The Black Church in Conflict

About the Book

The Black Church is a very unique institution in American society. It is obvious in ways other than the complexion of its parishioners. Part of that uniqueness remains hidden, only to be found in the burdens of its people. Being unique many of its goals and purposes are different from that of other churches. A uniqueness that can only be explained by what the Black Church was forced to endure. And yet what it had to endure in the past forced the members of the Black Church to pray as never before. Consequently that's what made the Black Church such a powerful institution in America. In the writing of this book assistance has come from many sources and in many forms. The writer of history, above all others, can hardly be unaware of his debt to the pilgrims and pioneers of previous scholarship. He also recognizes, with increasing uneasiness, his inability to repay or even adequately acknowledge that debt. Gratitude must be expressed to Myra Selby, my secretary, who was very patient with me. Gratitude should also be given to the Fifth Avenue Library ( the largest in the world) for its generous provisions of research facilities, and to Pastor David Butler (founder and director of the Contemporary Gospel Ensemble) and pastor of the Fullness Of Joy Church; whose acute knowledge of the history of the Black Church has enabled me to give to the reader an accurate account of certain events which took place during the founding and the organizing of the Black Church. Special thanks should also be given to Reverend Clarence Sexton, pastor of Mount Sinai Holy Church Of God In Christ, located in Brooklyn, N.Y. for graciously giving of his time and also for giving helpful criticism and advise in the construction of this book. Though the sentiments of this book may not be his, he still encouraged in writing which I feel was inspired by the Lord. I am not implying that these words are the words of the Lord, but it was through His inspiration that this book was written. At no time was it my intention to merely criticize or to pass judgment on the Black Church, the church in which I came to know the Lord as my personal Saviour. This book for the most part is controversial. This was done purposely to invoke thought. In the rear of the book is a glossary section. The glossary I attempted to explain, define and give meaning to many of the phrases and words used in this book. In several instances throughout the book I purposely reframed from giving my exact views so that by my leaving certain questions unanswered the reader would be forced to further examine these issues and form their own opinions. I hope that this book will not only be informative, but interesting and entertaining as well.

About the Author

I have been a member of several Black Churches in the last 40 years. I was saved in the Pentecostal Holiness Movement in a small church in Queens, New York. I then spent the next 15 years in a small Pentecostal church in Harlem, New York. When I moved to the Bronx I attended a Baptist Church for about 10 years. Now I am a member of a mega church in downtown Brooklyn which is inter-racial. In each of these churches the doctrines differ slightly although they do have some basic similarities. They all believed in the saving grace of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and is coming again for His church. One of the unfortunate similarities is that there are always those persons who are playing church. Because of the many things I have witnessed over the years in the Black Church I felt led to write this novel. Although I sincerely believe that I was led to do so by the Holy Spirit I should inform you the reader that much of what you will read is my opinion based on my personal experiences in the Black Church. It was written to discuss some of the changes which have taken place in the church and to give the reader a better clarification of why the Black Church is different from other churches of the same doctrine or denomination. And how these differences and experiences have affected the lives of the people of GOD.