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“To be afraid is to have more faith in evil than in God” Quite a
sobering thought! This quote comes from Emmet Fox’s, Power Through Constructive
Thinking.
Black History Month is a part of our American landscape, even if it does continue
to be challenged with some opinions that it’s no longer needed. There is
a growing consensus that emphasis on equality for African-Americans, or Blacks
in America has outlived its usefulness. There is even some thinking that the
playing field is actually level.
The last forty-five years of history in the United Methodist Church confronts
the inaccuracy of ‘enough already’; that there is no longer a need
to force our collective awareness and accountability in the direction of the
injustice, inequity, and often indifference that looms large across these United
States. Perhaps it is the very insistence of continuing to observe Black History
Month that keeps the reality of a still very un-level playing field in our sights,
our minds, and hopefully, in our hearts.
So much of what we do evolves from fear. The fear of abolishing slavery and the
vast economic and social implications that this country would be forced to address
was enough to separate those who called themselves Methodists. The Central Jurisdiction
was for much too long the place where Blacks could be Methodist.., separate and
unequal.
Thankfully in 1968, the General Conference leadership made a decisive move that
elevated its faith in God above its faith in the evils of slavery. Thirty-seven
years later, we are a different denomination. Social consciousness is integral
to programmatic emphasis. John Wesley’s tenet to ‘do all the good
you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places
you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever
you can’ is evident throughout the United States and around the globe.
These overt acts of Christian discipleship accompany us in our mandate to make
disciples of Jesus Christ.
In no small way, we are a different church because African-American women and
men are episcopal leaders. General Boards and agencies are headed by African-Americans
and their ranks within the staffs across the church are visible. The largest
membership church in the denomination in North America is an African-American
congregation. A prominent African-American pastor’s face and voice are
synonymous with our signature Disciple Bible Study series.
Those lay and clergy men and women at the 1968 General Conference took a bold
step. United Methodism is richer for that decision. And yet, on any given day
in any congregation, community or decision making body of United Methodists,
our behaviors still espouse that we are afraid. The need for Black History Month
is as great today as it was at its inception.
Lynda Byrd is Assistant General Secretary / Director of Development for the
General Board of Global Ministries.
Date posted:
Feb 18, 2005
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