Pimpin ain't easy, the new face of the black church
 

I was sent this from another list serve that I am on. Disclaimer: The person who wrote the piece is a black "Gay Rights Activist" . In the piece, you will see a link to her website. I followed the link and the article is from a site that is a black lesbian/gay pride site (no porno). If that offends you, then don't go.

This link is to a website with just her article on it, not her actual website.
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/vie...052b1f7309a09d


What do you guys think of her assessment of the "new black church" and it's relationship with the GOP?

Do you think is the Black church becoming less relevant to young black professionals? If so, why, if not, then what does it do to speak to young black professionals?

Blackwatch!!!!!!

Ok, this article is nothing more than a generalization of a few well known black preachers and their involvement with this country's current administration. Which isn't surprising considering her position and its relationship with religion and this country's current administration.

To address the state of the "black church".....

I do not think a few mainstream ministers can be used to generalize "the black church". For every black church that decides to align itself with a more conservative GOP mentality there are tons more that don't and stay faithful to Democratic ideology and party. I think the only thing that makes this "new" is the fact that some are publically admiting it.

In regards to young black professionals, I believe some are probably looking for a church that offers a Christian lifestyle as opposed to just a Sunday morning experience. When I state "christian lifestyle" I'm talking of churches offering more than just sunday service and bible study on wednesday, but other services just as outreaches, meaningful youth activities, social as well as spiritual groups, counseling services, etc. - a "one stop shop" if you will. Given the hectic lives that many people lead now, this would make sense.

In all honesty Blackwatch, this is really hard to generalize with a blanket answer. When it comes to what motivvates us to chose a church, many variables come into play. Some people love mega-churches while some like the family atomosphere of a smaller congregation. Some people love Eddie Long, some yearn for the days of the late E.V. Hill. Not to mention music style, other services, etc.

I think if we took a poll on GC (since we are all young black professionals) of what kind of church we all went to and why, you'd find a whole host of different answers.

I applaud the effort. I say the church should have a complete minstry. In doing so, it must not also address the issues from a religious aspect but also from a human aspect. Elected officials should not take for granted the votes of AA. Regardless of party association, the church should encourage voter education, outreach and turn-out. Seemingly, Bush is doing what others have failed to master.

I would have to agree, you can't take the actions of the few and from that extrapolate an opinion or conclusions about the whole. I think that for every megachurch and superstar pastor, there are twenty smaller churches doing things differently. I think that for her to collapse all of these churches into one image is irresponsible journalism.

Secondly, while I don't necessarily believe that the church should be divorced from politics--because I am not sure how that can be done--I think that the church should be careful about seeming to support any particular candidate. I would think that most of the people at a particular church already, in some way, ascribe to the social agenda of the pastor. So for those pastors who have close ties to the GOP, their congregation probably--generally--supports those ties.

As for what the young black professional wants from a church--I can't answer that one for you.

But is the mega -church doing more harm than good?
 

The article is generalizing I think to an extent, but then again, it seems that there is a lack of black churches actually taking up the other side of the political struggle. You have Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes and others who are very prominent in their interactions with the G.O.P. , but what pastors do you know are actually prominantly meeting with the Democratic National Committee to strategize a democratic platform that will address the needs of the scores of black people that attend church? I don't think that it is safe to assume that there are more black churches standing up for the democratic party than for the republican party, nor am I suggestoing that they should. What I do think, though, is that there is a vacuum of critical political thought in most of our churches. There are a few pastors who I think are prominant and speaking out (Jeremiah Wright, John Cherry, etc.) but I think most pastors are weary of even putting forth any type of social critique and hide behind the notion of doing "God's work" as justification in doing so. Understanding and helping to alleviate the suffering of people is God's work, and I think that most of our churches are falling terribly short in that area. Instead, we sell people a "pie in the sky", self-righteous prosperity message that serves to make many church going believers unaware of the social reality that so characterizes their lives.

I am not saying that churches should back politicians, that would be illegal seeing as though churches are tax exempt. What I am saying is that the church should first and foremost be the critical consciousness of this nation. Too often, I find that black churches fall short in championing a critical conscience that challenges things like inequality, greed, and injustice that are so often the source of black people's problems in this country. I think what is happening is that liberal university political science and sociology departments are assuming that role. The problem with that is that there ain't many black people in those institutions. Also, those institutions aren't to giddy about the notion of absolute truth, God, and morality, so their critiques will not be rendered in light of some very important realities about human existance.

