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Sexism in the Black Community and the Black Church
Get PDFThere are not many black men in or out of the black church and in the black community who will confess to being sexist toward their sisters. To many of them the question of sexism is not an issue in the black community at all. It is usually perceived as a “white thing.” Black men generally hold that the dominant issue that all Blacks must contend with is racism. All other problems must be subordinated to this more fundamental concern. It is my contention, however, that sexism is indeed a serious problem in the black community and the black church. Because of the links between racism and sexism it is neither necessary nor constructive to insist that one of these must be subordinated to the other in the order of importance. Rather than set up a dualism between them, we must endeavor to be sensitive to both of these as well as to other forms of oppression and to see the interconnections between them, and the hopelessness of expecting to solve any one of them without making a serious effort to address the others
Toward a Common Expression of Faith: A Black North American Perspective
Get PDFA special consultation on one common expression of the Apostolic faith from the perspective of Black Christians in the U.S. brought together representatives of several Black denominations at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, December 14-15, 1984. The consultation included representatives of the Black constituencies of several predominantly White denominations. In some cases the participants were delegated by denominational administrative headquarters; others were representatives of their communions without official appointment. The context of this document, therefore, stands upon the authority of the consultation alone and does not purport to convey the agreements of an ecclesiastical council of Black churches. This document, moreover, does not pretend to be an exhaustive response to the Apostolic Faith Study or a formal statement of the major themes of the Black theology movement that has evolved in North America in recent years. The Richmond Consultation, sponsored by the Commission on Faith and Order of the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A., attempted to convey to the World Council of Churches and to other interested organizations what we, a group of Black theologians and church leaders from across the United States, perceive as a general consensus among us concerning a common expression of the faith of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. In the several working papers we discussed and in this report we seek to add to the worldwide ecumenical study of a common expression of apostolic Faith the distinctive perceptions and insights that come out of the historic experience of Black Christians in North America
Theology in the Caribbean
Get PDFTheology, derived from two Greek words, logos=word, and theos = God, is best understood as the study of God through the experience of God. Since we cannot truly know God except within a given human context, theology must be contextual. Hence, it is justifiable to speak about different types of theology. If we are to talk about Caribbean Theology, then the only sensible approach must be to first understand something about the Caribbean cultural context
Worship in the Black Experience
Get PDFThis article on “worship in the black experience” is not intended to be exhaustive of the subject, but is an effort to highlight some of its main features and the environment in which this particular worship experience flourishes. Though worship in the black church varies from church to church, it is the common historical experience of a people that has provided the groundwork for a common theological interpretation of that experience. Of course, there are affinities to the experience of others, but affinities are not quite like the full experience. For many years, worship in the black church has been a subject of joy, curiosity, study and controversy. It has been a source of joy for millions of blacks who have been a part of the church long before it was called “the black church”—those fathers and mothers, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on, who found the black church to be “an oasis in a dry desert,” a “balm in Gilead” and a source of strength for the struggle and the fight. For them and many others, it was indeed their joy. Yet, there have been and still are those who look upon Christian worship in the black experience with great curiosity. It is seen as a spectacle to behold and not an experience to be shared. Much of the study and controversy arises at the point of how much of the African influence still remains in worship in the black experience, over the meaning of this particular “style” of worship, and whether it is a unique experience. This brief paper will speak to the historical situation, to a theological understanding and to the writer’s view of what the present black attitude is toward worship in the black experience, while at the same time attempting to set forth its uniqueness
A Response to Dr. Williams’ Paper
Get PDFPerhaps the author was deliberate in his attempt to view the subject of worship so broadly that the main “object” of worship (God in Jesus Christ) was diminished. For Williams, worship is summarized in a number of ways: “an estatic modality of ritual ... an endeavor to free one’s thoughts . . . solitary reflection and complex social dealings ... the experience of adoration and sacred awe.” In these and other references the author highlights humans as the center of worship and the ultimate creation is that of anti-structure. Such a creation takes into account where and who the worshipper is, and the nature of order generated by means of the worship experience
Foundations for Ministry: A Partnership Between Students, Faculty, and Librarians in Theological Research
Get PDFFaculty and librarians wedded together in mutual bibliographic-instructional bliss is regarded as “mythical” by some librarians, and this is supported in the literature. This paper, however, concentrates on sharing an exciting experience in visionary planning for the critical treatment of information to meet user needs. In September of 1985, “Foundations for Ministry” (“Foundations”) was introduced to the Interdenominational Theological Center (I.T.C.), an ecumenical graduate school of theology, one of the two graduate and four undergraduate institutions that comprise the Atlanta University Center, Inc. (AUC). “Foundations” is a basic interdisciplinary course designed to introduce the student to Christian ministry with emphasis on ministry within the Black witnessing community
Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, Back Matter
No full textInterdenominational Theological Center, An Ecumenical Professional Graduate School of Theolog
Exploring Botswana Bridal Showers through a Relational-Cultural Connections Lens, Tirelo Modie-Moroka, Malebogo Kgalemang, Musa W. Dube
Get PDFSince the introduction of economic practices and the ideas of neo-liberalism in many African countries, the indigenous ideas of mutual empowerment have become a dominant feature and the backbone of many societies. Though bridal showers have been in existence for a long while, few studies have investigated how people forge or reproduce mutually reinforcing practices in urban areas. The study investigated the Botho/Ubuntu driven practices of community building in the urban space in the form of Bridal Showers in Gaborone. Showers are gendered cultural, relational celebrations organized by women for a mother or father who will either receive a daughter or a son-in-law; a woman who is engaged to be married or one who is about to become a mother respectively. Themes such as mutually enhancing and growth-fostering relationships among participants, reciprocity, social support, mutual trust and empathy appeared in the study. Results show that participation in the showers could bring satisfaction, improved social relations, an increased sense of control and empowerment
Baby Showers as Economic Support Networks: An Intersectional Approach, 2022
Get PDFThe high rates of migration from rural to urban areas in Botswana exposed many women in urban areas to live under diverse socio-economic conditions away from relatives. Some of the women are part of the statistic of those living in poverty and under diverse economic hardships such as limited income generation opportunities as well as those facing difficulties to maintain better lifestyles. As a result, most women are compelled to form new relations and support networks to buffer their socioeconomic inadequacies. One of their notable buffers is the transformation of baby showers beyond the right of passage into both a social and economic support activity for expectant mothers. Adopting an intersectionality lens, the researchers analyse the views and experiences of several women who participated in a WhatsApp informal group discussion on how women economically support each other and form relations as researchers as well as how gender transects with socio-economic factors to re-construct and maintain gendered practices in society