie Darden; Reverend Sheryl Smith; Reverend Althea Pond; Ref Marjorie Duncan Reed; Elder Joyce Ridgeway; Dr. Autumn Wilson; Dr. Barbara E. Austin Lucas; Dr. Jacquelyn Hadnot; Reverend Lettie Carr; Eileen Frank and the esteemed Boulware.

Adelle M. Banks, projects editor and national reporter at Religion News Service, shared her gratitude for the recognition of her media coverage. In her words, “It is women in those roles, along with others, who have helped me in my decades of journalism…often focused on religion and race in general and Black women faith leaders in particular.”

Rev. Alberta Ware, a seasoned minister with over 20 years of professional experience in the field, was another “She-roe” honored for making her mark with notable achievements, leadership qualities and a profound impact on her community. Ware’s dedication to her calling is evident in her diverse roles, including serving as the director of church and community mobilization at The Balm in Gilead in New York. She has also contributed significantly to the South Side Unity Center of Christianity in Chicago, first as an assistant pastor and later as the pastor since 1997.

Currently a prominent figure at Christ Universal Temple in Chicago, Ware plays a vital role in teaching people how to live better lives through the renewing of their minds, guided by the church’s  mission found in Romans 12:2.

“The experience was amazing,” said Ware, of the 15 individuals who joined her at the ceremony–some who flew in from Chicago and New York, showcasing the impact Rev. Ware has had on the lives of others. “It was so fulfilling to also have 15 people there to celebrate with me.” 

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By: Amber D. Dodd 
Special to the AFRO 
adodd@afro.com 

The National Philharmonic (NatPhil) has hosted two of the three performances of George Friderick Handel’s Messiah’s epic oratorio, Messiah. 

The first two performances took place Dec. 16 and 17 featuring the he Scotland African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church Mass Choir at The Music Center at Strathmore while the third and final show will be held at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Va. on Dec. 20. 

Polish-American conductor Piotr Gajewski has masterfully conducted the work as four singers, soprano Aundi Marie Moore, mezzo soprano Lucia Bradford, tenor Norman Shankle and baritone Jorell Williams provide vocal solos behind the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. 

“It’s an incredible piece of music.” Gajewski said.  

As the piece tells the story of Jesus Christ’s life in three different stages: the prophecy of Jesus’ birth, His sacrifice for all of mankind and his resurrection. Messiah is considered one of the greatest choir works of all time, with popular excerpts such as the choir chanting “Hallelujah!”

Gajewski said the show was modernized to “make it more theatrical.” 

Singers of Messiah traditionally use a booklet to read from during the three hour performance, however, to create a more engaging, personalized environment, the four soloists are performing without them.

“We’re presenting it simply staged as a drama, slightly as a musical or drama as the soloist will be coming on and off (the stage) and engaging with the audience,” Gajewski said. 

Shankle, the tenor of the performance, is a Winchester, Va. native who has been in the opera and classical scene for over 25 years. He has worked with the Philharm previously in his career and has performed Messiah across a span of four years.

“The number one thing is that Piotr really has this vision of selling the story part but what’s going to hit home is that the soloist will be off-book,” Shankle said. “I think having direct eye contact with people who are signing will be a very big deal, it almost never happens.”

Shankle said singing with groups consecutively is rare, but it helps fuse familiarity between the quartet of singers. All four performers this year starred in last year’s production. 

“We’re well seated to each other,” Shankle said. “There are good musicians, everyone is bringing not just their best, but something specific and something very personal. It’s not just piece after piece after piece…you have to have something in there to make it yours. These are three other really great singers.”

The original composer, Handel, contributed to the English arts culture of the 1700s, he also supported the British Empire’s transatlantic slave trade. Dr. David Hunter, music librarian, unearthed the information about Handel through his music history research, such as his paper “Music and the Slave-Trade Economy to 1784,” that highlights the relationship between classical music and slavery. 

To acknowledge Handel’s role in chattel slavery, proceeds from the two performances at the Strathmore will be donated to the Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac, Md. for their centennial celebration. The funds will go to restoration projects as the church’s wood-frame structure has eroded due to flooding and tropical storms.

Patrons can also donate through the 2nd Century Project Matching Challenge where donates up to $3 million are matched.

“…We can move forward with performances that could turn the tables on the situation and benefit the African American community,” Gajewski said. “Through performance we could foster some means toward African-American communities, perhaps in perpetuity, that would be some attempt at reparations using the music that was created.”

He also pointed to the significance of a fully African American cast, the four soloists, even though Black people are widely underrepresented in classical music. 

“We’re promoting the careers of African American singers, paying them handsome fees and putting them in front of their public and helping them further their careers that way,” Gajewski said. 

Historical information about Handel’s role in the slave economy, compiled by the Library of Congress, were on-site of the performances.

“With the Messiah, the big part of that message is living a good life, sacrificing for others and I think that is important during Christmastime,” Shankle concluded. 

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By Julia Frankel and Jalal Bwaitel
The Associated Press

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy. But joyous revelry is untenable at a time of immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, said Mayor Hana Haniyeh.

“The economy is crashing,” Haniyeh told The Associated Press on Dec. 15. “But if we compare it with what’s happening to our people and Gaza, it’s nothing.”

More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel’s blistering air and ground offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers, according to health officials there, while some 85 percent of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. The war was triggered by Hamas’ deadly assault Oct. 7 on southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 240 hostages.

Since Oct. 7, access to Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass military checkpoints. The restrictions have also prevented many Palestinians from exiting the territory to work in Israel.

City leaders fret about the impact the closures have on the small Palestinian economy in the West Bank, already struggling with a dramatic fall in tourism since the start of the war. The Palestinian tourism sector has incurred losses of $2.5 million a day, amounting to $200 million by the end of the year, the Palestinian minister of tourism said Dec. 13.

The yearly Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem — shared among Armenian, Catholic and Orthodox denominations — are major boons for the city, where tourism accounts for 70 percent of its yearly income. But the streets are empty this season.

With most major airlines canceling flights to Israel, over 70 hotels in Bethlehem have been forced to close, leaving some 6,000 employees in the tourism sector unemployed, according to Sami Thaljieh, manager of the Sancta Maria Hotel.

“I spend my days drinking tea and coffee, waiting for customers who never come. Today, there is no tourism,” said Ahmed Danna, a Bethlehem shop owner.

Haniyeh said that while Christmas festivities have been cancelled, religious ceremonies will take place, including a traditional gathering of church leaders and a Midnight Mass.

“Bethlehem is an essential part of the Palestinian community,” the mayor said. “So at Midnight Mass this year, we will pray for peace, the message of peace that was founded in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born.”

George Carlos Canawati, a Palestinian journalist, lecturer, and scout leader, called his city “sad and heartbroken.” He said his Boy Scout troop will conduct a silent march across the city, in mourning of those killed in Gaza.

“We receive the Christmas message by rejecting injustice and aggression, and we will pray for peace to come to the land of peace,” said Canawati.

The enthusiasm of Bethlehem’s Christmas festivities have long been a barometer of Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Celebrations were grim in 2000 at the start of the second intifada, or uprising, when Israeli forces locked down parts of the West Bank in response to Palestinians carrying out scores of suicide bombings and other attacks that killed Israeli civilians.

Times were also tense during an earlier Palestinian uprising, which lasted from 1987-1993, when annual festivities in Manger Square were overseen by Israeli army snipers on the rooftops.

The sober mood this year isn’t confined to Bethlehem.

Across the Holy Land, Christmas festivities have been put on hold. There are 182,000 Christians in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. The vast majority are Palestinians.

In Jerusalem, the normally bustling passageways of the Old City’s Christian Quarter have fallen quiet since the war began. Shops are boarded up, with their owners saying they are too frightened to open — and even if they did, they say they wouldn’t have much business.

The heads of major churches in Jerusalem announced in November that holiday celebrations would be canceled. “We call upon our congregations to stand strong with those facing such afflictions by this year foregoing any unnecessarily festive activities,” they wrote.

At the altar of Bethlehem’s Evangelical Lutheran church, a revised nativity scene is on display. A figure of baby Jesus wrapped in a Palestinian keffiyeh is perched atop a pile of rubble. The doll lies underneath an olive tree — for Palestinians, a symbol of steadfastness.

“While the world is celebrating, our children are under the rubble. While the world is celebrating, our families are displaced and their homes are destroyed,” said the church’s pastor, Munther Isaac. “This is Christmas to us in Palestine.”

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By Ashleigh Fields
AFRO Assistant Editor
afields@afro.com

Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, recently celebrated 24 women of excellence in the religious field with the UnSung She-Roes Awards. Among the list of awardees was AFRO Special Projects Editor

Rev. Dorothy Boulware, beloved former managing editor of the publication.

Journalist Adelle Banks, of the Religion News Service, was also honored, along with researcher Elizabeth Rios. Awards were distributed to pastors and stewards of faith who are revered in their communities. Honorees were recognized at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 1.

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By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer 
abrent@afro.com

The Walters Art Museum opened their latest art exhibit “Ethiopia at the Crossroads” to the public  on Dec. 3. The exhibit has 1,750 years worth of Ethiopian art, antiques and artifacts that display the African nation’s rich history from a cultural, artistic and religious standpoint. 

Home of more than 220 historical Ethiopian objects, the Walters has a world-renowned collection that has been amplified by lenders in America, Europe and Ethiopia, making for a display of Eastern African culture like no other.  

Before the exhibit made its debut, the AFRO spoke with art curator Christine Sciacca about all the planning that went into this exhibit, what guests can anticipate when visiting and what this display of art is bringing to the Baltimore area. 

AFRO: How did the creation of this exhibit come about ? 

Sciacca: “This exhibit was actually an idea I proposed at my interview for this job. I started working at the Walters about six years ago and I heard about their incredible Ethiopian art collection. It’s one of the largest outside of Ethiopia.”

AFRO : With over 1,750 years of art and artifacts to choose from, what influenced you to choose the pieces shown in the exhibit ? 

Sciacca: “I did the impossible and included all 1,700 years worth of artwork. I was really interested in seeing how Ethiopia was not an isolated place; it was very interactive with all the different regions around it such as other parts of Africa, Europe and Asia as well. What I thought about doing was taking that collection and looking at different points throughout Ethiopian history. It started with our collection–we have the earliest material of coins that come from the rulers of the Aksumite kingdom. I broke the exhibit up into different points of interaction. Here at the Walters we collect mostly the Christian art of Ethiopia. A lot of people don’t realize Ethiopia was the second Christian nation on the planet. They adopted Christianity in the mid-fourth century, so a lot of their artwork was for the church. Our collection really focuses on that Christian art of Ethiopia; I needed to take loans from other places. We have 25 lenders for the exhibition to help fill out the whole story about what Ethiopia was throughout its history and what it is today.”

AFRO: What can visitors anticipate from this exhibit ?

Sciacca: “I really wanted it to be an immersive experience. A person in Ethiopia understands the landscape; they know the sights, the smells, the sounds. But many visitors won’t have that experience. We’ve done a gallery with some big wall murals showing scenes of ancient Aksum which still exist today. We also have scent cards that will be placed throughout the show at three different stations. We have one that smells like frankincense, another where you can smell berbere spice, which is a very common spice in Ethiopian cooking, and the third one is the smell of an Ethiopian manuscript. It’s a full manuscript and you’ll be able to see what they smell like. They have a very distinct smell. I’m not  Ethiopian myself so I had a very helpful advisory committee from the community here in the DMV who gave me lots of advice about these things. I really relied on them to guide the decisions that I made about what this should be. We were able to capture some of their voices in videos that we’ll see in the exhibition. We’re going to have a church service at an Ethiopian church in Washington. We have little sound bites from various community advisory members talking very clearly about what is the significance of Ethiopian art to them. It’s different when you’re the voice in your own area and when you’ve  lived and grown up with this culture. That was important for me to hear those voices in conjunction with the Ethiopian language.” 

AFRO: Why does the Baltimore community need something like this ? 

Sciacca: “The DMV in general has the largest Ethiopian diaspora population in the U.S. by far, but also only blocks away from the Walters is little Ethiopia, where there are Ethiopian-owned restaurants and shops. We have that right here in Baltimore. We started collecting Ethiopian art here at the Walters in the 1990s. We were actually the first to do a major exhibition of Ethiopian art, at all, in the U.S. It was a show called ‘African Zion’ and it opened in 1993. It started at the Walters and then traveled to seven different venues across the United States. That was really the first exhibition to show Ethiopian art to American audiences. I think the thinking with that was to connect with the very strong Ethiopian audience in the area, but also the general African-American population in the Baltimore area as well. They felt that there was a broader connection to be made, and with this exhibition we’re hoping to continue that. We show Ethiopian art in a slightly different way. A lot of times when you visit museums if you’re lucky enough to see Ethiopian art it’ll be shown with African art, but we will be showing it in the context of Christian art. We hope that this really does resonate with our broader community here in Baltimore.”

AFRO: Although Ethiopia is so diverse can you talk to me about how vital this exhibit is to both historic and modern Black history and culture ?

Sciacca: “I think the broader impact is all those connectors that have happened abroad. In addition to what’s happening in the present day – in terms of contemporary art extending beyond Ethiopia’s borders – it’s also showcasing the significance of Ethiopia never having been colonized, and that’s a point of pride for Ethiopians, but I think for the broader community as well, from my understanding. This, to me, is highlighting one of the great cultures out of Africa and how long tradition has been in Ethiopia and how important it is for the history of Africa.”

This article has been edited for clarity.

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By Aria Brent,
AFRO Staff Writer,
abrent@afro.com

On Dec. 3, Rev. Dr. Tamara E. Wilson will make history when she officially starts as the first woman to ever serve as pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church. This new opportunity comes following her founding of Nu Season Nu Day Church and Ministries, where she served as pastor for eight years. Wilson founded the church while also working with the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture in her former role as chair. Noting that she’s excited for this new journey in her career as a faith leader, Wilson spoke with the AFRO about what she’s looking to bring to Pleasant Hope.

“As pastor, my priority would be preaching and teaching sound Christian doctrine. Of course, that is primary for everything that I intend to do,” said Wilson. “This would ensure a strong spiritual foundation for any work of ministry that the congregation would do. I also believe that the church’s mission to save souls and to make disciples is not detached from our responsibility to help people survive in their present living conditions and the challenges that they face.” 

Wilson has been working in the faith industry for 20 years and has worked in a series of positions at different churches, however she admitted that she feels slightly overwhelmed coming into her latest position. She explained that in spite of her nerves, she recognizes the lord calling her to this new phase of her life. 

“When I entered the process, it wasn’t because I was looking to make history. I entered the process because when the opportunity was presented to me I thought back to the initial call to pastor, and when I started Nu Season Nu Day I knew God was calling me to that northeast Baltimore corridor,” explained Wilson. “As you know, Nu Season Nu Day worshiped at the Govans-Boundary United Methodist Church for about three years–the first three years of our ministry. Because [of that], I really felt a pull to that area.”

Although it was God calling her to Pleasant Hope, being elected for this position was a lengthy and complex process. Sister Evelyn Hinton was a part of the board of church members that chose Wilson to be their new pastor. 

“We are a committee of about 13 members and we took a survey from the congregation. They told us what characteristics they were looking for in a pastor. We then put those characteristics on a job application and posted it online and in-person,” said Hinton. “We came together and went through a number of applications, we had about 16. After reviewing the applications we presented our three final candidates to the congregation and they voted Pastor Wilson as the new pastor of Pleasant Hope.”

Wilson shared that she applied for the position in the Fall of 2022, received word about moving forward in the candidacy process at the top of this year and she was finally elected into the position about three weeks ago. 

Pleasant Hope is celebrating their 90th anniversary this year, and throughout their existence they have become a staple in the Govans community. Rev. Dr. Heber M. Brown III previously served as pastor at the historic church. However, his calling to serve the community in a different way– via his work with the Black Church Food Security Network– is what brought upon the opportunity for Wilson to become the new head of Pleasant Hope. 

I’m looking forward to seeing how God continues her ministry in helping people to grow in their relationship with God and helping the congregation to discern its next steps with respect to community ministry as well,” stated Brown. “Pastor Wilson is very much so concerned and focused on the role of the church in the public square. Her personal ministry is evidence of her commitment to the challenges that women face and women’s empowerment, issues of social justice and advocacy with respect to public policy as well. 

“She’s well rounded with respect to her concern and commitment to community oriented ministry, and I’m excited to see how that flourishes and blossoms in the context of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church.”

Wilson has major plans to continue doing God’s work and serving the local community through his word and furthermore, the church’s actions. She noted that during her time at Pleasant Hope people are guaranteed to learn that God loves them and that he has a purpose for everybody’s life. 

“When you come to Pleasant Hope where I am, you’re going to learn about God and most importantly, that God loves you and I think that’s supreme over everything,” Wilson stated. “You’re going to find out that God has a purpose for your life. My ministry has always been about discovering who you are– in light of who God is.”

The post #Faithworks: Rev. Dr. Tamara E. Wilson set to become new pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Listed in zip code 21223 of West Baltimore, the Tabernacle of the Lord Church and Ministries (TOTLC) is a forward-thinking ministry, pastored by Bishop C. Guy Robinson, a mental health theologian. Successfully providing faith in the community for over 80 years, TOTLC is continuing the work of its predecessor, Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church.

In 2008, Robinson says he was “called by God and appointed by the Rev. Dr. Arthur Eugene Jones” to “serve and succeed his legendary leadership” as pastor of Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church. 

“I was in graduate studies and counseling, when I received an unexpected phone call from Reverend Dr. Arthur Eugene Jones,” stated Robinson, who at the time was pursuing a career as a professional counselor. “My conflict became, what do I do?” Long story short, the Lord was calling him to pastor, but with an emphasis on the Christian aspects of our mental wellness. 

Sharon Shea Morris Webb, a long-time member of Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church said, “I have so many positive thoughts about Jones Tabernacle and Rev. Jones. He married my husband Garfield and I along with training us as his deacon and deaconess. I know Pastor Guy Robinson as a friend of the Tabernacle along with the many conventions with the Baptist Congress of Christian Education. I know that as Rev. Jones’ special personal pick, the spirit of Jones would not be lost. Keep climbing TOTLC!”

The vision of TOTLC is a family of faith that’s growing in grace through the word, worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism and service. Family denotes community and the community reaches out to bring those outside in. In Robinson’s rationale, he explains that the church is not defined by its geographical location of the 21223 zip code – it reaches beyond the Fayette-Boyd community in which it resides. 

“The church is a community, and it’s ideally comprised of persons in a community who serve a community.” Bishop Robinson emphasizes that because sometimes when we say the church, we kind of objectify it as if it is an entity distinct from people in the community. 

But the church itself is the people who comprise it and form a voluntary community led by the Spirit of God in this case, or by their faith convictions to experience life together.

In serving the local community, TOTLC holds worship services and bible study for in-person gatherings where they address the whole man, body, soul and spirit. 

Located in a food desert, the church provides food giveaways. They conduct educational opportunities in partnership with Grace Medical Center, formerly Bon Secours Hospital, on North Fulton Avenue, to learn certain skills through several community-oriented activities. 

“We do outdoor community festivals, with health screenings, partnering physical health and spiritual health. And, everything from cooking classes, being aware of how we can eat healthy, to addressing food desert concerns, to addressing what a healthy diet looks like, to mitigate certain conditions.”

We do a lot of meetings about assessing the needs of the community and how we might best serve them as two health institutions. 

TOTLC was a vaccination site during the height of the pandemic and opened its doors as an education site to ease anxiety for students and their caretakers.

In addition to these things, Bishop Robinson is normalizing mental health theology from the pulpit.

Inscribed on Bishop Robinson’s timeline, a heartfelt sentiment from LaVern Jones, widow of Reverend Jones. 

“We thank God everyday for you! We celebrate you as pastor, leader, musician, father, friend and counselor– but I’m most honored to call you, ‘son.’ So many titles for one great man. May God continue to bless and keep you!”

The post #Faithworks: AFRO inside look: Bishop C. Guy Robinson speaks on new role at Tabernacle of the Lord Church and Ministries appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By AFRO Staff

Name: Rev. Stephanie M. Atkins, Pastor

Recreation choices:

Writing, Dance Ministry Development and Sisterhood with my Links sisters.

The post Meet the Pastor: Rev. Stephanie Atkins appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ralph E. Moore, Jr.

It was the trip of a lifetime.  It was not a vacation, but a mission trip to advocate for justice and the respect of the Black Catholics, worshiping and serving in the U.S. for over 400 years. We have kept our eyes on God and the unrequited love from our fellow church members, but hatred, prejudice and discrimination remain.

We arrived in Rome– Delores Moore (no relation), Mary Sewell and I– on the morning of Oct. 29.  Our meeting with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints was scheduled for the next day. The airport is an hour from our hotel and nearly as long from Vatican City.

We happily arrived on Oct. 31 for our session with the church leaders in an office in a corner of St. Peter’s Plaza.  

St. Peter’s Basilica is named for the first pope, Simon, who Jesus renamed Peter – known as “the rock”  upon which Jesus said he would “build” his church. St Peter’s Basilica is believed to be the largest church in the world.  It is enormous and non-surprisingly devoid of many– if any– representations of Black or Brown saints among its many statues and portraits.

We were greeted by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints (the head of the working congregation that investigates the lives of candidates for sainthood and approves the required miracles for sainthood).  The Dicastery is the group that then recommends candidates for sainthood to the pope.  Only a pope can declare a candidate a saint.  The cardinal blessed the rosaries we had just purchased in St. Peter’s Square and thanked us for coming.

He left us to meet with Reverend Father Boguslaw Stanislaw Turek, the Undersecretary of the Dicastery and Father Patrick Dorelus, an African-American priest originally from Brooklyn, New York, who had been in Rome for eight years prior and who served as the interpreter for us and Fr. Turek. Dorelus is on the staff of the Dicastery, too. We had an unprecedented two-hour session with the advisors to the pope. Our meeting was unprecedented because we are not church or canonization-process officials. In addition, we advocated for the sainthood for six people, while everyone else pushes for their one. We are the Social Justice Committee of St. Ann Catholic Church in East Baltimore.

During our two-hour session with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, we discussed both two big points: public acclamation and the dispensing of miracles.  We framed our discussion by stating, “The Catholic Church owes Black Catholics, give us our saints now.”  We also told them, “If it is wrong now–and it is–fix it now.”  

After all the White supremacy we endured in the U.S. within the Catholic Church, having no saints from our race and nation is embarrassing! There are 11 White Catholic saints from the U.S. We told them of Black Americans being denied admission to churches–including some edifices we helped build– during chattel slavery and again under Jim Crow’s reign.  We discussed how once admitted, we were required to sit in the back.  Black Catholics were required to wait in the center aisle until all White congregants received Communion. I recall ushers standing in front of the holy water fountains to block us from using them and their stepping aside for access for Whites believers.  We wanted them to understand that the White supremacy practiced by White Catholics was not only at an institutional level– with no admission to convents or seminaries– but a personal one also, practiced weekly in churches.

They listened as we discussed how Pope Francis (my favorite pope after John XXIII) dispensed with Pope John’s final miracle after canonizing several popes: Paul VI, John Paul II, John XXII and he is working on John Paul I.  Fr. Stanislaw Turek, the undersecretary for the Dicastery tossed me a pop quiz question: “Who was the pope who commissioned Mother Lange and the other sisters to start the Oblate Sisters of Providence?” and I immediately responded, “Pope Gregory XVI!” And he nodded.  

Delores, Mary and I hand delivered to the Dicastery a ream of signed letters to Pope Francis at the end of our meeting. We mailed 3,000 plus to the pope previously (1,500 in 2021 and 1,500 in 2022) and sent copies to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, his Ambassador to the U.S.  They have never been acknowledged…now they have been put in the hands of the members of the Dicastery.

Cardinal Semeraro came back at the end of our meeting to wish us farewell. Father Turk exclaimed “bravo” and gestured with his upheld hands at the end of our discussion. We felt great about the audience as we left the building. 

We have worked on the Initiative for the Expedited Canonizations of the First Six African American Candidates for Sainthood every day for over two years. We will keep working and praying until the ‘saintly six are given the respect from the church that they deserve.  They are: Mother Mary Lange, Father Augustus Tolton, Mother Henriette DeLille, Pierre Toussaint, Julia Greeley and Sister Thea Bowman.

I heard the Dicastery met in Rome last week and I am aware the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops is meeting in our hometown this week.  Hopefully and prayerfully, the Holy Spirit will be with them to recommend our saints now.   

We are not looking for tokenism with the canonization of just one of the six unless there is the promise of doing all six eventually and before long– if not now.

The Catholic Church owes Black Catholics and so we respectfully demand, “Give us our saints now.”

The post The Moore Report- Home from Rome: a look back at my trip to advocate for the ‘Saintly Six’ in the Vatican appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By AFRO Staff

For those who’ve known and worshiped at Sharon Baptist Church in West Baltimore, history was made, Nov. 12 when the Rev. Dr. William E. Johnson, Jr., formerly the pastor of the church, was consecrated as lead pastor. Johnson is only the fifth in the church’s history to be named to the position. He stepped up
to fill the void left by his former mentor, friend and Sharon Baptist senior pastor of 30 years, the late Rev. A. C. D. Vaughn, who died March 19.

The Sharon community is quite familiar with the ministry of Rev. Johnson, as he has been a member of the church community for years. He has been fluent in the language of the community and served within and beyond the walls of Sharon Baptist. Johnson continues to build on the story begun many years ago by the Rev. William M. Alexander, who pastored in 1892. That same year, the AFRO American Newspapers was born after a merger of local newsletters, to include a publication from Sharon Baptist.

The post Sharon Baptist Church installs Rev. Dr. William E. Johnson Jr. as new senior pastor appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

On Oct. 29, Baltimore leaders and the Global Coalition on Aging along, with Rev. Dr. Terris Andre King Sr., host pastor of Liberty Grace Church of God in Ashburton, officially launched “EngAGE With Heart.” The health initiative is designed to combat heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in Baltimore City. 

The focal point of the Novartis-sponsored program is reducing health disparities through community involvement in “health education, healthy eating and preventive cardiovascular screenings.”

The event began with a robust worship service, followed by remarks from Mayor Brandon M. Scott; Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.); Bishop Clifford M. Johnson Jr., pastor of Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries in Frankford; Michael Hodin, CEO of Global Coalition on Aging; Reshema Kemps-Polanco, executive vice president, chief commercial officer of Novartis and Gov. Wes Moore, who shared words via video message. The event also convened community health ambassadors, faith-based leaders and other governmental officials.

Mayor Scott stated, “the overarching theme of my administration is working to overcome the decades of disinvestment that so many of our communities have experienced.” Scott continued that combating health issues with lack of access to health care and the presence of food deserts are essential to that overarching work. 

“We know that it is no secret that cardiovascular disease is a significant challenge in our city. And in fact, over a third of our residents have hypertension. We can end this together and that is why I am filled with hope as we launch this program in Baltimore with a deep commitment to address cardiovascular health from all angles.”

According to reports, “the impact of cardiovascular diseases, like heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and high blood pressure tends to increase with age. In Baltimore, it is the number one cause of mortality, responsible for more than 25 percent of all deaths. It’s even worse for the city’s Black residents. The average life expectancy of residents in the predominantly White (79.5 percent) neighborhood of Greater Roland Park is 83 – 20 years longer than the average life expectancy of residents in Black (94.3 percent), Druid Heights.”

Reshema Kemps-Polanco, executive vice president, chief commercial officer of Novartis said the church is crucial to making change.

“If you want to solve a problem, get the church involved,” she said. “Where you live should not determine if you live.”

