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Black Congregations Share Information and Affirmation

Episcopal News Service. December 15, 1999 [99-187]

Lynn Collins

(ENS) Three hundred participants gathered in early November at the Kanuga Conference Center at Hendersonville, North Carolina, to learn models and resources for developing and nourishing black congregations in the Episcopal Church.

The first Transformation and Renewal Conference, the product of three years of work led by Frank Turner, suffragan bishop of Pennsylvania, and Delois Ward of Washington, D.C., former chair of the National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries in the Episcopal Church, was the third major black leadership conference in 1999. The UBE/Bishop Primo Leadership Conference prepared black leaders for service and a conference sponsored by the Office of Black Ministries challenged black clergy to reflect on and prepare for the future.

November's conference began with remarks by the keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Kortright Davis, who declared, "Afro-Anglicans are those whom God has blessed with ebony grace...Euro-Anglicans are those whom God has blessed with ivory grace." The importance of ebony and ivory grace is an issue of identity -- of who one is when one meets God in prayer -- and how we worship, he said. "Congregations identifiable by their cultural and ethnic heritage are neither a social phenomenon nor an exotic arrangement."

Davis elaborated on this affirmation of uniqueness and acceptance, saying that such congregations can offer a holistic, Gospel-based, authentic, cultural ministry that serves the wider community in the name of Jesus Christ.

Difference and commonality

As the three-day conference went on it addressed many aspects of congregational ministry and the particular challenges facing black, or predominantly black, congregations. Participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds gathered in small groups to tell their stories and find commonalities in ministry. Presentations on evangelism, stewardship, community outreach, young adults and mission strategy stimulated the creative juices of the participants.

Black congregations and West Indian congregations with black priests, integrated congregations with black priests, and black congregations with Euro-American priests talked with Euro-American congregations serving black communities.

Winnona Woods, from St. Timothy's Church, Detroit, said she was delighted. "This let me know we are on the right track! We are a small black church, and being here I know we are all in the same struggle." The Diocese of Michigan, in fact, recently elected Wendell Gibbs, Jr., an Afro-Anglican, as bishop coadjutor.

Participants identified issues of concern, including the ability of churches to be electronically connected and computer-literate; non-Afro-Anglican clergy serving in black congregations; Euro-Anglican parishes serving black communities; recruitment and deployment of black clergy; the shortage of young black clergy; the lack of training for black lay leaders; and the need for black congregations to gather and share their stories.

Looking for information

"We came prepared to take back as much information as possible," said Jeannette Brown, assistant to the Bishop of Connecticut for diocesan ministry and social witness. The diocese was represented by 29 people from several parishes. "This conference is long overdue," said the Rev. Trevor Babbs, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, who also attended the Black Clergy Conference, "Jeannette Brown coordinated us and, with the diocese' help, we have come together, completed a case study, and are sharing our ideas and gifts."

Jane Libby, a white member of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Annapolis, Maryland, was excited. The church had just called a new rector who is a black woman, the Rev. Angela Shepherd, she said, adding, "St. Philip's Church is breaking new ground to build a new Life Center building.

"This is a learning experience," said Libby, "There is no right way [to do ministry]. The small group sharing was one of the most outstanding aspects of this conference."

Local black congregations also attended the conference, including representatives of churches whose members were victims of the flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd. The conference held a special offering for St. Luke's Church in Tarboro, North Carolina. Reggie Moss, Jr., warden of St. Luke's, fought back tears as he said, "There are no words to describe the stench of still water, broken walls and washed-away homes. No one expected this to happen."

For that church and for other victims of the floods, conference participants eventually raised more than $5,100.