wfn.org | Leadership, faith-based initiatives discussed during

[wshuffit@oc.disciples.org]

clergy gathering
Date:  March 21, 2001
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

01b-21

	WASHINGTON, D.C. (DNS) -- The nation's capital was the setting
for wide-ranging discussions on leadership and President Bush's
controversial charitable choice and faith-based social services
initiatives during the 27th annual Black Ministers Retreat of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

	About 225 African American clergy and lay leaders convened
March 5-8 at National City Christian Church for the conference.
This year's event was co-sponsored by Homeland Ministries and
the Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Institute of Religion, Colgate
Rochester Divinity School.

	The D.C. meeting locale was the perfect place for the
collaboration between DHM and the Rochester, N.Y.-based
seminary, according to the Rev. Darryl Trimiew. The Disciples
minister is dean of CRDS'Black Church Studies program and
professor of Christian social ethics. 

	A towering figure among African American church leaders in the
early 1900s, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was an alumnus of the
seminary and the longtime president of historically black Howard
University in the district. The Baptist clergyman offered a
paradigm of leadership that demonstrated how to move "people
from where they used to be to where they should be," said
Trimiew.  

	Is faith-based funding for social services "an alluring
temptation or a ‘shot in the arm' for projects that ran on a
shoestring for years?" asked the Rev. James A. Forbes, Jr.,
senior pastor of Riverside Church, New York City.  

	Critics of Bush's charitable choice plan, which supports
church-based social service programs with federal dollars, fear
it will encourage discrimination and unhealthy competition for
the funds. In addition, regulations concerning accountability
may foster government intrusion and control of faith-based
programs, say church leaders. 

	A pluralistic approach is essential to the initiative's success
according to Forbes. "You can't limit who is helped or funded,"
he said. He also challenged church groups to be inclusive in
hiring and in offering services to individuals.

The New York church leader also cautioned church groups against
compromising core beliefs for financial assistance with their
outreach efforts. "True faith," he said, "will not change policy
perspectives in exchange for a grant."

	He challenged African American churches to work together to
fund and support faith-based programs before approaching outside
groups. "Don't do it by yourself," he said. "Call on the faith
communities and ecumenical partners for increased support.
Maximize opportunities for collaboration." 

Class issues in African American churches are the biggest
barrier to providing relevant and effective ministries in
communities, according to the Rev. Vincent Harding, Denver,
Colo. "How do we deal with the wall of separation that exists
between those who have made it and those who haven't?" asked the
Illiff School of Theology professor. 

	Problems of gender bias, age discrimination and racism in
American society still remain to be solved, according to
Harding. He sees them, however, as tasks that the church is
uniquely positioned to address. "We have been called to the
transformation of this country," he said.

	Within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), that
transformation is beginning to take place through the
anti-racism, pro-reconciliation initiative. General Minister and
President Richard L. Hamm sees the project as key toward his
efforts at helping the Disciples of Christ become "a faithful
growing church that demonstrates true community, deep Christian
spirituality and a passion for justice." 

	Making that happen means envisioning and ensuring that the
church over the next 20 years is truly reflective of the North
American mission field. A disproportionate number of the 1,000
new churches Hamm hopes will be established must be
multicultural. In addition, more diversity is needed in
recruiting and training the more than 200 new clergy needed
annually to fill a growing leadership void.

	The question, according to the GMP, is "are you willing to do
anything -- including, God help us, change -- to become what God
wants us to be?"

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