The partnership of churches include four local ministries throughout Baltimore: Liberty Grace Church of God in Ashburton, Mount Pleasant Development Corporation in Cedonia, The Lord’s Church in Park Heights, and Sweet Hope Free Will Baptist Church in Dolfield. The initiative also includes two senior centers run by the Baltimore City Health Department: Sandtown Winchester Senior Center in Sandtown-Winchester and Zeta Center for Healthy and Active Aging in Central Park Heights.

King gave an indepth look into the process. 

“Once a month, the partner churches and community centers host a family and friends day event. They experience a top flight, heart healthy, delicious meal prepared by culinary ministries. They are taught the simplistic way to prepare the meal,” said King. “They also have screenings and exams from nurses within the Johns Hopkins system that come into our houses of worship to screen for heart health and diabetes. We bring a speaker in at each event that talks about various issues. In my community, for example, they have highlighted four issues as their priorities: mental health, cancer, heart health– certainly– and diabetes.” 

King spoke on the importance of other local programming that addresses healthy food. 

“The Black Food Security Network brings a farmer’s market to the congregants and community. This is a holistic process where the community is informed, can ask questions, talk with culinary chefs and participate in screenings and exams. It’s inclusive of community health ambassadors, people they have relationships with and respect their influences that are there to assist them,” said King. “These ambassadors encourage them to adjust their lifestyles and eating habits to improve their screened numbers. We see ourselves as an intricate part of the healthcare ecosystem.” 

If the participants’ numbers are elevated, the nurses send that information to the primary care doctor so that attention is given to the participant. If there’s no insurance or doctor in place, they receive a referral to a clinic that will address their needs.

The Liberty Grace Church of God EngAGE With Heart launch, occupied four levels of the church with heart health education to reinvigorate honored guests and participants’ way of thinking about prevention and self-management. 

On level one, heart healthy food education and food stations were prepared by culinary chefs that demonstrated the ease in creating delicious heart-healthy meals.

On level two, cardiovascular and diabetes screenings were conducted by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Brancati Center. Attendees underwent screenings for risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugars, blood lipids, and healthy weight.

On level three, community health ambassadors led small group discussions on the devastating effect of heart disease, whilst Temple X Schools engaged the youth in heart health activities through art.

On level four, the sanctuary balcony was converted into a vaccine clinic by Walgreens, offering COVID, flu, shingles and RSV vaccines.

“This is a program that is really sensitive to our community’s needs, that is driven by institutions of trust, patient-participant centric, and is designed in a way the community wanted it,” said King, in closing. “This is truly a community based initiative!”

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

A crowd of lifelong friends, family, clergy, politicians, community organizers, entrepreneurs and supporters from across Maryland gathered Oct. 14 at the Family Life Center of the New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore to honor the Rev. William Edward Ray.  Under the theme, “The Man, The Message, The Mission,” the luncheon celebrated Ray’s 50 years of activism and ministry.

An agent of change, Ray has dedicated his adult life to transforming lives.  In addition to founding Save Another Youth, Inc. and Baltimore Coalition to Stop the Killing, the hometown hero is known for organizing prayer vigils, marches and programs and handing out those flyers to promote events and raise awareness about at-risk youth.

In recognition of his distinguished work, Gov. Wes Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and City Council President Nick Mosby have awarded him citations.

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat representing the 7th Congressional District of Maryland, was the keynote speaker of the luncheon. The congressman reminisced about meeting Ray at about 7:15 p.m. on April 5, 1968. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had just been assassinated the day before, triggering civil unrest across the nation. In Baltimore, the streets were on fire. Black business owners were putting red, black and green signs upon their businesses denoting ownership to avoid burning and looting of their property during the uprising.

“I remember standing on the corner of Pennsylvania and Preston, where Willie and I met,” Mfume said. They stood on that corner, he added, with a “great deal of inquisitiveness” at “19 and 20 years of age trying to figure it all out.” 

As their friendship grew, Mfume continued, a “young Willie Ray,” stood out: He carried that DNA of hope gleaned from Black ancestors, even as his ambition was to find a way to save the next generation.

The congressman praised Ray for his half-century dedication to uplifting youth, saying of his commitment: “Unless we are prepared to save the next generation, we fail to save ourselves.”

Mfume later said in a statement on Instagram: “It was fitting and a privilege to celebrate Rev. Willie E. Ray, a man who chose to commit himself early in life to saving the next generation by ministering to them wherever they are and casting his lot as an ever-bellowing instrument of the stop the killing movement. It was a celebration of 50 years but we’ve known each other and worked together longer. You deserve your flowers, our collective thank you, and a well-earned salute as an officer in the army of change agents, Reverend.”

Rev. Ray also recalled that fateful moment in history when he met the future civil rights leader and lawmaker. At the time of the King assassination, he said he experienced  a “divine intervention,” and was called into the ministry by the Lord Jesus. He said it was like Apostle Paul’s Damascus Road encounter: Paul was on his way to persecute Christians when Jesus “interrupted, grounded and converted” him with a new purpose. That direct encounter with God led Ray to do what he’s doing today, he said.

In 50 years of advocating for youth, Ray has achieved countless successes in Baltimore. Some of the highlights include securing $250,000 for the restoration and renovation of the Pine Street Police Station for use as a youth center. In 1969, Redeemer’s Palace, a substance abuse prevention and treatment center founded by Ray, served 5,000 youth. In 1975, he was the lead advocate in securing $5.5 million for the development of Shake and Bake Family Fun Center and $200,000 for Soul Shack Restaurant. In 2000, he started the first Safety House and received a $25,000 grant for renovations from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

In November 2000, he acted as faith-based coordinator for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ray also was the Baltimore coordinator for the historic Obama Campaign in 2008 and 2012.

Rev. Ray also has affiliations with several organizations: He served on the boards of directors of the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Boy Scouts of America (1975), and the Urban League’s Black Needs Assessments committee (1975). 

And with just over 45 years in ministry, Rev. Ray is a fixture among Maryland clergy.

Ray “spent 50 years in the community, connecting with youth and young adults. We’re here to give breath to his vision–one faith, one church, one corner, one community, and one safety House,” said the Rev. Dr. Arnold William Howard, pastor of Enon Baptist Church on North Fremont Avenue, in his tribute.

Congressman Mfume concluded his remarks by citing the late Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays of Morehous College who said, “He who starts behind in the great race of life must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.”

“Willie has touched the lives of so many young people to give them the ability to run faster so they would not be left behind,” Mfume said. “Thank you for teaching us how not to be afraid [and] how to believe in something that we can’t even see at the moment.”

The post Rev. Willie E. Ray recognized for 50 years of ministry, activism appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Special to the AFRO

Ministry:

Pastor of Southern Baptist Church East Baltimore, Harford County and West Baltimore.

“I have been a minister for 33 years and served as pastor of Southern now for over 21 years,” he said.

Education:

High School – Edmondson High School, Baltimore, Md.

Undergraduate – Bachelor of Arts, Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

Graduate – Master of Divinity, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.

Doctorate – Doctor of Ministry, Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Community served and main focus:

“I serve in Broadway, East Baltimore, Harford County and Park Heights in West Baltimore. Our main focus is to transform the church and the community into the kingdom of God by encouraging people to have faith in God, experiencing the presence of God, educating believers, embracing family values and equipping disciples for spirit-filled leadership and living.”

Uniqueness of the ministry:

“Our ministry is unique as a multigenerational and multi-locational ministry and community anchor and stakeholder that is intentionally and demonstratively focused on community development and revitalization with a mantra of ‘Restoring people as we rebuild properties.’”  

Ministry challenges:

“Jesus said the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. It is often particularly challenging identifying and developing the people, programming and partnerships necessary to meet the demand of a multigenerational congregation and community.”

Mentors:

“My mentors are Dr. James Perkins, Dr. Freddie Haynes, Dr. Lance Watson, Dr. L.K. Curry, Dr. Carolyn Knight, Senator Nathaniel McFadden and Mr. Arnold Williams.”

Recreation choices:

“I have run two marathons. I like to play golf. I enjoy fine dining. I also enjoy long drives and binge watching drama series and movies. And I love to work out with my sons and watch them in their respective sports of basketball and track and field.”

Find out more about Bishop Hickman and contact him on Instagram and by email, pastorhickman@me.com. Find out more about Southern Baptist Church on its website.

The post Meet the Pastor: Bishop Donté Hickman appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Special Press Release

COLUMBIA, MD – CELEBRATION CHURCH at Columbia is elated to  celebrate its 50th anniversary of “helping people win in life,” featuring a week of  exciting events, Nov. 5-12, at its church, located at 7101 Riverwood Drive,  Columbia, MD, 21046. Under the theme “Legacy,” the celebration will include a  church development conference, gala anniversary dinner, and gospel music  concert. 

“It’s incredible to think that a small group of people gathered 50 years ago with a deep desire to plant a church to make a positive impact on their community,” said  Bishop Robbie S. Davis, Senior Pastor at CELEBRATION CHURCH at  Columbia. “To celebrate this momentous occasion, our goal is to re-open The  Celebration Christian Academy, sponsor a youth summer camp, and offer  scholarships to college-bound high school seniors.” 

The early church years 

CELEBRATION CHURCH at Columbia was founded in 1973 as Long Reach  Church of God. Bob and Doris Davis started the church in their home with a desire  to make a positive difference in their community. Brother Bob led the congregation for 30 years, and as a trailblazing leader, his pastoral ministry has impacted local,  national and international communities. Many ministry initiatives launched  through his vision are thriving to this day. After being consecrated as Bishop, both  his ministry and the church continued to experience phenomenal spiritual,  numerical, and physical growth. 

Passing the baton of leadership 

In 2004 after serving as his father’s Assistant Pastor for 15 years, Rev. Robert S. Davis Jr. (Robbie) was named Senior Pastor at CELEBRATION CHURCH at Columbia. Bishop Robbie’s visionary leadership, solid Bible teaching, and the  church’s ongoing development of life-lifting ministries are helping many people maximize their lives in Christ. His pastoral ministry model – planting of other churches and mentorship of other leaders – culminated in his being elevated to the  office of Bishop. 

Today, CELEBRATION CHURCH at Columbia continues to experience ongoing growth. In 2019, Bishop Robbie led the fellowship in the acquisition of a state-of the-art facility that more than doubled ministry space and through technology exponentially multiplied the church’s capacity to touch the world from Columbia. 

Since its inception, CELEBRATION CHURCH at Columbia has grown from a  small band of believers to thousands of members. Today, the church is a hub of dozens of ministries, a Christian Academy, a business incubator, home to several medical practitioners, a professional counseling center, and a fitness center – all designed to help men, women, girls and boys win in life! 

We are thrilled to celebrate our 50th anniversary with the following exciting Legacy events: 

Sunday, November 5 

SUNDAY WORSHIP EXPERIENCE  

>>10am – Kick Off Sunday 

>>Preacher: Pastor Paul Sheppard 

Monday, November 6 

MONDAY EVENING SESSION  

>>7pm • Worship Experience 

>>Ordination: Deacons & Ministers 

>>Preacher: Pastor Lora Adams King 

Tuesday, November 7 

TUESDAY LUNCH SESSION 

>>12noon • Lunch & Learn 

>>Woman’s Fellowship Lunch 

>>Speaker: First Lady Robin Davis 

Tuesday, November 7

TUESDAY EVENING SESSION 

>>7pm • Evening Worship Experience 

>>Pastor Robin’s Night of Honor (20 years as First Lady) >>Preacher: First Lady Trina Jenkins 

Wednesday, November 8 

WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION 

>>9am • Registration – Continental Breakfast – Meet & Greet >>10am • Ministry Master Class 

>>Presenter: Pastor Geremy Dixon 

Wednesday, November 8 

WEDNESDAY LUNCH SESSION 

>>11:30am • Lunch & Learn 

>>Speaker: Minister Glenn Brooks 

Wednesday, November 8 

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION 

>>12:30pm • Ministry Master Class 

>>Presenter: Pastor Stephen Chandler 

Wednesday, November 8 

WEDNESDAY EVENING SESSION  

>>7pm • Evening Worship Experience 

>>Guest Preacher: Pastor Horace Sheppard 

Thursday, November 9 

THURSDAY MORNING SESSION 

>>9am • Registration – Continental Breakfast – Meet & Greet >>10am • Ministry Master Class 

>>An Inside Look at Celebration Church 

>>Presenter: Bishop Robbie Davis 

Thursday, November 9 

THURSDAY LUNCH SESSION 

>>11:30am • Lunch & Learn 

>>Speakers: Pastor Matthew Quainoo & Pastor Timothy Quainoo

Thursday, November 9 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON SESSION 

>>12:30pm • Ministry Master Class 

>>Presenters: Bishop Robbie Davis & Pastor Matthew Quainoo 

Thursday, November 9 

THURSDAY EVENING SESSION  

>>7pm • THE HONOR & INNOVATION ROUNDTABLE 

>>An intergenerational conversation around the tension of honoring elders and  empowering the young 

Friday, November 10 

FRIDAY MORNING SESSION 

>>9am • Registration – Continental Breakfast – Meet & Greet >>10am • Ministry Master Class 

>>Presenter: Pastor Kevin Johnson 

Friday, November 10 

FRIDAY LUNCH SESSION 

>>11:30am • Lunch & Learn 

>>Speakers: Pastor Matthew Quainoo & Pastor Timothy Quainoo 

Friday, November 10 

FRIDAY AFTERNOON SESSION 

>>12:30pm • Ministry Master Class 

>>Presenter: Pastor Andy Thompson 

Friday, November 10 

>>7pm• LEGACY GALA 

>>Gala Speaker: Bishop Timothy Clarke 

Saturday, November 11 

SATURDAY MORNING SESSION 

>>10am• Sons & Daughters of Thunder 

>>A Roundtable for Preachers Kids

Saturday, November 11 

>>7pm • THE LEGACY MUSIC EXPERIENCE 

>>A “Live” Recording of hymns & classic black gospel music 

Sunday, November 12 

SUNDAY WORSHIP EXPERIENCE 

>>10am • Legacy Sunday 

>>20th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration for Bishop Robbie Davis >>Preacher: Pastor Robert Turner 

Sponsorship packages 

For more information, contact Bruce Williams by email at bhwilli1@aol.com  or via cell phone at 914.441.3445, or Van Eaton by email  veaton1945@gmail.com or via cell phone at 410. 336.5596.

The post CELEBRATION CHURCH at Columbia Celebrates 50th Anniversary of “helping people win in life” appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ralph E. Moore Jr.,
Special to the AFRO

Black Catholics have always had to fight for first class membership in the American Catholic Church. We advocated to be baptized while living and laboring on the plantation. We fought to be admitted to Catholic churches– some of which we built– only to be forced to sit in the back or off to side pews once allowed inside. Black Catholics were required, in most churches, to wait until all the Whites at Mass had received “Holy Communion” first before they could receive.

All the while, African-American Catholics put their envelopes in the collection baskets during Mass. It was the only time ushers connected with them. They were not handed the paper bulletins, which White congregants received freely and some ushers blocked Black Catholics from dipping hands in the holy water font as they entered or exited the church.

The indignities bestowed at the local level were extended to the institutional level: at one time, Black and Brown persons need not apply to seminaries or convents, nor seek admission to Catholic schools, housing or hospitals. On top of that, there are little to no images, statues, portraits or missal book covers depicting any persons of color in Catholic churches in the United States. In 2023 there aren’t any African-American saints recognized by the Catholic Church.

Meanwhile, there are 11 White American saints fully recognized and celebrated.
It is shameful, embarrassing and just plain wrong.

We, the founders of the Initiative for the Expedited Canonizations of the Saintly Six, say, “If it is wrong now (and it is) fix it now.”
We say strongly, “the Catholic Church owes Black Catholics. Give us our saints now!”

Despite the gross, racist mistreatment by the White Catholic Church in this nation, Black Catholics have remained faithful to God and members of the Catholic Church.

The six African-American candidates we propose for sainthood are Mother Mary Lange, Father Augustus Tolton, Mother Henriette DeLille, Pierre Toussaint, Julia Greeley and Sister Thea Bowman. All of these great, Black Catholics lived through the omnipresent hurt, pain and discrimination of racial prejudice and in fact, did great things with their lives despite it.

That is the reason why the Social Justice Committee of St. Ann Church created an initiative to get expedited canonizations for the first six African-American candidates from the United States.

St. Ann Church is a Black Catholic parish in East Baltimore. It is an activist congregation of activists, many life-long Catholics. The committee is known within the archdiocese for its energy and activism.

Two years ago, the Social Justice Committee started a letter writing initiative to Pope Francis urging him to canonize the first six Black candidates for sainthood from the United States immediately. The letters with a blank signature line were distributed to churches throughout the area. At the first All Saints Day Mass the committee organized, a letter and an ink pen were left on each seat in the pews. Groups around the country and some foreign countries, such as Canada, Barbados, Italy, West Africa and Germany have requested copies of the letter via email and obtained signatures on them. Some sent their letters to us, a few sent theirs directly to Vatican City.

On December 14, 2021, the committee sent 1,500 letters to Pope Francis at his home address. On June 17, 2022 another 1,500 letters were sent to him via U.S. mail. Copies were sent to Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Pope’s Vatican Ambassador to the United States. Our committee will be traveling to Rome in October and will hand deliver another 1,000 signed letters to the Pope and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. So far, we have an appointment with the Dicastery, and we are still working on getting an audience with Pope Francis.

We have deliberately raised the profiles of the six African-American candidates, the more people know of and talk of them, the more the atmosphere can be created for expedited canonizations.

The committee is proposing that the early Christian practice of public acclamation is more suitable for Black Catholics from the United States because the canonization process is expensive, long, unwieldy, secretive and unevenly applied.

As has been researched and reported by the National Black Catholic Congress and the Archdiocese of Washington D.C., most current Catholic saints are male and of the 10,000 of them, most are Europeans–Italians or Spaniards. The process promotes equal treatment for candidates although clearly the results speak for themselves: zero African-American saints from the United States.

After centuries of enslavements, a century, and a half of Jim Crow segregation inside Catholic institutions, virtual silence during mass incarceration and mass poverty, the simple fact is that the Catholic Church owes Black Catholics. For our centuries of faithfulness and commitment to the Church, we’ve received unrequited love and racial hatred and in the form of unholy prejudice and discrimination.

In the past, Black Catholics from the United States received no admission to seminaries and convents, no access to Catholic housing and little to no treatment at Catholic hospitals. The Catholic Church in America was the “church of no” to Black Catholics and now we realize there are no African-American saints from the United States. Not now, not ever. It feels as if racial segregation remains in America’s Catholic Church’s DNA despite church teachings and Black Catholics being the remnant of the Catholic Church: staying in, supporting and serving city churches, while Whites moved out to the suburbs. The Vatican follows the lead of the American bishops as who should be considered for canonization and when.

All are called to advocate for the expedited canonizations of the first six African-American candidates for sainthood from the United States. It is clearly a racial justice issue.

All are urged to contact the bishops and/or cardinals of their diocese (by letter, phone or in conversation in person) and urge them to contact the Vatican to end the absence of Black American saints.

All are encouraged to post pictures of Mother Lange, Father Tolton, Mother DeLille, Toussaint, Greeley and Sister Thea Bowman prominently in their church. During Mass in the Prayer of the Faithful, there should be included a petition for the expedited canonizations of the first six African-American candidates for sainthood from the United States, before or after Mass on Sundays or otherwise. Prayers for the beatification of the first six saints can be said also with those present in the pews participating.

Letters to Pope Francis calling on the expedited canonizations can be circulated, collected and sent to the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Feel free to contact me at vpcs@yahoo.com for a copy of the letter we’re using. Take the occasion of All Saints Day Mass on Nov. 1 to acknowledge and advocate for the ‘saintly six’ in church. Create a program to educate the congregation and the religious serving the church and school about the history of racial prejudice in the Catholic Church in America and how the the saintly six fought through it to live the great lives of doing the great things they did.

Contact the Pope’s Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre at nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org or (202) 333-7121 and advocate for expedited canonizations.

The Social Justice Committee has committed to working persistently on the expedited canonizations. We prayed, collected signatures, spoke on a webinar and a podcast as well as many zoom sessions and in person at churches. The committee is dedicated to action in faith. We believe God wants the six saints canonized and we profess to be “co-workers with God” using a phrase Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us all we must be in his ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail.’

When we all fight for justice, we win. If not now, when? If not us, who?

The post Six common folks called to lead saintly lives, their inspiration should call us to action appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman
Special to the AFRO

Bishop C. Guy Robinson, pastor of The Tabernacle of the Lord Church and Ministries in West Baltimore, is on a journey to normalize mental wellness from his pulpit. Known as a “mental health theologian,” he believes partnerships between pastors and mental health professionals in service to the African-American community are critical. 

Physical health and mental wellbeing are “inextricably” connected. Addressing social inequities organically addresses some of the ideology of trauma and mental distress. Bishop Robinson puts emphasis on Black pain particularly in light of the history of trauma, generational trauma and shared trauma. 

“Just as the Black Church has become specialist in healing the spiritual aspects of Black pain, so too am I interested in integrating the particular nuances of Black pain in the Black experience to the Black psyche,” Robinson said. “It surprises people to know that the scriptures have a lot to say about our mental health. And there was actually a time when matters of faith, physical health, and mental health were all components of Christian theology.”

Robinson, an adjunct faculty instructor in the School of Social Work at Morgan State University, specializes in critical thinking, spirituality and religion in the helping traditions. He has a master of divinity degree from Howard University and a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral psychology and family counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. 

Robinson says it is important to praise people for fighting injustice and certain diseases– not shun them. He is passionate about healing the human spirit. When it comes to reconciling health and wellness, about 40 percent of African-American churchgoers rely upon pastoral care as a primary source to navigate difficult life seasons.

According to a Church Answers’ poll, counseling and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety were the top most challenging topics pastors encounter. But, faith and spirituality remain an intricate part of the recovery process and treatment plan.

Amber Dortch, a licensed master social worker, cautions African Americans on what affects physical and mental health and to reduce stress in an effort to maintain a healthy body and a wholesome mind. 

Dortch states that there are many paths to healing: self reflection, extending the olive branch to seeking professional counseling, or therapy to unpack past traumas, grief, loss and death. Supportive groups, regular doctor visits, exercise, vacation, quiet time, meditation and setting boundaries are pathways to help work out the kinks in your life and bring healing and restoration. 

Dorch said it’s important to remember that if you don’t feel well in your body, you’re not going to tap into maximizing your capacity within that day. 

Experts say pursuing physical and mental health on purpose is a way to release pleasure neurons to enjoy a quality, peaceful life.

The post The best of both worlds: Meet Bishop C. Guy Robinson, the Mental Health Theologian appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Article updated Oct. 24.

The Baltimore faith community was shocked to learn of the Oct. 16 death of the Rev. Dr.Grady Andrew Yeargin, who has been pastor of the City Temple of Baltimore Baptist church for nearly 40 years.

His daughter, Adia Crawford made the painful announcement that she has lost her dad.

“There is no easier way to say it and I still can’t believe this is my life,” she wrote on her Facebook page on Oct. 17. “He was an amazing pastor, able to make even the most obscure Bible references relatable to anyone; but to me, he was just Dad.”

“I just lost the man my children called ‘Poppy,’ a name given to him by my sister Kimberly,” Crawford said, adding her dad was the man she could talk to about anything.

Baltimore has lost a great spiritual leader as well, Crawford said.

Rev. Yeargin served as City Temple’s pastor since 1986 and made his presence felt in the community through B.U.I.L.D. and leadership in the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the United Missionary Baptist Convention of Maryland and with the Baltimore affiliate of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.

He is married to Patricia Ann Yeargin and they have two daughters, Adia Joi and Candace. Their daughter Kimberly Rei preceded him into glory.

Gatherings for Rev. Dr. Grady A. Yeargin Jr. are below:

Friday, November 10, 2023

Greeting of the Family
5:00-6:30 P.M.
Musical Tribute
6:30-7:00 P.M.

City Temple of Baltimore (Baptist)
317 Dolphin Street
Baltimore, MD. 21217

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Memorial Service
11:00 A.M.

City Temple of Baltimore (Baptist)
317 Dolphin Street
Baltimore, MD. 21217

The post City Temple of Baltimore pastor Grady Andrew Yeargin dies at 73 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Jared Still,
Special to the AFRO

From worries about class performance to the daily prospect of violence in a major American inner city environment, college students across the country are embracing prayer and building their own support systems.

Founded as the Centenary Biblical Institute in 1867, it’s no surprise that Morgan State University students are not shy about their faith and how it helps steady their mental and emotional health.

“My faith teaches me that everything happens for a reason,” Mohammed Yusuf Adedayo, a 24-year-old marketing and multiplatform production double major, told the AFRO. 

“Your life is destined the way it’s supposed to go. Anything that comes your way or any obstacle or challenge can be confronted,” the Lagos, Nigeria native said, insisting that his faith is key to his survival and stability.

“Whenever I’m in need or facing a challenge, I always go back to my faith. I always seek help from Allah. I pray, talk to him and usually he’ll come through and things get done for me,” he said. 

As president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at a historically Black college or university (HBCU), Adeyayo acknowledges that times can be tough for students whether they are on and off campus. Prayer helps, he said.

“I believe that if something negative happens – while other people may see it as, ‘Oh God, why are you doing this to me–’ I just see it as ‘Oh yeah, this is destiny. I’m supposed to go through this with prayer and keep a strong belief in my faith.’ I go through it like it’s another thing to go through in my life.” 

Adedayo said that MSA has worked with many on campus to build a strong community of Muslims.

“I don’t think people take faith as seriously as they should, but having other people with the same faith having friends or attending meetings with different religious organizations helps in strengthening faith.”

For other students, life’s wild ride presents an opportunity to deepen devotion and reliance on prayer.

Candyce Beazer, 21, a multiplatform production student from New York City, told a reporter she joined Connected Through Christ (CTC) and proclaimed Christ as her savior in February. 

“I’ve been going to church since the age of 14. I went to church when I was younger on and off with my grandmother, but it was nothing like now.”

“In that church I wasn’t really saved,” said Beazer, “I was still doing what I wanted to do and I wasn’t following any Christian practices,” she said.

Now, she said, “Faith has brought me up in school and helped me address my identity and be accepting of who I am through Christ, and I’ve found my community here with CTC.” 

Yet, religion remains a tough sell to some students. 

When Justin Holland, 22-year-old civil engineering major from Calvert County,  Md. reflects on events from campus shootings to threats to world peace, he remains skeptical about the role of prayer in his life. 

“The more I think about it, I’ve been agnostic my whole life. I  grew up in a Christian background, specifically Baptist, but when I really started to ditch Christianity it was around 2020 when the pandemic hit.”

“Since we were on lockdown, I wasn’t going to church like I used to and I already had my doubts about Christianity growing up. Once COVID, hit I left Christianity behind,” he said. “I was never one to pray much or talk to God when I needed things, so switching to agnostic didn’t really change much.” 

To those who try to sell him on organized religion, he says he has “already made up [his] mind.” 

“I don’t understand why Christian people have an inclination to try and convert people.” 

Still, Candyce Beazer is sold on prayer.

 “My faith has really boosted me as far as confidence, self-esteem [and] identity. [I] know who I am through Christ and what God has done for me in my life. [I’m] not living in darkness like I was before–living the same life I was living like two years ago,” she said.

“My faith helps me by trusting God more with my future,” she said. “I used to worry a lot about what I would do after school, what job I would get after I graduate [and] what path I’m going to take. Now, with me stepping into faith and really trusting God, I don’t need to worry about these things. I know He has a plan for me and I know that whatever road He chooses to put me on after school–I’m going to be great regardless.”

Beazer says that prior to deciding to lean into her faith, she went through what she describes as “an alone period.” 

“I wasn’t really going out. I wasn’t talking to the same people I usually talked to,” she said. “I was able to come out of that darkness, find my community and get put back in the church and now I attend church more often.”

