The Star/Ledger informally surveys a number of Newark pastors on LGBT rights and the Black church. The consensus: There are many gay members of Black churches .... they're just "not open" and don't push for any recognition. The well-known practice is often described as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"You have gay people in leadership positions already, just not openly," said the Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, pastor of St. Matthew AME Church in Orange and executive director of the 600-member Black Ministers’ Council of New Jersey.
Not openly: That seems to be the way most church leaders like it, based on conversations with New Jersey pastors.
A random sampling of black ministers in the Newark area found many are aware of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered men and women in their congregations, singing in the choir or working in a church office. And they are willing to welcome them with open arms. The Rev. Ronald Slaughter of St. James AME in Newark estimates 60 to 70 percent of all churches have homosexuals in their congregations. "They (the congregations) may not know it, but they can’t be judge or jury at the door," he said.
The actual number is probably much higher than 70 percent, especially among the more conservative churches and denominations.
Several pastors claim the church is becoming more supportive and younger members accept supportive of gay rights and same-sex marriage.
But support gay marriage from the pulpit? Don’t even think of it. Some pastors object on the basis of scripture, others just don’t see it as the church’s mission to take a political stand on gay rights of any kind.
The Rev. M. William Howard of Bethany Baptist in Newark said he speaks against homophobia from the pulpit, but "my ministry is not defined by advocacy of gay people." He doesn’t believe the church should be called upon to overtly endorse or criticize topics such as gay marriage. "Church — not just the black church — is still wrestling with how it addresses sexuality."
The black church is still generally criticized for its slow reaction to the AIDS/HIV epidemic. Many pastors admit as much. "We had our heads in the sand," says Howard. Now, he points with pride to Bethany educational programs and the church website, which heralded World AIDS Day this month. ...
The Rev. Jethro James of Paradise Baptist in Newark is adamant in his disapproval of gay marriage. "Marriage is between a man and a woman, and that can’t be legislated," he said. James, who is also president of the Newark North Jersey Committee of Black Churchmen, said that for gay advocates to insist on changing the church is to persecute the church for its beliefs. James said there are several gay people and one transgendered person in his congregation. "They come to worship. And ask forgiveness. Sinners welcome. Come join us."
Sinners welcome ... just be quiet and keep dropping cash in the collection plate. Unfortunately this denial and hypocrisy remains the modus operandi in too many churches in our community.
What's the expression about settling for crumbs and mediocrity again as someone mentioned before?
They can out "speak out" against homophobia but suddenly it's an issue to advocate for LGBT rights and the issues that affect said community. It's "not the job" of these institutions anything about despite much of the stigma come from said institutions and their followers. Sorry but I don't see anything progressive here and anything that's commendable. Just more mediocrity from people who "tolerate us" and self-proclaimed progressives.
I'm not Black but I honestly do not care if this is "culturally" insensitive". I'm fed with my livelihood being tied to what people think, what people believe, what the Bible says and never ending continuation of implementing Judo-Christian thought when we need laws, not people's good graces and "tolerance" to shield and protect us.
When you consider that youth in Latino and Black communities still deal with a enormous amount of scrutinization, violence, homelessness, and hostility in urban areas, it's amazing to see straight folks of these respective groups screech to heavens like banshees how we live in a society that has nothing but contempt for urban youth of color....How their lives are taken for granted and nobody cares for them yet many of them share that very same contempt and animosity for LGBTs of their own groups. And we're suppose to be "communities"?
This goes beyond hypocrisy and denial. It's pathology that will not being going away anytime soon. The self-loathing people who attend Reverend James church are as much as threat to LGBT folks as much as religious fundamentalism is. These types of folks have no issue with being token LGBT "friends" to wolves in sheep's clothing who believe our issues can be resolved with self-absorbed magic spells and patronizing smiles and "Jesus loves you"
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 12 December 2011 at 13:57
The basic tenants of this conversation that are always disconcerting to me is the reference to BEING gay as a Sin. We have continued to try to open the conversation about orientation to get people to see that BEING gay is about who a person is not who they are having sex with, such that being gay isn't about the act of sex with another person of the same sex. That would suggest that it "wears off" if you aren't doing it. We BE gay, at work, at home, in relationships and single, at church and in the clubs. We ARE gay and the church continues to whisper about homosexuality like it's a bad thing and continues to try to reduce it to something that needs to be hidden. Many gays don't deal with their sexuality at church because, GUESS WHAT, they are coming to church to have their souls fed, receive a word that will help them get through the week and some encouragement that will empower them to live their best lives. That's why EVERYONE goes to church. The conflict becomes when you GO TO CHURCH FOR PURELY SPIRITUAL REASONS AND ARE THROWN UNDER THE BUS IN A SERMON THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LIFT YOU UP!
It's enough of whispering to "the gays" to stay and be silent. It is NOT the gay community that got loud and vocal in the church. The choir director, the pianist, the church secretary, the youth pastor, the young adults and seasoned seniors who were in the church living their lives and giving their best were STUNNED when HATE STARTING LEAPING FROM THE LIPS OF THEIR PASTORS, who had indeed been loving and encouraging UNTIL THEY GOT IN BED WITH THE GOP FOR SOME FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE MONEY!!!
I can tell you from EXPERIENCE that I know what it's like to be in the Household of Faith, where you grew up and were shaped and formed and supported and to have a new minister come in one day and blindside you with a baseball bat. That's not GOD. That's politics and I know the difference.
I will be a gay man until I die, but I promise you...I have NO INTENTIONS OF BEING A PUNK!
As a pastor, preacher and community activist, I know the conversations that some of these pastors have behind the scenes, some they have WITH ME because they didn't know who I was when they saw me preach someone and it wasn't about being gay (SURPRISE), but a sermon that blessed the people who came for a word! The level of trickery and deceit in the politics of church (NOT IN CHURCH, BUT THE POLITICS OF CHURCH, THE ENTITY) is so sad that it's painful. The STAY IN YOUR PLACE tone that some pastors take with gays is SO reminiscent of the SAME TONE that the white church took with black folks when we were perched in the balconies and told to be quiet and never allowed to even read the Bible and it sickens me to see that we are continuing the master's masterful master plan of deceit.
I am glad that, from a space of clarity for those who are indeed on a spiritual path, looking for religious and faith reconciliation, there are people like Archbishop Carl Bean and Bishop Yvette Flunder and Bishop O.C. Allen and Bishop Kwabena Cheeks and Bishop Carlton Pearson and the Pastors Wiley of Covenant Baptist Church in SE, DC and many other great teachers in the Black community who are doing the work to help those who are searching and seeking to WALK IN THE LIGHT!
How can you arm someone with FAITH, which without works is DEAD, and then tell them to BE QUIET in their truth. Wrestle all you want with what you believe or think the Bible says or doesn't say about homosexuality, but be clear that it says DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, which means DO NOT LIE!
"Before you were formed in your mother's womb, I knew you!" That's scripture. That's truth. That's authority to stand!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 12 December 2011 at 14:13
TheRevKev Thanks for these great and important comments. As gay men we are surrounded by hypocrisy and lies and ignorance and the people who are doing these things are evil and destructive of human life. They need to be punished and I do not mean in their Afterlife or by their God. I have said it many times. Religions are the fundamental sources of homophobia.
Posted by: Jerry | 13 December 2011 at 09:48