The role of the black church in the community is so numerous until it will be difficult to impossible to address the African American Church’s role for the 21st century so I will suggest some pertinent matters that I feel the church must address in order to maintain and enhance its effectiveness.
- This is the time for the African American church to reclaim its voice and power and call for the renewal of normative, nuclear families, for Christian unity, and for spiritual rebirth. In order to do this, black churches must vigorously promote a clear and biblical view of human sexuality, marriage and the family, love, respect and honor for itself and others. As the pastors and churches continue to fall from grace through scandal, abuse, deceit, and mistrust, so does the influence of the church and its ability to persuade, impact and inspire.
- The black church must find the humility to confront the sin within its walls and lead by example, which will over time increase its influence in families and among young people.
Success in ministry today is too often measured not by the response to the altar call but by church attendance, the number of preaching invitations a pastor receives and whether the congregation gets revved up during worship services. I believe true ministry isn't measured by what happens inside church walls, but by the change that takes place in the communities outside it. God's purpose for man on this planet has not changed. He told us in Genesis 28 to be fruitful, multiply, replenish, subdue and take dominion of the earth. That’s a clear picture of community transformation.
Pastoral care has come to mean care of the pastor with no guarantees of care by the pastor. Hence in some circles (though not all) the congregational environment presumes permission to exploit the mental, financial and spiritual health of black people, who once looked to the church for direction and sanctuary from their own sinful life contexts. The black church today must purify its own pastoral care ethic and reinstitute the stringent safeguards that make for sanctuary.
- While I believe that the ministers of African American Churches and their families should be taken care of and not be in want that they may sufficiently take care of the flock of God, I believe that there must be a focus within the church beyond the needs of its leaders to the needs of its people and the community that surrounds the church. Most churches today could leave the community and never be missed because while they situated in the community they have no communication, interaction, contact, relationship and in many instances concern for the community. The church must acquaint itself with the community.
The role of the African American Pastors and congregants is to remember that we do not exist for the sole purpose of meeting in comfortable buildings to worship God.
The African American Church is not called to sponsor special events with well-known speakers to make it look important. While this is good to us and sometimes for us, it’s fun, exciting, often electrifying, and I have seen it stimulate the church, but the African American Church must return to its calling in which God instituted the Church.
- We are called to be agents of transformation.
- We are called to be disciple-makers.
- We are called to witness, teach, and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
- We are made in the image of God, and when God sees us He should see a reflection of His love for mankind. Romans 8:19 says, "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Get equipped and get busy. The Spiritually deprived communities are waiting on the church!
- The role of the Church in the 21st Century is to return to Biblical principals, model after God and flee from the temptation to pattern itself after man and the ways of the day that are seen on television, heard on the radio and viewed and in worlds outside of godliness.
June has been an awesome month in the life of our church. On the first Sunday; soon to be Reverend Doctor Irie Session, a Doctor of Ministries Candidate of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School was our speaker... She spoke from Nehemiah 4; "It All in Your Mind." And did she have a wonderful message? Oh my gosh she did. The second Sunday in June was what has come to be known in the life of our church as Baccalaureat Sunday; traditionally known as 12th Grade Sunday or Youth Day or Seniors Day.. At the hand of our Most Capable Youth Pastor, Winterborne LaPucelle Jones, an historical service was launched in the life of our church. Baccalaureat Sunday. Youth Pastor Jones delivered a stirring message that yet resignates with each of us who was present for the service. The third Sunday was Father's Day and members of my staff suggested that one of my many Fathers in the Ministry should speak for us; thus, Fathers Day. Reverend William Bunton of Buffalo, New York has been a Father in my life the entire twenty-five years of my preaching and pastoral ministry. He and Mom Wanda Bunton came from Buffalo and were our weekend guest. It was so wonderful having them with us. He preached a stirring message to Fathers and encouraged us to be faithful to God, our Families and our church. The fourth Sunday was another historical event in our church. It was a real YOUTH DAY. It was one done with creativity, imagination, transformation, energy, dance, drama and excitement. Youth Pastor Winterborne LaPucelle Jones at the direction of the Holy Spirit and Senior Pastor produced an amazing service. He also rendered an amazing message. I am thankful yet to God, for a wonderful church, a great growing stafff and for the transforming, creative and spirited experience thats unfolding each week in our church.
Remember..... this is a long, hard, rough road for our brother!
