If we want the children to value the King Holiday; we must not only tell them of the Baptist preacher’s life and legacy, but we must also tell them how hard and long Black people and allies struggled to get the U.S. Government to honor him.

Enjoy the clip below.

November 2, 1983: President Reagan Approves MLK Holiday

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

And in that spirit of Nia; I’d like to share this important article written by Dr. Adam Clark.

CHRISTIANITY AND KWANZAA
By Dr. Adam Clark
(originally posted on The Huffington Post)

It’s strange that the day after Christians celebrate the birth of child who was to become a liberator that they fail to see the liberating possibilities in the week long celebration of Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan. 1.) The infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke portray Jesus as the bearer of concrete longings of a people for freedom from Roman rule. Kwanzaa was created out of the liberation narrative of the 1960s. The longing of African American people for freedom, selfhood and beauty grounds and shapes the vision, values and practices of Kwanzaa. It is derived from African first-fruits harvest celebrations and encourages it’s observers to be thankful for good and beauty of Creation and act for the well-being and wholeness of the world.

Despite its ecumenical character, Kwanzaa remains controversial in black churches. Many popular websites professing to explore the relationship between Christianity and Kwanzaa encourage Christians not to practice Kwanzaa. These websites question the relevance of Kwanzaa to the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Some regard Kwanzaa as a rival “pagan holiday,” “cultic celebration” or as idol worship. Others question the motives of the creator of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga, who is cast as an anti-Christian thinker, hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These religious detractors position themselves as defenders of the faith and see their attacks on Kwanzaa as a way of preserving biblical faith against the unbiblical principles of Kwanzaa.

What’s ironic is that the people who denounce Kwanzaa do not have the same suspicion toward the celebration of Christmas. There is a sharp distinction between the biblical portrayal of Christmas and its contemporary emphases. Christmas Day originated when the church used the stories of the birth of Jesus to place a thin Christian veneer over the Roman holiday celebrating the Winter solstice. The American celebration of Christmas that features Santa Claus as its chief icon, lighted trees, shopping rituals, massive food grabs and spectacular gift giving resemble the festivals of Imperial Rome that honored the might of Caesar more than the humble story of a couple that gave birth to a Christ-child in a manger.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Habari Gani? Ujamma – Cooperative Economics

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

It was a little more than three years ago when I giving particular attention to the development of the early Christian church as described in the book of Acts. Scripture says that after the departure of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God descended in mass upon his followers imbuing them with confidence, power, and the ability to speak in foreign languages so that others nearby could understand. Not only that, but the Spirit also was the fuel which re-organized this infant community around daily fellowship and shared meals. Remarkably, another feature of this new community of Faith was that they rejected personal possessions and sold their belongings in order to provide for anyone’s needs. [You can read the full biblical account by Clicking Here]

My excitement of that scriptural vision at that time pushed me to proclaim that the early Christians were Socialists and to suggest that today’s Christians should be as well.

And while I’m not sure that I would so hastily draw the same conclusion today, at the very least I still maintain that scripture presents the early Church as embracing an inspiring COMMUNALISM. There was a certain and celebrated interconnectedness that characterized the early Christian community. And when I think about that interconnectedness and strong sense of communalism, I think about today’s Kwanzaa principle – Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics.

Many have spoken on the importance of the Black Community handling money with greater intentionality and for purposes that would uplift our community. Brother Malcolm X spoke plainly about the importance of us having a hand in the economics of our own neighborhoods, owning the businesses in our neighborhoods and thereby being in a position to employ our own people. Tied to Bro. Malcolm’s position, research shows that Black businesses are more likely than White businesses to hire Black people. Given the stark unemployment rate today for American Africans (15.5% among those still looking for work), supporting Black Businesses must become a priority in our community for in many cases when we support Black Businesses, we support ourselves.

I’m so thankful to live in a city with so many industrious American Africans who are running their own businesses and I make it my business to support them in many ways.

For example, like many of you, I have tons of meetings to attend every month and many of these meetings happen over some kind of meal. Whenever I can, I recommend the “meeting over a meal” to take place at a Black cafe’ or restaurant. Baltimore has many of them, but two of my favorites are the Darker Than Blue Cafe on Greenmount Avenue and Terra Cafe on 25th Street. These two award-winning restaurants are led by inspiring Black Men – Bro. Casey Jenkins (Darker Than Blue) and Bro. Terence Dickson (Terra Cafe) respectively. They’ve created a “down home” atmosphere and serve good food at reasonable prices.

