Post-Black Theology: Leadership
(I will present here a writing that I developed for both an evangelical newspaper and journal I used to write for. I say, “used to” because both publications refused to publish, without major edits, what you are about to read. I ended up deciding to longer write for either publication. I admit that I now look back on that decision with some reservations. I really miss having an on-going column in a evangelical publication. At the same time, I don’t like being censored just because some extreme conservative evangelicals aren’t willing to deal with discomfort. Without absorbing and processing this discomfort, the ability to advance the Kingdom of God in an ever-increasing multi-ethnic, multicultural, and urban reality will be hindered. Well, here’s what I wrote back in 2008. It should be noted that I have expanded on the writing since that time.)
With the legitimate presidential candidacy of Barak Obama, we now see that the United States of America is potentially ready for what I call post-black leadership at the highest level. With the likes of Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, and Oprah Winfrey, we are already in the age of post-black leadership. Post-black leadership is the reality of both the dominant culture as well as a broader multi-ethnic culture embracing being led by African-American leaders. Barak Obama is not the first African-American to run for President of the United States. Shirley Chisholm, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Reverend Al Sharpton all ran before him. The difference is that they were seen as Black leaders, mainly representing Black people and Black issues. They all tried to present themselves as being able to lead the whole nation, but their resumes all screamed, Black leader!
European-Americans or Whites rather they realize it or not, have historically marginalized African-American leaders as Black leaders. In the 1950′s, 1960′s, and 1970′s within professional football as an example, there were major questions about whether an African-American could be a quarterback. For this to happen, it would have to be accepted that an African-American could lead the European-Americans on offense. Also, the quarterback was seen as the most intelligent position on the team. In politics, there was a time in this country when you would never think of an African-American being mayor, governor, or president. In the corporate sector, there was a time when you’d never think of an African-American being the CEO of a major company. African-Americans for many years were marginalized to being the pastor of a black church, CEO of a black business, principal of a black school, or president of a black college. What was being said by the dominant culture was that Blacks can only lead Blacks.
Well, praise God, a lot has changed. whether you agree with his political ideology or not we could see the nations’ first African-American president.
(remember this was written in the summer of 2008)
But, Barak Obama is not the first post-black leader. Oprah Winfrey has a large multicultural following. She truly is more than a black leader. Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice are truly post-black political leaders. African-Americans are now heads of major companies, large universities, and yes professional quarterbacks and head coaches in football. As excited as I am about this, when I think about the body of Christ, I begin to grieve. The church as an institution in the United States of America is way behind secular society when it comes to post-black leadership.
Within the Christian world, Whites lead predominately White denominations and Black lead predominately Black ones. I can’t think of one major evangelical university, Para-church organization, or denomination with a post-black leader at the head of it. In most Para-church organizations African-Americans are mainly in urban and multicultural ministry positions with very little if any influence to speak into the direction of the organization. It seems that the body of Christ is not as ready as secular society for post-black leadership. Shouldn’t the church be the leader of a leadership development strategy that looks like the Kingdom of God and is not enslaved to the race structure of black and white?
I don’t put all the blame for this on European-American evangelicals. There are many African-American pastors and ministry leaders that have no desire whatsoever to be a Kingdom-minded, post-black leader. I believe that there is a way to honor the heritage and current impact of the black church and also become Kingdom leaders. I believe that God has placed some things within African-American leaders that are meant to be a gift to all of the body of Christ.
(I need to note that since I originally wrote this, Barak Obama became President of the United States and I was elected as Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. This is the largest region within the denomination. Before my election, African-Americans Jerome Nelson and Robert Owens were elected respectively as Superintendents to the Central and Southeast Conferences of the same denomination. I can’t post this and not recognize progress that has been made. But within the larger evangelical movement, we still have a long way to go. I’m still not sure why I couldn’t get this writing published.)
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Great words, Efrem! I don’t know why you couldn’t get this published, either!
