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The Conversation: The Black Church & LGBTQIA+ Coexistence in Modern Times
Joyce Mitchell Joins The Conversation: The Black Church And LGBTQIA+ Coexistence In Modern Times.10/17/2022 Joyce Mitchell, 56, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community joins The Conversation: The Black Church and LGBTQIA+ Community Coexistence in Modern Times by giving insight into her upbringing in the black church as well as her faith because of the black church influence. Pew Research found that African Americans were the most likely racial group to participate in church. Research has shown that 47% of blacks attend church weekly, while 36% go once or twice a month or a few times a year. The LGBTQIA+ community is included in this population of blacks who attend church regularly. According to Gullap research, 26% of Americans identify as LGBT that attend religious services once a week or more frequently. The black church is an essential part of the life and family of Joyce Mitchell. “When I was a child I went to Baptist church with my mother, until my dad got in the church; then we went to Pentecostal, holiness church, the Church of God in Christ” say Mitchell. In the Pentecostal church Mitchell describes the preacher hammering on sin; especially the sin of homosexuality. The preacher message against homosexuality was to whoever was active in the behavior within the church. “All they preached about was sin, things you can and cannot do,” said Mitchell. Mitchell talks about her being confused by some of doctrine of the church because when her church’s denomination gathered nationally; the members of varies congregations were active in things that were deemed wrong and sinful in her local church. Joyce makes known that for the black church and LGBTQIA+ community to coexist in modern times the church must accept the LGBTQIA+ membership as who they are and connect with them mentally as human being that has flaws such as those that membership that is not gay. Mitchell believes the black church needs not to speculate and bash the LGBTQIA+ community about their lifestyle and experiences but build relationships with the community. “You cannot be true until you are true to yourself,” says Mitchell. Joyce explains that she believes people are entitled to be who they are if they are comfortable. “If you were born that way... that's who you are, and God created you to be who you are,” quotes Mitchell. Mitchell encourages the Christian LGBTQIA+ community to “not cap your prayer and praise to God because your lifestyle.”
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By Seth Mitchell, Life & Culture JournalistIntroduction
Some black pastors and members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the midsouth and abroad come together to have meaningful conversation about coexistence in modern times.
The church has been an influential, spiritual, and social institution within the lives of those in the African American community. It is said that most black Americans depend on the black church for “a sense of community, spiritual comfort and moral guidance.” “The black church is not just a place of spirituality and enlightenment, but a place of empowerment for African Americans," says David Neale, founder of Black Lavender Resources, a consulting firm specializing in diversity within the LGBTQ community. A Pew Research studies rank African Americans as the highest racial group to attend church. The research shows 47% of blacks attend church once a week and 36% attends church once or twice a month or a few times a year. Among this population of blacks that attend church regularly is the LGBTQIA+ community. According to Gullap research 26% Americans identify as LGBT that attend religious services once a week or almost every week. For ages, the LGBTQIA+ community has been silent, mishandled, slander and restricted within the black church; because of the Christian doctrine of homosexuality. The teaching of the bible describes homosexuality as sin and an abomination before God. Overall, homosexuality is forbidden by God according to Human Rights Campaign. Rev. Kevin Andre Brooks article, We Are Not Our Own, express the attitude of those in the black church that are not for same sex gender lover. Brooks states “When it comes to issues with which we grapple, sin is generally all-inclusive; however, ‘sins of the flesh’ specifically homosexuality, are oftentimes taboo in the church and are regarded with the highest disdain because they illicit theological conflict with the believer.” "The black church, the oldest institution and pillar of the black community, has historically dictated the community's stance on homosexuality — either you don't talk about it, or you condemn it," says journalist and blogger Lynn d Johnson. In most cases, the traditional black pastor or preacher is the voice of the church and those in their communities. For the most part, what the black preacher says is considered law in the lives of many in the black community based on the respect and honor of the ideal connection that the black preacher has with God. According to Unapologetic Apologetics: The Essence of Black Anglican Preaching, by Harold T Lewis states that “black preachers have been consistently concerned with both the church and he community” Pastor Fredrick Anthony
Pastor Fredick Anthony, local pastor of Old Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, West Memphis, Arkansas for over 25 years extends his beliefs with LGBTQIA+ community and his testimonies of members of his congregation.
Pastor Anthony explain that his church is open and welcome to those of the LGBTQIA+ community and any other. “We will accept anybody, "say Pastor Anthony. Old Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church host a stewardship accountability program that focus on “molding people lives into the principles of Christ” says Pastor Anthony. Pastor Anthony explains that once someone becomes a member of Old Saint Paul Church that he or she is accountable to God first then the church by their behavior. If someone is publicly and actively involved in any conduct that is a misrepresentation of the conduct of Christ will receive pastoral counseling, then silent to not serve in public worship if behavior has not been changed. Pastor Anthony has no problems with those of the LGBTQIA+ community joining in fellowship with Old Saint Paul Church; he just suggests that everyone follow the “guidelines of the bible.” The Conversation Podcasts
Legacy Denied: African American Gay Men, AIDS, and the Black Church article express that “religious denominations use particular scriptures to repudiate same-sex romantic relationships, to devalue homosexual genital experiences, and to refuse ordination opportunities for gay aspirants.”
