Worship central to African-American religious life
|
A UMNS photo by Linda Green Bishop
Mary Virginia Taylor and the Ebony Bishops prepare Holy Communion for
those attending the Black Methodists for Church Renewal gathering.
|
Bishop
Mary Virginia Taylor, episcopal leader of the South Carolina Annual
Conference, and the Ebony Bishops of the United Methodist Church prepare
to administer Holy Communion to the 500 African-American clergy and lay
people who attended the 38th annual session of Black Methodists for
Church Renewal, March 16-19 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. A UMNS photo by Linda
Green. Photo #05-260. Accompanies UMNS story #180. 3/24/05 |
March 24, 2005 By Linda Green* MYRTLE
BEACH, S.C. (UMNS)--Worship is an integral part of a growing and
vibrant church and is central to the African-American experience, as was
evident throughout a four-day meeting of the United Methodist Church’s
black caucus. Nearly
500 African-American United Methodists came together March 16-19 in
this coastal city to focus on building effective worship to enrich the
membership of local churches and communities and make churches
grow. Reinforced
throughout the meeting was the message that worship is a tribute to God
and is singularly directed toward God, who is the subject of worship.
Another view expressed was that worship is the “essence of what has
fueled our (African-American United Methodists) being.” In worship, identity is shaped and formed, humanity is affirmed and faith is honed, according to the meeting leaders.
|
A UMNS photo by Linda Green Rukudzo
Murapa, vice chancellor of Africa University, talks with the Rev.
Vincent Harris, chairperson of Black Methodists for Church Renewal.
|
Rukudzo
Murapa, vice chancellor of United Methodist-related Africa University
and the Rev. Vincent Harris, chairperson of Black Methodists for Church
Renewal, share a moment at the 38th annual meeting of Black Methodists
for Church Renewal. The denomination's black caucus met March 16-19 in
Myrtle Beach, S.C. A UMNS photo by Linda Green. Photo #05-258.
Accompanies UMNS story #180. 3/24/05 |
“Worship is vital in our church,” said the Rev. Vincent Harris,
chairperson of Black Methodist for Church Renewal, Inc. “In its initial
context, vital worship has tremendous benefits in that it leads people
into a relationship with Christ.” Worship,
many attendees said, provides the strength and power needed to move
beyond the sanctuary to respond to God’s call to ministry. One
of the responsibilities of the 38-year old Black Methodists for Church
Renewal organization is to implement strategies for growing strong black
churches and provide an instrument through which the black constituency
of the United Methodist Church might be educated and cultivated for
greater awareness and sensitivity to the overall needs of black United
Methodists. In
the annual sessions, caucus leadership strives to provide effective and
relevant emphases that provide spiritual relevance to the needs of the
members and to the church as a whole. Throughout
the 2005 session, keynote speakers, workshop leaders and hallway
conversations focused on worship -- worship styles, worship leaders and
worship accompaniments. The theme “If We Build It, They Will Come;
Building Effective Worship” proclaimed BMCR’s task of “helping black
churches build effective, magnetic, soul-stirring and deliverance
worship,” Harris said. “If
black churches build life-changing worship services, people will come.
People who are authentic in worship will draw others and will give off
an understanding of God’s power,” he added. “Spiritual disciplines
come out of our experience with worship.”
|
A UMNS photo by Linda Green Lamont
Hogans is a minister of music. He led a workshop about integrating
technology into worship for those attending the recent Black Methodists
for Church Renewal meeting.
|
Lamont
Hogans, minister of music at New Life Community Church, UMC in
Jacksonville, Fla., led a workshop session on integrating technology
into worship at the 38th annual session of Black Methodists for Church
Renewal, March 16-19 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He told the gathering that
the use of technology in worship gets people's attention and prepares
them for the message. A UMNS photo by Linda Green. Photo #05-259.
Accompanies UMNS story #180. 3/24/05 |
One workshop, led by Lamont Hogans, a staff member of New Life Community
Church, a United Methodist congregation in Jacksonville, Fla., focused
on integrating technology into worship. “When
people walk through the church’s front door, they want interaction.
They do not want dead time,” said Hogans, New Life’s minister of music.
He described the various technological devices used at his church to
“get people online with the upcoming service.” Technology,
he explained, encompasses a large area and can be simplistic or
multi-advanced. Whatever technology is used has to be “managed and made
to work for you as it gets people attention and gets them involved." It
is particularly effective as a way to reach youth, he pointed out. Through
such devices as Power Point presentations, video imagery or sensory
production, technology provides a tool to get the message across in
church. “The use of technology does not save,” Hogans said. “The word
saves. Technology just gets people’s attention.”
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
|