Rev. Heber Brown, III pictured with Brother Nati of Everyone's Place African Cultural Center

You can also get great books and Afrocentric DVD’s from Reality Speaks Bookstore and Media Center. Bro. Jabari and Sista Yaa are longtime advocates for an Afrocentric way of life for African people in Tubman City (Baltimore) and should be supported.

When it comes to apparel, I tend to head to Sankofa African & World Bazaar on North Charles Street.

But for the past month or so, I’ve been excited though because the clothing brand, Alkebu-Lan Gear, has had a kiosk at Towson Mall now located on the third floor. Bro. Darron Waller, (a fellow Morganite!) has created an exciting and fashionable brand that is worn by people all over the world – including on Sesame Street. Bro. Waller has a special sale running until Saturday, December 31, 2011 – buy one shirt, get two free!

I could go on, but you get the point. For all the unseemly and parasitic businesses that drain life and resources from the Black community (with our support!); there are many many more inspiring and empowering Black-owned establishments that stand as beacons of our industrious history, champions of our culture, and founding stones of the 21st-Century Black Wall Street that we have yet to rebuild.

No matter what city or state you’re reading this from; I’d love to know what Black-owned, community-supportive businesses that you frequent or know of. Let’s connect the dots and share. Please provide a website or physical address where possible.

Ashe.

Jim Wallis, Founder of Sojourner Magazine

Jim Wallis writes a thought-provoking article about the “end” of the Iraq War entitled, It’s Finally Over – and it was Wrong.”

It made me think about the first time I was arrested for direct action and civil disobedience in protest of the military invasion and occupation of Iraq four years ago. The action was planned and promoted in large measure by the Sojourner’s community. I kept the cuffs that restrained me that cold night so that I can show my sons that sometimes living with convictions will cost you something.

But Wallis’ article on Iraq also pricked something else in me. It made me think of the ever-expanding U.S. military action now under President Obama. The same convictions that catapulted me to the White House in protest four years ago are the same ones that critique this president. Obama is not above critique and is NOT greater than the foundational spiritual tenets that I embrace as a follower of Jesus. Here is the comment that bubbled up from my soul onto Wallis’ website in response to his article:

Great article, Jim.

I marched with you and others during the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in March 2007.

Reading how you rightly described the distortions and lies that justified war in Iraq under Bush made me think of the lies spewed to justify military action in Libya, Uganda, and other parts of the world under Obama.

I didn’t march in 2007 against a republican president. I marched because I embrace the ethic of the Prince of Peace and am co-laboring with others to experience the Beloved Community. With the American military empire spreading now under a democratic president; I believe it’s time for another gathering and mobilization of people of Faith.

To march when Bush calls for war and withhold from marching when Obama expands war across the world threatens our credibility as people whose “citizenship is in Heaven.” It’s easy to stand for conviction when it’ll be embraced and applauded (as it was under Bush). It takes a greater level of resolve to act on convictions when it won’t be popular and will cost us something.

The Church is in danger of losing its voice.

Time to Blow the Trumpet,

Pastor Heber Brown, III
Baltimore, MD

Of course I’m expecting this to be one of the chapters in D. Brent Laytham’s next series of books….right after the chapter entitled, “God Is Not A ‘He” and before the chapter “God Is Not A Christian.”

Enjoy:

And it is there – in the gap between people’s needs and available municipal resources that Mountain Christian Church in Bel Air, Maryland is actively making a difference.

As a subscriber to their church e-newsletter (yes, pastors subscribe to other church newsletters all the time!), I received the note from Pastor Ben before Hurricane Irene hit Maryland. Like most Houses of Prayer in the area; Pastor Ben was sending out an update to the congregation about worship services that weekend. However, after informing readers that worship would be cancelled; he wrote something that excited my spirit. His message read in part:

Often I write an enote urging you to COME to church. That’s what you expect from a preacher, right? “Go to church!” But this weekend, I have a different message for you.
This weekend, DON’T GO TO CHURCH. Instead, BE the church!

Storms like this can bring people together, build community, and create ministry opportunities – a chance for us to rain down big time blessings on others, to help them see the real heart of Jesus’ people. Be thinking how you can build relationships with neighbors through this.

Pastor Ben redirected the attention and energy of his congregation from church service to…well – church service. Calling this initiative Operation Irene; he gave his parishioners ideas on how to serve others before, during, and after the storm like opening their homes to the elderly so they don’t have to ride out the storm alone, anticipating school closures and offering to help parents with childcare arrangements after the storm, and buying extra supplies (water, flashlights, etc.) to share with neighbors.

On top of all of that, the church set up a phone number that people could call to request help with removing debris and cutting trees after the storm. They have a ministry called Bodybuilders – “a construction/repair ministry…made up of teams of people with different skills who are prepared to work on a number of different building projects.”

