February 01, 2007
Why Blacks Are Leaving Evangelical Ministries: The Failure of Racial Reconciliation
Fellas, OF COURSE Blacks are leaving evangelicalism. This can't really be a surprise, can it? In a recent conversation with a Black man who's been a pioneer in conservative evangelical circles now for a few decades he confessed how difficult it was for him to remain in a denomination that doesn't really want him or his people. InterVarsity's and Campus Crusade's Black only ministries have been the most successful and for good reason.
Often when blacks enter into evangelical circles they can no longer be black culturally. "It's too threatening," one guy told me. The black community, one African-American elder told me, wants "very masculine preachers, who yell and tell it like it is." If you're a black man you're going to need to turn into Joel Osteen in tone and style otherwise you'll get called harsh. You'll get this: "I just want to comment on your tone and your words." "there's a plethora of verses that exhort us to be gentle." [i.e., it's not soft and pleasant enough like Joel]
Edward Gilbreath has written an book called Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity outlining why blacks are leaving evangelical circles and why racial reconciliation measures can destroy black identity (because in the end, it's still white and evangelical). Here's an article from the book at Christianity Today [I also posted it entirely below].
Gilbreath writes:
I used to take a certain amount of pride in being the first African American on staff at Christianity Today. But I was routinely humbled when I realized that being first isn't all it's cracked up to be. When you're the only one, there's always a sense that you're in an extremely unstable position, as if one healthy gust of wind could topple you—and with you, the hopes of other people with your skin color. . .
[Bruce Fields the first and ONLY Black professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School expresses what it's really like to be the only black guy teaching at a white seminary]:
"People sometimes ignore you," says Bruce Fields, a professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. "Or, if there is attention directed toward you, it is subtly communicated that you are not to be taken as seriously as a white person of similar status, experience, and credentials."Fields was the first full-time African American professor on Trinity's staff, and in July 2005, he became the first to be tenured. Yet being one of the few blacks at the institution, he continues to harbor doubts about his presence there. "I think about being a minority here all the time," he confesses. "There is rarely a time when I am not thinking about it. I am thankful for who God has made me, and I am grateful for his call on my life—but not all the time. I find myself being distant, untrusting, and often angry that I have internalized a certain sense that I am not good enough. I know this is wrong, and I've been working with a support network to overcome it. But it's difficult."
Whew!!!!! I think the 5 or 6 of us at evangelical schools should write a book together (Bruce, Craig, Elliot, you in?). Yeah folks, that's right, there's only about 5 Black evangelical theologians in America. Here's the rest of the article below!
Sometimes, I had to remind myself to "be black," to make sure the rest of the editors weren't overlooking some important point or advancing something that might be insensitive to nonwhites. This became exhausting. On the one hand, I wanted to be a good race man and represent "my people" well. But on the other, I hated all that responsibility. I just wanted to be an excellent journalist.
Washington Post sports columnist Michael Wilbon echoed the opinion of many African Americans when, in a column about golfer Tiger Woods, he wrote, "There's a social responsibility that comes with being black in America, regardless of the profession, and that obligation increases exponentially with stature. There are rules adopted out of necessity, even desperation, by the subculture we as black folks inhabit. … One of the rules is you speak up, even if it means taking some lumps."
I did my best to speak up when it seemed necessary, and at times I caught grief for it. Other times, I decided it would be best to act like Jesus before Herod and simply say nothing. It gets old, you know—this taking-your-lumps business.
"People sometimes ignore you," says Bruce Fields, a professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. "Or, if there is attention directed toward you, it is subtly communicated that you are not to be taken as seriously as a white person of similar status, experience, and credentials."
Fields was the first full-time African American professor on Trinity's staff, and in July 2005, he became the first to be tenured. Yet being one of the few blacks at the institution, he continues to harbor doubts about his presence there. "I think about being a minority here all the time," he confesses. "There is rarely a time when I am not thinking about it. I am thankful for who God has made me, and I am grateful for his call on my life—but not all the time. I find myself being distant, untrusting, and often angry that I have internalized a certain sense that I am not good enough. I know this is wrong, and I've been working with a support network to overcome it. But it's difficult."