“God was able to pull me out of the headspace and situation I was dealing with before I got saved.” 

Jared Still is an AFRO Intern from Morgan State University.

The post #Faithworks: How today’s college students are leaning on their faith and support systems appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman

Special to the AFRO

The Community Concert Choir of Baltimore, under the direction of Dr. Marco K. Merrick, lifted their voices together for a cause at the 2023 Scholarship Concert last month. The event took place at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore and was hosted by The Carter School of Music and the New Shiloh Progressive Workers. Maryland Delegate Malcolm P. Ruff, of District 41, was the guest speaker.

Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr., pastor, graciously assured the dozens in attendance that it would be a wonderful time of great song, great music and great fellowship for a noteworthy cause.

“It’s my joy and good pleasure to thank the Lord, that He has allowed us to come together one more time for this annual concert to benefit the raising of scholarship funds” and “for the vision to make it happen for our sons and our daughters.” During his remarks, he thanked God for the presence and participation of one of God’s great choirs in our nation–not just in our city.

The Carter School of Music began September 15, 1994, under the leadership of the late, great Dr. Nathan M. Carter, Jr., headmaster, and Alethia B. Starke, who now serves as the executive director.

Students are classically trained in: flute, clarinet, violin, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, viola, cello, piano, organ and voice. Each student is assigned a teacher who gives one, 30-minute private lesson per week. The school provides students the opportunity to discover the world of music and all its various facets.

The merit-based scholarships are available to current students ages five through 18 who have been enrolled in The Carter School of Music for at least one year.

Seventeen highly-talented students met the criteria for the 2023-2024 term. They are Rilyn Barksdale, Taysha Barnes, Caron Bowles, Josiah Coleman, Paris Goff, Eitan Green, Chloe Hines, Gregory LaBoo, Sydney LaBoo, Khalila Richards, Zachary Richards, Skye Rodgers, Olivia Smith, Jayla Stephens, Natalie Tynes, Jediael Ward and Jamir Whaley.

Skye Rodgers, recipient of The Delores Dora Greene Memorial Scholarship, made an appeal to the audience to “please give generously.”

“Through the years, most of us have been part of the village that financially supports us and has provided many opportunities for us,” Rodgers stated. “These opportunities help improve our self esteem and strengthen our practice skills. Like me, most of our students began school at five, six or seven. I am now 13 years old and I am truly enjoying every minute of my life. Most of us will remain at the school after we graduate from high school. Your financial offering will provide funds for us to seek the career of our choice.”

As a result of the scholarship donations, Christian Handy was able to attend Morgan State University as a freshman. He’s grateful for the support because it is enabling his dream of becoming a mechatronics engineer.

Delegate Ruff remembers very well being a young person in West Baltimore, and attending New Shiloh summer camp as a budding teen. “It was those times in my life where the village poured into me that has allowed me to be covered and blessed by the Lord. It is exactly why I have never left the Lord ever in my life.”

“My senior ‘OG colleague,’ Mr. Billy Murphy, would often say– ‘it is not failure that is sin; but low aim.’ Don’t set your goals where you think you can go,” said Ruff. “Set your goals to the highest heights and to the farthest widths to make sure that you are using every capacity that God has endowed you with. That is what your task is to never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.”

The Community Concert Choir of Baltimore gave an unparalleled performance. They received a standing ovation as the glory of God filled the place. Never has a choir sung so heavenly!

The choir’s Annual Fall Concert will take place on Nov. 5  at 4 p.m. at Israel Baptist Church , located at 1200 N. Washington St. in Baltimore.

The post #Faithworks:  A look at the Carter School of Music’s 2023 Scholarship Concert appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ralph E. Moore, Jr.

We are soon going to Rome! Two years ago, we– that is, the Social Justice Committee of St. Ann Church in East Baltimore– launched a letter writing initiative for the expedited canonizations of the first six African-American candidates for sainthood from the United States.  Mother Mary Lange, Father Augustus Tolton, Mother Henriette DeLille, Mr. Pierre Toussaint, Ms. Julia Greeley and Sister Thea Bowman are the first Black Catholics from the United States being considered for sainthood in the 247 years of officially organized American Catholic Church history.   

Let us be very clear, there are zero African-American saints and 11 White American saints from the United States. It is hard to believe that Black people have been overlooked by the Church after enduring 400 years of enslavement and legal racial segregation, followed by illegally practiced discrimination for decades after the Supreme Court’s Brown decision of 1954. It’s hard not to notice the Catholic Church’s relative silence on mass incarceration and mass poverty–essentially choosing to do charity instead of advocating  for much-needed social and economic change. 

And so, with our embarrassment, anger and awareness of the absence of saints who look like us and come from our country, we launched our campaign. The initiative has gotten 4,000 signatures. Using the United States Postal Service, we mailed 1,500 letters to Pope Francis in Vatican City on Dec. 14, 2021, and another 1,500 on June 17, 2022. 

We sent copies to the Pope’s Ambassador to the United States, now Cardinal Christophe Pierre, at his Washington, D.C office. Since then, we have received another 1,000 signatures. We will hand-deliver them in Rome with hope to the pope and the cardinals. Our position on the expedited canonizations is: if it is wrong now –and it is– fix it, now.  Our letter to the pope ends with the following questions: “If not now, when? If not you, who?”

So far, we have an appointment with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.  Cardinals are the members of the committee that vet the lives of the saints for moral rectitude. They also check for the requisite miracles needed to advance in the canonization process.  They then recommend their approved candidates to Pope Francis, and he alone can declare sainthoods. 

In our researching the process, we’ve learned from scholars that it is long, expensive, unwieldy and arbitrary. We find that the sainthood process has resulted, historically, in most of the 10,000 established Catholic saints being Italian or Spanish and not surprisingly– more often– male.  Four of our proposed ‘Saintly Six’ are women.

Our Social Justice Committee members are: Delores Moore, Mary Sewell, Betty Lutz, Tyrone Wooden, Janiece Jefferson, James Conway and myself, Ralph Moore. We have used the media, social media and word of mouth to educate the public about the lives of the ‘Saintly Six,’ in addition to the letter writing campaign. There have been newspaper articles, speeches on Facebook and in person, a webinar for Fordham University and a podcast for nuns in Clinton, Iowa. 

We say the Prayers of Beatification of the Six Saints every Sunday before mass. We distributed copies of a book, “Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood,” edited by Michael R. Heinlein, to every member of the St. Ann congregation and to the pastor, Father Xavier Edet, SSJ.  We have installed two foot by three foot portraits of the six candidates for sainthood on a side altar in the sanctuary of the church.  We have also included a petition about them in the “Prayer of the Faithful” said during mass.  We have influenced several churches in the area to post portraits in their church also.  

We have ordered T-shirts bearing the names of the ‘Saintly Six’ and wear them at appropriate occasions, such as the Social Ministry Convocation presented each year by the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the 50th Anniversary of Pax Christi’s founding celebration in Arlington, Va. We wore the shirts to the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary (Court 313) of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Decatur, Georgia’s program for the six Black candidates for sainthood. They made and wore beautiful t-shirts of their own design honoring the six Black candidates for sainthood. We also wore our shirts at the National Black Catholic Congress, held in Prince George’s County, Md. in July 2023. It was Bishop John Ricard, SSJ, then president of the congress who eventually convinced the six causes for sainthood to work together.

At the Congress, enlarged portraits of the saintly six were prominently displayed onstage in the main meeting hall throughout the four days of the conference.

Bishop Ricard, a member of the Josephite Fathers and Brothers religious order, has been very inspiring and supportive to our initiative. Bishop Roy Campbell, current president of the National Black Catholic Congress has been very supportive, too.

We’ve met several times with Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and Urban Vicar, and he celebrated the first All Saints Day Mass we organized at St. Ann to which upwards of 300 persons attended.  He secured us the appointment with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.  And so, on we go to Rome! 

Three of us secured our passports a year ago. We raised the funds for the five-day trip, and we booked our flights and hotel rooms. We will go to Vatican City to speak person to person and heart to heart with the cardinals during our appointment and with the pope, once we get an audience with him (that part of our journey is still being worked on). 

Mary H. Sewell, a member of the delegation to Rome said recently, “I pray our compelling discussion points open the hearts and minds of the Dicastery to recommend the canonizations to Pope Francis.  The ‘Saintly Six’ are already saints in my mind. I have come to admire and respect each and each of the lives they’ve lived.” 

Sewell said, “I have never prayed in color or based upon nationality. However, when it was brought to my attention that there are no U.S. African American saints, I wondered why. I felt I had to do something to help change that.”

She continued, “It would be great to look around in one’s church, and not see the exclusion of any of God’s children. Our church should reflect everyone, all children of God made in the image and likeness of God.” 

We will be in Rome on All Saints Day on Nov. 1.  It is way past the time for the group of saints in the Catholic Church to be diversified. It is time for the church to say to its members: “One cannot be a good Catholic and a White supremacist at the same time. Pick one– but you can no longer consider yourself both.”

Canonizing the first six African-American candidates from the U.S. would make a very strong anti-racism statement at this difficult time for race relations in the United States. Now is the time to say “yes” to Black Catholics, after centuries of “no.”  

Amen. 

Wish us safe travels.

The post The Moore Report: Rome-ward bound: Baltimore advocates secure appointment to recommend African-American candidates for sainthood appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman

Special to the AFRO

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation.” Isaiah 28:16 ESV

Sept. 17 marked a historic moment for the members of Freedom Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church at 2926 Hollins Ferry Road in the Lakeland community of Baltimore.

The congregation, family, friends, distinguished clergy and Baltimore district pastors of the AME Zion Church filled the sanctuary with praise, worship and jubilant celebration as they gathered to dedicate the cornerstone of Freedom Temple and bestow the highest of honor upon their beloved founder and Pastor Emeritus, the Reverend Dr. Frances “Toni” M. Draper. 

“Where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst of them,” proclaimed the Reverend Dr. Reginald Jermayne Chandler Sr., new pastor of Freedom Temple. “In all ages, His servants have separated certain places for His worship. We are now assembled to lay the cornerstone of a new house for the worship of the God of our fathers.”

Although Dr. Draper retired from the office of pastor in December 2022, she and husband Andre Draper, remain active in worship and service at Freedom Temple under the pastorate of Dr. Chandler.

“We have to shout out the gift that the Lord has sent this way. Before I even got to this church, I was a fan of Dr. Draper,” stated Pastor Chandler. “Her ministry is so impactful and it reaches far beyond where you can see.” He continued, she left indelible prints on all of their lives.

In September 2002, the late Bishop Milton A. Williams Sr. appointed Dr. Draper to the John Wesley African Methodist Episocal Zion Church in East Baltimore, becoming the church’s first female pastor. In 2009, Freedom Temple was established after seeking the Lord’s guidance for a different location, ministry name and purpose. Later in March 2015, while fasting and praying during the Lenten season the Lord gave the church the opportunity to purchase its current location.

Under Dr. Dapper’s leadership, Freedom Temple was very active in outreach. They held back-to-school festivals, food giveaways, Christmas giveaways, community Thanksgiving dinners, missionary outreach, voter registration drives, evangelistic prayer walks and street witnessing. In recognition of faithful service, Freedom Temple has named the Andre and Frances “Toni” Draper Fellowship Hall, after the couple.

The run of show for this electrifying dedication included guest speaker, Bishop W. Darin Moore, Presiding Prelate of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church, and “the transformative leader,” the Reverend Dr. Evalina Huggins, Presiding Elder of the Baltimore District of the AME Zion Church.

Bishop Moore esteemed Dr. Draper as “one of the most extraordinary leaders” in the church today. She has a “keen intellect,” “loving heart,” and is “gifted!” Dr. Draper has been one of his trusted sources of counsel and advice over the years. 

In Bishop Moore’s powerful message, he explained that consecration is how God reveals Himself through common elements, the sacred manifesting itself in the ordinary, being set apart for God’s glory. 

Dr. Draper was “humbled,” by the accolades shown to her.

Mr. Draper weighed in on the honor.

“It’s overwhelming at times. But, you don’t do it for that, you do it for the Lord,” he said. “When you are used to serving, it’s a different feeling.”

. 

Dominique Johnigan Simmons said the moment was historic for her, as a steward of the church and among those listed on the dedicatory plaque. “It’s documentation of where we have been” and a model for “documenting” where we are going! 

The post Freedom Temple A.M.E Zion Church holds cornerstone rededication ceremony appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Peter Smith
The Associated Press

The landmark Washington National Cathedral unveiled new stained-glass windows Sept. 23 with a theme of racial justice, filling the space that had once held four windows honoring Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

The new windows depict a march for justice by African Americans, descendants of the very people who would have remained in slavery after the Civil War if the side for which the officers fought had prevailed.

The cathedral had removed the old windows after Confederate symbols featured prominently in recent racist violence.

The dedication service was attended by many clergy from the Washington area’s historically Black churches, as well as leaders of social justice organizations. The prayers, Bible readings and brief speeches were interspersed with gospel music and spirituals, as well as the contemporary song, “Heal Our Land.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, read excerpts from the Rev. Martin Luther King’ Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” from 1963.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” she read from King’s famed message while jailed in Alabama. “The goal of America is freedom. … We will win our freedom.” A week earlier, she had spoken at the 60th anniversary of the Birmingham church bombing that killed four young Black girls.

The new windows, titled “Now and Forever,” are based on a design by artist Kerry James Marshall. Stained glass artisan Andrew Goldkuhle crafted the windows based on that design.

In the new work, African Americans are shown marching — on foot or in a wheelchair — from left to right across the four windows. Some march in profile; some directly face the viewer with signs proclaiming “FAIRNESS” and “NO FOUL PLAY.” Light floods in through the sky-bright panes of white and blue above the figures.

Marshall, who was born in Birmingham in 1955, invited anyone viewing the new windows, or other artworks inspired by social justice, “to imagine oneself as a subject and an author of a never-ending story that is still yet to be told.”

The setting is particularly significant in the massive neo-Gothic cathedral, which regularly hosts ceremonies tied to major national events. It is filled with iconography depicting the American story in glass, stone and other media. Images range from presidents to famous cultural figures and state symbols.

But the Lee and Jackson windows “were telling a story that was not a true story,” according to the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of the cathedral. They were installed in 1953 and donated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy,

The windows extolled generals fighting for a cause that sought to “enshrine slavery in our country for all time,” Hollerith said.

He added: “You can’t call yourself the National Cathedral, a house of prayer for all people, when there are windows in there that are deeply offensive to a large portion of Americans.”

The cathedral has accompanied the window replacement with a number of public forums discussing the legacy of racism and how monuments were used to burnish the image of the Confederacy as a noble “Lost Cause.”

The new windows will also be accompanied by a poem by scholar Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation. The poem “American Song” will be engraved beneath the windows.

“A single voice raised, then another,” it says. “We must tell the truth about our history. … May this portal be where the light comes in.”

Alexander said in an interview Sept. 23 that the poem referred both to the literal light from the windows, which she said beautifully illuminates the surrounding stonework, and the figurative light that “enables us to see each other wholly and in community.”

The setting is important in a sanctuary that is also “a communal space, a space that tourists visit, a space where the nation mourns,” Alexander said. “The story (the windows) tell is one of collective movement, of progress, of people struggling and asserting the values of fairness for all.”

The old windows’ removal followed the use of Confederate imagery by the racist gunman who massacred members of a Black church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015, and by marchers at a 2017 far-right rally in Charlottesville, Va., that ended with a counterprotester’s death.

The original windows, complete with Confederate battle flags, had depicted Lee and Jackson as saintlike figures, with Lee bathed in rays of heavenly light and Jackson welcomed by trumpets into paradise after his death. Those windows are now stored by the cathedral.

The cathedral also is the seat of the Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop and Diocese of Washington.

The bishop of the diocese, the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, joined Hollerith in delivering opening remarks at the dedication.

Hollerith recalled the decision to remove the Confederate windows.

“They were antithetical to our call to be a house of prayer for all,” he said, adding, “There is a lot of work yet to be done.”

___

Associated Press writer David Crary contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By AFRO Staff

On a late August evening, Timothy Alphonso Carter married Cornitra Tache’ Sampson in an elegant ceremony, attended by 700 guests at Carter’s home church, the New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Carter, an applications engineer, is the younger son of New Shiloh’s first couple, the Rev. Monique T. Carter and the Rev. Harold Carter Jr., who officiated the Aug. 25 ceremony.

Sampson, a registered clinical nurse II, is the daughter of Carla Johnson and Corey Sampson.

After the wedding, the newlyweds left for a two-week honeymoon in Japan. A love for Japanese culture is among the couple’s shared interests: Timothy took Japanese in high school and Cornitra shares his appreciation for ramen noodles and other types of Japanese food. The couple is expected to visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Hakone.

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By Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas

“We have . . . come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. . . Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice . . . Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” 

This was the urgent message that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered to the nation as he stood at the Lincoln Memorial, during the March on Washington, on Aug. 28, 1963.

Perhaps King felt a particular sense of urgency since eight years earlier on that same day fourteen-year-old Emmett Louis Till was dragged from a relative’s Mississippi home and lynched after being falsely accused of “flirting” with a 22-year-old White woman.  

Sixty years later we are confronted with a similar “urgency of now.” Not only are our social, political, and judicial policies and decisions increasingly consonant with anti-Black White supremacist realities, but perhaps most troubling: an anti-Black White supremacist gaze is being perpetuated at every level of our shared lives in this nation.

This gaze sets the standard for whose knowledge has authority for interpreting and evaluating reality.  It determines the normative story through which to judge and evaluate information regarding shared history and even shared experiences. It is the privileged gaze through which all public knowledge, be it knowledge of the past or the present, is to be accessed.  It is the gaze that determines whose “truth” is to be admitted, to be believed.

This gaze does not accommodate anything that challenges an assessment of the American story as anything other than what amounts to a privileged White story, where realities of race are practically erased from our nation’s history. Philosopher Charles Mills might describe it as part of a White “non‐knowing” wherein the “White delusion of racial superiority insulates itself against refutation.”

For many today talking about White supremacy, even to name it, reflects unacceptable “wokeness,” which for some amounts to race baiting, “dividing us into oppressors and the oppressed, making White children feel uncomfortable.” When proposing to “Stop W.O.K.E. Activism and Critical Race Theory,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, “In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory . . .. We won’t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other.” At least 17 states have passed legislation to ban Critical Race Theory with bills to do the same pending in several other states. In actual fact, however, to not name or talk about White supremacy is one of White supremacy’s evasions, allowing it to fester and thrive with impunity.

The fact that Critical Race Theory and versions of history that talk about racial injustice (let alone mention race) are being attacked and expunged from various school curriculums is in effect the 21st century version of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) efforts to reframe history after the Civil War. With the collapse of the Confederacy the UDC was determined to create “living monuments” that would keep the Confederate cause alive. Thus, they developed educational materials espousing a “Lost Cause” version of history to be distributed in schools. The UDC also developed instructional material for “Children of the Confederacy” chapters, which the UDC had established for children 6 to 16 years of age in an effort to indoctrinate a generation of children so they would grow up defending a pro-Confederacy version of history— thereby perpetuating an anti-Black White supremacist narrative of history.

If we expect future generations to be any better at fostering racial justice than our present generation, then we must tell the disconcerting truths about our nation’s struggle to become a democracy where there is freedom and justice for all. Doing that must begin with telling the stories and struggles of those who have been on the underside of justice.

It is when we bring to the forefront of the nation’s story the voices and knowledge from those on the underside of this country’s history of racial injustice, such as the Black enslaved, that we discover that as they fought for their freedom, they actually kept alive the vision of the nation’s better angels—a place where all people could live free. This is the story that The New York Times 1619 Project tells as it places “the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are as a country.” Nicole Hannah‐Jones put it this way: “Our founding ideals of liberty and equality were false when they were written. Black Americans fought to make them true. Without this struggle, America would have no democracy at all.”

The point of the matter is: as long as the story that is passed from one generation to another is a story that ignores the realities of anti-Black White supremacy, it is virtually impossible to chart a different course for the future. If we are really serious about creating a more just society, then we must get to the root of the injustice itself—and that means telling the truths about the brutal realities of race in this country. To do otherwise means that generations to come will be captive to the false narratives of history and thus captive to anti-Black White supremacist notions of what justice looks like.

We must decide if we are going to be a nation and a people defined by Martin Luther King Jr’s dream or a nation and a people defined by Emmett Louis Till’s lynching.

And so, there is an “urgency of now” for those committed to King’s dream of freedom and justice for all. It is untenable to simply remember what happened sixty years ago at the Lincoln Memorial and then stand quietly on the sidelines while a movement to ban books and to purge school curriculums of the harsh realities of anti-black racism proliferates across the country. There is an urgency to act. There is an urgency to show up. There is an urgency to resist. There is an “urgency of now” to tell the truth about this nation’s history.

Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas is Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral and interim president of the Episcopal Divinity School.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American • 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G
Baltimore, MD 21202 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

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By Ralph E. Moore Jr.

“You can’t win. You can’t break even, and you can’t get out of the game. People keep sayin’ things are gonna change, but it looks just like they’re staying the same.”

–Michael Jackson, as “Scarecrow” in the musical, “The Wiz”

Currently, there are no Black saints from the United States ever to be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.

Whether the results of the recognition process are accidental or intentional– the consequences are the same: zero Black saints from the United States have been recognized. Eleven Whites are canonized and honored as saints. No one who looks like us– American Black Catholics– has been given the highest honor. 

This is shameful.

When questions are raised about there being no Black saints from the United States, Catholics always refer Black Catholics to “the process.”

Why is that? Once a Catholic dies, she or he is basically eligible for consideration for sainthood. Mother Mary Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, has been dearly departed for 141 years. The other saintly five died ages ago also: Mother Henriette DeLille, foundress of the Holy Family Sisters, another African-American order of nuns, died 161 years ago. Father Augustus Tolton, the first openly Black priest, has been dead for 126 years and philanthropist Pierre Toussaint is the longest deceased at 170 years. Julia Greeley, who took care of the poor in Denver, has been gone from this world for 105 years. Sister Thea Bowman died 33 years ago. 

But why must declaring sainthood take so long? It didn’t take very long for Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was honored with sainthood 19 years after she died. The process for Pope John Paul II was also fast tracked as he was made a saint only nine years after he died.

Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, urban vicar of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, remarked in a recent conversation of the fast canonization of St. Clare of Assisi, a follower of St. Francis of Assisi and founder of the Poor Clares, a very austere order of women religious. Born on July 16, 1194 at Assisi in the duchy of Spoleto [Italy], she died August 11, 1253. 

St. Clare of Assisi was canonized two years later in 1255 by Pope Alexander IV. Amazingly quick by today’s standards.

As many are aware by now, in the earliest days of Christianity, saints were designated by public acclamation. But now there is a process: long, very expensive, grossly understaffed, complicated, unwieldy, mostly secretive and unevenly bestowed. Miracles are required to get through the final two stages of the “process.”

There are rules and exceptions to the rules. So, it looks as if the process doesn’t even follow its process sometimes.

Currently, there are approximately 10,000 Catholic saints. Most of them are Spaniards or Italian (surprise!). Most of them are also men, another standard kept by a White, male dominated church which calls itself “universal.” With all of its scholarship, wisdom and experience, a fundamental truth must now be realized and lived by the Catholic Church: Black Catholics can, must and will represent themselves.

A recent workshop during the 13th National Black Catholic Congress was quite informative. Workshop presenters included Bishop Roy Campbell Jr., president of the National Black Catholic Congress, and Jeannine Marino, a canon lawyer and secretary for pastoral ministry and social concerns for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. They have studied the process and gathered info on it. She informed the group that the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Committee of cardinals that recommends candidates for sainthood to the Pope, has a staff of only 28 persons handling 10,000 causes. The situation requires them to read life stories and testimonies from a book whittled down from thousands of pages to a document as thick as the old Yellow Pages phone book. The process, clearly, is slowed by virtue of the Dicastery being grossly understaffed, among other reasons. Still, the Church must ask itself about its outcomes: why are most saints European men? Why are there no African-American saints from the United States, while there are 11 White U.S. saints?  And why is no one in power in Rome outraged or embarrassed by these shameful, glacial-paced slow results?

The Catholic Church doesn’t need to point to a process that they claim displays equal treatment among candidates for sainthood and yet clearly does not. Not after centuries of Church-sponsored enslavement, widespread institutional racial segregation– especially in the church– mass incarceration and mass poverty of people of color.The church does modest charity with relatively too little effort to support real societal change (considering its wealth, power and influence). 

Black Catholics deserve more than “equal treatment,” they (we) should get equitable treatment or fairness commensurate with all the Catholic churches, schools and hospitals that we built–all while experiencing White supremacist treatment. We have remained faithful even through disgraces such as separate seating in churches to barred admission in convents and seminaries (as well as Catholic hospitals, schools and housing). 

The Catholic Church owes Black Catholics and other persons of color for ignoring the Gospels and for widely practicing institutional White supremacy for centuries.  

To slap a price tag of $350,000 to $1,000,000 after Black Catholics have remained faithful and endured unrequited love from the Church is a slap in the face– which adds to the proverbial insult to injury. 

The Vatican, by virtue of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, requires tens of thousands of documents to start the sainthood investigations. But once the boxes are sealed in the prescribed manner and mailed, the Dicastery charges a fee to open the boxes. Apparently, you “gotta pay to play” the sainthood game.

And so, we press on. 

Members of the St. Ann Church Social Justice Circle are aiming to be in Rome to see Pope Francis and Cardinals on All Saints Day, November 1, 2023, which is also the first day of Black Catholic History Month. The committee is strongly advocating for expedited canonizations of “the saintly six”: Mother Mary Lange, Father Augustus Tolton, Mother Henriette DeLille, Mr. Pierre Toussaint, Ms. Julia Greeley, and Sister Thea Bowman.

As we have said many times, “sainthood delayed is sainthood denied.” Getting those designations from the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is a matter of them showing the world the respect we have earned for ourselves and that we will continue to push for openly. Committee members see themselves as “co-workers with God” on this matter (to borrow a phrase from Martin Luther King’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’). Our letter writing initiative and mass media communications are meant to educate the public about the need for Black American saints to be recognized and to be shown respect. 

The St. Ann Committee is working so that God’s will be done (and displayed) on Earth, as it is in heaven.  So be it. And let the sainthood process, which feels like an unwinnable game for Black Catholic Americans, be over… 

Now.

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By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith

Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. Deuteronomy 32:7

This month, we think back to the March on Washington, which occurred 60 years ago this August, along with other significant Pan African moments from 1963. Tradition suggests that the diamond is the symbol for 60^th anniversaries. This causes us to reflect on the Greek root of the word “diamond,” which is “adamas,” meaning unconquerable and enduring. 

The epigraph from Deuteronomy suggests that remembrances of generations past can provide lessons for our todays and tomorrows about being unconquerable and enduring. 

We draw one such lesson from the story of Moses and the deliverance of the Israelite people from bondage. It is a story about newfound freedom and discovering a new way to live. This was not an easy task. This was illustrated when they were hungry in the wilderness after their release: 

In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt!” (Exodus 16:2-3)

And God heard their plea and provided food for the people to eat. 

This biblical text of God’s faithfulness to the Israelite people comes to mind during this month of Black August. This is a time for recognizing the enduring faithfulness of Pan African peoples in their resilient advocacy.  

This year’s Black August includes a remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. A commemorative event will take place at the Lincoln Memorial on August 26. 

August 31 will be another date to commemorate, as it marks the third International Day of People of African Descent. That date will be complemented with recommendations from the United Nations second Permanent Forum of People of African Descent. 

On August 29, Bread will have a hybrid event to celebrate and commemorate both of these significant dates.

