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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1989)
Page 8 Portland Observer February 16, 1989 RELIGION SUMMARY KNOW ING THE BLACK CHURCH: W HAT IT IS AND WHY DR. C. ERIC LINCOLN PROFESSOR OF RELIGION AND CULTURE DUKE UNIVERSITY C hurch N ews «. The independent Black church movement is generally recognized as the first Black stride toward freedom and responsibility. The Black Church as a distinctive com m union traces it ancestry to the Free African Society which was formed in Philadelphia in 1787 to escape the segregation and denigration in the white churches of that day. The Free African Society was not itself a church, but a sort of transitional fellowship designed to sustain the faith, encourage moral responsibility and provide mutual aid for its m em bers until a more satisfac- tory solution could be found. Two local churches were eventually spun off by the society: The African Protes- tant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, and Bethel African M ethodist Episco- pal Church Both churches were dedicated in July of 1794. St. Thomas remained within the existing Anglican (Episcopalian) communion; Bethel cient suostantive variation in the underlying fabric which determines the basic quality of the Black experi ence to precipitate a radical change in Black religion. The values, interests and aspirations remain constant because the index of Black reality is essentially the same. Except for the Muslims, the Black Church has experienced no serious challenge to the spiritual hegemony it has enjoyed for almost 200 years. The Roman Catholic Church and the United Methodist Church claim by far the largest segments of “ affiliated Blacks outside the independent Black Church, but neither of those com- munions represent a Black commit- merit of substantial consequence. The Presbyterians and the United Church of Christ are very distant contenders, Beyond that, the “oecumenical' hopes that the Black Church would merge eventually served all connections with itself into mainline white Christianity become increasingly unrealistic the the white Methodists and went on to more the dynam ics of religious ex become the “ Mother" of the first Black pectations are understood. denomination. W e may safely conclude that in The Black Church is usually un 1988 The Black Church was engaged derstood to mean the historic Black in doing what it was a hundred years communions or denom inations which ago, but with significant new em pha are independent of white control, and ses. The Church has always been a which maintain their own structures spiritual refuge with a social conscious of governance, finance, ritual, w or ness which has at some times and ship and outreach. e Because segre - places been more Pronounced than n b en ched?hZ gation remains an entrencneo pne a( Qthers W hj|e thjs unevenness nomenon in religion in America, Black exasperates those who have a one churches or congregations even when dimensional perspective of the Black affiliated with white com m unions are Church, its inherent genius is that it with rare exceptions all Black, and the recognizes man as both spirit and spiritual and ritual ambience observed body with a quality of needs which there is rarely different from the norm must be addressed, because both in the independent Black churches. In are constantly at risk in this society. consequence, the “ G reater Black The church is moving to address C hurch," or the GBC refers to Black congregations collectively, while “ Black these needs, not with perfect symme- Church” is reserved for the churches try. but with persistence. Today’s Black of the historically independently Black Church is struggling for relevance to communions. today's Black problems racism, drug Seven national com m unions of the abuse; child care; health and welfare; Black Church account for about 84 housing;counseling;unem ploym ent, percent of the Black Christians in this teenage pregnancy ; and the whole country. Three of the com m unions tragic malaise with which society in are Methodist; three are Baptist, and general is burdened. It must address the other one is Pentecostal, The all these social challenges without Church of God in Christ. The remain- abandoning its distinctive mandate, ing 16 percent of Black Christians are The Black Church, 1989 is an- distributed among the white Protes- chored in tradition and stretching for tant and Catholic com m unions and a contem porary relevance trying as it scattering of smaller independent Black always has to meet the peculiar, the churches with limited local or provin- diverse, the urgent and pervasive cial representation. The Islamic needs of its constituency, com m unions are not included in this bre a kd o w n of B lack C h ris tia n churches, but it should not be over looked that the Muslims constitute a growing presence in this country, and their impact upon the Black estate and the country at large must be a consideration wherever religious in terests are seriously addressed. The Black Church is by all odds the dominant symbol of the African presence in The United States, and were it to suddenly suffer eclipse, it would be extrem ely difficult to gather convincing identifying marks of that presence from the void. It was the Black Church which was the nurturing mother of Black freedom, Black pride, Black ambition, music, education, oratory, politics and self-respect. Out of it cam e the first Black