From a young age, many of us have been told that it isn't good enough just to be good. As a black person (and I've heard members of other ethnic groups make similar statements), you had to be better than whites in order to make it. I think this notion was probably even more true in past years, but there will always be some whites (and even blacks) whose opinion of African Americans is so low that they're just waiting for them to slip up. Oftentimes, whites don't even realize they think this way.
Over the years, I've noticed a pattern of African Americans joining evangelical organizations, often as the first black, only to leave two, three, or four years later—usually in frustration. In dozens of interviews with black evangelical leaders, I heard story after story of alienation, anger, and defeat.
When so many otherwise successful African American Christians still express disappointment over the state of race relations in the church, as my research indicates, something is not right. We need to listen and learn. As members of the body of Christ, we should be determined to hear and understand the concerns of our brothers and sisters. If one part of the body is hurting, we should respond. But first we need to understand the reasons. Why do so many successful black evangelicals feel marginalized in evangelical institutions? Worse, why are some giving up on the idea of racial unity in the church altogether?
Minority Angst
As the first black manager at a major parachurch organization based in the western United States, Clarence Shuler didn't feel like a "golden boy" the way he had in other ministries where he had been the "first black." This time, he repeatedly ran into brick walls as he sought to usher in a culture of real diversity. He left afer three years.
"It honestly was a battle all the way," he says, "but my interactions did help some of those very conservative people adopt a more biblical view of God's perspective on diversity, and that was worth some of the pain."
In 2003, five years after leaving the ministry, Shuler met with the group's president to discuss his ordeal at the organization. That emotional meeting concluded with the president apologizing to Shuler for the unchristian attitudes he had encountered while employed by the company. And Shuler, in turn, apologized for not always responding to the adversity in a Christlike manner. But not all endings are as tidy.
"Listen. You could not pay me to be the head, or even on the board, of another evangelical organization." That's Darrell Davis (not his real name; some identifying details have also been changed). Before moving to the East Coast to become senior pastor of a large African American church, he was a youth pastor and ministry leader in California and then, most notably, the director of a large parachurch ministry in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, a position he took in the early '90s. Davis stayed at that organization four years before bolting.
Davis, a firm yet soft-spoken preacher, told me he hadn't been looking for a job when that large ministry called. "They had interviewed over a hundred people, but more than one person told them about me. I fit all their descriptions." After Davis interviewed for the position, "the Lord spoke to my heart and said, 'This is going to be your job.' And as my wife was praying, she got the same message."
For a while, things at the new position were fine. "I was the flavor of the month," he says. But over time, Davis began to sense tension between himself and his colleagues as he tried to implement new ideas. "I wasn't trying to make trouble," he says. "I was just there to do my job. But people will read into what you do out of their own fears and insecurities."
One strange encounter typified the underlying racial tension Davis faced.
It was my third year with the ministry. I got a call from a prominent white Christian leader, asking me to go to lunch with him. As we're sitting down to eat, all of a sudden this guy starts crying. … He explained that God had blessed him, his children were healthy, he was known throughout the country. But, he said, "I've had a hard time sleeping throughout the night." And I was thinking to myself, Why is he telling me this? I'm not a therapist.
"I just came back from an annual conference on the other side of the country," the man told me. "A bunch of us got together to discuss reconciliation and cross-cultural ministry. Usually, when black leaders come into the meeting, we make them feel right at home and let them be part of the decision-making process. But to be honest with you, Darrell, the decisions are made before your leaders ever get there. I'm used to hearing the jokes and the use of the N-word. But this time, when the jokes were going on and people were saying things, it didn't sound right to me."
"How can I get over this?" the leader asked me, sobbing. "How can we be friends?"
I was silent for a moment, then asked him, "Do you like football?" He seemed a little puzzled, but said yes. "I do, too," I told him. "I used to coach high school and college ball, and I have a lot of friends who play pro. I love a good game, and I love to cook out. So here's what we do: I need to get to know you, and you need to get to know me. Why don't you come over to my house?" I was the only black in my suburban neighborhood at the time. I said, "Bring your wife and meet my wife, and we'll just sit and talk and get to know each other. I'll barbecue some steaks, and let's start there."
He was taken aback. He said, "You want me to come to your house?"
