17 minute read
Why I Am No Longer Interested in Being a “Preacher”
Melech Thomas, Contributing Writer
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I have asked myself this question often over the last few months. In other words, how does one live a life of color in a world that prefers you in “black and white”? Doing such is an arduous task for each person who wishes to live an authentic life. But it is even more difficult for those called by God to do the work of ministry. During the Lyman Beecher Lectures on preaching at Yale University in 1877, Phillips Brooks famously stated that preaching is the “communication of truth through personality.” This definition sounds great until confronted by the fact that the personalities of most preachers have been manufactured by culture rather than mined out from the innermost parts of their beings.
As young ministers, we were taught the importance of authenticity. Yet, the content of the workshops we attend, the church growth seminars suggested to us, and even our ordination processes teach us otherwise. Conformity appears to be the name of the game. From dress and conversation to preaching styles and church leadership, the capacity of a minister to fit within the parameters of socio-behavioral expectations is often an indicator of their potential success in the church. More plainly, effective imitation is often rewarded, while authentic expression that does not fit those expectations is ostracized.
“You don’t dress like a preacher.”
“A preacher shouldn’t post that.”
“I didn’t know preachers could do that!”
Questions like these are the product of a semiidolatrous image of the “preacher.” In addition to the preacher’s life being on a “pedestal,” the preacher’s personality also becomes confined by the shallow machinations of Western theological imagination. From this grounding, the formation of ministerial identity begins with the preinclination of inherent existential deficiency. To be frank, some might say that ministerial training focuses on crafting ministers as we have seen them instead of extracting from the minister the authentic characteristics that led God to call them in the first place. This neocolonial notion of “tabula rasa” negates the intrinsic value of the minister before they arrive at the beginning of their vocational journey.
As a result, even amidst an increasingly mutating society, the church has specialized in creating generations of ecclesiastical clones in hopes of replicating “the good ol’ days.” And the pressure to fit these invisible standards has created an existential quandary within most millennial clergypersons. On the one hand, if we choose to become who the “system” attempts to make us become, we run the risk of losing our authentic selves in the quest for ecclesiastical ambition. But, on the other hand, to choose a bold authenticity is to gamble with the trajectory of one’s ministerial career. To quote William Shakespeare’s famous line from Act 3, Scene 1 of Hamlet, “To be, or not to be, that is the question!” Unfortunately, this existential “tug-of-war” often results in the clergyperson wrestling with despair, ontological exhaustion, and, sometimes, social death, all to be accepted and lauded as someone who looks, talks, and acts like a “preacher.”
For these reasons, I have decided that I am no longer interested in being a “preacher.” No, this is not a resignation letter. This is not a rejection of my appointment. I am not leaving the ministry to which I have devoted the last 15 years of my life. On the contrary, a true desire to be faithful to the Call requires the categorical rejection of anything that crushes the capacity of the minister to be their full, whole, authentic self. Furthermore, the efficacy of the Call necessitates the courage to reject the armor of Saul, knowing that the slingshot God gave us works just fine. We may not “dress” like a preacher, but God will still use us. We may not “talk” like a preacher, but God will still use us. Some of us may not whoop. Some of us may not holler. Some of us may not even desire to pastor. Yet, we are all still the called, chosen by God for who we are and not simply who we will become.
This is not an indictment on all preachers. But this is a challenge to the popular notions of what it means to be a “preacher.” God does not call “preachers.” God calls individuals to preach, whether or not those individuals fit the mold of a “preacher.” Therefore, we must not allow our memories of how God has shown up to limit the possibilities of how God can show up. For the church to survive, we must abandon the “boxes” and allow the power of a claustrophobic God to expand the parameters of our theological horizons.
May the God who rolls stones away remove all barriers to a more authentic life. ❏ ❏ ❏
The Missed Opportunity
Rev. Tashara S. Void, Contributing Writer
March 2020 will forever be etched in our minds. It was the time when the whole world stopped moving, including churches. Things stood still as doors were forced closed, and churches grappled with not being considered essential. It was a time of grief as pastors mourned the closing of their doors and frantically attempted to create a virtual experience to sustain the anxious congregations. The dynamics shifted; what we once called church changed, and the pressure to maintain and sustain increased. But, in one little corner of the world, one non-pastoral clergywoman could see the growing tension and angst among her peers. So, receiving constant downloads with nowhere to upload them, she reached out to a few of her pastoral colleagues, offering them the content she received in exchange for developing a collaborative group who would bring their congregations together and study collectively on Wednesday evenings. Initially, the pastors were concerned with how their congregations would respond; some even had a separate study on a separate day. But, they all agreed a collaboration was necessary, and the collaborative formed the Family of Faith Bible Study group. Over the next couple of months, a couple of departments across the connection launched similar programs collaborating across organizations and churches, creating collective studies where there was not one teacher or one church lead but a series of teachers and thought leaders who embodied the spirit of connectionalism and worked as one unit to bring information and spirituality to the masses. There were also clusters of churches coming together that were formed to focus on re-entry and implementing systemic services that worked in tandem and not in competition with one another. What if this had been the mindset across the denomination? How
Jesus Dropped the Charges
Rev. Dr. Maxine Thomas, Columnist
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
Beloved, when you gave your life to the Lord Jesus, God washed all of your sins away. God forgave you of every sinful deed, every sinful thought, and every sinful word you have ever said. Yes, he washed you and made you as white as snow. I dare you to give him your old filthy garments and let him give you a robe of pure white! Jesus has washed your slate clean!