We will also be thinking about two 60^th anniversaries from earlier this year. May 25, 1963, marked the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now called the African Union. And the All Africa Conference of Churches held its first assembly on April 20, 1963 in Kampala, Uganda. 

Bread for the World has partnered with these Pan African partners and continues to do so with its mission and vision to end hunger and to address the wealth and income racial equity gap. 

In this moment, Bread believes the reauthorization of the farm bill is a policy that addresses equity, nutrition, and sustainable life—vital issues for Black August.

Pan African communities can and will continue to speak out, advocate and show their historic resilience and resolve to address these issues from a faith perspective. Bread celebrates Pan African leadership as we partner to end hunger. 

Please visit www.bread.org/offering-letters/ to learn more about the farm bill and to advocate for it. 

Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American • 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G
Baltimore, MD 21202 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Ten years after its launch, the annual Bless Baltimore Prayer Motorcade continues to protect the citizens of Baltimore from fatal crimes through prayer. 

On July 22, more than 346 prayer warriors caravanned around Baltimore interceding as they moved strategically to converge on specific checkpoints for prayer and fellowship in designated communities. 

The day began with a 9 a.m. meetup at War Memorial Plaza. Baltimore Police Department Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley greeted the group and endorsed the efforts of 17 participating ministries from Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Worley joined the prayer brigade as they kicked off the event and availed himself to the pastors and leaders of the churches. The motorcade’s mission was set forth as they spread “Christian light” through prayer and God’s presence.

Organized by the Multicultural Prayer Movement, which is composed of 400 churches in the Mid-Atlantic region that’s committed to unifying the body of Christ, this year’s motorcade consisted of 43 vehicles, 13 more than the previous year. The motorcade was escorted by the Baltimore City Police Motorcycle Unit, which is involved in every major event in Baltimore City.

Bishop Angel Nunez, president of the host organization said the churches are rising up as one church to address the concerns of violence. “We surrounded the city and prayed for peace, our youth and our children,” Nunez stated. Apparently, they were effective. According to the Baltimore Police Department, there were no homicides in the city for almost 48 hours. Bishop Nunez ecstatically attributes this miracle to the power of prayer.

“The motorcade is a vibrant and anticipated event in the church community,” said Bishop Marcus A. Johnson, Sr., vice president of the Multicultural Prayer Movement. Intercessors come from multiple churches, races, ethnicities, and generations, elated to participate and agree with this spiritual encounter, he explained. The level of engagement increased due to the involvement of young adults and the faith-based community’s concern for collaboration between the neighborhoods and the police department.

Each checkpoint was selected according to the recent rise in crime in that area. The motorcade stopped in Brooklyn Park, Edmondson Village, Patterson Park, Moravia Park and the Oliver community. 

Bishop Johnson noted how “the communities eagerly welcomed the motorcade’s presence” and requested there be more engagements in the future. He went on to say, “They expressed their confidence in the church institution as a legitimate support to the needs of the community.”

The Bless Baltimore Prayer Motorcade began in 2013. After learning about prayer walks conducted by Life Source International Church in Rosedale, Md., Bishop Nunez, pastor of the Bilingual Christian Church of Baltimore in Northeast Baltimore and Bishop Johnson, pastor of New Harvest Ministries in East Baltimore, partnered to broaden prayer initiates by forming the Multicultural Prayer Movement, host organization of the motorcade. 

The Mayor’s Office of Safety and Engagement reports that there have been 149 homicides in 2023, 19.89 percent less than this time last year, and 5,674 violent crimes, 6.72 percent less than last year’s numbers. As our city moves in the right direction by reducing crime, let’s keep prayer at the forefront because it’s working for our good!

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By Zsana Hoskins,
Special to the AFRO

The National United Church Ushers Association of America (NUCUAA), a world renowned religious training organization, will be holding its annual national conference from July 31 to Aug 4 at the Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C. Local churches from across the city have been invited to participate in a fun-filled week that includes usher training and development, worship, fellowship and more. 

“It’s a full week for us. We know that the Lord will be there because He has been invited. Our theme is ‘Usher’s Embracing Change and Growth Through Faith,’” said Charles Brown, NUCUAA national president.

Minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries will be featured as this year’s keynote speaker. Charles H. Dorsey, from Chestertown, Md., and Elijah A. Hamilton, from Augusta, Ga., founded the organization in Philadelphia 104 years ago as members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

“We’re just coming out of the pandemic so we’re looking forward to the school of ushering classes and we will have a good fellowship—events, good preaching and singing, just good ol’ time religion and coming together again,” said Linda Pates, director of the southern region and first national vice president for the organization.

The group is interdenominational and welcomes ushers from all backgrounds with training principles that encourage servants to help church guests get in the right frame of mind to prepare for worship. Over 800 seniors, young adults and junior ushers are expected to be in attendance. 

“I am ultra excited about seeing all of the ushers, all my friends, and seeing the latest techniques that are going on. We have a drill team competition on Wednesday evening and I’m excited about that,” said Anthony Powell, western regional director. 

Over the course of the last century, conferences have been hosted in major locations across the country including Los Angeles, New Jersey, Delaware and New York.

“We’re looking forward to having a much bigger crowd this year. Looking at my list from the Southern region, we have more people coming this year than we did last year, so that’s a plus,” said Pates.

Pates attended this convention 22 years ago and has been an active member ever since.

“It’s been wonderful. I started in 2000 and I began to become a part of the Southern region. I went down to my church, got on the bus, and the rest is history,” said Pates.

The week’s events feature a night of music with Patrick Lundy and the ministry of music with WHUR’s Jacquie Gales Webb serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies in addition to an outreach presentation for the organization’s Blake Vincent Star Fund, which is dedicated to pediatric cancer research.

“This organization does quite a bit of outreach. This year besides the Blake Vincent Payne Star Fund, we have done outreach to Rolling Fort, Miss., which was devastated by a tornado earlier this year,” said Brown.

The organization’s statement of purpose defines usher as those who “enlighten Ushers in Christian work and practice the Golden Rule – ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;’ and to become a source of inspiration for doing greater things in Christianity.” Their teaching practices and principles stem from George T. Grier who designed the National Pin and wrote the Ushers Universal Manual and Handbook. 

“We know that faith is the pinnacle of the Christian belief and we want to encourage everyone to focus on faith. Since the pandemic, our membership seemed to decrease because quite a few churches haven’t opened back up. But slowly they are. We’re encouraging people to keep the faith. There’s a reason for everything.” Brown expressed. 

Pates and Powell both want the experience to feel like “a family reunion” for attendees. But they also stressed the importance of the usher training and techniques that will be taught at the conference.

“We have a universal method of ushering and I just hope that everybody can take their back to their own states and really focus in on that,” Powell said.

Outside of the classes and programming planned for the week, there will also be tours and outings planned for attendees to explore the Washington, D.C. area.

“We try to choose a city that they can come and enjoy the sights as well. D.C. has a lot to offer. That’s what we try to find so they can have a vacation as well as attend the classes,” said Pates.

To learn more about NUCUAA and membership, visit nationalchurchushers.org.

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By David Crary,
AP National Writer

For eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.

If some observers initially viewed this as an unsustainable alliance, it’s different now.

Certain achievements during Trump’s presidency – notably appointments that shifted the Supreme Court to the right – have solidified that support. He’s now the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, even after he recently was found liable for sexually abusing a New York woman in 1996 and was indicted in a criminal case related to hush money payments to a porn actress.

Robert Jeffress, pastor of an evangelical megachurch in Dallas, has been a staunch supporter of Trump since his first campaign for president and is sticking by him even as rivals like South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence tout their Christian faith.

“Conservative Christians continue to overwhelmingly support Donald Trump because of his biblical policies, not his personal piety,” Jeffress told The Associated Press via email. “They are smart enough to know the difference between choosing a president and choosing a pastor.

“In many ways, Christians feel like they are in an existential cultural war between good and evil, and they want a warrior like Donald Trump who can win,” Jeffress added.

In rural southwest Missouri, pastor Mike Leake of Calvary of Neosho – a Southern Baptist church – says support for Trump within the mostly conservative congregation seems to strengthen the more he is criticized and investigated.

“It further convinces them of their rhetoric that there is a leftist plot to undermine our nation,” Leake said. “So if everybody from the Left hates Trump, well, he must be on to something.”

Leake said many of his congregation members who strongly support Trump “are not our most dedicated members.”

“Anytime we’ve seen someone go full on MAGA, we lose them,” Leake added. “Attendance and involvement drops. Giving drops. It’s all consuming — just as with any other idol.”

Robert Franklin, professor of moral leadership at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, said Trump benefits from a perception among some of his followers that he is suffering on their behalf.

“The more he complains of persecution, the more people dig in to support him, and for a few, fight for him and make personal sacrifices (of money and freedom) for his advancement,” Franklin said via email.

Franklin also noted that some evangelicals, since early in Trump’s presidency, have likened him to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who, according to the Bible, enabled Jews to return to Israel from their exile in Babylon.

“This is a powerful trope, the bad man who makes good things possible, and is hence praised as a hero,” Franklin said. “Unfortunately, under this narrative, Trump can literally do no wrong. His wrong is right. No other politician gets that kind of pass.”

Trump’s great achievements, in the eyes of many evangelicals, include moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and – more profoundly – appointing three Supreme Justices who have helped repeal the nationwide right to abortion and broaden religious-freedom protections in several cases involving conservative Christians.

Trump is eager to tout his faith-based record.

“No president has ever fought for Christians as hard as I have,” he told the Faith & Freedom gala in Washington in June. “I’ll fight hard until I’m back behind that desk in the Oval Office.”

The political results are widely viewed as the key to Trump’s evangelical support.

“I am certain that many Christians in the MAGA movement earnestly believe Trump has been ‘anointed’ for this purpose — to bring about certain political outcomes they desire,” said Steven Millies, a Chicago-based Catholic scholar whose books include “Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters’ Road from Roe to Trump.”

“The embrace of Trump is really, finally a cynical calculation concerned with power, one that has the thinnest of possible Scriptural justifications,” Millies added.

Back in February 2017, just two weeks after Trump’s inauguration, the Rev. Peter Daly – a retired Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Washington – wrote a column for the National Catholic Reporter titled “Donald Trump’s gospel is not the Gospel of Jesus.”

In the piece, Daly depicted Trump as an uncharitable bully, prone to lying, lacking in empathy and tolerance.

“He sees every opponent as someone to be shouted down or roughed up,” Daly wrote. “He is not a peacemaker.”

Six years later, Daly tries to comprehend why so many conservative Christians remain in Trump’s camp despite behavior and rhetoric “that are antithetical to everything they stand for.”

Some pro-Trump pastors have relished the proximity to power afforded during White House visits or special political events, Daly said.

And some rural, White Christians “feel like nobody speaks for them,” Daly added. “They think, ‘Here’s Donald Trump. He’ll be our champion’ … It has nothing to do with being Christian. It’s the politics of grievance.”

Serene Jones is president of Union Theological Seminary in New York, which describes itself as “a progressive religious institution with many LGBTQ students.”

Asked about Trump’s popularity among conservative Christians, Jones evoked the numerous recent victories for evangelical and conservative causes in the courts and Republican-controlled state legislatures.

“Our nation is seeing a rampage of attacks on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the separation of church and state,” Jones said via email. “Even though certain evangelical Christians might harbor some discomfort about particular politicians, they may believe these social and political successes far outweigh the concerns.”

In Iowa, where evangelical support is crucial in the caucuses that launch the GOP nomination process, Trump seems far better positioned than in 2016.

A Des Moines Register Iowa Poll in March found that he was viewed favorably by 58% of evangelicals, compared to 19% ahead of the 2016 caucuses.

“President Trump has stood up for the values that we hold dear,” Brad Sherman, a pastor from Williamsburg, Iowa, told The Associated Press in April. “Then we need to pray for him that his personal life comes in line with that.”

As strong as Trump’s support is among conservative Christians, some prominent figures in those ranks are seeking alternatives in the GOP campaign.

The Rev. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, backed Trump in 2020 but said recently on his radio show that he’s now had enough.

“Christians begin with the clear biblical truth that no sinful human being has a perfect character, but even as we grade presidents on something of a curve, some stand out as particularly lacking in character,” Mohler said. “Donald J. Trump is certainly one of those presidents.”

“I do not want Donald J. Trump to be the 2024 Republican nominee,” Mohler added. “There is simply too much baggage … A statesman would realize that fact and make way for someone else to lead. That does not appear likely.”

Trump was raised as a Presbyterian, but told Religion News Service in 2020 that he had shifted to identifying as a nondenominational Christian. He has not claimed membership in any particular congregation, and during his presidency he attended worship services infrequently.

When in Florida, Trump has sometimes attended an Episcopal church in Palm Beach for Easter and Christmas Eve services. On the campaign trail, he has visited churches of various denominations, including some new-age churches with music and dancing.

Jeffress, the Dallas megachurch pastor, admires Trump as a political battler. But Jeffress says that during eight years of friendship, “I have seen a side to him that many people never see. I’ve watched him interact with strangers, as well as his own family, with warmth and kindness.”

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Iowa and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.

—-

This corrects first name of Chicago-based Catholic scholar Steven Millies.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

The post Some critics see Trump’s behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

(Black PR Wire) LAS VEGAS, NV – The highly anticipated 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, the “Greatest Night in Gospel Music,” culminated in a spectacular celebration of talent, faith, and inspiration. Hosted by Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards captivated audiences with powerhouse performances and heartfelt moments that brought the power of Gospel music to life. During a star-studded ceremony held on Saturday at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena, the winners in key categories were unveiled, highlighting the remarkable achievements and contributions of Gospel music artists and industry professionals. Other categories were awarded in Pre-Show festivities. Dottie Peoples received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award. 

The show opened with an electrifying performance of “Miracles” and “Impossible” by Kierra Sheard Kelly and Pastor Mike Jr., the night’s biggest winner. Pastor Mike, Jr. earned eight awards for his work on the album “Winning,” released under Blacksmoke Music Worldwide. The project was named Album of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year, while Pastor Mike, Jr. also took home the prestigious Song of the Year Presented by McDonald’s, Artist of the Year Presented by Dream In Black, Male Artist of the Year, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year awards. 

DOE, who entered the industry with her family as a member of the group Forever Jones, praised her way to solo success earning three trophies, including the Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year Presented by Walmart, Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year for her album “Clarity,” released under Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration. Zacardi Cortez also brought home three statues, earning awards for Traditional Male Artist of the Year Presented by Bevel, Traditional Album of the Year, and Praise and Worship Song of the Year for his album “Imprint,” released under Blacksmoke Music Worldwide. 

The collaborative effort of Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin resulted in their joint album “Kingdom Book One” winning in two categories, Duo/Chorus Group of the Year Presented by P&G and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year. Tye Tribbett also brought home two awards, including Producer Of The Year Presented by AFLAC and Recorded Music Packaging Of The Year. 

Lena Byrd Miles earned the New Artist of the Year award for her My Block Records project “Brand New,” Bishop T.D. Jakes won Special Event Album Of The Year, Tasha Cobbs Leonard won for Praise and Worship Album Of The Year, Lecrae was a winner for Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album Of The Year, and Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson was honored with Quartet Of The Year. A complete list of winners is available at www.stellarawards.com.

In addition to the award recipients, special honorees were recognized for their invaluable contributions to the Gospel music industry. CeCe Winans received the prestigious Aretha Franklin Icon Award Presented by State Farm, recognizing her exceptional talent and enduring impact. Winans also gave a moving performance of her song “Goodness of God” from her album “Believe For It.” Reverend Dr. Milton Biggham was honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by Verizon in recognition of his lifetime dedication to spreading the uplifting message of Gospel music. Additionally, Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones was presented with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award, acknowledging his outstanding contributions and influential career. 

Show co-hosts McReynolds and Cobbs Leonard delivered huge performances that will uplift and inspire audiences worldwide, while an exclusive Reunion Tour preview performance featuring Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, and Tye Tribbett brought the house down! Viewers can also look forward to powerhouse performances by Charles Jenkins, DOE, Dottie Peoples, Isaac Carree, Jevon Dewand and The TrapStarz, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Naomi Raine, Natalie Grant, Maranda Curtis, Tim Bowman Jr. & Faith City Music, Zacardi Cortez, and Zak Williams & 1 Akord. Performing on the AT&T Emerging Voices stage, Byrd Miles, Bishop S.Y. Younger, and Victory will delight audiences with their rich vocals and undeniable stage presence. 

Presenters for the evening include Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Marvin Sapp, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, Brian Courtney Wilson, Erica Campbell, Isabel Davis, James Fortune, Koryn Hawthorne, Jason Clayborn, NOTKARLTONBANKS, Pastor Shirley Caesar and Travis Greene. 

AT&T Dream in Black proudly serves as the presenting sponsor for the 38th Annual Stellar Awards. Additionally, esteemed companies such as Aflac, GM, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Spotify, State Farm, Verizon, and Walmart joined as supporters of this year’s program.  

The 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrates the rich diversity and unwavering spirit of Gospel music, showcasing its profound impact on audiences worldwide. The winners and honorees exemplify the power of faith, talent, and dedication within the Gospel music community. This year’s ceremony will touch the hearts of viewers across the nation when it premieres on the newly launched Stellar Network on Sunday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET (available on Charter Spectrum, Verizon Fios, and Xumo Play), followed by a broadcast on BET on Sunday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET and Bounce on September 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET. The show will also be broadcast nationally through TV syndication from August 7, 2023, to September 10, 2023. Please check with your local provider for availability in your area. 

The 38th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Executive in Charge of Production and Producer. Michael A. Johnson will produce and direct this year’s award show.

For more information about the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, please visit www.stellarawards.com. Stay connected and follow the Stellar Gospel Music Awards on social media: @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook.

The post PRESS ROOM: Celebrating excellence in gospel music: winners of the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards revealed, with the Pastor Mike, Jr. sweeping the ceremony with the eight trophies appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ralph E. Moore Jr
Special to the AFRO

The most powerful soul singers to walk this Earth started out singing in houses of worship.

You may have heard by now that the “Queen of Soul,” the magnificent singer, Aretha Franklin, got her start singing in public in her father’s church. Her father, the Reverend C.L. Franklin was pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church in the city of Detroit. 

After perfecting her vocal ability by raising a joyful noise to the Lord via spirituals, gospel and even the blues, Franklin rose to become the most popular and beloved singer of her time. Still today she is adored.  

Franklin favored the public’s listening ears with forever chart toppers: “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and of course, “Natural Woman.”  On each of her hits you can hear her influences by the church.  The rhythms, the way she strings out her notes and her cadences could all be sung in a church services—with a few minor changes to the lyrics, of course. 

Aretha Franklin is one of a kind, the best of the best of singers in Black American music and all music.  She never sang for Motown records— instead, she started out with Atlantic Records and then Arista Records. 

Her most successful gospel album, entitled “Amazing Grace,” was recorded in 1972. Although Franklin died in 2018, there is no doubt her music will last forever.

Similar to Franklin, Marvin Gaye’s father was also a preacher. 

Gaye was born in Washington, D.C. and sang in his father Marvin Gaye Sr.’s church, called The House of God. 

Young Marvin Gaye sang in church at an early age while learning various musical instruments.  Once he grew up and met Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, Gaye became a drummer and singer with Motown Records. He would eventually go on to become a solo artist for the company and produced some of the most popular and highly favored music the organization ever produced.  

His top singles include: “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and the hit, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which featured the unforgettable Tammi Terrell. 

Gaye will forever be remembered for his phenomenal album, “What’s Going On?,” released in 1971.  

Rumor has it Berry Gordy tried to discourage Gaye from putting the record out. Gordy felt like the tune wasn’t commercial enough, but Gaye insisted and the rest is Black musical history, which transcends race—like many great, Black contributions to this country. 

Along with Franklin and Gaye, there are countless other vocalists and entertainment groups with origins in the Black Church. 

The Staple Singers were a gospel group that got their start in Mississippi and Chicago churches.  The head of their singing group was the head of their family, Roebuck ‘Pop’ Staples.  The other performers in the Staple Singers were daughters Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne and son, Pervis. Together, they expanded from church to popular music with catchy songs such as ‘Respect Yourself,’ ‘Touch a Hand (Make a Friend),’ and one of two of their biggest hits, ‘I’ll Take You There.’ 

The Staple Singers’ other number one song also became a movie soundtrack, ‘Do it Again,’ which the family co-produced with Curtis Mayfield.

Though surprising to some, it’s clear that Black artists were born in the church, but thrived on records and radios in the popular realm. Other performers who started out in church include: Otis Redding (‘Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay,’), Whitney Houston (‘Saving All My Love For You,’) The Emotions (‘So I Can Love You’) and many others too numerous to mention.

So, church congregations were the first audiences for Black music.  The ears of Black folks were the first to hear the spectacular voices that remain with us forever. 

God smiled on the singers then, and God is probably snapping his-her fingers to their joyful noises today.  

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By Luis Andres Henao,
The Associated Press

Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange ─ a Black Catholic nun who founded the United States’ first African American religious congregation in Baltimore in 1829 ─ has advanced another step toward sainthood.

Under a decree signed by Pope Francis on June 22, Lange was recognized for her heroic virtue, and advanced in the cause of her beatification from being considered a servant of God to a “venerable servant.” The Catholic Church must now approve a miracle that is attributed to her, so she can be beatified.

Lange grew up in a wealthy family of African origin, but she left Cuba in the early 1800s for the U.S. due to racial discrimination, according to the Vatican’s saint-making office. After encountering more discrimination in the southern U.S., she moved with her family to Baltimore. Recognizing a need to provide education for Black children in the city, she started a school in 1828, decades before the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

In 1829, she founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence  ─ the country’s first African American religious congregation. They were trailblazers for generations of Black Catholic nuns who persevered despite being overlooked or suppressed by those who resented or disrespected them.

The Oblate Sisters continue to operate Baltimore’s Saint Frances Academy, which Lange founded. The coed school is the country’s oldest continually operating Black Catholic educational facility, with a mission prioritizing help for “the poor and the neglected.”

“She lived her virtuous existence in a hostile social and ecclesial context, in which the preeminent opinion was in favor of slavery, personally suffering the situation of marginalization and poverty in which the African American population found itself,” the Vatican’s saint-making office wrote.

Lange is among three Black nuns from the U.S. designated by Catholic officials as worthy of consideration for sainthood. The others include Henriette Delille, who founded the New Orleans-based Sisters of the Holy Family in 1842 because White sisterhoods in Louisiana refused to accept African Americans, and Sister Thea Bowman, a beloved educator, evangelist and singer active for many decades before her death in 1990.

Pope Francis’s advancement of Lange’s sainthood cause “is a monumental step forward in the long fight for Black Catholic saints in the United States and for recognition for the nation’s long embattled African American Catholic community, especially nuns,” said Shannen Dee Williams, a history professor at the University of Dayton and author of ” Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle.”

Currently there are no recognized African American saints. Williams said Lange joins three other African American sainthood candidates who have been declared “venerable” — Delille, Father Augustus Tolton and Pierre Toussaint.

Williams said only one Black woman has been declared a saint in the modern era — St. Josephine Bakhita, a formerly enslaved Sudanese nun who made “the extraordinary journey from slavery under Islamic auspices to freedom in an Italian Catholic convent in the late 19th century.”

“This is why Lange’s cause is so important and revolutionary,” Williams said via email. “There is absolutely no way to tell Lange’s story or the story of her order accurately or honestly without confronting the Catholic Church’s mostly unreconciled histories of colonialism, slavery, and segregation.”

Williams said that unlike most of their counterparts in religious life, Lange and the Oblate Sisters of Providence were not segregationists, and never barred anyone from their ranks or institutions based on color or race. Instead, Williams said, Lange’s multiethnic and multilingual order preserved the vocations of hundreds of Black Catholic women and girls denied admission into White congregations in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Lange and her Oblate Sisters of Providence’s very existence embody the fundamental truth that Black history always has been Catholic history in the land area that became the United States.” Williams said,

Their story “upends the enduring myth that slaveholding and segregationist Catholic priests and nuns were simply people ‘of their times.'” Williams said. “Mother Lange and the Oblate Sisters of Providence were also people of those times.”

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By Aria Brent,
AFRO Staff Writer,
abrent@afro.com

The Juneteenth holiday was a day spent celebrating Black freedom and liberation all across the nation. The Black media authority joined in the festivities by hosting a breakfast where some of Charm City’s most impactful faith leaders were honored.

Rev. Dr. A.C.D Vaughn was posthumously recognized for his many years of service to the Baltimore community along with Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Bishop Clifford Johnson and Dr. Leah E. White. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) also received special honor and NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis was in attendance to discuss the role of the Black church in the success of Black led movements. 

“Most people don’t know that Black press grew out of a Black church. The civil rights movement grew out of the Black Church,” stated Chavis. “When I hear people today talk about ‘we don’t need a movement,’  ‘we don’t need the church’ or ‘we don’t need the press’, the question is ‘what do you need?’ We’ve only come this far by faith.” 

In addition to the four faith leaders that were recognized, several historical institutes were commemorated as well. The Baltimore chapter of the NAACP, the Greater Baltimore chapter of the Urban League and National Council of Negro Women were all honored.

At the event guests had the pleasure of being serenaded by the Carter Legacy Singers in addition to a special presentation from Rev. Dr. R.J. Chandler Sr., who pastors at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church, and his son Rev. Dr. R.J. Chandler Jr. 

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie shared that the performances and celebration are truly motivators for future progress. 

“If we’re going to have more than a holiday years from now, it’s going to take the courage of all of us in this room–every generation, from the pulpit to the businesses to the classroom–it’s going to take all of us!” exclaimed McKenzie.  “We need to show up and we need to show up right.”

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By Ashleigh Fields,
AFRO Assistant Editor

Members of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church welcomed leaders from the National Council of Churches (NCC) during their impact week for “A Call to Action” reception on June 15. Amidst shape shifting conversations with narratives that furthered the faith perspective in politics, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie was duly recognized for being selected as the first African American woman to serve as both president and general secretary of the NCC organization.

“The time now has passed that we [NCC] become echoes of what has been said. We need to become the moral prophetic voice in a very divisive society,” said Bishop McKenzie.

Her efforts to engage the organization in service and state affairs through a solution oriented path was ever present in her speech to the audience. 

“People don’t mind us feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, for they believe that is our only responsibility. But our responsibility is also to tackle the policies and practices that cause people to be hungry,” Bishop McKenzie shared. “I believe that God has uniquely positioned us so that we can bring competing voices to the table that we may reason together for social change. This is the moment and the hour where we have to talk about the uncomfortable and then find creative solutions for the uncomfortable.”

Bishop McKenzie has served in the position as interim since April of last year and has charged forward without delay. She created the “Voter Empowerment 2022: A Church-Based Action Plan” campaign, to testify on Capitol Hill on behalf of low wage earners and poor children and reinstituted the NCC’s Health and Wellness Taskforce to dive deeper into healthcare priorities that impact all people.

Bishop McKenzie has spearheaded a number of successful projects while serving as the national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She also formerly served as the first elected female bishop in the history of the AME Church.

“You show us by your example how to trust God, how to take risks, how to be in the conversation, how to use our voice, how to listen and to learn, to labor and to lead,” said Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd who served as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s 22nd national president. “We thank you Bishop for showing us how to walk in our authority in every situation that we find ourselves.”

This praise was amplified as attendees rejoiced at the NCC’s selection.

“I’m proud that the National Council of Churches has made this historic move; she’s the right person at the right time and I look forward to the work they will do on behalf of justice in the name of faith,” said Senator Raphael Warnock, who was in attendance at the event. “There’s a crisis in character and truth telling, we need voices of faith now more than ever.”

In 2009, President Barack Obama selected Bishop McKenzie to serve on the inaugural White House Commission of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Her striking influence there left a long lasting legacy which the former president acknowledged in his letter congratulating Bishop McKenzie on the new role.