"Yes," I said. "If you want me to sit here and clear your conscience for all the crap you did, I can't do that. Friendship is not cheap. It takes time and commitment." I gave him my home phone number and told him to give me a call.
I never heard from him again.
In the middle of his tenure as director, Davis was in search of a speaker for a major fundraising event, and he got the idea to invite civil-rights matriarch Rosa Parks. She agreed to speak, and at first, everyone seemed thrilled. Then, without warning, Davis received a call from his organization's top leadership. They were pulling the plug.
"They were concerned that Mrs. Parks might be viewed as too liberal for some of their supporters," he recalls. "They were worried that she didn't seem to come from an evangelical background."
That fiasco, says Davis, was the beginning of the end. These days, Davis stays busy with his church responsibilities and national speaking engagements, as well as faith-based community development projects near his church's inner-city neighborhood. Though he insists that he harbors no resentment toward white evangelicals, he does say, "There are some of us who have worked with our white brothers on the other side who probably will never do it again. And it's not that we don't love them; it's that we don't have the time. We don't have the heartbeats available. After that frustration kicks in, time after time, you get tired."
Getting Unstuck
I know many of my white friends and colleagues, both past and present, have grown irritated by the black community's incessant blabbering about race and racism and racial reconciliation. They don't understand what's left for them to do. "We have African Americans and other people of color on our staff. We listen to Tony Evans's broadcast every day. We even send our youth group into the city to do urban ministry. Can't we get on with it already? Haven't we done enough?"
I can empathize. I know that black people are tired of the blabbering as well. I would love to move on. Somehow, though, on our way to racial resolution, we've gotten stuck in the rut of familiar patterns. These patterns lead us to believe we've accomplished something simply by, for example, hiring a person of color or speaking to a person of another race at church or hugging someone we don't know at a conference 300 miles away from home. These types of gestures are good and necessary. But we should not let symbolism displace the purpose of the acts themselves.
So let me pose a few questions.
White Christian, you have people of color on your staff, but are you seeking their ideas and perspectives? Does your corporate culture reflect sensitivity to the feelings and concerns of nonwhite individuals? You've spoken to the black people who attend your church, but have you had them over to watch the game after service? Have you invited them to join your small group?
Black Christian, have you been keeping at an arm's distance those white acquaintances who have attempted to get to know you better? Have you written off some whites as racists because of silly comments they didn't realize were offensive? Have you taken the time to educate them about your culture, answering all of their probing questions about your hair care or your opinion of some black celebrity?
White Christian, you hugged and apologized to that nameless black person at an out-of-town conference, but have you made any new friends across racial lines since you've returned home? Are you now more attuned to the subtle ways society treats whites differently from blacks?
Black Christian, are you hanging on to unresolved bitterness against whites? Are you harboring bigotry of your own? Have you been ignoring God's command to extend grace? Are you resisting his call to become a bridge between the races, because you realize that bridges, by definition, must be stepped on?
As Christians, it's possible for us to do wonderfully holy things cross-culturally without ever experiencing a fundamental change in our thinking. To break out of the monochromatic status quo of today's evangelical movement, we must confront hard truths about ourselves and about the things that truly drive our institutions. If we don't, we'll never find ourselves in that place of total freedom and faith and unity that allows us to be used by God in radical ways.
As evangelical leaders, are we trusting in God to use us to build his kingdom—in all its glorious diversity—or are we busy trying, in his name, to preserve our own? If we expect to see God move us toward a place of true and lasting unity, we cannot do business as usual.
Nor can we simply wait. The cost of maintaining the status quo is too high.
Edward Gilbreath is editor of Today's Christian and author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity (InterVarsity, 2006), from which this article was adapted.
Posted by anthony at February 1, 2007 09:01 AM | TrackBackGreat post brother Anthony, especially in light of your recent unvailing as the "Dark Heretic". You are a brave man, one that many of us look to with admiration. You are smart, successful, articulate, passionate and good lookin. We are more by having your bold and definitive voice in our midst.
I hope that we can take seriously the failures of other evangelical institutions and work toward being an example for others to follow? Wow, that sounds good but I know that it is a big something to bite off! Maybe there should be a ministry lunch! Ha!