Beloved, be exceedingly glad! “God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is [God’s] faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). You may not feel like you are forgiven. In fact, every now and then, you may not feel like you are really saved. Every now and then, Satan, the father of lies and the accuser of the brethren, will try to make you feel like you have sunken so low that you can’t get back up. He will mess with your mind and plant seeds of self-condemnation that will cause you to doubt God’s love for you. But the devil is a liar! Truth crushed to the ground shall rise again!
The Bible says as far as the west is from the east has God removed your sins (Psalm 103:12). He remembers them no more. For he has cast them into a sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19). There is power in the blood of Jesus! There is power in the blood of the lamb! When you gave your life to Christ, you became a part of his body. Because of your faith and his grace, you are now in him, and he is now in you. Because you are in him, there is no need for you to feel guilty about past sins.
God has forgiven you and forgotten them! Beloved, you must forgive yourself and forget the sins of your past. God does not want us to live in the past. He desires that we press on toward what tomorrow holds in him. Aren’t you glad to be in Christ? Hallelujah! All of my sins have been washed away!
Sisters and brothers, walk in the newness of life. Hold on, hold on! Hold on to God’s unchanging hand! A songwriter said, Ask the Savior to help you, strengthen, comfort, and keep you. He is willing to aid you. He will carry you through. My friend, you have been forgiven.
Exhale All of my sins have been forgiven. I release all guilt from past sins. I exhale.
And now, I receive limitless love and an abundance of his grace. ❏ ❏ ❏
Just Three Simple Words: A Sister Who Didn’t Forget
Rev. Monica Jones, Contributing Writer
I must begin these very brief remarks by thanking God for delivering me to this point in my professional journey. My life has been blessed beyond measure, and I do know that one can only come this far by faith. February 25, 2022
First, as always, I have to give thanks to God for delivering me as promised–(applause)--and for sustaining me throughout this nomination and confirmation process. As I said at the outset, I have come this far by faith, and I know that I am truly blessed. To the many people who have lifted me up in prayer since the nomination, thank you. I am very grateful. April 8, 2022
“I thank God….”
No one could have been more proud than I when the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated and confirmed as the first black woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court. As an African American, I was proud. As a woman, I was proud. But most of all, as a Christian, I was so very proud.
As a rule, we as black people, whether for an Oscar or for winning an Olympic race, remember to give thanks to God. Typically, when giving an acceptance speech, the individual will begin with, “Before I thank anyone, I want to thank God.” It is something that I treasure and look forward to hearing.
Yet, my heart warmed even more when I heard the next Supreme Court Justice essentially say in her speeches (that acknowledged her nomination and celebrated her confirmation), “I thank God.” She is so very far removed from most of us in her career milestone. She has achieved a career success that most of us will never see. Almost overnight, she has become an icon on the national landscape. Yet, she did not forget how she got there. Certainly, Sis. Ketanji’s hard work paid off; her efforts to be the best paid off. But what really paid off for her were the prayers that went up on her behalf, prompting God’s grace to smile down on her. I was so glad that she did not forget to say thanks for that, too.
At times, it is so easy for us to consider ourselves fortunate or privileged and even lucky when we achieve our goals. It is easy for us to take credit for something God did for us. However, when we have moved beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary and recognized a milestone that is so very special, we must not forget.
We must not forget that our intelligence, our resources, and our success stories have come to us by way of God’s mercy. We must not forget that even when we fail, it is not God’s way of torturing us; it is God’s way of teaching us. We must never forget that our foremothers and forefathers did not have the same opportunities that we do and that now, it is our job to carry the banner high. The only way to maintain that banner is to give God the glory for what God has done. Just three simple words; it is a part of our witness, no matter where we are in life.
I hope that Justice Brown Jackson’s career will be long and distinguished. I pray that all that she does will be successful and just. I pray that the judicial decisions she makes will change the trajectory of humanity and the progress of social change. However, if this does not happen, I hope and pray that she will still give God the glory and never forget that she and we have come this far by faith.
Ketanji Brown Jackson vs. Clarence Thomas
Quardricos Driskell, Columnist
I support the nomination and confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. I support her confirmation because of her impeccable credentials, inspiring story, hard work, sacrifice, and the historic nature of being the first African American woman as the 116th associate justice of the country’s highest court.