Ambiguous but true, the black church and the LGBTQIA+ community engage in a distinctive matter. Although the lifestyle of homosexuality is denounced; the black church allows special treatment to those of the LGBTQIA+ community who “provide the creative energy necessary for transcendent religious experiences.” "The King Jives Show" Demario Q. Jives
Demario Q Jives “The King Jives Show” social media influencer and YouTube content creator uses his voice to share his firsthand experiences and expose the black church of hypocrisy and scandals.
Demario Q. Jives was a licensed minister in the black church. When Jives exposed himself to his church; he was silent and mistreated because he told the truth about his sexuality of being gay. Jives was not allowed to serve publicly with his church. “Religion and Christianity, as a whole, love to be dogmatic about same gender loving people” says Jives. Demario Q. Jives expresses that LGBTQIA+ community has always been “in and out of the shadows” of the black church. He goes on to explain that the black church is what it is today because of LGBTQIA+ community and women. He calls the LGBTQIA+ and women the “backbone” of the black church. The “gays” in church must camouflage in the black church to be instrumental in the affairs of the church. “Publicly is the perception that gays want; to be accepted within the black church,” says Jives. If the black church allows the LGBTQIA+ to be themselves publicly then there is room for progression within the black church. Peace Jah
Being gay and open in the black church is not common. However, there are black churches that are inclusive given the LGBTQIA+ community a chance to be a part of the Christian experience with roles of leadership and an atmosphere to be themselves freely.
Peace Jah is a native of Washington, DC, motivational speaker, author and trans minister that is a member of Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM). The Unity Fellowship Church Movement was founded in 1982; is “an international movement of churches working together to facilitate social change and improve the lives of those who may feel less than welcome at their houses of worship.” According to Andy Newman article, Serving Gays Who Serve God, he highlights the ministry of Unity Fellowship Church movement in the lives of those of the LGBTQIA+ community explaining, “Unity is the very real, raucous spiritual home for hundreds who feel cast out by traditional churches, which for many people serve as the heart of the community and an extension of the family.” Peace Jah gives knowledge and hope to those of LGBTQIA+ community and express his truth of the black church. “I don’t talk about nothing I don’t know nothing about,” says Peace Jah. “In the traditional black church, you follow guidelines, you sit, listen, and don’t say nothing," says Jah. Jah goes on to say that as one develops in the black church; one will see the influence of the “fire breathing preacher.” These preachers preach extreme messages to tell people “Do not like, even associate with those of the LGBTQIA+ community” because of biblical teachings and interpretations about homosexuality. The “fire breathing preacher” classifies this community with a “pedophile,” and/or “potential rapist” all because of someone sexually orientation. Peace Jah express despite the backlash of the preacher’s message in the black church; he found confidence in knowing “God is love and God is for everybody.” It is difficult for the black church to accept that the LGBTQIA+ community is who God made them to be. “Certain habits and cycles generated for generations in the black church has hindered the black church, so many things come from the black church is just hurt.” says Jah. Eddie Wiley
Eddie Wiley public health specialist, and HIV/LGBTQIA+ activist gives personal testimonies on being gay and in the black church.
Wiley states that many members of LGBTQIA+ grew up in the black church being active in the affairs of the ministry as small children and even as teenagers. “I was a junior deacon; I prayed and sang from the hymns at my family church," Wiley replied. Being uncomfortable in the black church is something that is common for most members of the LGBTQIA+ community. While visiting a church with gay friends, a black preacher was preaching that the “devil” was in the church because of Wiley and his friends were in the audience. “Any sermon about the LGBTQIA+ community or HIV/AIDS is disheartening to me,” says Wiley. Wiley believes the message of the black church should be inclusive of the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as being more in tune to everyone's spiritual journey. “The message of the cross and the love of Christ is enough,” adds Wiley. Wiley have learned that the black preacher is human just like everyone else and he do receive their message as love even when the expressions are coming as anger and hatred. If the message continues to be bashing, Wiley does not visit that church again. “As a whole the black church is not welcoming to those of the LGBTQIA+ community, but many pastors are evolving and becoming inclusive,” Wiley claims. Apostle Anthony Heath
Apostle Anthony Heath, lead pastor of Shift Church Memphis is a progressive pastor that expresses his love and compassion to heal and minister to LGBTQIA+ community.
Apostle Heath is a Holiness, Pentecostal preacher that approached the LGBTQIA+ community with love and kindness such as Jesus Christ. “I try to love you first, then get to know you; which should be the approach of the church,” says Heath. Heath indicates that he does not care about anyone's background, expressions, or pronouns he just wants to love you to life; not micromanage your life. Apostle Anthony Heath believe in truths of the bible and makes it known that he can “love you and yet disagree with you as well as respect you as a human being. “The Shift Church is a gay church, smokers church, fornicator church, the Shift Church is for everyone and anyone is invited,” proclaims Heath. Apostle Anthony believes the black church has room for all, especially those of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Overall, the black church and the LGBTQIA community need each other. Both communities are powerful separately but together they can carry out, help and service the world as one if they both put aside their differences and understand the power of unity.
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