Posted by: michael at January 30, 2007 11:08 AMAnd then there's some of us white guys who wish we could find a real man to preach to us and end up watching T. D. Jakes videos to help us stand up straight.
Posted by: juris naturalist at January 30, 2007 11:21 AMReligion is very closely linked to culture.
Even without considering ethnicity, it's sometimes hard to separate out what is true Godliness and what's just trying to force people into another form of conformity.
And interpreting Scripture is always a challenge to determine what's proscriptive and what's cultural.
So it's not surprising that this should be an issue even among those whose hearts are pure and free from racism.
Posted by: K at January 30, 2007 11:24 AMWhile I agree that racism is a huge problem, both in the church and elsewhere, I think the issue is a bit more complex.
It is impossible to be friends with everyone at any more than just a superficial level. Friendship takes time and effort. If someone goes to a church that has, say, 500 attendees on a Sunday morning, your interaction with most of them will be no more than a pleasant smile and handshake on Sunday morning. Just having everyone over to dinner at the rate of four a week would take over 2 years.
So what people do is establish friendships with people who are like themselves. Race, yes, but also age, income level, common interests, level of education, marital status (and age of children). I'm white and a lot of the guys that wouldn't have Darrell Davis (or Anthony) over for a cookout probably wouldn't invite me either.
It would be wonderful if people would spend time with people who weren't like them (meaning all the categories I listed and then some). But I think the real problem is broader than mere racism. It's human nature to want to be with others like yourself. I really don't know how to change that.
On a related note, some years back my partner and I put our house on the market. We had Black neighbors (Baptist) on one side and Hispanic neighbors (Pentecostal) on the other. Our Black neighbors asked us to please not sell to Hispanics and our Hispanic neighbors asked us to please not sell to Blacks. Sigh.
Posted by: NI at January 30, 2007 11:51 AM"Our Black neighbors asked us to please not sell to Hispanics and our Hispanic neighbors asked us to please not sell to Blacks. Sigh"
I'm not surprised at all.
Posted by: anthony Bradley at January 30, 2007 12:04 PMNI,
You said, "It's human nature to want to be with others like yourself. I really don't know how to change that."
Read Ephesians 2. It's God's business to change human nature. When He does, human relationships (with God, with each other, and with creation) also change. If your relationships (with God, with people, and with creation) are not changing, then God is not changing you. That should be worrisome to you. When I notice I'm stuck in the same sorts of (sinful) relational patterns, it definitely worries me.
Posted by: nick at January 30, 2007 12:32 PMI'm very encouraged by the advice given by the writer; have somebody over for lunch. I realize the end of racial strife isn't as simple as learning to enjoy soul food, real tacos, and potstickers, but if it's a way to get started, count me in!
(burp)
Posted by: Robert Perry at January 30, 2007 12:33 PMNick, of course God can and does change human nature. But I understood the point of this posting to be, What can we do. And other than pray and shed as much salt and light as possible, probably not much. The good news of course is that God is sovereign and will change things in his own good time.
Posted by: NI at January 30, 2007 01:58 PMNick, of course God can and does change human nature. God is sovereign; he can do anything he pleases whenever he pleases.
I just think it's useful to remember WHY prejudice exists so that we understand WHY there sometimes doesn't seem to be any movement. As best as I can tell it's stamped pretty firmly in our DNA. That line from the famous musical about:
You must carefully teach them, before it's too late/Before they turn six, or seven, or eight/To hate all the people their relatives hate/They have got to be carefully taught
may be nice poetry, but it bears no resemblance to reality.
Posted by: NI at January 30, 2007 02:05 PMNI,
My point is that resorting to blaming human nature or DNA is often used as a cop-out. All of the problems of the world are caused by human nature (i.e. sinfulness). Maybe you don't use that cop-out in your everyday life; I don't know. Too many Christians do. Part of trusting God is believing that His Gospel will change the world as His people respond faithfully to His call on their lives.
Regarding the song or whatever you quoted: I'm not quite sure of the point. If you are saying that people are not taught to hate, you are only partly right. All people have hatefulness in their hearts because they are sinful. But people are DEFINITELY taught to hate whole groups because of superficial reasons. That is why some people hate blacks and some people hate Yankee fans and some people hate people who don't speak English, and on and on and on.
