United Methodists pay homage to African Americans who stayed
United Methodists pay homage to African Americans who stayed
April 1, 2004
A UMNS Report By Linda Green*
UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose
The service of repentance for racism at the 2000 General Conference
Mujinga
Kainda (center) of the South Congo Annual Conference, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, receives a strip of sackcloth from Bishop Robert
Morgan during an act of repentance service at the United Methodist
Church's 2000 General Conference in Cleveland. During the service that
included the symbolic wearing of sackcloth and ashes, the church
confessed to the sin of racism within the denomination that caused some
African Americans to leave in the late 18th century. At left are Deborah
Pritts and Flo Martin. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose, Photo number
04-148, Accompanies UMNS #1, 4/1/04
Delegates
to the 2004 General Conference will both celebrate the African American
witness and presence within the United Methodist Church today and
recognize “those who stayed” in spite of racism.
On
April 30, the nearly 1,000 delegates to the denomination’s top
legislative assembly in Pittsburgh will participate in a “Service of
Appreciation” recognizing, honoring and celebrating those African
Americans who remained as members of the former Methodist Episcopal
Church and other predecessor Methodist bodies in spite of the racial
indignities that occurred in a segregated structure.
The
service will celebrate God’s presence in the life of the church,
recognize wounds and encourage healing, according to a purpose
statement. It will be one of many activities for delegates
attending the April 27-May 7 assembly.
In
2000, General Conference delegates participated in an “acts of
repentance” service, acknowledging the racism that caused blacks to
leave the denomination in the 18th and 19th century. But no mention was
made of the African Americans who stayed, said Black Methodists for
Church Renewal, a 37-year-old national caucus that promotes advocacy and
leadership development.
The
caucus expressed its concern about the omission to the United Methodist
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, which
organized the 2000 service and related resources for annual (regional)
conferences.
It
also created a document, “The Problem with Repentance,” with four
recommendations, including the idea of the service of appreciation.
“While
we (the church) recognized the injustice done toward those who left, we
did not recognize the injustice done to those who stayed in the acts of
repentance service,” said the Rev. Renita Thomas, associate director
for church development for the North Georgia Annual (regional)
Conference and a caucus member. “If we are going to get our
house in order, then we ought to start in the house.”
UMNS file photo by John C. Goodwin
United Methodists confessed to the sin of racism within the denomination during their 2000 General Conference in Cleveland.
In
a service that included the symbolic wearing of sackcloth and ashes,
United Methodists confessed to the sin of racism within the denomination
during their 2000 General Conference in Cleveland. A UMNS file photo by
John C. Goodwin, photo number 04-150, Accompanies UMNS #148, 4/1/04
“The
purpose of this service is an appreciation of the gifts and
contributions that blacks have made since the beginning of our church
because blacks were there at the beginning,” added Bishop Melvin
Talbert, interim chief executive for the Commission on Christian Unity
and Interreligious Concerns.
Organizers call the service of
appreciation an opportunity for the church to repent of its racism and
move toward community and reconciliation as it works to eradicate
isolation and oppression.
Another
goal is to add to the church’s history. “There is nothing that talks
about the blacks who remained and continued to give leadership in the
church,” Talbert explained. “We are hoping …to collect information on
those who stayed that will be added to the history of blacks in
Methodism.”
The
Rev. Vincent Harris, president of Black Methodists for Church Renewal,
noted that those who stayed “were led by faith that God would not leave
or forsake them as they fought for inclusion, equality and justice. They
deserve all the honor, respect and gratitude we can offer for their
tumultuous journey.”
Harris
said the service should serve as a “clarion call for a spiritual
transformation and conversion” in all the church, but especially in the
black church.
Jerry
Ruth Williams of Columbia, Mo., a member of the Commission on Christian
Unity and Interreligious Concerns, said it is hoped that holding the
service during a high-level meeting would make more United Methodists
aware of the contributions African Americans have made to the church.
“The
goal is to show appreciation and honor to people who have provided
leadership and staying power under some very unpleasant circumstances,”
she said.
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media can contact Linda Green at (615)742-5475 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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