The last time Congress confirmed a black person to the Supreme Court was Clarence Thomas in 1991. In his contentious confirmation hearing, he was accused of sexually harassing his work colleague Anita Hill; many believed — and still believe — that he lied when he denied Hill’s claims. He was confirmed by a narrow majority of 52 to 48. A slim majority also confirmed Judge Jackson due to the political dynamics of the U.S. Senate.
I do not attempt to compare Justices Jackson and Thomas, but the African American community did not widely celebrate Justice Thomas. The NACCP opposed his nomination before the October confirmation hearing. His relatively novice judicial career and conservative ideology were not the ideal replacement for civil rights stalwart Justice Thurgood Marshall. It was Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, the Lyndon B. Johnson nominee who served as chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, that was the judicial heir apparent to Justice Marshall.
It was widely assumed the appointment to replace Justice Marshall would be a man; after all, it had been nearly 25 years since Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, was confirmed to a federal judgeship. Since this time, according to the Pew Research Center, “fewer than a third of all black judges ever appointed (29%, or 70 of 239) have been women.” Moreover, “Only 13 have served at the appellate court level — the powerful regional courts one step below the Supreme Court.” The report continues: “Democrats Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, who each served eight years in the White House, appointed 26 and 15 black women to the federal judiciary, respectively. Among Republican presidents, George W. Bush appointed eight black women during his eight-year tenure. George H.W. Bush and Donald Trump appointed two during their four years in office.”
As a heuristic exercise, would a conservative black woman nominee be equally embraced and celebrated? It was a Democratic Senate that ultimately confirmed Justice Thomas to the court. Such musing is not politically feasible in our current political reality, nor is the thought to suggest that black communities do not support or embrace conservatives. Gen. Colin Powell, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are prime examples of the embrace of black conservatives.
But for Justice Thomas, his voting record has cemented the cynicism many blacks feel toward him. He is the first Supreme Court justice to openly criticize the high court’s landmark Civil Rights ruling, Brown v. Board of Education. And he joined a 2013 high court decision, Shelby County v. Holder, that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act. In his three decades on the court, Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving current justice, is the most reliable conservative vote.
Certainly, Justice Jackson will have a critical impact — not only as the first and only black woman on the court to have served as a public defender but also as one of two black justices serving at the same time for the first time.
Whether making good on this campaign promise will be enough to galvanize the Democratic base, particularly black voters, is yet to be seen. The party has not delivered on signature campaign and legislative goals such as police reform and new federal voting rights protections. Perhaps Democrats can start to focus on the federal judiciary, as their rival Republicans spur their base to do — the entire direction for generations to come is genuinely at stake.
Will Justice Jackson’s presence on the high court be enough to improve the lives of black voters where it counts — their pocketbooks, around the household table, in their communities? Or will Jackson’s confirmation galvanize the GOP heading into the midterms this fall?
Time will tell, but in the meantime, political and legal analysts will be paying close attention to the opinions and comments between Justices Jackson and Thomas.
What We Value
Rev. Dr. Darryn Hewson, Contributing Writer
What is most precious to you? Your family? An heirloom? Your reputation? The list of most important things should not be all that long, but the list of how important something is to you changes daily, maybe even hourly or minute by minute, depending on how much something affects you and your life. Does a war, famine, or natural disaster in another part of the world matter more to you?
By the time you are reading this, some time will have passed since the assassination of trailblazing Palestinian American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. If you did not hear about it when it happened, that just confirms some of what needs to be said. Most of the United States would not have heard about it if she were not an American citizen. American news does not report that much about the rest of the world. Europe gets the most notice. The big players like Russia and China get noticed sometimes, but it must be big (invading another country, originating a pandemic) to be more than a sideline. The death of Abu Akleh happened in Palestine, and a United States ally (one that cannot be questioned even if his or her actions go against the very fabric of the religion they claim to represent) killed her. Her story may just disappear like the stories of many Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) people.
Even if the whole world seems to be talking about something, that does not mean it becomes of greater value to the average person, and it has an effect and at least makes people want to know more. Russia invading Ukraine got the world’s attention. In other parts of the world, like in Syria, people are still being killed or forcibly oppressed by their government. Every few years, in a much more one-sided invasion by Israel in Gaza, not to mention the occupation in the West Bank, we only talked about Afghanistan briefly as the United States pulled out. The genocide in Uyghurs, China is devastating. The climate is changing. More and more, people are becoming food insecure or losing homes and livelihoods, and natural disasters are more frequent–the list of tragedies is endless.
So what do we do? We care. We care about every life regardless of where they are or what they look like. Still, we also understand that at this time in the world the ones that need to matter most are the ones that are being oppressed, that are being targeted, the ones that have historically not been protected or are currently not being protected even by the governments and authorities who are meant to do so. As people of faith, our role must be to speak out for those whose voices are not being heard. Tell their stories. This is not a new call, but if we do not remind ourselves often, we forget and we fail to make a change. Every voice and every story matters. ❏ ❏ ❏