My wife and I are white and we have a 4 month old foster-daughter who is black whom we have cared for her entire life. When she sees us, she smiles and is happy. She isn't happy to see black people just because they are "like her." If she develops an affinity for or a repulsion to whole groups of people it will be because she has learned it, not because of her DNA.
Posted by: nick at January 30, 2007 02:31 PMNI "It is human nature to want to be with others like yourself."
It is sinful nature to cling to security, and the status quo. It requires the spirit of God to step out of paganism into liberty.
This is what God required of Abraham when he was called out of Ur. Give up paganism and know that I Am the one true God. So much of our mentalities bear this pagan imprint. Every protectionist policy, every collectivist ideal finds its root in the same place.
The only legitimate collective is the Church, and the only opportunity for reconciliation is a return to radical monotheism, an expulsion of Gnosticism and Socratic philosophies from our doctrine, which will enable us to bury our fears along with the old man.
The black/hispanic issue is huge. Can we learn anything from our experience with the Chinese/Irish issue a century ago?
Posted by: juris naturalist at January 30, 2007 02:56 PMNick, let's back up a minute. Imagine there are two mice that see a snake. One of the mice runs away as fast as he can; the other says, "Oh, what a pretty snake; maybe I can make friends with it." Which of those two is most likely to survive long enough to pass along its genes?
The point of my question is that for a very long time prejudice and distrust of other things that are different were assets if you wanted to live long enough to pass along your genes. That is no longer true, at least for humans. We're past that. In fact, prejudice and distrust of those who are different are now liabilities rather than assets.
But all of us are the descendants of a long line of people for whom prejudice and distrust were assets, and those are the people who passed their genes along to us. And the kinists, crazy as they are, have at least got that right.
As I'm sure Anthony can tell you, many whites view Black men as potential predators, and that's why. Many straight men view gay men as potential predators for precisely the same reason. Once upon a time if you wanted to survive you had to view everything different from yourself as a potential predator.
The history of civilization is the history of overcoming behaviors that were useful once upon a time but no longer are, and eventually prejudice will fall too. Just don't expect it to happen tomorrow. And understanding that prejudice does indeed have a biological basis, and needs to be eradicated at that level, will help.
P.S. I think you and I are mostly on the same page here.
Posted by: NI at January 30, 2007 03:04 PMNI,
WHOA, dude, not only are we not on the same page, we are not even in the same book.
Posted by: nick at January 30, 2007 03:16 PMThis is much farther than DNA.
The cultural divide between American Whites and American Blacks is unique. It is a greater divide than most black-white divides in most other countries (not all, but most). It is greater than White-Hispanic divides, and greater than Black-Hispanic divides. It is greater than White-Asian divides, and greater than Black-Asian divides.
For instance, If we learned anything at all from the OJ Simpson mess, it is that each culture talks past the other.
Why? no need to deal with that here. there are a million factors and a hundred million experts to be consulted, but we should note that it is so.
One of the difficulties of Racial Reconciliation is that when a black man enters into the white culture, or vice versa, they normally don't pull many other people with them. "Look at Jim. He hangs out with the folks at the black church. That's good . . . for him. I'm just not called, you know."
The same is true the other direction. The black man in the white culture isn't necessarily pulling in tons of black folk who want to go in with him.
It has been my observation (and I say "my" observation so that those who might disagree can understand that I am not speaking for anyone else's experience) that white folks patronize without realizing it, and black society sees no need to have whites in their subculture to get by.
My experience? Not exhaustive, but it has been intentional in the area of racial reconciliation. I was ordained by a black pastor in a purposely interracial church in South Carolina. I ended up at that church because attempts to integrate at "all black" churches seemed initially very difficult. There is an invisible barrier, to be sure. Likewise, my pastor and friend, would tell me that his black brethren not at the church would often say, "So, how's it going at that church? do you think it's going to work?"
His answer was always, "It is working." He was correct. It had all the mess that goes with fallen people working together to carry out Jesus' love in a world that has shaped us to do otherwise.
this is more than white folks celebrating great black preaching. this task is more than the a few missionary black folks breaking into white culture. This will take humility and perseverance on all sides.