“At every stage of your career you have shattered barriers and opened doors for future generations going back to your election as the first female bishop of the African Methodist,” wrote Barack Obama. “We saw this impact first hand … where your guidance helped us address some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation. Under your exceptional leadership we are confident that the NCC will continue to lead the way in advancing interfaith cooperation and social justice.”

Current Vice President Kamala Harris joined in commending Bishop Mckenzie for her global influence by writing a letter as well. 

“Throughout your life and career you have exemplified an unwavering commitment to serving and uplifting your community as a trailblazing leader you have built a legacy of combining faith with action to ensure every person has the opportunity to reach their God-given potential,” wrote Vice President Kamala Harris. “While you may be the first I know that you will certainly not be the last.”

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By The Christian Recorder

Bishop Norris’s service arrangements are as follows:

Saturday, June 24, 2023

St. Matthew AME Church
215 N. 57th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139

Viewing 8:00 a.m.
Celebration of Life Service 10:00 a.m.

Internment:
Laurel Hill West
225 Belmont Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Hotel:
Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel
3549 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Guests can call 1-888-627-7071 to make their reservations or
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1686924844131&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to
1626 North 72nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19151
Resolutions can be emailed to stmatthewamec.secretary@gmail.com or faxed to 215-472-5544

The Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris was the 116th consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Norris was the sixth of eleven siblings in Atlanta, Georgia to the Rev. David Norris and Mrs. Mabel E. Brown Norris. In his early years, Bishop Norris’ family moved to Philadelphia, where he was educated in the Public-School System. After graduating from West Philadelphia High School, Bishop Norris attended Morris Brown College and transferred to Rutgers University, where he received his B.A. Degree. Having received the call to ministry at age 15, he attended the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and the New York Theological Seminary, where he received his Doctor of Ministry Degree. Bishop Norris also received honorary doctorates from the Lee Theological Seminary, Wilberforce University, Payne Theological Seminary, and Monrovia College. His fellowships have included the Ford Foundation Urban Training Center (Chicago), the Lilly Foundation, the New York City Mission Society, and the New York Theological Seminary.

Bishop Norris pastored throughout the First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, Bermuda, New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia. He was Pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1986 through 1993, and St. Matthew AME Church in Philadelphia from 1993 to 2000.

Bishop Norris had many civic affiliations to his credit and has done much to improve the quality of life in the communities he has served.

In June 2000, at the Forty-Sixth Quadrennial General Conference, Bishop Norris was elected and consecrated the 116th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was sent to serve the 14th Episcopal District in West Africa, which includes Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d’Ivoire. There, Bishop Norris was an able and influential leader in the spiritual and educational development of the people in the areas where he served. He rebuilt churches, schools, and universities destroyed in the area’s ongoing unrest. He has frequently traveled to and from Africa for the good of his pastors and the people, even when his life would have been in jeopardy.

In June 2004, at the Forty-Seventh Quadrennial General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris was appointed to the First District, where the AME Church started under Bishop Richard Allen in 1787. This district includes the eastern half of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, New England (including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut), and Bermuda.

In July 2012, Bishop Norris was appointed at the Forty-Ninth Quadrennial Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to serve the Seventh Episcopal District, which is the state of South Carolina.

Bishop Norris died on June 14, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife of over forty years, Mrs. Mary Ann Hill Norris. Bishop Norris was the father of six children: daughters Crystal Gale Norris, Dawn Denise Norris, Katherine Elizabeth Lillian Norris, and sons the Rev. Richard Franklin Norris II (pastor of Bethel-Hosanna AME Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey) and the Rev. Dr. Marcellus Norris (Executive Director of the Department of Church Growth and Development of the AME Church). Among his grandchildren is Richard Franklin Norris, III, Connectional President of the Young People’s and Children’s Division of the Women’s Missionary Society.

Please be in prayer for the family.

The post Funeral Arrangements for Retired Bishop Richard F. Norris appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

For generations, family Bibles held information on the important occurrences that took place in the Black family. African Americans trusted their bibles for much more than sacred writings— they also relied on the book to discover those who went before them. 

Take a peek into that gigantic bible in the living room—  a staple of Black homes in the past— and you’re sure to see a section dedicated to keeping family records in the center. Inscribed on those pages, readers found vital information about births, marriages and deaths that hold decades – sometimes centuries- of the family story.

Throughout the South, vital records were not generally recorded by the state until the 20th century. Some public records were sparsely maintained by cities and counties, but Black families took responsibility for recording their own history and important events.

Traditionally, a Bible was given by relatives as a wedding gift for the purpose of recording information about the newlyweds and their family tree.

Martha Jane Thomas, of Pikesville, Md. could barely lift her family Bible. 

“It’s so big and heavy like the ones in the pulpit at church,” she observed. The 98-year-old remembered that her parents kept track of their family’s history by writing it in their Bible.

Thumbing through the pages of her family Bible, Thomas came upon the section for family records. Beginning with her parents’ wedding on Sept. 12, 1919, the handwritten notes detailed their address in Roxboro, N.C., the officiating preacher’s full name, and the names of two witnesses that were present. The journaling was maintained over a span of 67 years and included the birth dates of all 10 children, their marriages, and the names of their spouses. The last entry was made in 1986 which listed the death of Thomas’ brother-in-law.

Still today, the family bible represents a connection to God, family and other believers. For centuries, preachers have also told the stories of the Black community utilizing the pulpit to keep members encouraged and informed. 

The Reverend Rodney L. Carter, Jr., associate pastor of Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church in Northeast Washington, D.C. said church leaders have played an important part in the story of Black life after liberation. 

“The pastor is one of the voices for the African American community—not just the Black church,” he said. 

In his opinion, the story of Moses relates perfectly to the experience of African Americans. 

“God was with the Israelites while they were in captivity and they sang praises similar to how African Americans, while in slavery, sang Negro spirituals. We hoped that God would deliver in the same manner as He did the Israelites,” said Carter.  “The preached word also kept ‘us’ going during the civil rights movement,” he said, referencing when preacher and activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led African Americans through the wilderness of racism.

In many cases, oral history was used as a common way to preserve African American stories. Peter J. Allen and Milton Burke Allen, Jr., sons of the first Black man to be elected to a citywide office and the first Black State’s Attorney in the United States, Milton Burke Allen Sr., agree that their family’s history was more oral than written down— but they still had a Bible passed down decade after decade. 

“My father’s sister was the family historian on that side, and my mother’s sister was the family historian on her side,” said Peter Allen. “We had a 100-year-old family Bible, but I don’t think there was much written in it. It was a big Bible for show, but not much of a record.”

The brothers were certain that their family history facts were checked and accurate. So much so that their history will be housed in the library of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. for public review.

The Allen’s recalled stories of their great-grandfather being taken from West Africa and brought to Virginia right at the end of slavery. It was said that he organized a group of slaves who escaped by traveling at night and sleeping in trees during the day. 

We were never told, “Sit down kids, I’m going to tell you your history. It would just come out. They were interesting stories like adventure stories, and we ate it up with spoons,” Allen said.  

Family Bibles that are no longer in the possession of the family may be in a historical or genealogical society. They are sometimes transcribed and published in genealogical periodicals or other databases.

This month, as the AFRO looks back on the history preserved since the first Juneteenth, we encourage our readers to embrace their own origin story— which could be detailed in one of those humongous family bibles.

The post Telling our story: a look at the history passed down via church and the family bible appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Please sign up here for our #Faithworks newsletter which is filled with inspirational Faith Content that highlights religious leaders in Black communities, faith-based articles, inspirational quotes of the month, and a monthly faith-based poll where readers can express their thoughts.

Meet our Faith leader of the month of August – Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Young III

Rev. Young has been blessed to serve at churches in the areas of Children/Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Church Administration, Christian Education and Pastoral Ministry. He is immediate former pastor of the historic Loyal Baptist Church in Danville, VA where he served with distinction for seven years. Rev. Young currently serves as the Interim Pastor at First Baptist Church in Washington, DC, where the Rev. Dr. Frank D. Tucker is Pastor Emeritus. He, his wife Karletta and sons Emmett and Zachary reside in Bowie, MD.

Rev. Young’s strong desire is to obey and follow God’s divine plan in his life, standing on 1st Peter 2:9,“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Meet our Faith leader of the month of May – Dr. Philip M. Dunston Jr.

Dr. Philip M. Dunston Jr. Is a native of Charlotte, N.C. Pastor Dunston received his Master of Divinity Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, GA. He later obtained his Doctorate of Philosophy Degree from Clark Atlanta University in counseling and human development.

Dr. Dunston is currently a Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Clark Atlanta University. 

He has many commendable accomplishments in his life, but his selfless service to the people whom God has called him to Shepherd trumps them all! He is the honorable Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Appling, GA. And he will be celebrating 30 years of faithfulness to the love of God for his people. 

Dr. Dunston lives 200+ miles from Friendship, B.C, and has traveled every weekend faithfully for 30 years to bring his people the word of God. During the global pandemic, Pastor Dunston traveled and preached from the pulpit to an empty congregation via Facebook Live for the entire two years. Through the counsel of the Holy Spirit, he has guided us safely through! His faithfulness to God’s people is a relentless true statement of a man after God’s own heart. We are excited to share our testimony of a Pastor with all who will listen. We give God the glory for this! 

Meet our Faith leader of the month of April – Rev. Samuel Paul, Jr

Rev. Samuel Paul, Jr is a Chicago native and a product of the Chicago Public School system. He participated in community organizing and political activism as an undergraduate at the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. Over the years, he has been active as a collaborator with churches and community coalitions, doing the work of social justice as an activist and community organizer. Rev. Paul has been blessed to enjoy three careers spent serving others in Child Welfare, Education, and Ministry. Rev. Samuel’s spiritual formation began as a preschooler in Hope Bible Church, a church his grandfather co-founded, and at home, under the watchful eyes of his ordained father and his mother, who taught Sunday school. Rev. Paul was ordained a Pentecostal Elder on Oct. 29, 2004.

Education and scholarship were life-saving pleasures in his youth, having grown up in a small apartment with eleven children and four adults on the South side of Chicago. Rev. Paul has earned a Masters Degree in Urban Teaching and a Masters degree in Instructional Leadership with a type 75 Illinois administrative license. He used that education to work as an Assistant Principal for four years. In 2017 he earned an MDiv degree from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Rev. Samuel has served in many leadership roles in the church as a lay leader and as an ordained minister. Servant Leader is a title most appropriately used to characterize Rev. Paul’s role in the church and society. He has served as Youth Pastor, Minister of Social Justice, Men’s Ministry Leader, Sanctuary Choir member, Pastoral Care Team member, and church custodian. Last year he completed training through the Interim Ministry Network to serve the church and community as an Interim Pastor. Rev. Samuel recently completed a six-year call as an Associate Minster at a small Baptist church of Chicago’s South side. Rev. Paul is ecumenical in practice, having spent thirty-five years in membership and service as a United Church of Christ member.

Currently, Rev. Paul works as an educator in the Chicago Public School System as a full-time fourth-grade teacher. He’s also working within his call to ministry as a public theologian to develop, fund, and staff the Praise House Anti-Racism Institute, Inc. This is a 501c3 nonprofit organization he founded as President and CEO two years ago to combat structural and systemic racism in America. Rev. Samuel is deeply committed to working with community organizations and coalitions, such as the Grassroots Action for Police Accountability (GAPA) coalition. An ordinance was written in partnership with the Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC), which led to the Chicago City Council passage and the creation of community District Councils to provide community oversight of the Chicago Police Department. A few years ago, Rev. Paul sat at other tables, such as the coalition of community organizations and the ACLU. That work led to the filing of a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department to address police misconduct and mentally challenged a federal consent decree. As a result, to ensure safeguards to protect the mentally challenged against CPD abuse and misconduct.

Meet our Faith leader of the month of January – Minister Abdul Salaam Muhammad, Baltimore Muhammad Mosque No. 6

Resident Imam/Minister Of Muhammad Mosque No.6 and Baltimore Representative Of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan & National Archivist and Historian for The Nation of Islam Minister Abdul Salaam Muhammad was born Carlos Ward in Baltimore, Maryland.

He attended several Baltimore Area Schools throughout his school career, but he received his High School diploma from Catonsville Senior High School in 1991.

From an early age, Minister Muhammad had a passion for all things historical. While in his
freshman year of High School he began to study Black History. It is through this study that he became interested in Malcolm X and The Nation of Islam, this led to Minister Muhammad attending his first Mosque Meeting in 1989.

In 1990 he had the opportunity to attend the “Stop The Killing” Rally at The then, Baltimore Arena, and heard The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the National Representative of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, speak live for the very first time. After hearing this powerful lecture Minister Muhammad wanted to learn more, so he started attending meetings at Muhammad Mosque Number Six in Baltimore, Maryland. He later joined The Nation of Islam, received his “X” at the tender age of 16.

In October of 1991 at The Nation of Islam’s Annual Saviours’ Day Convention he was awarded the title of Top Final Call Salesman and received an award to reflect his hard work; however, the greatest honor of that evening was when The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan himself, before 10.000 people, replaced Minister Carlos’ X with the name Muhammad, which means one
worthy of praise and one who is praised much.

From 1991-1993, Minister Muhammad worked his way through the ranks of The Nation of Islam and was often referred to, and commonly known as, a “Top Soldier.” He was a Squad Leader, a Lieutenant, a Paper Captain, FOI Secretary and an Assistant Minister. In November of 1994, at the age of 20, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan appointed him to the post of Minister of Muhammad Mosque Number Six, making him the youngest Minister in The Nation of Islam at
that time.

In 1995 Minister Muhammad served as a Co-Convener of the Baltimore Local Organizing Committee for The Historic Million Man March. Along with many community leaders and activists throughout Baltimore City he was able to galvanize over 250,000 Black Men to be a part of that historic moment in time.

In 2015 he was just as active in trying to spread the word about the 20th Anniversary of The Million Man March, The Justice or Else Movement. This movement, sparked by the countrywide assaults and killings of blacks and people of color by law enforcement officers, sparked a flame of revolution that lit the city of Baltimore as well. The killing of Freddie Gray by Baltimore City Police Officers sparked an unrest that most were afraid to confront; however, The Fruit of Islam, led by the guidance of Minister Muhammad, were on the frontlines of this city’s battlefield.

Along with many brave activists and street organizers, Minister Muhammad was blessed to help bring calm into a tumultuous situation.

In 2014 Minister Muhammad was appointed The National Archivist and Historian for The Nation of Islam. He travels the country gathering artifacts and materials while doing lectures and workshops about The Nation of Islam’s beautiful History, as well as conducting face-to-face interviews with the pioneers of the Nation of Islam.

In July of 2022, Minister Muhammad was blessed and bestowed with the name Abdul Salaam by The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. The name Abdul Salaam means servant of The God of Peace.

On September 17, 2022 The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan appointed Abdul Salaam Muhammad as The Nation of Islam’s 2nd Imam and resident Imam of Muhammad Mosque Number Six. After nearly three decades of dedication, Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad continues to serve as Minister & Imam of Muhammad Mosque Number Six in the City of Baltimore.

He also continues to serve the City of Baltimore by bridging gaps and building relationships with faith based communities, street organizations, youth organizations, pioneers, and colleges and universities. The mission of Minister Muhammad is to be a bridge from the past to the future by using his love of History as his guide.

Video of the month – Sunday School with Pernel Jones Jr.

Meet our Faith leader for the month of November – Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper

Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper has been a community leader in her home, Baltimore, for decades, with leadership positions in journalism, a church she founded and education.

In February 2018, she was named chairman of the board and publisher of the AFRO American Newspapers, which was founded in 1892 by her great-grandfather. She served previously as president of the company from 1987 to 1999.

In 2002, She became the founding pastor of the Freedom Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in south Baltimore. She received a Doctor of Ministry degree in preaching and leadership from the United Theological Seminary in Ohio in 2006. Her bachelor’s degree in Spanish language education in 1969 is from Morgan State University and served on the university’s Board of Regents for 24 years before stepping down last June.

She also holds a master’s degrees in education, business administration and pastoral counseling. Her mother, Frances L. Murphy II, helped inspire her to be a community leader. She encouraged her to honor God, treat people the way you want to be treated and surround yourself with younger people who can keep you up to date on the latest trends and technologies.

Now it’s her turn to inspire the younger generation. She often tells her grandchildren that it’s important to give back to the community because many people need a genuine hand up or a simple word of encouragement, in order to survive and thrive. When people are healthy economically, socially and spiritually, communities are healthy.

Read the AFRO article about her recent retirement here.

“We promote the name and ministry of Jesus Christ, make disciples, strengthen individuals and families and positively affect our neighborhood; the greater Baltimore region, and the world.“

Video of the month – Sunday School with Pernel Jones Jr.

Our Faith leader for the month of October – Pastor Wilhelmina Street

~ Embracing God’s Vision ~    

As a young girl, at six years old, I was sent to attend a nearby Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. However, my stepmother frequently attended a Baptist church on the other side of town, and my father declined to connect with any church. I learned he did not participate in church because he still missed my mother, who died at my birth. In addition, I heard that he was angry with God. However, while dad was distant from God and me, I found a closeness to the one I learned to be my heavenly Father at the little church, Lauraville Methodist.  

My first-grade elementary school teacher was also my Vacation Bible School and Sunday School teacher. Over the next several years, she taught me scriptures and convinced me that God’s love was real and that He loved me.

The pastor helped me understand how and why Jesus died for me. I remember several times; tears flowed down my face when I heard about Jesus dying on the cross for the people of the world. The world – I knew that included ME! Whenever tears would flow, I would quickly wipe them away or try to hide them from my friends who sat on each side of me. I wondered why they were not crying too.

One Sunday morning, when I was 12 years old, I knelt at the baptismal font and was baptized. God had begun a new life in me, and I knew Lauraville Methodist significantly impacted my life. I continued to attend that church until I went away to college in Raleigh, NC, at 16 years old.

In college, I studied elementary education for the first two years but became concerned because I thought teaching a child was too big of a task for me. Believing I was not mature enough to handle the responsibility, I decided to stop schooling and work for six years. In 1979, I returned to college in South Jersey and finished my bachelor’s degree in Radio/TV at Rowan University. During those six years, the direction of my life changed with the death of my father, an ailing and terminally ill aunt whom I lived with, and a non-existent connection with the church, which I knew I needed. I thought about going home and returning to Lauraville Methodist but found out from my childhood friends that the church was closed a few years prior.

So, at 24, through a group of college friends at one of their Bible study sessions in Philadelphia, I reaffirmed my faith in Jesus Christ, professing my acceptance of God’s grace by faith. As I contemplate my earlier years, I see that ‘prevenient grace’ was there through many of my life experiences. This same grace has influenced how God has shaped my life and inner spirit for kingdom work. God’s justifying grace reassures me that I am forgiven of my sins. Moreover, sanctifying grace will lead me to consistent holiness throughout my Christian life and walk.

My reaffirmation to God and an endeavor to right living encouraged me to spend many hours studying the Bible, meditating, and memorizing scripture. Immediately, I felt called to reach the spiritually ‘lost’ through witnessing and sharing the Gospel with family, friends, and several street evangelism teams in Philadelphia and Maryland. John 3:16 continually burned in my heart— “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. “… whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I also shared the Word of God through teaching Sunday school and Bible study.

I acknowledged my call to ministry and mission and preached my first sermon, among many, in 1987 for young teen girls. It was the same year of preaching the first sermon that I served on an evangelism team as a leader to 40 teenagers in the Petén Jungle of Guatemala. My primary functions were to prepare and cook meals, teach Bible study, and counsel the youth. The team’s primary assignment was to build an airplane hangar and a staff house for the missionaries and teach scriptures to the 40 orphans at the mission, El Rancho de Los Niños.

In March of 1988, I married the love of my life, Tony. Since then, we have enjoyed serving God, the first love of our lives. Many times, when you see one, you see the other. Other times Tony sings in his tenor voice with our current church choir. Moreover, sometimes you see us both teaching the Word of God together.

While I desire to help build godly principles in the lives of Christians, Tony finds joy in teaching the Bible’s prophetical books and how they impact our lives. Tony began singing at age three with the Little Harmonettes at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Turners Station. At age 15, he and a childhood friend, Glen, cut a 45-record called “Talking About.” As an adult, he was a tenor voice with the Maryland State Boys’ Choir and several church choirs. Under the direction of Tony, Latter Reign A Cappella Singing Group won several awards and sang at a presidential rally for former President Barack Obama. As a published cartoonist, Tony has taught cartooning to children at a local Christian school and a church group. His cartoons have appeared in the Maryland Pet Gazette, Johns Hopkins University student publications, Sunday school classes, and people’s homes as framed gifts given to loved ones.

I graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2016.

Realizing that God brought us together 34 years ago, our mission is to honor our Lord and Savior throughout the years we receive. So far, serving as Dean of Adult Education at a Pentecostal Church, as a director and acting principal at a Christian elementary school, and as a spiritual leader in the United Methodist Church, we have received rich blessings. Beginning in 2019, God has blessed me with the extraordinary opportunity to pastor at West Montgomery United Methodist. We serve a great big God in the tiny town of Dickerson, Maryland. Tony and I come as a package deal and are honored to serve.

Video of the month – Sunday School with Pernel Jones Jr. Lesson: Miracles on Mala Acts 28:1-10

Please send us your religious leader’s information, so we can highlight them for the month. Please send a 250-word BIO and a headshot of your pastor. We want to hear from you! Calexander@afro.com

Quote of the Month

“Giving. What flows away from you flows back magnified: Become a joyful giver.”

― Mike Todd

Our Faith leader for the month of September – Dr. Jermaine N. Johnson

Dr. Jermaine N. Johnson is a native of Baltimore, MD where he attended various public and private schools.  Dr. Johnson matriculated at Eastern University in Saint David’s, Pennsylvania where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of Communication.  Dr. Johnson earned his Masters of Divinity from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary located in Lombard, IL.  Dr. Johnson received the Ian Chapman Leadership Award for outstanding student leadership.

Dr. Johnson earned his Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC.  Dr. Johnson is a 2013-14 Lewis Fellow Alumni of the Wesley Theological Seminary located in Washington, D.C. 

Dr. Johnson was licensed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in July of 1998 at the First Mount Carmel Christian Community Church in Baltimore, Maryland and in August of 2003, Dr. Johnson was ordained.

In October of 2014, Dr. Johnson released his first book along with a workbook entitled, “The New Wine Experience” A Leadership Model of Church Planting in the African American Context of Ministry.”  In December of 2015, Dr. Johnson released his sophomore book entitled, “Back to the Basics: The ABC’s of Leadership.”  Dr. Johnson’s most recent publication is “The New Wine Experience:  A 21 Day Devotional.” 

The post #Faithworks: Monthly news appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By AFRO Staff

Healing prayers are being requested for Bishop Michael Curry who became ill in Raleigh, North Carolina over the Memorial Day weekend.

The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church was reportedly hospitalized and underwent various testing for internal bleeding and a heart condition.

Bishop Curry has been discharged, is working on a modified schedule and will remain in North Carolina until permitted to fly.

The post #FaithWorks: Healing prayers for Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

In a culture where childhood is defined for so many by electronic devices and video games played indoors, exposure to nature is limited to short walks from a building to a vehicle.

Too many of our children know too little about the natural world.

The generation at hand, in large part, knows little of climbing trees each week, watching ant hills swell in the dirt or examining the secret life of lightning bugs and their signals. For youth in West Baltimore, that’s where Stillmeadow PeacePark comes in.

“Environmental education is necessary for all human development,” says Terris Andre King II, founder and CEO of Temple X Schools.

King is one of the architects of the environmental education programming offered through Stillmeadow Community Fellowship’s Peace Park Learning Center and the Baltimore Forest School.

“There is a healing power to nature and environmental education serves as a liaison between mankind and the outside world,” King told the AFRO.

Nearly 50 years ago a way was found to forge— out of the 10-acre woods near his church—a place to reintroduce children to the world away from their screens.

Stillmeadow PeacePark, along Frederick Avenue in Southwest Baltimore, has been developed with walking paths, meditation stations and an apiary. The space is supported by churches, local organizations and government agencies.

When Pastor Michael Martin began conducting services at Stillmeadow in 2017, he began hearing references to the undeveloped ten acres adjacent to church property.

Now, he is actively working to move along the evolution of the Baltimore Resiliency Hub. It is one of seven sites partnered with Baltimore City to provide resources for low- and middle-income households to offer support with navigating the impact of major climate-related events. K

King said he views the pandemic as a “‘Cold War’ on Children’’ that reduced a child’s world to remote schooling through video-taught classes. He has dedicated himself to providing children with a chance to explore the world away from their screens. King spoke on the effect of what has been called a “nature-deficit disorder” to describe what happens when people spend more time indoors than out in nature. The list of effects include childhood obesity, diminished senses and attention difficulties.

In Baltimore, with the multitude of disparities, environmental injustices, and the lack of sacred spaces just for children to play, it is vital that we not only cultivate these spaces for them, but we advocate for children’s rights to play, to play in nature and to receive environmental education.

The result is a solid afterschool program in which two dozen students gather in what King describes as a space for “academic and homework support, forest stewardship, and community-based science engagements.”

The church campus programs include Bible discovery classes, the Byte Back Computer Foundations Courses; women’s workout classes, and the Baltimore Forest School. The latter is a Saturday program connecting young people to fine arts and technology through nature play.

At Stillmeadow, he said, they “receive a snack, put on rubber boots and engage in a nature walk. Students maintain their learning of the urban forest by cleaning up trash, mulching and planting trees.

“Once they return they spend time finishing homework, reading, or receiving one-on-one academic tutoring. Lastly, students engage in scientific procedures developed in collaboration with our lead Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, which includes soil sampling, pollinator identification and more,” he said.

He characterized the educational approach at the PeacePark as one focused “on activating the many ways humans can give back to the forest and all the forest gives to mankind. The grounding principle is stewardship”

He believes PeacePark is “the best classroom in the world to learn about urban ecology and engage in environmental justice. The environmental education program has been cultivated to not only tell a place[1]based story but also focus on solving real-world problems that arrive daily in the forest.”

As a result, he said, more community members are aware of an institution advocating for the needs of the people and Stillmeadow Community Fellowship is that organization. The word is being spread through the connection between PeacePark and the Baltimore Forest School.

The Baltimore Forest School launched in the summer of 2022 with a goal of “scaling the works taking place at Stillmeadow Community Projects (PeacePark) to other churches in underserved communities.” So far seven other faith leaders have joined the cause to underscore the role of the Black church in the creation of what he called “a sacred outdoor space made for a time like this to represent God’s will and protection over our future.”

For more information on Stillmeadow Community Church, log onto stillmeadow.community.

Marnita Coleman is an Owings Mills, Md.-based journalist, international music specialist, voice actor, and owner of Sought Out International.

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By AFRO Staff

Prayer warriors across the country came together for the National Day of Prayer, which took place on May 4. The event encouraged people to worship with friends and strangers alike in churches, synagogues and public spaces. In Baltimore, rabbis, pastors and members of the faith community enjoyed live music, prayer and performances at the War Memorial across from City Hall. 

The post Local faith leaders and residents join together for National Day of Prayer appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Under the leadership of President and First Lady, Rev. Monique T. Carter, The Ministers’ Wives Alliance of New Shiloh Baptist Church hosted the debutante tradition a 21st-century, spiritual makeover this year in Baltimore. 

The 2023 Debutante for Christ Luncheon introduced an eight-member graduating class that included Dana Ellis, Jamiyah Harris, Jeae Parker, Jordan Rose, Raven Smith, Autumn Weaver, Olivia West and Carmen Winchester. The event was held on April 29 at 3 p.m., in the Elizabeth Adams Banquet Meeting Hall of New Shiloh Baptist Church. 

