Reaffirming – Black Lives Matter!

BY WILLIAM R. FREEMAN (M.Div.‘01)

On the morning of May 21, 2018, I took out my smartphone and swiped across the face to wake it up; what I saw on the screen was a church sign, on a church lawn, that read, “Black Folks Need To Stay Out Of White Churches.”

I was shocked! I did not know what to think.  Where is this? What church is this and where is it located? To top it all off, standing in front of the church, on the lawn, is a black man: the preacher!

As I scrolled down, I discovered that this huge sign is on the grounds of New Era Baptist Church, a Black church in Birmingham, Alabama.  The pastor is The Reverend Michael R. Jordan, himself a very controversial minister who is not afraid to “Put bold statements on the sign at New Era”.

The article goes on to say that the words are in response to a new branch of another church opening up in Rev. Jordan’s neighborhood, the “Church of the Highlands,” a largely white, non-denomination multi-site Christian megachurch headquartered in Birmingham. Rev. Jordan “called this new place of worship, which will have a black pastor, a “slave master church.” The church will be in a predominantly Black area of Birmingham.

Then, on May 29, I again swiped my cell phone to wake it up and what did I see – a report that in response to a racist tweet by Roseann Barr in describing former senior advisor to former President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett; Ms. Barr’s highly popular television show had been summarily canceled. The tweet stated “Muslim brotherhood and planet of the apes had a baby = vj.” Ms. Barr’s show was very popular with the far right and dare I say was not a favorite of this writer.

This alumnus and ordained elder in the United Methodist Church condemns both Rev. Jordan and Ms. Barr.

However, I must say that the inflamed racist language of the current occupant of the White House, President Donald Trump, gives permission and brings to the surface a lot of racist rhetoric that has previously been simmering beneath the surface, like those Hawaiian and Guatemalan volcanos.

I believe the best way to bring this simmering “lava” out into the open is to confront it head-on. At this year’s Sprunt Lectures, the Rev. Dr. Willie F. Jennings’ lectures and the Rev. Jill Duffield’s sermons did just that. Both challenged the Union community (faculty, students, administration and ESPECIALLY alumni, to take stock: first of ourselves and second of others, especially in our churches.

As Christian pastors, educators, administrators and staff our Union family need to remember what our Lord says in John 3:16 (KJV), “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I always tell those to whom I am speaking to substitute their name for “whosoever!” If everybody were to do that, this world, and especially this country, will be a little better place, and black lives might just matter a little more! God Bless!!!