One thing I know is certain, it does no good to have whites constantly beat themselves up as failing, thinking that by hanging our heads and going, "Yeah, we're the dumb dominate culture. we'll never get it right."; nor will it do any good to have blacks thinking, "The white society has to fix its wrongs." Neither is correct, and both keep us with subtle, but very real, patriarchy.
The historically oppressed ones, are called by God to be the unifiers, the ones who reach out in love to their oppressers. Isn't that backwards, some would ask? To the world, yes. But it is the Christ way to bless those who persecute you. (This was what set MLK apart from other leaders, by the way). That means there is a strong mandate to black Christians, and that includes leaders of historically black denominations, to reach out actively and with humility towards white Christians. This is not happening.
likewise, there is a biblical mandate for the dominant culture to be volunarily the servant the historically oppressed. this doesn't simply mean letting a black guy in the house. It means coming to mostly "black" ministries, organizations, etc, and saying, "How can we serve?" and inviting different colored folks to be leaders in traditionally "white" movements. This also is not happening.
Speaking as someone who by nature understands whites better than blacks, at the very least, white guys, please stop tripping all over yourselves when a black man is around, trying to prove you are not a racist. just be yourself. if you're not a racist, it will show. Also, stop taking pride in having "a black friend" as if that person is proof of your broad-mindedness.
Instead, intentionally reach out to folks different from you, push through the uncomfortable stage until the personality of the person with whom you are dealing is the person you know --you know what I mean? When a person becomes a person, and not a "black guy", then you are getting somewhere.
Well, I've said enough to get lots of people either upset with what I said, or what they think I said. I'll stop now.
peace.
Posted by: Mike G at January 30, 2007 03:52 PMfollow up: Great post AB. I thought I had read it, but then after I posted, it was a lot longer! I guess I missed the "read more" button or something.
anyway, very practical stuff. I love it.
Posted by: Mike G at January 30, 2007 04:22 PManother comment. AB says:
"I can empathize. I know that black people are tired of the blabbering as well. I would love to move on. Somehow, though, on our way to racial resolution, we've gotten stuck in the rut of familiar patterns. These patterns lead us to believe we've accomplished something simply by, for example, hiring a person of color or speaking to a person of another race at church or hugging someone we don't know at a conference 300 miles away from home. These types of gestures are good and necessary. But we should not let symbolism displace the purpose of the acts themselves."
Exactly!! Exactly. the Christian life is marked by one irreplaceable characteristic: love for one another. victory is love in Jesus name. This means relationship, friendship, open and real friendship, complete with laughter, food, arguing and getting over it, having common friends, knowing one another's family's, preferring one another's company, and common mission.
Juris said, "there's some of us white guys who wish we could find a real man to preach to us and end up watching T. D. Jakes videos to help us stand up straight."
HAHA!!!!! You should listen to Eddie Long as well. He's a real "man preacher" as well!
Posted by: anthony B. at January 30, 2007 05:11 PMMike said, "white guys, please stop tripping all over yourselves when a black man is around, trying to prove you are not a racist. just be yourself. if you're not a racist, it will show. Also, stop taking pride in having "a black friend" as if that person is proof of your broad-mindedness."
I soooooooo wish you could make that into a bumper sticker.
Posted by: anthony B. at January 30, 2007 05:15 PMDark Heretic,
What do you think Eddie Long's position is on the New Perspective?
Posted by: Lock at January 30, 2007 06:29 PMi think Lock has the wrong "Bishop" in mind! ha! ha! ha!
Posted by: christopher at January 30, 2007 09:05 PMI love all this dialogue. This is good stuff. I have a question though. At what point does dividing up ministry based on culture, like the Intervarsity Fellowship example, go to far and lead us away from representing the Biblical church where there is no dividing wall and where people from every race nation and tongue are gathered? At what point are we continuing the advance of the results of Babel instead of the results of the cross?
Posted by: DK at January 30, 2007 10:44 PMi read the article today. it's good. are you coming out to Fuller for the Black Evangelicals meeting in March?
Posted by: rudy at January 31, 2007 01:16 AMi read the article today. it's good. are you coming out to Fuller for the Black Evangelicals meeting in March?