Family, friends, and church members gathered to esteem the class and commemorate their accomplishments.

Debutante balls have been an elegant means of presenting young ladies to society dating back to the 18th century. This rite of passage allowed aristocratic gents an opportunity to glimpse and take notice of suitable brides. In many African-American communities, debutantes were prepared for life outside of their social circles with a focus on education– not their family name and prestige. 

Cynthia West, a Ministers’ Wives Alliance coordinator and mother of a graduating debutante, weighed in on the importance of the rite of passage. 

“Through this program, we are putting a spin on the traditional debutante, and hope that they will be inspired to live a life of holiness and purity. They will be instructed on integrity, grace, obedience and self-esteem,” said West.

In October 2004, the pastor’s late wife, Dr. Weptanomah Carter, established the Debutante for Christ program which is now headed by Rev. Monique T. Carter. The debutante program is designed to help 16 to 18-year-olds navigate their spiritual journey with Christ.

The debutante program does not feature young women making a formal entrance into society or prescribing a mate for marriage, but rather fosters “positive values and builds on a strong foundation of Christ.”

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the program resumed with its first post-pandemic class.

Jeae Parker, a student at Howard County Community College, spoke about the programming available to debutantes.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a class on mental health since it’s usually a sensitive topic. I found out why I have the habits that I do, like perfectionism. I was open and figured out more about myself through stuff like that,” said Parker. 

She also stated that the money matters class was very beneficial.

“It taught me about banking and managing money correctly,” she said. 

Parker also praised the social etiquette class for teaching her how to conduct herself in an elegant setting.

Over the past three months, the girls have engaged in virtual and in-person workshops. 

The program began with biblical teachings, which are the foundation and purpose of the program. The classes included “Biblical Teaching,” “My Body, My Health,” “Emotional Health” and “Money Matters.” There was also training on career planning and social etiquette. The Ministers’ Wives Alliance consistently observed the girls’ development and spiritual growth within the church community and through their active church involvement.

Olivia West, a senior at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, shared that the main takeaway for her was learning “when you put God first, everything will fall into place.” 

“It hasn’t been easy,” said West. “I feel like I am still trying to grasp that we live in this world where media tells women and girls how we’re supposed to act and how we’re supposed to look. Those environmental factors can cause you to doubt yourself sometimes, but relying on what God says about you, grounds me and pulls me back.”

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By DaQuan Lawrence,
Special to the AFRO

The Baltimore City Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Baltimore City FCA) and the Park Heights Saints Football club recently hosted the Annual Victory Celebration and Fundraiser banquet at Martin’s West in Baltimore. 

The event took place May 1 and honored Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and his wife, Ingrid Harbaugh, who partnered with Baltimore City FCA to meet the needs of Baltimore City youth.

Super Bowl winning coach, NFL Hall of Famer and author Tony Dungy issued keynote remarks, highlighting the importance of family, faith, friendship and being an honorable Christian– no matter the circumstances. 

“I had the benefit of having great parents. My dad was a college professor who taught biology. I learned so much from him and he always talked about not letting anyone else define you,” said Dungy. “My mother was a teacher as well, who taught high school English and public speaking. She always said, ‘It doesn’t matter what you do in life, if you do it for the right reasons and do it for the Lord– you’re going to be successful.’”

The Baltimore City FCA is the local arm of the Maryland Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to leading coaches and athletes as they grow their faith. The organization operates several programs throughout the city to serve Baltimore’s youth and provide community members with necessary support. 

Dungy spoke on how his faith influenced his life.

“As a young man, I often thought of Mark chapter eight, verse 36 which says, ‘What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

In an interview with the AFRO, Dungy explained why he supports the Baltimore City FCA and the work they are  doing in the Baltimore community. 

“I came to Baltimore to support the Baltimore City FCA because it’s a wonderful organization. I love the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and what they can bring to a city,” said Dungy. “I’m here to support our young people and because I have a lot of history in Baltimore.”

Dungy highlighted the importance of providing opportunities for youth and athletes to experience spiritual, educational and professional development beyond sports. 

The fundraiser honored some of Baltimore’s youth, athletes, coaches and community members who are using faith-based principles to serve the Baltimore community.

Attendees heard remarks from a slew of inspirational speakers and honorees including the Harbaughs, Baltimore Ravens chaplain Johnny Shelton, former NFL football player Steve Fitzhugh and Morgan State Director for Intercollegiate Athletics Dena Freeman-Patton. FCA Park Heights Saints’ head coach Garrick Williams and FCA’s Metro Director Sirena Alford were also in attendance. 

In 2022, Freeman-Patton became the first woman in Morgan’s 156 year history hired to lead its athletic operations. Alford, an organizer of the banquet, celebrated her tenth anniversary with the Baltimore City FCA. 

Chaplain Shelton, another key organizer of the fundraiser, commemorated his tenth season with the Baltimore Ravens. 

“Coach Dungy agreed to come to attend our banquet and he has a great heart for the Lord. Being a coach and former athlete himself, he knows this is a great field to spread the gospel to our young people,” Shelton told the AFRO. 

Pastor John Shearin, who serves as chairman of FCA Baltimore City’s Advisory Board, celebrated Alford for her leadership. 

“Congratulations to our courageous and spirit-led Metro Area Director [Sirena Alford] on your ten-year journey of outstanding leadership. Working beside you has been a daily adventure and great blessing,” said Shearin. 

Kelly Benefits CEO Frank Kelly III and former Maryland State Senator Francis X. Kelly, Jr. issued remarks on behalf of the Kelly family, who are major donors to BCFCA. 

“This evening we are blessed to be able to recognize and celebrate the many years of ‘behind the scenes’ encouragement, wisdom, affirmation and unconditional support provided by the Honorable Francis X. Kelly, Jr, Frank III, John, David, Bryan and all the members of the Kelly Family,” said Shearin.

During his remarks, Maryland FCA State Director Brad Johnson, acknowledged the importance of diversity in sports and creating and supporting spaces for athletes with a disability. 

“I am extremely excited about the advancement of All Ability Sport in Maryland.  All Ability Sport is a ministry to coaches and athletes who happen to have physical or cognitive disability,” said Johnson. 

“Last year, FCA as an organization launched all ability sports. The state of Maryland jumped in headfirst and we launched four all ability sports camps last summer. In 2023, we will have six camps – one which will be in Baltimore city – and that will be the most of any U.S. state,” said Johnson. 

Shelton said this event was important because in addition to it being a fundraiser, the stakeholders “are able to raise awareness of the organization and its importance for Christian athletes.” 

“We would like to raise funds to develop our staff and work with more athletes at their schools and [on their] campuses,” he said. 

Dungy offered his thoughts about the importance of getting today’s youth to consider educational or professional development opportunities beyond sports despite the potential high salaries in sports.

“I love for people to be involved with athletics and I think it teaches you a lot of things, but athletics is not our whole life,” said Dungy. “There’s going to be a time when you’re not going to be able to play, so what do you do? What do you have to lean on? That educational piece is so important.”

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By Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook

“This is the Lord’s doing…It’s marvelous in God’s eyes”

Thursday, April 13th, the date of my late father’s birthday, has become a major day in my life story and history.

On Thursday, April 13th, 2011, I was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become our country’s Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.

And it was Thursday, April 13th that my portrait was hung in the Morehouse International Hall of Fame, for Lifetime Achievement, beside Dr. Jeremiah Wright, my D. Min. Samuel Proctor Fellows classmate; and whose daughter, Rev. Jeri Wright now works beside me as business minister.

How awesome it was in so many ways! The day was shared with my cohort of 30 Black women pastors in the REAL Black women THRIVE initiative that I lead; a $1.5 million funded ministry by the Lilly Endowment, to empower, engage and expand opportunities and horizons for Black women in ministries. 

It was also the day we all were inducted into the 37th College of Ministers and Laity at the Morehouse Chapel, a masterful genius of a vision of Dean Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Morehouse Chapel.

We shared the stage with 100 ministers from throughout the nation, and the auditorium was filled with more than 1,000 members of Latter Day Saints, many of whom I met during my tenure as Ambassador. It was awesome to see peers, colleagues, spiritual sons and daughters, who throughout the years, have served together. Dean Carter also orchestrated this to be the largest induction class of women in ministry—ever. More than half the inductees were women, 30 of whom were my cohort.  

As people celebrated and congratulated me on social media and in phone messages and letters, they said continuously, “well deserved for lifetime achievement.” 

I brought the luncheon message, “You’d better bring it,” based on the Mark 16 passage about women who brought their spices to Jesus for his burial; to help with the decomposing body, yet he was alive, and the stones had been rolled away. It reminds us of how we must “bring” our gifts, our spices, to God in a world that’s decomposing, and recognize that Jesus is very much alive for us too. 

These past years have been about legacy for me..helping a generation of leaders, especially Black women, and those who will follow, with being clear on how we must go forward. My legacies are: raising two Black powerful men, leading The REAL Black women in ministry, and building the first chamber of commerce focused solely on Black women business owners worldwide, the Global Black Womens’ Chamber of Commerce (www.GlobalBlackWomen.org).

I reflected on my parents who had begun their journeys in the fields and had to use an outhouse, and here their daughter was at MoreHouse. Amazing journey. It still continues. I heard Dr. Cornel West, who had been my professor at Union Theological Seminary, and who was today’s Howard University Chapel speaker. Among the many nuggets that stood out, he said, “When we are all in the room, people should feel the spirit of our ancestors in us. On Thursday, April 13, 2023, with my son, a doctor at Morehouse Hospital, on my late father’s birthday, I felt the spirit of my ancestors, speaking to me, and preaching through me, and now we all hang together in the International Hall of Fame at Morehouse College Chapel, and I thank God for all that God is doing and has done. 

At Gov. Wes Moore’s inauguration, a few months ago, I stood there and marveled at this man, whose journey I had followed and had a little to do with. I see him “crushing” his role as the first African-American Governor of Maryland. And for all of us who are first in our arenas, we must “crush it,” serving to the best and highest standards, to the glory of God.

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By Leonardo Blair, Senior Features Reporter, The Christian Post

In the last 34 years that he has operated his 800-member Friendship Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, the Rev. Alvin Gwynn Sr. says his average monthly energy bill has hovered around “maybe $1,200.”

About two months ago, however, Gwynn claimed in an interview with The Christian Post that his bills from Baltimore Gas and Electric skyrocketed.

The latest bill from the company reviewed by CP shows that Friendship Baptist Church had an outstanding payment to BGE of $30,478.41 that was due on Easter Monday, April 10. Gwynn said he is refusing to pay the amount “on principle” because there is no way his church used that much electricity, forcing BGE to cut the power to the church on the day the bill was due. READ MORE…

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Traditionally, when we think of hunger, images of children with swollen bellies from third-world countries come to mind. Not so in today’s time– food insecurity is a global epidemic and a growing concern in our nation.

In Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region, 33 percent of the population is considered food insecure and one-half of that amount is labeled severely food insecure.

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church (GMCHC), located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Washington, D.C., has stepped into the arena to address the need to feed the hungry. Through one of its two outreach facilities, the Crowder Owens Food Bank, GMCHC has distributed 32,423 pounds of produce and served 92,058 meals.

After a six-month period, the change is palpable.

“We have been able to feed our community fresh produce like greens, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and carrots,” said the Rev. Rodney L. Carter Jr., associate pastor of GMCHC. The Crowder Owens Food Bank has become the leader in Ward Five for the “most produce distributed” and “most meals distributed,” capturing two awards for doing so from Capital Area Food Bank, Washington, D.C.’s largest hunger relief organization.

“One of the pillars of our church is to embrace the community,” Rev. Carter explained. They are accomplishing that by way of outreach. Every week, on what is called “giving Tuesday,” from 12-2 p.m. at the Crowder Owens Food Bank, 600 W Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002, fresh produce, meat, dairy, and meals are distributed. An onsite clothing boutique is open to the public as well. “Folks can browse freely and pick out what they need.”

Through partnership organizations, GMCHC’s second outreach facility, the Family Life Community Center across from the main campus offers job training including creating resumes, mock interviews, interview attire dos and don’ts, job placement and how to conduct yourself at a job. The facility also has a gym and basketball court.

“That is how we have connected with the community,” Rev. Carter said.

With a desire to meet people where they are, GMCHC recently held a heart-health, wellness checkup during Sunday worship. Blood pressures were taken, health materials were passed out and the guest physician scheduled appointments immediately following the morning program.

Although the population of Ward Five is only 90,380, they have seen an increase in numbers due to inflation and the aftermath of the pandemic.

“We’re seeing some working-class families struggling due to rent increases and things of that nature. We’ve seen more people from different walks of life utilizing our facilities.” Rev. Carter said, “GMCHC is happy to serve as many people as it can.”

Bishop Alfred A. Owens Jr. launched the ministry in 1966 and Co-Pastor Dr. Susie C. Owens joined him in 1972, when they were married. For 57 years, GMCHC has served the District of Columbia, dedicated to its mission to “exalt Christ, equip believers, and embrace the community.” The website conveys a family-focused environment with activities for everyone such as sports events, men’s prayer, marriage enrichment, and financial wellness.

On Jan. 14, Owens received the 2022 Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteerism and impacting the community.

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By Aria Brent,
AFRO Staff

Hundreds packed into West Baltimore’s Sharon Baptist Church on the corner of Presstman and Stricker streets on April 1 to honor the life and legacy of the Baltimore legend, the Rev. Dr. Alfred C.D. Vaughn. 

“Don’t you hear the bells ringing? Don’t you hear the angels singing ‘Glory, Hallelujah? Jubilee!’ because Rev. Dr. A.C.D Vaughn has made it to see his Jesus!” exclaimed daughter Rev. Dr. Lynnette Vaughn, moments before the casket was closed. “He opened his eyes and saw Jesus! Bon voyage my dad! Bon voyage, my friend! Bon voyage, my mentor! We are happy you made it! You made it!”

The veteran preacher and community leader died on March 19 in the comfort of his home. 

Born on Aug. 3,1938, Dr. Vaughn was the twelfth of 13 children born to Robert and Mildred Vaughn in West Baltimore. Dr. Vaughn was a 1957 graduate of Douglass High School, and furthered his education at Virginia Theological Seminary and College, now Virginia University of Lynchburg. There he earned his bachelor’s degree before going on to earn his masters and doctorate degrees from Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. 

Dr. Vaughn grew up in Sharon Baptist Church, he was baptized there as a child and received a license to preach there as a young man. Prior to his time as senior pastor of the historic church, Dr. Vaughn worked as a mortician for a short amount of time, until he realized his calling was to work with the living. He also served at the Promise Land Baptist Church in Moneta, Va., and eventually made it back to his hometown of Baltimore in 1968. Once he returned to Baltimore, Dr. Vaughn served at Grace Memorial Baptist Church until 1986, when he accepted the calling to return to Sharon Baptist Church. While serving as senior pastor at Sharon Baptist Church, Dr. Vaughn simultaneously served at other churches along the East Coast.

“My father was the best mentor I ever had,” said Rev. Lynnette Vaughn. “He said to me ‘Let me tell you daughter, you preach! Preach in season, out of season, when you’re hurt, when you don’t feel like it and even when people don’t want to hear you. You keep preaching God, because that’s the only thing you have to do.’” 

A prominent figure within his community, Dr. Vaughn was known for wearing many hats and his unwavering commitment to his community.

“Father, husband, teacher, friend, pastor, mentor—those are all words that come to mind when we think about Dr.Vaughn, but when I think about his life and legacy, ‘servant leader’ is what comes to mind– a servant leader to God and God’s people,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said during the funeral.

Dr. Vaughn served as chair of the advisory board for the Grace and Glory Magazine, the largest religious publication in the Mid-Atlantic. Beginning in 1992, he served on the board of the AFRO-American Newspapers. Dr. Vaughn furthered his involvement with the AFRO by helping host the first AFRO High Tea, held at Sharon Baptist Church. He also served as chairman of the Eastern Theological Seminary of Lynchburg, Va. since it began in 1991. The A.C.D. Vaughn International Network for Women in Ministry was named in his honor by Dr. Barbara C. Moore, and he was an advisor to the Greater Baltimore Fellowship Choir.

The recipient of many accolades and awards, Dr. Vaughn had over a dozen honorary doctorate degrees from a multitude of colleges and universities. A Senior Statesman’s Hour has also been named in his honor at the Hamptons Ministers Conference.The late Congressman Elijah Cummings awarded him the Congressional Record House Special Order and he was also named the Senior Chief Chaplain of the Sheriff’s Department of Baltimore City by Sheriff John Anderson in 2010. 

His service across the nation earned him national recognition from several institutions in June of 2006. Both the Hampton University Ministers Conference and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, honored him as a “Living Legend.”

He is the only person to have served as president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity for eight terms. 

“There was a man sent from God and his name was Vaughn–Vaughn the Baptist,” stated Rev. Dr. Dexter Wise, reflecting on Dr. Vaughn’s impact at the funeral. “He was a voice crying in the wilderness…and God sent him strategically in our lives when we were in the wilderness and when we needed a voice. Whether it was at the outhouse or the White House, he was a voice in the wilderness.” 

A mentor to many, and a friend to all, Dr. Vaughn was known for his diplomacy and was a well respected leader. 

“Along with his powerful preaching, Rev. Vaughn had the grace to be available —to be mentor, friend and pastor — to everyone who needed him.” noted Rev. Dr. Dorothy Boulware “He called every minister his son or his daughter, including myself, whether or not they came through his ministry.The faith community has lost a friend and guide and needs to find ways to come together in honor of his legacy.”

Dr. Vaughn received the President’s Award from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta in April 2009 in addition to this, he was recognized by the Progressive National Baptist Convention for 60 years in the gospel ministry, where he was one of the founding members.

Under his guidance the Sharon Baptist Church developed an outreach model where the church was seen as the base of the community.  Dr. Vaughn used his church as a food bank, a tutoring center, a place to get school supplies and resources. He also ran an “adoption” program that paired seniors with youth, an initiative that helped the church gain a reputation for progress and activism when faced with adversity. Over the last 50 years, Dr. Vaughn has been a constant advocate for issues like fair housing and race relations to women’s rights.

The Rev. Dr. Alfred Corrogan Daniel Vaughn is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Dr. Lillian Pernell Bowser Vaughn; his two daughters Dr. Lynnette Vaughn and Dr. Casandra Vaughn; two sisters, Carrieta Ivey and Alfredo’s Graham; three grandchildren, Lauren A. Atkinson (Khari), Crystal A. Thomas (Jeremiah), Caleel and one great grandchild, Chandon Josiah Corrogan Thomas. He is also remembered and survived by a slew of nieces, nephews, godchildren, church family, clergy, relatives and friends. Dr. Vaughn was preceded in death by his son Corrogan R. Vaughn in 2017.

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By Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III
Special to the AFRO

Feeding the hungry has been a cornerstone of the Christian church since the very beginning.  In fact, long before nonprofit organizations and government agencies showed up on the scene to address hunger, churches had been in the fight for food security for many generations.  From soup kitchens, to food pantries and spaghetti dinners, churches have been not only praying for “our daily bread” – but providing it as well.

One of the latest and largest displays of the church returning to its roots on this issue began during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.  

Churches, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), food banks, local governments and corporations served as central sites for food distribution in their communities during the pandemic. As truckloads of donated food made its way to Baltimore, churches, inspired by their faith, signed up and lined up to help get it to the people.  

One of my proudest moments as a pastor during the pandemic was seeing other pastors posting pictures and videos on social media proudly displaying their congregations putting their faith in action by passing out boxes of produce in their community.  

Church leaders were showing off the distribution systems they had devised with their members, the data collection processes they implemented and the ways that they repurposed their unutilized buildings for the food operation.  

I beamed with pride.  

This was a far cry from the rightly critiqued clergy conversations of yesteryear where pastors would boast about how many members they had at their church.  Now clergy weren’t bragging about how many members their buildings could hold, but rather they were testifying about how many people they were feeding.  This, to me, felt like something closer to the heart of God.  

For the first two years of the pandemic, food ministries at Black churches across Baltimore (and beyond) were expanding and becoming one of the central aspects of ministry.

Then, the money started drying up.

I received a call from the Maryland Food Bank in late 2022 letting me know that the funding for their pandemic grant was ending.  They had spent $40 million providing food for free to churches and community organizations to distribute, but now that grant money was gone. Their community partners would no longer receive food for free.  

On the day after Christmas 2022, local and national outlets started publishing the disturbing news about the money being gone.  I started hearing from churches that were worried about the hundreds of families that they had been serving since the pandemic began with the Food Bank’s support.  They wondered how they would continue to support the families without funding.  Maryland was not unique with regard to grant money running out for food programs.  Food banks and other organizations across the United States started sharing similar news.  

Then more bad news came. 

On March 1 the extra funding added to food stamp benefits during the pandemic, expired.  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) lowered food stamp benefits back to pre-pandemic levels which resulted in people receiving $85 to $250 less per month for groceries.

The funding dried up, but the need remains.

This shows the limits and deficiencies of charity.  While valuable in short-term emergencies, food charity is not a sustainable solution for food insecurity.  Food charity will not fix food insecurity at its root.

However, all is not lost.  

These past three years have helped us to reimagine what ministry can look like as it relates to food.  Our churches have the ability to set up food storage and distribution systems.  Our church budgets can be shaped to prioritize community food needs.  Our church members have willingness, know-how and professional expertise to run food operations.  Our pastors not only have a heart for the hungry, but especially now on this side of the pandemic have greater concern for lasting solutions to food insecurity that they’ve seen with their own eyes.

Many of the components of the basic infrastructure that we’d need to fix food insecurity in Black Baltimore is already in place.  Our churches have land, kitchens, classrooms, vans, parking lots, relationships and people.  We can get in the driver’s seat of shaping the food environments of our own communities.  

While no one church could tackle such a giant by itself, working together we could fix food insecurity in our city.  This is precisely the mission of the Black Church Food Security Network.  We help churches to start gardens on their land, host Black farmers markets, organize tours of Black farms and buy in bulk from Black growers.  So far, we have more than 200 congregations and 125 Black farmers across the U.S., but Baltimore is our home.

As external funding has dried up, Baltimore churches have an opportunity now to combine our resources, leverage our relationships and work together in the spirit of unity to fix food insecurity in our city.  If we do this, it will show a model that ministries across the nation would gladly mimic and once again demonstrate the power of faith for food justice.

Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III is the founder and Executive Director of The Black Church Food Security Network. 

 Learn more here: www.BlackChurchFoodSecurity.net

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By Roslyn Jones
AFRO Faith Squad
#FaithWorks
#SecureTheBag

This Easter holiday, thanks to a partnership with two local schools in the Howard County school system, The Hill Church and Ministries as well as the Rachell L. Gray Community Foundation, 50 families will receive food baskets containing the makings of an Easter feast with meat and all the trimmings. “Thank you so much! Our families have benefitted from the generosity of your congregation in the past, and we are so thankful for the assistance,” said one nearby school counselor.

Feeding children is an ongoing and important mandate for this church.

“It really breaks my heart to know that children in this country actually don’t have enough food on a daily basis,” said Bishop Antoine McClurkin, pastor of The Hill Church and Ministries. “With so many indulging in excesses of all kinds, our children should be the last to suffer.”

According to Feeding America, the largest charity in this country working to end hunger, in Maryland, 543,650 people are facing hunger; 1 in 8 of which, or 167,020, are children. Feeding America has estimated an additional $298,916 million per year is needed to meet their food needs.

In 2020, Congress temporarily increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by providing Emergency Allotments to help low-income individuals and families across the US deal with the financial hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those emergency allotments will return to standard SNAP benefit amounts, without the added supplement.

The loss of emergency SNAP benefits has left individuals and families without the security of monthly food assistance, and although charities provide some relief to families, additional government support is needed to fully meet the needs of those affected.

Although these numbers are quite alarming, a 2021 Childhood Report ranked Maryland #30 of the 50 states, in terms of how well they were protecting and providing for children during the pandemic.

The Rachell L. Gray Community Foundation is a 501c3 public charity in Columbia, MD that operates The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a government approved program which provides monthly distribution for income-based families and individuals. The foundation also provides additional assistance and resources for families experiencing various hardships.

“The union of these community partners was a match made in heaven,” said Bishop McClurkin, “and provides an opportunity to feed the spiritual as well as the natural. Easter is a great time to make this provision, but it should come every day.”

Roslyn Jones is one of the first members of the AFRO Faith Squad, local writers who share their church’s 

https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/maryland#:~:text=What%20Hunger%20Looks%20Like%20in,of%20them%20167%2C020%20are%20children.&text=face%20hunger.,in%208%20children%20face%20hunger.

https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/resource-library/us-childhood-report

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By Rev. Norman Franklin

Vashti Murphy McKenzie, in 2000, became the first female bishop in the more than two-hundred-year history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Murphy shattered the glass ceiling because of her gifts, preaching abilities and her impressive credentials.

She was born into the prominent Murphy family on May 28, 1947. Her great-grandfather, John H. Murphy, started the Afro-American Newspaper in1892. Her grandfather, Carl H. Murphy, continued in the publishing business with the newspaper; her grandmother, Vashti Turly Murphy, was a founding member of Delta Sigma Theta. The Christian African American college sorority currently has a national membership of more than a quarter million. 

McKenzie studied at the University of Maryland, briefly dabbled in journalism, earned her Master of Divinity from Howard University and her Doctor of ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She was assigned a small congregation in Chesapeake City and then Payne Memorial AME in Baltimore. It was her leadership in transforming Baltimore’s inner city that gained her notice and triggered her meteoric rise to bishop. 

She started various community empowerment projects: job service programs, a summer school program, a food pantry, and a senior care center. Bishop McKenzie employed her community-focused spirituality – the church solving problems in the community – to help start parental support systems for AIDS orphans in South Africa. 

Bishop McKenzie served as the presiding prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District and president of the AME Council of Bishops before retiring. She is currently the interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.  She is the author of ‘Not Without a Struggle’ (1996), ‘Strength in the Struggle’ (1998), and ‘Journey to the Well’ (2002). 

Her sermon, ‘Keep the Pressure On’ is included in “Preaching with Sacred Fire” An Anthology of African American Sermons. It was preached at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastors Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, February 2004. Her sermon text was Mark 1:4-8. 

John was a lone voice preaching in the wilderness about the One who is to come. “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Mark 1:8, (NIV) 

Bishop McKenzie honed in on the pressures of his calling: to stand alone and preach the coming of our Lord. And to keep the pressure on the community to hear and repent. She summarized the pressures John endured with his call and in his day with application for our present day. 

Pressure, she defines, is the weight of something that bears down upon something, around something that exerts force. When God’s will bears down on your will, that’s pressure. When your way of life fails to intersect with God’s word, that’s pressure. When decisions are made out of fear rather than faith, that’s pressure. Some of the pressures of ministers are: the pressures of perfection, of relevance, of performance, of privacy and of potential. 

Today we face the pressure to conform to an idea of Christianity, and an image of a Savior whose construct is far right conservative and clothed in a robe of Christian Nationalism. 

“All of Jerusalem came out to John and he heard their confession and they repented and were baptized,” she preached. This illustrates and affirms her community focused spirituality. “When people’s needs are met, they will go where their needs are met.” 

Are the pews empty in our churches? John, she infers, is our example of one who survived the pressure of his profession and applied pressure in his community because he wasn’t afraid to stand alone. 

The ethics of our faith should govern our lives. We cannot deny the interconnectedness of the social, economic, political, and spiritual dynamics of our culture and society. The evidence of our faith should be demonstrated in each circle. We fall short in every area, but we cannot stop striving to reach the plateau, we have to keep the pressure on our culture, and on our spiritual domain; we have to keep on pushing. 