Sharing their post-Irene storm assistance number on their website and other outlets, people could call on the church to come help clear away damage and secure homes. Word is that even their county government and even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was giving out the church number for those needing help within the neighborhood of that church!

With all the criticism that the Christian Church receives in the world (a lot of it much deserved!); it’s great to see churches like this extending themselves beyond themselves to make a difference for somebody.

Shout out to Pastor Ben and the Mountain Christian Family!

The recent political endorsement of current Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance has caused quite a stir and rightly so. Mayoral candidate, Senator Cathy Pugh in disrupting the endorsement forum last week at Friendship Baptist Church did more than reveal an egregious departure from tradition and fair process that would have allowed all candidates to vie for the IMA’s endorsement; her action pulled back the covers on an organization that has lost its way.

Like many civil rights-era organizations; the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance is struggling to find its footing in a world that is vastly different from the one which it knew in its heyday. In its prime, the Alliance was a force to deal with particularly between the ’50′s – ’70′s especially – addressing pressing matters over the years like employment for African Americans and social justice for the most vulnerable in Baltimore. The Alliance demanded respect from political leaders and helped to secure much needed legislation and programs for those who otherwise had no voice with the powerbrokers. Its strength was, in part, found within the strong personalities that served as magnetic forces attracting other pastors and concerned residents to, as James Brown would say, “get up, get into it, and get involved.”

However, the IMA is now far past its prime and struggling to regain its vigor.

The endorsement forum last week caused a tremendous blow to the credibility of the organization and its debatable as to whether or not the Alliance can fully recover if things remain the same. The endorsement of Stephanie Rawlings-Blake by the Alliance should be thrown out and summarily disregarded by the public. It did not represent the input of the full membership and many clergy members did not even know that it was scheduled to take place. Furthermore, the endorsement is deficient because it was not predicated upon alignment with any clear IMA agenda.

The truth is that the endorsement was just the first public example of the Alliance’s struggles. For at least the past 4 years, the Alliance has been faltering. It’s leadership process is questionable and its public action is largely symbolic and absent of substance or follow up. It has no agenda to hold anyone accountable to and its past-strength was wrapped around larger-than-life clergy personalities and through the example of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and others we’ve seen that that model is not sustainable for the longterm. The membership has shriveled from 250 active members at one point to now just about 10-15 pastors (a good number of them retired) who regularly come to the monthly meetings.

Despite the current troubles of the IMA; as a past Vice President of the group, I believe that there is still hope for the organization. Not only do I believe that, but I pray for a revival of the group. The legacy of the IMA is too rich and too important to the history of Baltimore to discard now just because it has made a very public mistake. Should the Alliance be held accountable? Most definitely and it deserves every bit of criticism that it has received because of the endorsement “process.”  However, there’s an old saying: “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Anybody who wonders about the irrevocable importance of the IMA should read books like Harold McDougall’s Black Baltimore: A New Theory of Community or pay a visit to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum or the African American Department at the Enoch Pratt Central Library and review the burgeoning vertical files which detail the commendable actions of this group over the years.

No people of sound mind would throw away such a magnificent aspect of their story on the timeline of history.

Nevertheless things do need to change with the Alliance if it wants to be around in a meaningful way for the next generation and for this city. If the bulk of your accomplishments can only be found in museums and libraries, then that should be a sign that the health of the organization is suspect. Here are a few of my recommendations related to how the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance can be revived and revitalized.

1. The IMA should shelve its practice of endorsing candidates for office at this time.

An endorsement is based on the strength of the endorsers connection with a constituency. Many would argue that these clergy-activist have become disconnected from those whom they ultimately purport to represent so the endorsement doesn’t mean much in the end.

2. The IMA should go on a Listening Tour to decipher a clear agenda that is connected to the community

Preachers are used to talking. We’re celebrated and compensated for our oratorical ability. However, there comes a time when listening is preferred and needed. The IMA says it speaks for the “voiceless,” but if it sits and listens, it just might find out that the “voiceless” do have a voice worth paying attention to. Go listen and from what you hear, craft an agenda for this time.

3. The IMA should re-introduce itself to Baltimore

Most people 45 and under have little clue about who the IMA is and what it has been about. It can’t just rely on the seniors to remember their heyday. They must educate those who weren’t around during its prime. It’s hard to appreciate a history that you know nothing about. In partnership with the Great Black in Wax Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Universities, and others; the IMA should travel to various churches and other sites around the city presenting on its history and having its past members/leadership talk about the triumphs and challenges of the group.

