A New Day in the City by Sokol Donna Claycomb;Owens L. Roger;

Author:Sokol, Donna Claycomb;Owens, L. Roger;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2011-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

TRY THIS:

INTERVIEW FIVE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER TWENTY-FIVE IN YOUR CONGREGATION AND ASK THEM WHAT DIFFERENCE THE CHURCH MAKES IN THEIR LIVES. DO THE SAME THING WITH THE FIVE NEWEST MEMBERS. THEN DISCUSS WHAT THIS TEACHES YOU ABOUT YOUR CONGREGATION.

When asked about mission and evangelism, William H. Lamar IV, senior pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Washington, DC, states with a laugh, “Jesus wouldn’t recognize ‘door knocking’ as gospel!” The laughter accompanying this statement is then replaced with great intentionality as he adds, “Jesus invites us to be a part of the new creation.”

Bishop Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1787 to provide the community of Africans in Philadelphia with a place to worship on their own terms. Bishop Allen formed the church and started to work toward a new creation while providing a place of hope and joy for African Americans.

Metropolitan has been working toward this new creation since its founding in 1838. Mission and evangelism have always been one in the same at Metropolitan AME as the church’s focus has remained worship, liberation, and service. Lamar explains, “If there is justice, there is no need for services for the victims of injustice.” But with injustice everywhere, the congregation has always had plenty to do as it seeks to fight oppression. Today, the church fights dislocation of African Americans in the city, what Lamar calls “a new form of colonialism.” His congregation is also committed to working for better education, housing, and living wages in Washington, DC. Lamar can’t immediately tell you what the average worship attendance is for his congregation. Rather, he evaluates success as a congregation on whether they are making a difference in education, housing, wages, and other efforts targeting injustices. He points out how “God is committed to the flourishing of this place only when we are committed to the flourishing of human beings.”6

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