Posted by: rudy at January 31, 2007 01:17 AMSpeaking of white folk trying to "down," go to www. black people love us .com, but take out the spaces of the site name. I couldn't type it in without spaces without this site giving me an error.
Posted by: Tyler at January 31, 2007 10:50 PMHey Anthony. I'm not surprised. I worked at two "white" Evangelical Christian colleges and have come to the conclusion that in order to 'survive' you have to sell out and become another person. I couldn't, I didn't know how and uh, two days before Thanksgiving was given my walking papers. Article on it in next PRISM
Posted by: liz rios at February 1, 2007 11:52 AMdramaturge, it's a joke website. The people that made it are doing it as a joke to show how silly it is when we white people try way too hard to be "down" with what we mistakenly think all african americans are like.
Posted by: Tyler at February 1, 2007 01:54 PMWhat I find interesting in the comments is how this statement fades into the background:
"Often when blacks enter into evangelical circles they can no longer be black culturally. "
I concur that "race" is something that we have to deal, but not because it should be viewed as a starting point for reconciliation, but because it's a crappy social construct that lumps people into color groups - white, black, brown and yellow - and racial reconciliation is unachievable because it was never designed to unite people but only divide people. So I propose that we stop trying to bring racial reconciliation.
The Jew/Gentile issue in the OT/NT has always been a cultural one. The fact that Gilbreath can't be culturally black in evangelical circles, or the fact that I can not be culturally hispanic in my reformed circles should signal that any attempts to bring reconciliation should address CULTURAL RENEWAL. I think Tim Keller has just started to scratch the surface of how the Gospel brings CULTURAL RENEWAL to the CHurch and large Global cities.
Anthony we need get a few of the brothers to write a book on this issue. I think I can contribute a chapter. I just ask you all as you comment to really think about why does one have to give up one's ethnic culture in evangelical or reformed circles? Even though people are down on NT Wright's new perspective, he actually brings culture into play in his treatment on justification. When Wright looks at the New Testament he sees culture a key to understanding the Gospel. Disclaimer I am not endorsing a New Perspective position less I be stoned.
Posted by: jose at February 1, 2007 05:49 PMI appreciate what you put down on your site. I linked to this blog from another site. Good stuff. I would like however to get the full names of the 5 black evangelical theologians. I caught the two you posted. I'm by Elliot you mean Elliot Green. That's cool. I want to know if there is a bibliography to get you brothers' material. I know about Fields' book. What about the others?
I'm an older cat and I appreciate your thoughts and words on the real though. Keep putting it down brutha man!
I also love the multicultral connections. Quiet as keep most conservative brothers I know run (minister, fellowship) in various circles. I'm just saying I'm on your wood brother.
Posted by: Donald at February 1, 2007 09:44 PMTyler, I was pretty sure it wasn't serious (at least I hope no one would really do something like that), but it's still bizarre and almost creepy. I guess because it does so well at demonstrating what the application of such a ridiculous pretense would look like. A little satire on the web, I guess.
Posted by: dramaturge at February 1, 2007 09:47 PMwho is this Craig you mention along with Bruce and Elliott?
Posted by: christopher at February 2, 2007 10:18 AMChristopher, you're kidding right?
http://www.swbts.edu/faculty/cmitchell/
My brother is "this Craig" who is one of "those" people.
Posted by: anthony Bradley at February 2, 2007 12:35 PMAB,
No, sadly, i was not kidding. i'm ashamed to say i've never heard of the brother (and i'm baptist!).
i thought i knew all of us, but i guess not. Good to know there is one more out there. Does he hang in Reformed circles? That's how i first heard about you, Greene, and Fields. Man, his resume is deep!
I concur with Gilbreath's perspective here. As one who has been engaging a mostly white evangelical community for a couple of years now (3 to be precise) I am getting tired. I find myself psychologically and spiritually drained. I find myself battling unconcious racial habits, aesthetics, and narratives all the time. This stuff wears you down. I am almost at a point where I feel the desire to retreat back into a non-white Christian world. Somedays I feel burnt-out with the effort. Pray for a brutha!
Posted by: postmodernegro at February 3, 2007 04:30 PMPM-negro, this is worthy of a separate posting. Wow!!!
Posted by: anthony B. at February 4, 2007 09:52 AM