4. The IMA should reconsider the makeup of its membership

There was a time when preachers were more likely to be the most respected and educated members of the Black community. However, that has changed. There are so many lay people (non-clergy) who have degrees, experiences, insight, and education that need to be involved with partnering with the clergy to address pressing concerns. Currently, the IMA is made up of just clergy. Perhaps it’s time to change that.

5. The IMA should dedicate resources to an aggressive recruitment campaign to attract younger members

Many organizations are struggling to attract younger professionals to its ranks. Sometimes this is because the organization really doesn’t want young people involved and other times they just want young people to be tokens for their group photo. Young professionals will not tolerate either. They’ll much rather go and start their own organization with their peers than to partner with elders who patronize them. IMA is overwhelmingly made up of clergy 55 and older. If nothing changes and you add 15 years to the current active members; the IMA will be in an even worse state of decline if it exists at all! Young professionals (clergy and otherwise) need to be engaged, invited, and welcomed into meaningful leadership roles within the group. They need to help cast vision for today and tomorrow and be empowered to provide the tools needed to be effective in todays world. The fact that the IMA doesn’t have a website, facebook page, or twitter account should be sign enough that it needs the expertise and energy of youth.

I love the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. It has been an invaluable resource to the development of this preacher and I’m a better pastor today because of the group. However, it has lost its way and now the question is will the leadership do what’s necessary to revive this spectacular association of social justice-minded clergy.

I pray so, but only time will tell.

For the past maybe 15 years, those of us in the Black Church tradition have jointly witnessed the rise of ecclesial bodies and newly ordained bishops in denominations that theretofore did not engage in such practice. I still remember being a host of a Baltimore-based, two-way talk radio show some years ago and engaging in passionate dialogue with listeners around the question of where all these bishops are coming from.

I must admit that initially I was rather critical of what I was seeing. It seemed like everyone was jumping to be a bishop of something and many times that something was a group that they created. Even the word “bishop” was losing currency with me and many others even as some scrambled for even “higher” titles like “Apostle”. It seemed like people where grabbing these titles to prop themselves up instead of in the spirit of serving others.

And while some of that is still around; with the advent of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops and other similar groups; this movement has matured and gained some structure. While you still have people jumping up claiming that they’re bishops or “bishop-elects” – now there is stronger credentialing infrastructure and “quality controls.”

I’ve come to appreciate this development as a move to bring about higher levels of order and accountability. I don’t make such a big fuss anymore about bishops and ecclesial bodies, but my main concern is to ensure that even bishops are in accountable relationships. And while it’s rare to see bishops publicly held accountable, it should be appreciated – even by the critics – when it does happen.

And this month it happened.

For nearly a year, Bishop Eddie Long has been embroiled in legal proceedings related to allegations of sexual abuse by four young men whom he claimed as mentees and spiritual sons. It has been an ugly mess – a mess that Long has only stirred up more by first pledging to fight the allegations in court and then reaching an out-of-court settlement last month. Understandably, many are confused by the turnaround and seeking an explanation.

While some pastors are attempting to quickly jump to the message of forgiveness; the one who ordained Long as a bishop has a special message for his spiritual son: REPENT!

Claiming that Long doesn’t take his calls anymore, Bishop Paul S. Morton, founder of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, made his feelings on the matter public in a recent message at his Atlanta church. Urging Long not to ignore the situation hoping that it will go away, Bishop Morton stressed that Long’s church, his supporters, and the Body of Christ at Large deserve to hear something that will make way for repentance, forgiveness, and ultimately edification.

Click here for Bishop Paul Morton’s full message:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The kingdom [of God] is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, and do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it’s a beginning, and a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the workers.

We are the workers, not the master builders.

We are ministers, not messiahs.

We are profits of a future not our own.

These free Sessions will be via video conference at 8pm on May 2nd, May 9th, May 16th and May 23rd.

HSP will be lending limited supplies of webcams, headsets, and Ethernet cables to those for whom buying supplies would pose a barrier to participation.

Who can participate in this learning/teaching circle?

Anyone who agrees to abide in our community guidelines and who can meet the following minimum technology requirements. We will be offering (in fact, requiring) tech training
for participants (picking one person in your group to be the tech liaison is fine). If you have any questions (or suggestions!) on tech, please contact Mike@hopesem.org. The
tech requirements are:

* A webcam, headset, and Ethernet cable (for directly connecting to your router.)

Want a taste of the learning/teaching circle now? Check out H!PS director Eda Uca-Dorn’s interview on Jesus Radicals’ Iconocast discussing the Hosanna! Communities Initiative by
visiting: www.jesusradicals.com/iconocast-episode-26-eda-uca-dorn.

For complete details please visit: www.hopesem.org and for questions contact info@hopesem.org.