Pushing, defined by Merriam-Webster, is something marked by ambition, energy, enterprise, and initiative. Pushing, as employed by Curtis Mayfield, the Urban Prophet, in his 1960s R&B hit, ‘Keep on Pushing,’ the title a thematic double entendre of social and spiritual message, was inspiration music for a generation of African Americans who were pushing back against systemic social injustice. 

We can’t stop now; this centuries old system of dehumanizing, marginalizing and oppressing the African American, the poor, and the immigrant, manipulating Scriptures and spiritualizing oppression, must yield to justice and mercy, and grant us that we may walk humbly with God.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American • 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G
Baltimore, MD 21202 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Today’s older class has a “new attitude” about retiring and living a life of leisure. Abandoning the once-anticipated perspective of disengaging from social roles after retirement, senior citizens are embracing a new phase of positive aging. 

The senior citizens of today are directing the latter episodes of their lives in living color, being more intentional than their counterparts of previous decades. These strategic seniors are tapping into religion, spirituality and belief to maintain their vitality, quality of life and longevity. 

Unlike the couch-potato retirees of yesterday, obsessed with game shows, soap operas and detective stories, the senior citizens of today are calculated in their desires- especially when it comes to the soul. They are forming stronger relationships, seeking after God and holding on tight to their faith.

“My faith in God gives me the willingness to help those who are less fortunate than me. The Bible teaches loving your fellowman and serving humanity, and I believe in that,” says 75-year-old Charles Johnson from Prince George’s County, Md. 

“Instead of walking around grumpy, I look for opportunities to help someone–which makes me feel better and improves my life because I see the brighter side of things.”

Enthusiastic and strong, Johnson said that praying and reading the Bible keeps him going! 

“I thank the Lord every day for waking me up, being able to maintain myself, and doing the things I have to do on a daily basis,” Johnson states. 

Studies show that older adults who practice some form of religion, spirituality or other belief system are more mentally and socially connected fostering better relationships. Affiliation with religious communities can boost physical health and has a powerful impact on emotional well-being.

A relationship with God can decrease feelings of helplessness and isolation and increase feelings of purpose and belonging which brings happiness and satisfaction in life.

Dea Wells, a 93-year-old from Silver Spring, Md., states upfront that she is “busy!” 

Wells lives alone but does not “feel isolated.” She admits that having faith gives her confidence, hope and comfort– especially when praying for healing.

Wells relies on “good connections through family, friends, and church,” and stays active by telephone, writing letters and meet-ups with neighbors at a nearby park where they talk and share. “I don’t always wait for friends to contact me. I’ll make the first move because I don’t mind reaching out at all.”  

Wells still keeps in contact with eight friends from first grade and is an intercessor on a weekly prayer line.

According to studies by the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, people feel like they can cope with anything they are going through when they have some type of religion or spirituality. Roughly 84 percent of older adults between the ages of 50 and 80 say that they have religious and/or spiritual beliefs that matter. About 40 percent say their beliefs are now more important than ever, and 28 percent say they are open to talking with healthcare professionals about their beliefs.

Constance Anele, DNP, RN, manager of Divine Connections Assisted Living Facility in the Waltherson-Frankford Community of East Baltimore told the AFRO that senior citizens can benefit from care that takes their faith into consideration. 

“Holistic treatment considers the mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspect of the whole person. Sometimes old age is associated with chronic illnesses–for instance, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.” 

Anele said that senior citizens become more “vulnerable when sick and lonely, and they can be impacted by a number of things– such as religion,” because it offers an opportunity to “add prayer, gospel music, Bible reading” and other activities to their daily lives. 

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Family, friends, and community members are paying their respects to the Rev. Dr. Alfred C.D. Vaughn at Sharon Baptist Church in Baltimore today. A wake will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the same location, with a funeral immediately following at 11 a.m. 

Read more about Rev. Vaughn here

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By Catherine Pugh,
Special to the AFRO

Rev. Alfred Corrogan Daniel Vaughn, pastor of Baltimore’s Sharon Baptist Church, passed away quietly on March 19 at home surrounded by his family, his wife of sixty years Lillian Vaughn, and his two daughters, CaSandra and Rev. Lynnette Vaughn. 

About ten ministers showed up immediately following his death to offer the family prayer and praise, to include co-pastor of Sharon Baptist Church, Rev. William Johnson. 

Johnson said he worked alongside Rev. Vaughn for 35 years. 

“He has been a mentor and a father to me as he was close to my father.  It is a tremendous loss not only for Baltimore but nationally. Our hearts at Sharon are very heavy right now,” he said. 

Dr. Harold Carter Jr. remembered Rev. Vaughn as his godfather, who led as pastor of Sharon Baptist for more than three decades. 

“When my father passed in 2013 he became my surrogate father. In many ways he is the godfather of our city in terms of other clergy persons. He was a preacher every day in the traditional sense of our culture,” said Carter. “He was a husband of 60 years to his wife and was married to his faith and to the community. His legacy will speak for itself.”

Bishop John Bryant, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, also spoke with the AFRO about Rev. Vaughn’s passing. He was in the number of ministers who joined the family in support. 

“He was a soldier,” said Bishop Bryant. “He was Baltimore’s ‘Bishop.’ He presided over more funerals of pastors than any other pastor in this city.  He was a pastor’s friend. He lived and breathed in faith that the people would have a better life. He left here with know regrets.  He left it all on the field.  He served the people until the very end. He will be missed,” said Bishop Bryant.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, called Rev. Vaughn an iconic preacher in the city of Baltimore whose reach was nationwide.

“He gave us opportunities that would not have been available to young preachers when we were coming along.  He was a champion of young people,” said Murphy McKenzie, who was selected to lead as interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) last year. “He has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Afro-American Newspapers for such a long time.  I appreciate his advocacy on behalf of African Americans and helping us get to places that were formerly denied us.”

“His presence will be missed. He left an indelible mark,” said Bishop McKenzie.

Bishop Dennis Proctor, of the African Methodist Episcopal  Zion Church, spoke to how Rev. Vaughn “was always promoting someone to the next level” with no thought to how it could benefit him personally. 

“He put me on platforms in places and opened doors I could not open myself.  He was the kindest, gentle, generous person—financially [and] emotionally.  He has probably done as much to promote people in ministry than anyone else I know.”

Bishop Frank M. Reid III, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, recalled Reverend Vaughn’s welcoming spirit. 

“In life my father used to tell me ‘there are two kinds of friends: transformational friends and transactional friends,” said Bishop Reid. “Rev. Vaughn was a transformational friend.  He was a father figure and gatekeeper for the Black Faith Community.  He had friends across denominations.”

“He put in place a new generation of pastoral leadership. He built bridges, politically, economically, spiritually and socially,” Bishop Reid continued. “He equipped and prepared generations of pastors in Baltimore and this nation to lead.  He will be missed.”

Bishop Walter Thomas, of the New Psalmist Baptist Church, told the AFRO that Rev. Vaughn “was not just the one you went to on issues…he was the one you loved to be around as a father.” 

Former mayor of Baltimore City, Kurt Schmoke, now president of University of Baltimore said, “for a generation of clergy in Baltimore, Rev. Vaughn was first among equals. He was a gifted preacher, an effective mentor, and a dedicated civic leader.”

Rev. Vaughn served several terms as president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity. He had also served on the board of the Progressive National Baptist Conference, founded by civil rights activists, to include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Rev. Harley Wilson, pastor of Israel Baptist Church, was one of Rev. Vaughn’s oldest friends in ministry. 

”We pastored the same church, Promise Land Baptist Church in Moneta, Va.  We served as trustees on the same board of Virginia University of Lynchburg, (formerly Virginia Seminary and College).  He put me on the board at Hampton University’s Ministers Conference,” said Rev. Wilson. “This is a great loss to pastors.  He was a friend to the pastoral community. He was a friends to pastors all over the United States and especially to young pastors. Many of us got our start under him.  We call him the ‘Elder of Baltimore.’ Many pastors are in this city because he opened doors for them.”

Congressman Kweisi Mfume said Rev. Vaughn was a long-time family friend.  

“I’ve known him since my childhood. He was and forever will be a guiding light for so many, and a true example to me of a God fearing and God directed disciple of Christ,” said Congressman Mfume. “I will miss his sense of humor and the many conversations we shared over the last fifty years.  My deepest condolences go out to Lillian, his queen for life, and to his daughters, Lynnette, and CaSandra. What a great husband and father! His was truly a life well lived. Rest well my friend!” 

Family, friends, and community members are paying their respects to the Rev. Dr. Alfred C.D. Vaughn at Sharon Baptist Church in Baltimore today. A wake will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the same location, with a funeral immediately following at 11 a.m. 

This article originally misspelled the name “Corrogan.” The AFRO deeply regrets this error.

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

In some African American churches, the time-honored tradition of “church mothers” is still vibrant. 

For generations, pastors and congregants have cherished these devout women for their wisdom, faith, and dedication. Church mothers serve in a variety of roles across a broad spectrum. Faithful to the call, they give their time, cooperation, and financial support to the work of the ministry. Often elders before an appointed position, church mothers are competent bible-study teachers, trusted confidants and assistants to the pastor, as well as vital members of their parish.

Back in the day, church mothers were a monument of holiness and prayer, exhibiting strength and godliness. And, as many will remember, Mother So-and-so always had mints, would check your attitude in a heartbeat and side-eye you into submission if your attire was out of order. Like your own mom, church mothers watch over the young flock helping direct their way through life.

Is this enough for post-pandemic millennials or should church mothers initiate change in the church community?

Ruth Lowery, affectionately called “Mama Ruth,” a church mother at Abundant Life International Ministries, on West Pratt Street in Baltimore says, “For me, change is good in my book, as long as it’s for the goodness of the Lord. What was done years ago will not work today.”

A second-generation church mother, Mama Ruth, says she is all for whatever makes things better. Years ago, you couldn’t chew gum in church, she recalls. Things have changed and Mama Ruth advises being sensitive when speaking to millennials about the way they dress because “you don’t want to run them away.” The Bible says come as you are. 

Mama Ruth is the successor to her mother who was a church mother until she passed. Although church mothers’ functions may vary, they tend to fill similar roles. Mama Ruth’s duties include opening the church, conducting prayer service, keeping all financial records, paying bills, preparing communion, teaching bible study, assisting the pastor, ordering supplies, and ministering to the young, especially the boys. “If they need something in the church, I’ll get it,” she said.

In 2020, a new breed of church mothers emerged that are not disturbed by what the young people are wearing but rather focus on transparency, relatability, and resourcefulness.

“I always had a connection with the younger ladies, not only the teenagers but the young ladies who are career minded,” stated Mother Joanne Smith who was installed in 2020 as Church Mother by Bishop Richard Jerome Pender Sr., pastor of Beth-El Temple Church of Christ in Northwest Baltimore. 

“I’m the type that had a career, went to school and retired at the top of my game. So, I know about career-minded women!” 

Now 70, Mother Smith is the youngest of the church mothers on her board, the oldest being 97. Career-oriented, she has dual retirement from both the State of Maryland’s Employee Development and Training for the Department of Budget and Management Office of Personnel and 44 years with Weight Watchers as a coach.

Mother Smith is transparent with her life. In her opinion, some of the older church mothers were like “Jesus’ sister, they didn’t have a life. They didn’t know anything. They didn’t know about clubs.” She got pregnant out of wedlock but has been married to her “baby’s daddy,” for 43 years now and is the only church mother with a surviving spouse.

Through her professional contacts, Mother Smith has been able to aid college students and provide career guidance. As a former Weight Watchers coach, she is sought after for her pearls of wisdom on healthy eating, and she is often approached for relationship advice.

Mother Smith says, “If the young women don’t respect you, you’ll know it quickly.” She‘s well respected because she’s “relatable” and has a “swagger” about herself. Mother Smith is still wearing high heels and the younger women love them. 

As church mothers pivot in this season, their positions are indeed important for church growth.

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, conducted spring cleaning a bit early this year by voting out five member churches with women in pastoral positions. A sixth SBC church was ousted for alleged clergy sexual abuse. 

Although each congregation is self-governing, the SBC’s guidelines relating to female pastors state, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

The recent decision disfellowshipped the women-led ministries of St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md., Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Ga.; Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss.; and Fern Creek Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. 

The executive committee expelled Baltimore’s St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church and Georgia’s New Faith Mission Ministry due to their “lack of intent to cooperate in resolving a question” arising from the churches having women senior pastors.

The Rev. Minnie R. Washington of St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church, stated in an emailed response that the church has had no relationship with the SBC and is not under their authority.

“We are not tributary to them, nor have we ever supported them. And our church has never needed anything at all from them,” Washington said. She said she regards her ouster “an honor and a privilege.

“Perhaps those individuals will remember that their first preacher-teacher was their mother,” Washington said, “And in Timothy’s life, it was his mother and his grandmother. St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church of Baltimore, M.d. follows Jesus Christ and not the SBC.”

The committee cited non-cooperation as their reason for removing Saddleback Church, a West Coast megachurch founded by internationally known, now-retired pastor and best-selling author Rich Warren. 

The SBC said that Saddleback Church, one of the largest members of SBC,  was not in “friendly cooperation” having “a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor,” referring to Stacie Wood, wife of newly appointed lead pastor Andy Wood.

The SBC noted that Fern Creek Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church’s placement of women senior pastors demonstrated that their “faith and practice” was not aligned with the SBC.

Executive Committee Chairman Jared Wellman commented that although the ousted churches have been in compliance for many years, they “remain committed to upholding the theological convictions of the SBC and maintaining unity among its cooperating churches.”

The actual body responsible for reviewing church practices is the Credential Committee, a standing committee, which ensures adherence to SBC policies. If a church is not in friendly cooperation with the Convention, the committee’s recommendations are sent to the Executive Committee, and according to SBC bylaws, the 86 members then vote on a plan of action, making their decision official and final.

The ousted churches will have the right to appeal the decision at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting scheduled for New Orleans in June. 

The breaking news has caused a growing schism between conservative and moderate members of the SBC. This seemingly antiquated position has also drawn criticism from within and outside of the Christian faith.

The Rev. Donte Hickman of Baltimore weighed in on the developing story. 

“Our church, though named Southern Baptist Church, has never been a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. One of the reasons we are not is because of the blatant sexism in leadership. Biblically grounded ministry and leadership have always been egalitarian,” said Hickman. “Women have been prophets, preachers, judges, and royal leadership for centuries. And this archaic idea of male-dominated ministry leadership is irrelevant to Christian ministry, especially in a postmodern society. Supremacy and superiority have no place in a Christ-centered church!”

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Can’t seem to get your spiritual oomph back? Have you been too busy to pray or too tired to read your Bible? Has COVID-19 given you the perfect excuse to stay in virtual mode? If you have created the habit of casual Christianity–just going through the motions with little to no fervor in your worship– don’t panic, you could use a jumpstart.

When these signs show up it usually indicates that our relationship with God requires attention. If a car is not driven for a while, the battery will become weak, or die. 

“The flame that God has set in us must be stoked, must be nurtured, must be developed so that we can continue to weather the storm with fire, passion and determination,” said Pastor Clarinda Burston-White, of Miracle Church in East Baltimore.

After the pandemic’s interruption of in-person worship service only two out of three regular churchgoers have returned. We are urged by Hebrews 10:25, not to stop coming together as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another to stay consistent in our fellowship especially as we see the coming of the Lord Jesus drawing near. 

Myles Munroe, the late, world-renowned visionary, taught us that an environment of faith keeps believers strong. Every guru, life coach or trainer knows that consistency is key to maintaining your momentum. 

When you are feeling dry and unexcited about gathering with those of like precious faith, you have to “ignite the flame” as Pastor Burston-White would say because something is out of alignment.

When our focus changes, new habits are created and old habits fade away. Many have replaced spending time in the presence of the Lord with Netflix original movies, sporting events, brunch, or just sleeping in. It’s a subtle move of uprooting spirituality for entertainment, not cognizant of making God second fiddle. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:58 we are reminded to be steadfast and unmovable, always thriving in the work of the Lord, for our doing so will pay off. In other words, stay connected to God.

Though we are in February, now is the time to shift gears and get going again. Here are four simple steps to rev your motor. 

Step 1: Pray. Make a decision to seek God with all your heart. This is not a cliche or mindless action. Be transparent with Him and ask for help to reignite your spirit.

Step 2: Repent. Be willing to make a u-turn. Do not hesitate to go back to what kept your flame burning. Stay in an atmosphere of love and faith.

Step 3: Worship. Be intentional and deliberate about prioritizing your relationship with God, just as you would with your spouse or significant other.

Step 4: Study the scripture. Be patient and committed to the process. Rome was not built in a day. You may not feel devoted immediately. Remember, if you draw near to God, He will draw near to you.

Pastor Burston-White adds, “We are living through perilous times and life keeps presenting before us challenges that seem insurmountable but those who are in Christ have a flame inside and that flame is to keep us strong and assured so that we will overcome our trials and our tribulations.”

When you take these steps you will surely regain your momentum.

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By Dr. Gina M. Stewart, President Lott Carey

As the city of Memphis and people around the world gathered to remember the life of Tyre Nichols this past Wednesday, we mourned the loss of life for one “gone too soon.” Tyre was an aspiring photographer, lover of sunsets, and skateboarding, a son, a father to a young son, and a human being created in the image of God. His death has left the city of Memphis dumbfounded, devastated, and disappointed by those who abandoned their responsibility to protect and serve. The blatant and incomprehensible disregard for human life captured in the video defies the definition of humanity. We weep with his parents, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, and the countless other parents who have lost a child to violence and whose names will never make the news or become a hashtag.

As a citizen of Memphis, I ask that you join me in prayer for the Wells Family, the city of Memphis, this nation, and the world. But also pray for justice that will result in reform for Tyre and for the countless others who have lost their lives to violence.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” As our broken hearts cry out for justice, may the Lord hear and answer our collective cries. And may the soul of Tyre Nichols and others who have entered the ancestral realm rest in peace and rise in glory.

About Lott Carey
Established in 1897, Lott Carey has networks in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America.

Based in the Washington DC Metro Area, Lott Carey provides financial support and technical assistance in leadership development, education, training, healthcare, advocacy, disaster relief, and other services.

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By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie reflected on what the Bible says about being a “neighbor” and challenged National Prayer Breakfast attendees to operate out of the kind of love, mercy and compassion Jesus demonstrates throughout Scripture. 

Speaking at the event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning, McKenzie, the interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, focused her message on Luke 10, the story of the Good Samaritan. 

In it, Jesus tells the parable of a traveler who is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A Jewish priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. A Samaritan, however, stops and helps the man. 

“Could it be that he saw the man’s humanity? When he saw the man’s humanity, he saw his own. Maybe we need to see our own humanity and see the humanity of others,” McKenzie, the first woman bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, said.

“Maybe the one sitting next to you right now. Could it be that Jesus knew it would be hard to demonstrate this kind of love until we identified ourselves as neighbor? It helps us to go from passive listening to active engagement.”

At the end of the parable Jesus challenges His listeners to “Go and do likewise.”

McKenzie challenged listeners to imagine what life would be like if humanity truly loved one another as their neighbor. She defined “love” as Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 13.

“This doesn’t mean that we ignore safeguarding life, liberty and human dignity. It means that we are willing to do the heavy lifting to demonstrate love in the public square,” she declared. 

“What would happen in this 21st century of ours if we did just that, go and do likewise. What if we would step over cultural guardrails to be an example of public love to people traumatized beside the road? What would happen if we would undertake the tough task to demonstrate restorative love and real tangible ways in our classrooms?”

McKenzie told listeners that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God — and one person is no more valuable than another. She stressed the importance of both unity and personal responsibility when it comes to bringing about positive change. 

“One can do much alone, but we can do more alone when we are united in vision and voice,” she said. 

McKenzie emphasized the power that comes with being loving “in the public square,” showing mercy and being resilient.

“We don’t have to be perfect, but we must show up,” she said. “There is enough power in this room to make it happen. What a powerful message it would be to the world if we walked together with compassion over callousness, cooperation over competition, and at the end of it, go and do likewise.”

But “doing likewise,” she said, is impossible without the power of God. 

“Here’s your invitation to come into the throne of God when you pray, grace and mercy are waiting for you,” she declared. “Nothing else will help you stand in the face of traumatic situations. … Draw near. Nothing else will help you. God is waiting for you. God wants you to experience God in different ways than how you’ve experienced God before. God wants more and more for you than you can imagine.”

“Love makes a difference in how we see ourselves; created an image of God. God’s love makes a difference in how we deal with suffering,” she added. “God’s love makes a difference in how we handle the impossible. Nothing is impossible with God.”

An annual tradition that goes back to 1953, the breakfast is held every first Thursday in February. The event was first held under President Dwight Eisenhower, with the encouragement of the Rev. Billy Graham.

The event often features speeches by special guests and the president of the United States. 

Ahead of McKenzie’s remarks, President Joe Biden delivered a message and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir performed. 

McKenzie is also the first woman to serve as president of the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s Council of Bishops. She previously spoke to The Christian Post about the challenges of empowering women in the church.

The pastor said she tells women that issues of “power and authority” are a larger challenge than the question of “gender.”

“I share with women that the majority of the time, the issues and the challenges that you face has nothing to do with your gender, but has everything to do with power and authority,” she said.

“Most of the time it has nothing to do with gender, but everything to do with power and control. Who is the conductor that gets to select the instruments that play? Who is the director of the choir who determines which voices get to sing and who gets to sing the solo?”

Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

The North Avenue Learning Initiative, a program run by City of Abraham Church and Ministries (COACM) is searching for adult volunteers aged 19 and older who are willing to volunteer at least five hours a week. Volunteers can help in-person at the Walbrook branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, located at 3203 W. North Avenue, or online, but a college degree is required.

Lynn Pinder, program director of the North Avenue Learning Initiative, confided that a lot of what they have been able to accomplish over the years, though limited in funding, came as a result of different types of in-kind support from the church and the community.

“For me, an educated adult is one of the best forms of youth development that we can have,” said Pinter, adding that one educated adult can influence an entire household.

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to come with a lot of patience, flexibility, open mind and open heart. Unlike the K-12 population, everything scheduled may not happen in a day’s time, and structure with adult learners can be different. 

In the hour of the great resignation, when workers are walking away from jobs, the call for help must be heard above personal ambitions. 

If culture is the soul of a nation, its embodiment through volunteerism speaks volumes of its spirit. In America, about 78,260,869 adults volunteer annually. And that number does not top the estimated 124 million people that helped one another during the pandemic.

Churches have traditionally stepped in to fill gaps that leave community members in need. Today, they are at the forefront of addressing a number of crises related to everything from  education to voting rights. 

“Here at the City of Abraham Church and Ministries, we believe in providing the needs of the whole person. Spiritual needs are our first priority, but we also believe that a good education will lead to a life well lived,” said Executive Pastor of COACM, Pam Hammack, noting that education is key to unlocking the golden door to freedom. “We need volunteers to help with tutoring our students in the areas of math, reading, history, and other subjects. We also need people with strong administrative skills to help with recruiting students and other clerical needs. Perhaps there is someone who is proficient with computers and other technology.”

“These things can help our students make the best of their GED experience. It takes teamwork to make the dream work,” said Hammack.

The ministry has a capable and dependable GED program director, but wants to stack the deck with other capable hands from the community. 

A GED provides the same level of foundational education as a high school diploma. Students are well-prepared for higher levels of learning or gainful employment by government agencies and private industry. A Maryland High School Diploma is awarded to those who successfully pass the four modules of the GED tests, which are language arts (including reading and writing), mathematics, science, and social studies.

Ayesha Smothers, a 2022 graduate of the North Avenue Learning Initiate shouted cheerfully, “My diploma means a lot to me!” It is the bridge to continued education and her dream career. In the 11th grade, the teen mom stopped attending school to work and care for her kids. Now 37, Smothers is enrolled at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md. in pursuit of a degree in forensic science. 

If you are wondering if the GED is still popular, wonder no more. Google reports that 21,600 Marylanders recently searched this topic.

Graduate Ra’Quan Matthews shared that when his mother told him about the GED program offered by the City of Abraham Church and Ministries, he “jumped at it, and it worked out.” The 22-year-old felt he needed a fresh start. He advises future students of the program, “to believe in themselves and never give up.”
If you are interested in volunteering with this GED ministry, please email your resume and a short paragraph explaining why adult literacy is important to you: ywaction1@yahoo.com.

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By The Christian Recorder

In Ephesians 4: 1, the Apostle Paul urges us to “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have been called,” and Reverend William D. Watley, Ph.D., has done that and more! It is with a humble heart and reverential esteem that Reverend William D. Watley, Ph.D., announces his retirement from active service after faithfully serving 60 years in ministry. Therefore, an exciting “Retirement Celebration” is being planned in his honor, Thursday, May 4, 2023 (Reception, 5:30 p.m., and Worship Service, Saint Philip AME Church – Atlanta, GA, 7:30 p.m., Bishop John R. Bryant, Proclaimer). Please save this date and time! For more information and to RSVP your attendance, please visit www.williamdwatleyministries.org.

As we take a moment and reflect on his awesome life of service, we are extremely appreciative of his vast contributions. Pastor Watley is well-known for his homiletical ability and has had the distinction of being the Conference Preacher for the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference for two consecutive years and a Conference Lecturer. Pastor Watley has preached on the continents of Africa (Botswana and South Africa), Asia (South Korea), Australia (Canberra), Europe (Switzerland), and South America (Guyana). In addition, he has also preached on the island nations of Barbados, Bermuda, and Trinidad.

A prolific author, Pastor Watley has written and edited twenty-eight (28) books and several booklets and articles throughout the past three decades. He is the founder and CEO of New Seasons Press, the publishing division of William D. Watley Ministries.

A mentor and educator, Pastor Watley has served as visiting professor and guest lecturer at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Phillips School of Theology, Payne and Turner Theological Seminaries.

All of these accomplishments pale in comparison to Pastor Watley’s success as an undershepherd to five congregations: Elberton Circuit, Elberton, Georgia; Union AME, Warwick, New York; Macedonia AME, Flushing, New York; Saint James AME, Newark, New Jersey; Saint Philip AME, Atlanta, Georgia.

We invite you and your congregation to join us as we celebrate Pastor Watley’s milestones in ministry with an advertisement in our souvenir booklet.
Please make your check payable to Saint Philip AME Church, 240 Candler Road, SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30317.
CashApp $SPC240ATL
Givelify: St Phillip AME Atlanta (Other, Watley Ad)

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By Beverly Richards,
Special to the AFRO

The Rev. Jerome Stephens is a transplant from Plain Dealing, La., a small town north of Shreveport, La., 15 miles from the Arkansas line.

Nearly 50 years ago, after graduating from college, Stephens bought a one-way ticket and caught a Greyhound bus to Baltimore. The plan was to stay with his uncle for “better career opportunities.” Admittedly, he exclaimed, “I never looked back.” 

Indeed he did fall in love with Baltimore, the city’s neighborhoods, its diversity, cultural experiences, and the numerous education prospects. “It’s all here in Baltimore City,” said Stephens, a man now well-known around Charm City and within the faith-based community.

“We talk about the bad part of Baltimore too much, and don’t accentuate the good part,” he said. 

When he first arrived, Stephens enjoyed driving downtown around Park Avenue, marveling at the area’s large, distinguished row houses. “You could ride through at night, and everybody had their lights on, and you could see through their houses and see how they had decorated them. They were showing off the grandeur of the row homes. Those are little things,” he added, “that we don’t talk enough about.”

There’s a lot of beauty here, said Stephens. 

It’s true that Baltimore neighborhoods have their own unique qualities and traits.