Hi Efrem. I, as a Black American, found this article a little disturbing and understand why someone might have a problem publishing it, and not for the “conspiracy” reasons you are alluding to. I was alive and living in the South when MLK, Jr., was alive. I knew his wife also and met his father on several occassions. It bothers me to see young men in our culture hijack his memory and “sell it short”. He had a dream of a united nation, not divided up as a “mosaic,” but as a people who were physically and spiritually integrated. I see the “mosaic” as a White cultural “guilt thing” designed to alleviate angst, that further draws lines between different raciall groups in our churches and our nation as a whole. To be a mosaic, the various colors have to “group” together and separate themselves. This IS NOT what Martin was talking about, nor, more importantly, what God wants. I find it offensive when you, as an American write comments like, “First I am an African ……”. Where does this come from? You claim you want to lead a multiple-ethnic congregation/conference, yet you are constantly putting out a “race card,” like in this article. Why? I have listened to your sermons and have heard you state that you were the only African American at your college (sermon entitled “Salt”), yet my nephew graduated from your school ten years before you even attended there and belonged to the same fraternity you did. (An all African American fraternity). Why would you say this? And no, not all Black people in this country “crave salt.”. And, please, do not identify one of the African American leaders, examples of change, as “Oprah.”. I am a retired professional, who graduated from one of the top Universities in this Great country – don’t you dare demise my accomplishments by acting like all African Americans are like you waiting for a “hand out, ” because of their race. Shame on you Efrem”
I’m sorry for being so pointed in my earlier remarks, but I get really offended by people who try to define me as a victim. Yes, I grew up in the South during the 40s and 50s and there was prejudice and danger. However, in your lifetime, that has not been the case. I don’t know what Metropolitan areas you have lived, but having lived in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, I have not seen the type of “anti-Black” racist behavior you refer to. My daughter is married to a White man who lost his job as a government lawyer, due to cut backs.(They laid off all the White male attorneys with less than three years with the agency, yet didn’t lay off one woman or minority.) Is my son-in-law a victim of racism? He never hurt anybody. I see you have alluded that being Black was somehow significant in getting your present position, but have you ever lost a job, because of race? We are all individuals before Christ and I think you need to stop the divisive rhetoric and instead work at uniting and feeding the “flock” you are to pastor. Show some greater understanding and empathy. Defining us as a “mosaic” is just an excuse to divide. We are and should be the unified Body of Christ.
When the Church prays the Lord’s prayer and those powerful words ‘thy kingdom come’, most people don’t know what they are praying. God’s kingdom is made up of all colors, all genders, all ethnicities and I thank Him for creating a beautiful masterpiece found in the human landscape. I rejoice that the leadership across America is now reflecting that beauty and that God’s kingdom is indeed coming to fruition!
I’m part African American (I like to say “Black,” as unlike you, I only see myself as an American in nationality. And, that does not mean that I don’t care about the well being of people in other countries, just that I am a part of this country.). And, I agree with Lionel. I think your arguments would be more legitimate, if made 40 or 50 years ago. If you don’t think being Black helped, more than hurt, Obama get elected than you are really out of touch. (There is little question that a White male candidate with his limited background and experience would have had zero chance of getting any national attention.) I find your reasoning similar to those who oppose economics being considered in Affirmative Action programs. Why? Because the minorities who have voices that are heard, are like you, people of privilege. They don’t want some poor Black kid from Compton getting the scholarship or position at a school that one of their own children could have (The children of middle and upper middle class professionals). So, they demand the legislation favor race only, thus effectively cutting out all of the other minority competition. And, yet, they point to these same distressed minorities, those who by their very actions have been cut out of the dream, and tell everyone “See, look how far we have to go!” When middle and upper middle class minorities in this country step to the side in order to allow the less fortunate to get some of the goodies (allow appropriate and effective Affirmative Action programs to be implemented) there will be a better chance for equality among all Americans. The programs are there, they just have been hijacked by a privileged few. You can’t blame Whites or “European Americans” for everything!