Emanuel African
American Methodist Episcopal Church—Charleston, SC
The Black
Church—A Welcoming Community
We celebrated
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this week, and my thoughts returned to the nine
brothers and sisters in Christ who were murdered in Emanuel African American
Methodist Episcopal Church. Please allow me give you some context.
One of the
highest privileges in my teaching career, was to be asked to teach a class of
24 black pastors in the Black Studies Program at Azusa Pacific University’s
graduate school of theology. I learned more from them than I was able to
impart. Later, as a pastor in Cambridge Massachusetts, and an adjunct professor
in Gordon-Conwell Seminary’s urban campus CUME (an educational institution
created to make graduate studies affordable for pastors of color) for 10 years,
I was privileged to stand in front of classes, where the same principle applied.
My experience has always been one of acceptance and welcome. I have been
invited to preach and participate in their church services. Every step I took
toward the black community, it seemed as though they took at least two steps toward
me.
The editor of
the Explorer, David Rupkalvis, a local
Oro Valley and Marana, Arizona newspaper, wrote an editorial about the tragic
shooting of the black congregants in Charleston, South Carolina under the
title, “Love the Real Story in South Carolina.” He gave me his permission to include
these excerpts in this post.
“A local
(black) church in Sierra Vista, started in the pastor’s home and eventually
bought land and built a church on the outskirts of Sierra Vista. That church
happened to be a few blocks from the home of my wife’s aunt and uncle… They
enjoyed it so much, my in-laws started attending and then my family followed
“For several
years, we were members of the “black” church and not one time did anyone
question it. At that church, I was as welcome as anyone. My family eventually
had leadership positions, we were welcomed at every level. Skin color was
irrelevant.
“My story and
my memories came flooding back as I write this, not because members of a black
church were killed in a heinous crime. No, it was the way those members in one
of their last acts on earth welcomed a lone white man into their midst in their
final minutes on earth, they showed the love of God, loving a man who was
planning to kill them. It’s that love that resonates with me and that love that
offers hope even in this time of tragedy.”
To hear the
story of these beautiful people in Charleston, South Carolina, and how
welcoming they were of this young man, based on our own experiences, was very
true to form. These church leaders were having a private Bible study and prayer
time together. It would have been normal for them to have said to him that he
should return later during office hours and they would be glad to speak with
him then. But they opened their circle, placed a chair beside the pastor, and
welcomed him as one of their own. And then after the dastardly deed was done,
and members of the family were able to address this young man, to a person they
said to him, “I forgive you.” Such grace—such a demonstration of the power of
the gospel in the lives of people, only enhances the grace of God found in the
people of this church.
The beauty
and grace of these people was such a powerful testimony of true Christianity, that
the broadcast media had nothing more to say. Yes, they refer to it, but to my
knowledge there has been almost no extensive reporting since forgiveness was
offered. Why is that? The shooter, I believe, told the police that he wanted to
start a race war. And yet, the power of forgiveness stopped him and the
broadcast media in their tracks.
Keep in mind,
the black church is virtually the only institution in our country where they
are fully in charge. Yet, the black church is completely welcoming of anyone
who enters the “sanctuary” of its walls. There must be something we can learn
from their story, my story, and David’s story. If only the white church could
become just as welcoming. Might this be a seed from which the flower of
reconciliation can emerge?