fraternal orders, savings institutions, insurance companies, educational institutions, and the first glim m er of hope that tomorrow could be better than 'yesterday; and that tom orrow begins where today makes it decisions. In the midst of its com petitiveness the Black Church has been the matrix of Black solidarity. Am erica is experiencing a m as sive restructuring of spiritual values, and inspirations that reflect new needs and new insights as we confront a post-war world with a bewildering spectrum of new experiences. It is precisely on the understanding of this principle that the predictions of the rapid dem ise of the Black Church have foundered. The Black Church is thriving because the traditional Black experience is essentially intact. The holding tenacity of the Black Church suggests that there has been insuffi- Shouts OfTriump When we attend the basketball games and the football games we SHOUT! and YELL! When we are pleased with what our team is doing. The pass is completed, the crowd stands to its feet and clap their hands for joy. Now, we have to justify the clapping of hands in worship of our Savior and God. AMEN! alone is sometimes not adequate enough. We must learn to extol the greatness of God. (Psalms. 41) When you begin to pray in the spirit and clap your hands, you break the walls of evil down. We must lift up the blood of Jesus. There is something about the power of praise. Hasn’t God done anything for you lately? Aren’t you still alive? Can’t you walk? Can’t you talk? How do you get back and forth from work everyday? You got it! GOD. You should raise your hands and just praise his Holy Name. So many people applaud for absolutely any reason but we believers have the power to bind the evil ones and the evil doers by praising Him! If you are in the hospital, Praise Him! If you are in prison, praise Him! (Psalms 149.) Give God the praise. Right now! As you sit, stand or walk, praise Him. Take time out of your busy day to give praise and honor to the master of us all. lord will give us songs of deliverance. Songs lifted unto the Lord push out the evil ones. (Acts 16, Jude 20, Romans 8:26) The scripture is chocked full of the Lord’s handy work. He can do anything but fail. If you are singing, SHOUT! If you cannot preach, CLAP your hands. But, whatever you do, give praise.honor and glory to the Almighty God our Father who made us and the heavens and the earth beneath us. Remember the words to this song... When you can’t see your way, When you think that you have gone astray, Doing all you know to do. God has not forgotten you! Hold your head up and he will see you through. God will open doors for you. You can fight on through the darkest days Even though you’re heavy laden and you can’t see your way God will open doors for you. Praise Him in the noon day, in the morning, at night or at any time Just praise Him! PORTLAND OBSERVER 'The Eyes and Ears ot the Community 288-0033 S cripture of the W eek : O B IT U A R Y Almeta Green, bom February 18, 1922 in Texarkana, Arkansas deceased suddenly February 9, 1989 in Portland, Oregon alter a long illncss.She moved to Portland in 1945 and married Jimmie Green in 1949. She was a devoted wife and loving mother for 39 years. She is survived by two sons, Steven Cole of Portland and Phillip Green of Seattle, Washington. The three daughters are Gail Green of Los Angeles, California; Donna Green of Seattle and Debra Green of Portland. There are also two grandsons and two grandaughters. There is one surviving brother,Luther Cole of Portland and three surviving sisters, Birdie Lee Taylor of Portland ; Alice Muldrew of Texarkana, Arkansas and Dorothy Gaddis of Pacoima, California. Funeral services were observed Wednesday, February 15th at the Chapel of the Chimes with the Rev. Melvin Kane officiating. Internment was at Sunset Hills Memorial Park. zT Almeta Green, A New Ministry Comes To Portland ttope o f Q (c ry B ro a d c a s t KBM S 1480-AM SUNDAY 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. SS Motto: Sis. Lenotra Cooke Rev. 'There Is Hope” o 'Christ In you, ‘The Mope O f (jlory' Col. 1:27 - - L g i Dial-A-Prayer ... (503) 286-HOPE **¿ * > 7 ; P.O. Box 11628 • Portland. OR 97211 (4673) 24 Hour Prayer Request Line You children of the King are little rocks that are founded on the BIG rock, Jesus Christ. The joy and praise of the saints have strength that can break the power of Hell, itself. There is a spiritual language that we believers should use when the enemy comes in on us. Let me tell you, that when it is properly applied the Holy Spirit comes forth like a wall of water and just washes away that temptation or anger or rage or envy. The Lord hasn’t lost a battle yet. (Acts 2.) Try God and see what He can do. I dare you. Sing unto the Lord a new song. The YOU ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT 84 N .E. K illin g sw o rth • 2 8 1 -0 4 9 9 “A warm spirit of fellowship always" Tuesday Bible Band Ttsasday “To the Glory o f God” Choir Rehearsal The Ark of Safety Church of God in Christ Sunday School Strday Morning Worship YPW W Evangelistic Worship FOUNDER The Holiness Preacher B is h o p U.V. Peterson D D. Builder-Pastor Tuesday the Bible says... Follow peace with all men & holiness without which no man shall see the Fnday Noon Day Prayer Fnday The Pastor Sgeaks Sataday Morning Prayer Lord HEBREWS 1214 The M onth o f Love “February" U nity Gives Tax B reak P r ic e s $65 . 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