“You can go from Ashburton, Ridgely’s Delight, Barre Circle, or to some of the other areas like Canton, or Roland Park and they each have their own distinct characteristics,” said Stephens, who also enjoys Baltimore’s proximity to New York, Philadelphia, and D.C. “It’s easy to just get on the beltway or a train and go to any of those cities. Then come right back to Baltimore.”

Stephens believes Baltimore’s best kept secrets are the educational institutions that call the area home. 

“If you want to go to school for higher education, this is the place. We have Morgan State University, Coppin State University, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, and Loyola. They are all here. Some of the nation’s brightest minds are educated here. I think Baltimore is the place that if you prepare yourself [educationally], there’s a job for you.”

Baltimore is a city of culture, he shared. He recalled the first play he saw here. 

“It was ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar,’ starring Melba Moore, at the Morris Mechanic. But if you look at Baltimore, culturally, it has different genres of music and plays. We have various playhouses like Everyman Theater, the Hippodrome, and Morgan’s Murphy Fine Arts Center. From time-to-time I get to take in a nice show.” 

Stephens said he is anticipating the recently announced multi-million dollar renovation of the Arena Players in the 800 block of McCulloh Street. “I’ll be right there,” he said.

The reverend is also fond of the culinary options the city has to offer, and cheekily professed to visiting various restaurants around town, particularly around the waterfront area and Fells Point. Miss Shirley’s on Coldspring Lane is one of the places he frequents, as he enjoys the restaurant’s grits.
“Baltimore is a great place. The different communities, wherever you want to go in the city, there are homes at every price level,” said Stephens, adding that he would tell anyone, “Come home to Baltimore, it’s a city that will embrace you too.”

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By Aaron Morrison,
AP National Writer

Administrators of a trust fund established to preserve historic Black churches in the United States on Jan. 20 revealed a list of houses of worship receiving $4 million in financial grants.

The list of 35 grantees includes 16th Street Baptist Church Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama, where crucial civil rights organizing meetings were held during Jim Crow segregation in the 1960s and where four Black girls were killed after a bombing by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1963.

Black churches in nearly every region of the U.S. are among the fund’s first round of recipients receiving grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund launched its “Preserving Black Churches” program in 2021 to help support ongoing or planned restoration work in historic congregations that are caretakers of cultural artifacts and bear monumental legacies. Some church renovations were imperiled or severely postponed three years ago after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which reduced the capacity of many houses of worship to serve the public at an unprecedented time of need.

“Leaving an indelible imprint on our society, historic Black churches hold an endearing legacy of community, spirituality and freedom that continues to span generations,” said Brent Leggs, the fund’s executive director, who is also senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Rev. Monica Marshall couldn’t agree with that sentiment more. She was a teenager in the 1970s when she became a member of Varick Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. It is the oldest continuous Black congregation in the borough and has been ministering in the community for more than 200 years.

Marshall, 66, has fond memories of joining the church’s youth choir, playing the keyboard and leading its music ministry, before accepting the call to preach many years later. In 2010, she became the pastor. There are about 75 active members.

Varick Memorial’s current building dates back to 1951, but is deteriorating and has roofing issues. The church has been mostly uninhabitable since 2020, the reverend said.

“The pandemic made it harder to maintain the building,” Marshall said. “I just heard God tell me, ‘You’re not going back into the same building that you came out of.’ The people have been very faithful, they’ve been waiting on my vision and it just came true.”

The congregation received a grant of $200,000 to support critical restoration of the building’s structural integrity. Marshall said the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s efforts have restored hope that Varick Memorial can resume a wider array of services to the community.

“If you don’t know where you’ve come from, it’s hard to press on and go to even greater heights, to deeper depths in your life and in your legacy,” the reverend said.

Many Black churches, both historic and modern, experience challenges related to deferred renovation, insufficient funds for regular maintenance and threats of demolition due to public hazards.

Since before the abolition of slavery, the Black church has been an epicenter for the cultural, social and educational pursuits of its members. The church has also played a role in brokering congregants’ relationship to political power. It’s not uncommon for politicians, most often Democrats, to campaign from Black church pulpits.

The church is a domain for the prophetic tradition in which preachers weave Scripture with criticisms of racism, corruption and poverty. “Souls to the polls” is a get-out-the-vote campaign common in the Black church, encouraging congregants to take advantage of early voting periods to counteract voter suppression and intimidation.

“After all, these are our sacred sites, which our ancestors built from the ground up, and we must do everything we can to ensure their survival,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., the professor and historian who sits on the action fund’s national advisory council.

In 2021, Gates executive produced and hosted a four-hour docuseries for PBS called “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” based on his New York Times bestselling book of the same title.

“Preserving these structures is a visible way of preserving a crucial chapter of Black history,” Gates said.

The action fund’s other grantees include First Bryan Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, which is considered to be one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the U.S.; Cory United Methodist Church in Cleveland, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X spoke in 1963 and 1964; and St. Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal, a church located on the historically Black campus of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee.

The action fund’s administrators said they received proposals for 1,266 Black churches across the U.S., with $189 million in total funds requested. The effort is supported by a $20 million seed donation received last year from the Lilly Endowment Inc., which supports religious, educational and charitable causes.

St. Rita Catholic Church in Indianapolis, another action fund grantee, will receive $100,000 to fix its bell tower and repair the main structure’s masonry, which date back to 1958.

“The bricks of the bell tower started falling off about 19 years ago,” said the Rev. Jean Bosco Ntawugashira, who was appointed pastor of the congregation last July. “It became a danger to the community and, unfortunately because of COVID, the (restoration) project was somehow halted.”

St. Rita has been serving Indianapolis’ Black residents since 1919 and is considered the city’s mother church for Black Catholics from all over the world.

“The Black community, some time back, considered the Catholic Church to be the church for the Whites,” Ntawugashira said. “They are going to understand that the Catholic Church is universal and it doesn’t close doors to anyone. They belong to a global community.”

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By Jim Salter,
The Associated Press

A group of religious leaders who support abortion rights filed a lawsuit Jan. 19 challenging Missouri’s abortion ban, saying lawmakers openly invoked their religious beliefs while drafting the measure and thereby imposed those beliefs on others who don’t share them.

The lawsuit filed in St. Louis is the latest of many to challenge restrictive abortion laws enacted by conservative states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. That landmark ruling left abortion rights up to each state to decide.

Since then, religious abortion rights supporters have increasingly used religious freedom lawsuits in seeking to protect abortion access. The religious freedom complaints are among nearly three dozen post-Roe lawsuits that have been filed against 19 states’ abortion bans, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

The Missouri lawsuit brought on behalf of 13 Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist leaders seeks a permanent injunction barring the state from enforcing its abortion law and a declaration that provisions of its law violate the Missouri Constitution.

“What the lawsuit says is that when you legislate your religious beliefs into law, you impose your beliefs on everyone else and force all of us to live by your own narrow beliefs,” said Michelle Banker of the National Women’s Law Center, the lead attorney in the case. “And that hurts us. That denies our basic human rights.”

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, a Republican, called the lawsuit “foolish.”

“We were acting on the belief that life is precious and should be treated as such. I don’t think that’s a religious belief,” Rowden said.

Within minutes of last year’s Supreme Court decision, then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Gov. Mike Parson, both Republicans, filed paperwork to immediately enact a 2019 law prohibiting abortions “except in cases of medical emergency.” That law contained a provision making it effective only if Roe v. Wade was overturned.

The law makes it a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison to perform or induce an abortion. Medical professionals who do so also could lose their licenses. The law says that women who undergo abortions cannot be prosecuted.

Missouri already had some of the nation’s more restrictive abortion laws and had seen a significant decline in the number of abortions performed, with residents instead traveling to clinics just across the state line in Illinois and Kansas.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the faith leaders by Americans United for Separation of Church & State and the National Women’s Law Center, said sponsors and supporters of the Missouri measure “repeatedly emphasized their religious intent in enacting the legislation.” It quotes the bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Nick Schroer, as saying that “as a Catholic I do believe life begins at conception and that is built into our legislative findings.” A co-sponsor, Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis, said he was motivated “from the Biblical side of it,” according to the lawsuit.

“I’m here today because none of our religious views on abortion or anything else should be enshrined into our laws,” Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and one of the plaintiffs, said at a news conference.

Lawsuits in several other states take similar approaches.

In Indiana, lawyers for five anonymous women — who are Jewish, Muslim and spiritual — and advocacy group Hoosier Jews for Choice have argued that state’s ban infringes on their beliefs. Their lawsuit specifically highlights the Jewish teaching that a fetus becomes a living person at birth and that Jewish law prioritizes the mother’s life and health.

A court ruling siding with the women was appealed by the Indiana attorney general’s office, which is asking the state Supreme Court to consider the case.

In Kentucky, three Jewish women sued, claiming the state’s ban violates their religious rights under the state’s constitution and religious freedom law. They allege that Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature “imposed sectarian theology” by prohibiting nearly all abortions. The ban remains in effect while the Kentucky Supreme Court considers a separate case challenging the law.

But Banker said Missouri’s lawsuit is unique because while plaintiffs in other states claimed harm, “we are saying that the whole law violates separation of church and state and we’re seeking to get everything struck down.”

Missouri Republican attorney general, Andrew Bailey, said in a statement that he will “defend the right to life with every tool at my disposal.”

“I want Missouri to be the safest state in the nation for children and that includes unborn children,” Bailey said.

___

Associated Press writer David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

___

This story was initially published on Jan. 19. It was updated on Jan. 21 to correct that the lawsuit was filed on behalf of 13 Jewish, Christian and Unitarian Universalist leaders, not just Jewish and Christian leaders.

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

Just in case you haven’t heard, there is a new preacher on the circuit, who has earned the respect of fellow clergy from around the country. A third-generation preacher, Master Hilton Rawls III, has been seated at the table amongst renowned messengers of our time. With some skill under his belt, that is, only seven years of active spiritual oration—this dynamic preacher just turned 12 on Dec. 12, 2022, which is a significant benchmark.

According to biblical numerology, the number 12 appears 187 times in the Bible with 22 occurrences in the Book of Revelation. It denotes wholeness and completeness and speaks to God’s power and authority. In Luke 2:41-52, Jesus spoke in the temple at age 12, and the leaders of that day were amazed at his wisdom, as well. Rawls, similarly, is no ordinary child. 

The youth revivalist fits comfortably also with other history makers of the Bible: the boy Samuel, who at 11 was called to duty as a prophet and Josiah, who was named King of Jerusalem at age 8. As a comparison, Dorothy Height, civil rights and women’s rights activist, stated that she first met world-changer Martin Luther King, Jr., when he was 15, by introduction from the Rev. Ralph Abernathy Sr., a civil rights activist.

The Rev. C Jr., father of our esteemed, young preacher, stated that what you put in your child, you get out. He and his wife “put Jesus in everything Hilton did, basketball and everything. Children copy what they see, and he’ll tell you that in a minute.”

Taught the scriptures early on by his parents, Rawls developed an appetite for the Word of God and learned passages of scripture at the age of 3. Rev. Rawls stated that his son spent much time engrossed in videos of sermons, copying the preaching styles of his father and grandfather. At age 3, Rawls told his father that he was going to change the world. By the time he was 4, Rawls had memorized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Self-titled “the Bishop Apostle,”  Rawls’ dream is to win souls for God’s kingdom. 

“Before I could talk I always loved preaching,” he said. “I come from a family of preachers and ministers. In other words, I am a part of a priesthood. My grandfather is a bishop, my father is a pastor, and all my uncles and aunties are in ministry. I am glad to be a part of a holy legacy.”

Interestingly, his father says Rawls is clueless about his popularity because he and his wife rarely allow him on social media and when he is permitted, the usage is limited. For the record, however, his videos on TikTok have been viewed over 6 billion times, and millions on Instagram and other social media platforms. Rawls’ fanbase is widespread from Canada to California, Texas, Connecticut and all states in between. His fame is even gaining momentum in Nigeria. 

Rawls has had prestigious engagements, has been featured in documentaries, appeared in Netflix’s “Seven Seconds” staring actress Regina King, received awards and continues to keep an active schedule. His first children’s book will be published this year along with daily inspirational videos.

Rawls advises parents: “If you allow your children to listen to negative music, negative people, negative television, then you will reap a harvest from what you sow. But, if you give your children love, affirmation, positive experiences, and last but not least, teach them how to love God, you’ll set them on a path to have their own relationship with God.”

Master Hilton Rawls III is one to watch in 2023!

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By Deborah Bailey,
Special to the AFRO

As Rev. Raphael Warnock welcomed President Joe Biden to his pulpit on Jan. 15 – the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta – the historic moment was not lost on him. 

After all, it was Jan. 15, the actual birth date of the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr., who put the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church on display for the world during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement when he was pastor. 

King was, perhaps, the leading voice of the Civil Rights Movement, challenging America to grant basic rights to Black Americans at a time when segregation and second-class citizenship was baked into the structure of American institutions. 

Biden told the congregation that America again stands at a crossroads – this time, in terms of the basic governing structure of the nation.  

“I stand here at a critical juncture for the U.S. and the world,” Biden began in his address. “We’re at what we call an inflection point. What will happen in the next six or eight ears will determine what the world looks like in the next 30 or 40 years.” 

He continued, “This is the time of choosing: Are we a people who will choose Democracy or autocracy?” 

The President doubled down on a theme he articulated in an early November 2022 speech warning about the fragility of America’s democratic institutions. 

“We have to choose a community over chaos,” Biden said, referencing Dr. King’s classic text, “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?”

“I believe Dr. King’s life and legacy show us how we should pay attention,” Biden added, before continuing to applause, “The power to redeem America lies where it has always laid with we the people.”

For Warnock, it was Biden’s life of service and capacity to transform his personal suffering that led him to invite the president to Sunday morning service and to serve as preacher of the hour. 

“I am inspired by his lifelong commitment to service,” Warnock said, listing Biden’s long-standing service as a U.S. senator from Delaware, where he was first elected at the age of 29 in 1972. 

“We are also inspired by the way in which he has transformed pain into power,” Warnock said as many in the congregation nodded their heads in agreement. 

Biden’s first wife died in an automobile accident in 1972, weeks after he was elected to his first term in the U.S. Senate.  More recently, Biden’s oldest son, Hunter Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015. 

Neither Biden nor Warnock made direct reference to headline news about classified papers being found at Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware garage or residence. However, near the conclusion of the service as the minister stood next to Biden, Warnock thanked Biden and told the congregation, “I want you to continue to pray for the president. It’s not an easy job.”  

Biden is the first sitting U.S. president to deliver the morning message from Ebenezer’s pulpit. Warnock, who just won re-election to the United State Senate for a full six-year term in a run-off vote in early December, is the first Black person elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia.

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

“The church must stand at the forefront of the struggle,” said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in a 1957 address to a group of 300 ministers. 

More than a place of worship, the Black church is the sacred infrastructure of the Black community. Now, more than ever, when it comes to social change, the widening economic divide between the haves and the have-nots, crime, education and gentrification, it is the church that stands in the gap. 

King relied on the faith community throughout his activism, centering his work on God while utilizing the power of the Black church to spark change. And today, ministers are still following the lead of faith leaders who cleared a path before them.

In Baltimore’s Broadway East neighborhood, Pastor Donte Hickman of Southern Baptist Church is advancing social change under “the mantra of restoring people as they rebuild properties.” 

Pastor Hickman believes in continuing the work of King by buying and building back the Black community– one property at a time. Hickman is creating opportunities of equity, diversity, and sustainability within neglected communities that have been historically and predominantly African American. 

“Integration for us does not mean that we have to succumb to the need for relocation and gentrification in order to have justice and equality,” said Hickman. “It means we intentionally invest in the transformation and revitalization of the neighborhoods of our rearing to enjoy affordable housing, increased median incomes, access to early childhood education, efficient transit systems, physical and nutritional wellness and amenities that empower and stabilize families.”

Rev. Diane Dixon-Proctor, pastor of Sharp Street United Methodist Church in Sandy Spring, Md. believes the Black church is making strides to keep Dr. King’s legacy of love and activism alive. 

As the oldest Black church in Montgomery County, Sharp Street United Methodist Church celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2022, with a multicultural parade of participants, supporters, and spectators. Rev. Dixon-Proctor said no one would have ever known the “racial mix” of people in the church because the people in the parade– those along the parade route, and those who came and participated in the activities –were from diverse nationalities. 

“There were people from all walks of life,” she said. “Different denominations, and different organizations that came together to be a part of what was happening in our community.” 

Dixon-Proctor encourages the public to keep in mind that all are responsible for pushing King’s dream forward. 

“I don’t think I will live to see racism abolished, but all of us should push and push until we see the better in life, and just love one another,” she has said.

It’s only appropriate that social change and the church are paired together. Social change is about evolving for the better as human beings and relationships that transform cultural and social institutions. Faith leaders of today can be seen hosting recurring food drives, vaccination clinics, health care screenings, back to school events and mediation circles. Pastors are walking the streets, actively taking back the community, mentoring youth and advocating in the State House and on Capitol Hill.

“The truth is that the church, even at the time of King, was the central hub of all community activities,” said Alvin Gwynn Jr., pastor of Leadenhall Baptist Church in South Baltimore. 

“Everything kind of revolved and centered around the church. So, if you want to put it in terms of definition, our culture was very church-centric in terms of the African-American community.”

Gwynn spoke with the AFRO about how churches, historically, have been the breeding grounds for social change during the civil rights era. 

“Look at how the churches networked through the conventions– both the Progressive Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention– and the work that those conventions did, drawing all of the congregational policies together in a unified manner so that they can come up with a general agenda for the Black movement [and] social advancements that we were trying to make take place,” he said. “The Black church was always at the center of political life, as we were putting forward those representatives to go into the halls of Congress and represent our best interests.”

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By Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt,
Special to the AFRO

This year marks the 94th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth in Atlanta. 

A son of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr. King’s life and legacy can be seen in his signature contribution to the human project — a reminder that whoever we are, whatever our skin color, whomever our parents are, and from wherever we’ve come — each of us is “Somebody” in God’s sight. 

Beyond his accomplishments in the Civil Rights movement, and even beyond his consistently brilliant articulation and yearning for the church and society to realize what it means to be the “Beloved Community” — King helped us to understand more fully the essence of human dignity and worth, and the importance for these to be enacted among all of us if we will ever be all that God calls to be.

With many churches and society fraught today with multifarious dehumanizing factors — racism and xenophobia, poverty and economic inequity, and violence in many forms — one of Dr. King’s last and lasting questions remains with us nearly 55 years after his assassination on April 4, 1968, “Where do we go from here – chaos or community?” 

This decades-long question begs a response in 2023. And so, we might wonder what King would say to us if he were alive today. 

Here might be his letter to America in 2023:

Dearly Beloved — 

I write this letter to you in the unconditional and unending love of Christ that binds you together, as it has all of us in all time and space. In my last book in 1967, I posed the question, “Where do we go from here – chaos or community?” I must say that this continues to be a critical question for America and the world today.

With ongoing racial division, social upheaval, economic divide, gender injustice, and political discord, I remind you that rooted in your humanity — your “Somebodyness” — is the fact that you are also a part of the world house. My words ring as true today as they did in 1967, “If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.” I ask each of you the question, “what are you willing to commit and sacrifice to bring about such peace on earth?”

Second, I observe that separation among you continues to breed hate in many places, and among too many people. This was clearly evident on January 6, 2021, with the insurrection at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, and it is evident in ongoing violence inflicted on citizens across the United States and the world. I pray that my sentiments from decades ago will serve as a reminder to you today, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” I ask each of you, “what commitments and sacrifices are you willing to make to spread light and love in the world?” For, if light and love are to be spread in your communities and across the world, it will depend on each of you.  

Finally, I remind you that the most powerful and lasting peace and love is always married to justice. My prayer for you is that the psalmist’s sentiment will become real for you that “Love and faithfulness will meet together, and justice and peace will kiss each other” (Psalm 85:10). Furthermore, I have for you, as I did during my life, the same prayer as the prophet Amos had for those of his day, that “justice would roll like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24). As I intimated in my first book in 1958, “True peace is not nearly the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” I ask each of you, “what sacrifices and commitments are you willing to make to promote peace with justice in your communities and throughout the world?

There is much more I wish to write, but I will save those things for letters to come. My prayer for you is that in the days that are ahead — faith, hope, and love will abide. And I pray that you will see “hewn out of whatever mountains of despair are present among you, stones of hope.”

Peace –

Your Brother Martin

Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt is senior pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC in Baltimore.

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By Nicole Winfield, Giada Zampano and Frances D’Emilio,
The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis joined tens of thousands of faithful in bidding farewell to Benedict XVI at a rare requiem Mass Jan. 5 for a dead pope presided over by a living one, ending an unprecedented decade for the Catholic Church that was triggered by the German theologian’s decision to retire.

Bells tolled and the crowd applauded as pallbearers emerged from a fog-shrouded St. Peter’s Basilica and placed Benedict’s simple cypress coffin before the altar in the square outside. Wearing the crimson vestments typical of papal funerals, Francis opened the service with a prayer and closed it by solemnly blessing the casket and bowing his head.

In between, Francis made only fleeting reference to Benedict in his homily, offering a meditation on Christ instead of a eulogy of his predecessor’s legacy before the casket was sealed and entombed in the basilica grotto.

Heads of state and royalty, clergy from around the world and thousands of regular people flocked to the ceremony, despite Benedict’s request for simplicity and official efforts to keep the first funeral for a pope emeritus in modern times low-key.

Many mourners hailed from Benedict’s native Bavaria and donned traditional dress, including boiled wool coats to guard against the morning chill.

“We came to pay homage to Benedict and wanted to be here today to say goodbye,” said Raymond Mainar, who traveled from a small village east of Munich for the funeral. “He was a very good pope.”

Ignoring exhortations for decorum at the end, some in the crowd held banners or shouted “Santo Subito!” — “Sainthood Now!” — echoing the spontaneous chants that erupted during St. John Paul II’s 2005 funeral.

The former Joseph Ratzinger, who died Dec. 31 at age 95, is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest theologians and spent his lifetime upholding church doctrine. But he will go down in history for a singular, revolutionary act that changed the future of the papacy: He retired, the first pope in six centuries to do so.

Francis has praised Benedict’s courage in stepping aside, saying it “opened the door” for other popes to do the same. But few, including Benedict himself, expected his 10-year retirement to last longer than his eight-year papacy, and the prolonged cohabitation of two popes in the Vatican Gardens sparked calls for protocols to guide future resignations.

Some 50,000 people attended the Thursday Mass, according to the Vatican, after around 200,000 paid their respects during three days of public viewing.

Only Italy and Germany were invited to send official delegations, but other leaders took the Vatican up on its offer and came in their “private capacity.” They included several heads of state and government, delegations of royal representatives, a host of patriarchs and 125 cardinals.

Among those attending was Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who was given special court permission to attend the funeral. Zen was detained in May on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under China’s national security law after he fell afoul of authorities over his participation in a now-silenced democracy movement. His passport was revoked when he was detained.

Benedict’s close confidants were also in attendance, most prominently the former pope’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein. He bent down and kissed a book of the Gospels that was left open on the coffin before the ceremony began.

After it ended, the coffin was brought to the basilica grotto, placed first into a zinc casket, sealed then placed into an oak one.

A choir’s hymn echoed in the crypt as the casket was lowered into the ground, featuring Benedict’s papal coat of arms, a cross and a plaque noting in Latin that it contained his body: “Corpus Benedicti XVI PM,” for “pontifex maximus” or “supreme pontiff.”

Matteo Colonna, a 20-year-old seminarian from Teramo, Italy, said he came to Rome in part because of the historic nature of the funeral — but also because it had personal resonance for him.

“The first spark of my vocation started under the pontificate of Benedict, but then it became even stronger under Pope Francis,” Colonna said, while sitting in prayer in St. Peter’s Square at dawn. “I see a continuity between these two popes and the fact that today Francis is celebrating the funeral in Benedict’s memory is an historical event.”

But the service was also significant for what it lacked: the feeling of uncertainty that would normally accompany the passing of a pope before a new one is elected.

“Benedict has been the bridge between John Paul and Francis,” said Alessandra Aprea, a 56-year-old from Meta di Sorrento near Naples. “We could not have Francis without him.”

Early Jan. 5 the Vatican released the official history of Benedict’s life, a short document in Latin that was placed in a metal cylinder in his coffin before it was sealed, along with the coins and medallions minted during his papacy and his pallium stoles.

The document gave ample attention to Benedict’s historic resignation and referred to him as “pope emeritus,” citing verbatim the Latin words he uttered on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced he would retire.

The document, known as a “rogito” or deed, also cited his theological and papal legacy, including his outreach to Anglicans and Jews and his efforts to combat clergy sexual abuse, “continually calling the church to conversion, prayer, penance and purification.”

Francis didn’t mention Benedict’s legacy in his homily and only uttered his name once, in the final line, delivering instead a meditation on Jesus’ willingness to entrust himself to God’s will.

“Holding fast to the Lord’s last words and to the witness of his entire life, we too, as an ecclesial community, want to follow in his steps and to commend our brother into the hands of the Father,” Francis said.

During St. John Paul II’s quarter-century as pope, Ratzinger spearheaded a crackdown on dissent as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, taking action against the left-leaning liberation theology that spread in Latin America in the 1970s and against dissenting theologians and nuns who didn’t toe the Vatican’s hard line on matters like sexual morals.

His legacy was marred by the clergy sexual abuse crisis, even though he recognized earlier than most the “filth” of priests who raped children, and actually laid the groundwork for the Holy See to punish them.

As cardinal and pope, he passed sweeping church legislation that resulted in 848 priests being defrocked from 2004 to 2014, roughly his pontificate with a year on either end. But abuse survivors still held him responsible for failing to sanction any bishop who moved abusers around and refusing to mandate the reporting of sex crimes to police, and identified him as embodying the clerical system that long protected the institution over victims.

Mike McDonnell of the U.S. abuse survivor group SNAP said while Benedict passed new canon laws, he could have done far more to influence John Paul to take firm action. Referring to Benedict’s nickname as “God’s Rottweiler,” he said: “In our in our view, it was a dog bark without a bite. Certainly he could have done more.”

A group representing German clergy abuse survivors called on German officials attending Benedict’s funeral to demand more action from the Vatican on sexual abuse. Eckiger Tisch asked leaders to demand that Francis issue a “universal church law” stipulating zero tolerance in dealing with abuse by clergy.

The funeral ritual itself is modeled on the code used for dead popes but with some modifications given Benedict was not a reigning pontiff when he died.

While the Jan. 5 Mass was unusual, it does have some precedent: In 1802, Pope Pius VII presided over the funeral in St. Peter’s of his predecessor, Pius VI, who had died in exile in France in 1799 as a prisoner of Napoleon.

Associated Press journalist Trisha Thomas contributed.

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By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO

St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church, located in the West Arlington neighborhood of Baltimore, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. 

The church was founded by the highly esteemed, Rev. Carl Washington Sr., who served as pastor for 47 years until his death in 2020. Following his steps, Rev. Minnie R. Washington, who established the ministry alongside her husband and now serves as pastor. 

Pastor Minnie and the church members are ecstatic about the upcoming celebration. In her  humble but straightforward way, Pastor Minnie admitted that she has “never been attracted to the pulpit, as far as pastoring is concerned, because it is a tremendous responsibility. The pastor can’t do what  he wants to do, it has to be God’s will and God’s way, or no way!” All Pastor Minnie asked God  for was to be a mother and a teacher, but He has shown her so much more. 

She took the AFRO  on a stroll down memory lane, reflecting on the sovereignty of God and her heartthrob, Carl Washington Sr. 

The sneak preview of St.Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church’s 50th Anniversary is spectacularly  outlined across the entire year of 2023, though the official anniversary date is in March. It will be a year of rejoicing, restoration, replenishment, and revival!

AFRO: What were the early years of ministry and family like?