While I can't speak for all black professionals, those that I have talked to often voice the concern over the relevancy of the black church. Considering the things that face black people as a whole in this country, they wonder what they church is doing about those things (rampant HIV infections, inadequate education, economic justice, etc.). If all the church has to offer in these areas is self righteous "holier than thou" moralism, then the church becomes irrelevant. But, if the church can offer succinct critical analysis in light of scripture and an outlet to take that analysis into action, then I think the church remains relevant.

Many of the people I have talked to really don't look to the church for a social outlet, in the entertainment sense, but they do look to the church to be a critical conscience center. So often they are confronted on the job, at school, etc. with notions of greed and disconnection with humanity that they wish to come to church to regain or reaffirm their moral center. One guy from my church put it best when he stated that he wanted relief from the world when he came to church. He wanted to be challenged with fresh ideas and have opportunities to serve God through the church. He wasn't looking for the church to operate his 401k or even give him a job. He just wanted a place where his faith and personhood was affirmed. That is what I think is missing from the black church.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

Re: Pimpin ain't easy, the new face of the black church
 

i read the article and it seems to center on a specific type of church. i will say that because of where the site came from i have my doubts on the objectivity of the piece. i wonder what was the context in which she felt the need to write this.

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Greetings,

I am new to posting on this site. Ihave reading it for a while. This thread struck my interest so much, I decided to chime in.

I have often wondered about strong Christians black and white and ho their views are close to that of conservatives. Now, its funny, when people talk about conservatives, others immediately assume Republicans. I am a conservative Democrat. I am a christian and because of that I cannot accept the gay lifestyle. I also believe in personal responsibilty.

Heres a question? Sundaymornings at 11 am. The most seperated time in America. White christians go to white churches. Black Christians go to Black Churches. Both groups claim to love God and all humanity yet seperate themselves. I never understood this. I guess people worship where they feel comfortable. I am in the military and we worship together and its all good.
Also when it comes to politics. Its interesting. When I deployed to Iraq last year, all my white christian firneds were telling me they would pray for me, send me whatever I wanted and thanked me for my service. All my blackchristian friends said they would pray that I didnt have to go, or that Bush would get kicked out of office. Very different responces. I am currently over here in Iraq. My white friends send me personal supplies andletters. A school has adopted me and send me letters. My black friends. Nothing.

Welcome to GC. I'm not sure why whites send you gifts and I'm not sure why blacks don't. I do know some support the war and others don't. I don't support the war and it has nothing to do with being black or white. In addition, if we were friends, I too would send you a care package just like the white folk.

FWIW, my church (we're mixed racially) does have a "support our troops" ministry, as do many predom. white churches in the area. Anyone can submit the name/picture of a serviceman/woman (doesn't have to be a church member) and about once a month, this ministry team gets together and boxes up care packages for them. You're right, sending packages has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the war, but unfortunately, there are lots of people that don't see it that way. :(

I still think the issue with the black church (in general) is its focus on a Sunday morning/Wednesday evening experience - and that's it. We should be offering up a variety of ministries that focus on serving others even if it means partnering with our churches (showing unity within the black community but also within the body of Christ). I think we've all heard the sermons, now we want to "see it". We need to demonstrate Christ in action and not just preach about it.

I think the black church (nationally) is taking a bit of a black eye here. On GC we're given to generalizations anyway, and that's cool, but most of the comment usually tends to focus on what we see/know (besides our local environs) via the media spotlight. National media focus on the black church --which I think tends to drive general comment about the topic -- usually touts places like the Potter's House/Dallas, New Birth/Atlanta, West Angeles/LA, and perhaps a few mega churches on the east coast and upper South.

There are far many more churches, (with greater combined attendance beyond those that receive media focus) virtually all outside the national media glare of TBN or BET, that are putting in major W-O-R-K, ministering Biblicial-based direction for life, social, civic and economic revitalization. I have friends in a lot of them, who talk about what service, both spiritual and community is going out.

Sure there are churches that could do more, but I just wanted to give some holla to the "Good old Ship of Zion." :cool:

...especially UBC today and GNL back-in-the-day.