PREMIER ISSUE SEPTEMBER 2022
MINISTRYBUSINESSACADEMY.COM ENROLL FOR THE FALL 2022 TERM MARKETING 101 NETWORK YOUR BRAND KIMBERLY THURSDAYSCLARK6PM- 7:15 PM EST AUGUST 18 - SEPTEMBER 22 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND LEADERSHIP 101 LEADR SYSTEM: THE TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER DR. KAREN BRADFORD THURSDAYS 7:30 PM - 9 PM EST AUGUST 18 - SEPTEMBER 22 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 101 STEWARDSHIP MAINTENANCE 4LEADERS DR. NATE DUNLAP, JR. THURSDAYS 7:30 PM - 9 PM EST SEPTEMBER 29 - NOVEMBER 3 HUMAN REOURCE MANAGEMENT 101 FACILITATING HEALTHY CHURCH-BASED TRANSITIONS REV. REGINA C. GROFF, PH.D. THURSDAYS 6 PM - 7:15 PM EST SEPTEMBER 29 - NOVEMBER 3
04 05 TABLE EDITOR'S LETTER TAKE TEN WITH REV. LAKESHA WOMACK 06 5 TIPS TO REVIVE YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM REV. LAKESHA WOMACK 14 SEEING AND TOUCHING WOUNDS: A MOVE FROM DOUBT TO CURIOSITY FOR HEALING MARGARET L. CONLEY, LCSW, MDIV 17 21 SERMON: I'M A BELIEVER REV. COREY L. BROWN, MDIV SENT VS. SENTENCED JANIEL E. YOUNGBLOOD, CPA 22 BOOK REVIEW IF GOD STILL BREATHES, WHY CAN'T I? BY ANGELA N. PARKER REVIEWED BY REV. COREY L. BROWN, MDIV CONTENTS THE ISSUE OF BLOOD: THE LYNCHINGS CONTINUE REV. COREY L. BROWN, MDIV 08 THE STATE OF THE BLACK CHURCH TREMAYNE MOORE 11
LETTER EDITOR'S WelcometothepremierissueoftheMinistry MattersMagazine.Thisprojecthasbeenonmytodolistforoverayear,anditgivesmegreatjoyto seethefirstissuein(digital)print. Mygoalwiththepremierissueistodemonstrate thetypeofcontentwewillbepublishingandto encourageyoutosupportourfutureissues. Weareseekingarticlesubmissionsforourfuture issuesaswellasadvertisers.Itismygoalforthis freedigitalpublicationtobespreadfarandwide andfilledwithdiversevoicessharingtheir research,thoughts,bookreviews,interviews,and TakeTens. Thankyouinadvanceforreviewingourpremier issue.Itisjustasampleofwhatistocome. Pleasesharewithyourcommunitiesandconsider contributingtoafutureissue. Youcanviewoureditorialcalendarand advertisingratesat rethinkingchurchstrategies.com/mmm MAGAZINE EDITOR Rev. LaKesha Womack 04 MINISTRY MATTERS MAGAZINE
Rev.LaKeshaWomackis anordainedministerin theAfricanMethodist Episcopal(A.M.E.)Zion Church SheistheFounderof RethinkingChurch Strategies.Asaserial entrepreneur,sheisalso thePresidentofMinistry MattersMediaServices andtheOwnerof WomackConsulting Group. Sheistheauthorof19 booksandhasbeen featuredonstagesand ininterviewsacrossthe countrysharingfinancial literacy,community building,churchgrowth, andbusinesssuccess strategies. @LaKeshaWomack onallsocialmedia FavoriteWorshipSong NoOrdinaryWorshipbyKelontaeGavin BestBookYou'veEverRead TheMillionaireNextDoorbyThomasJ.Stanley BestAdviceYou'veEverReceived GoodEnoughNeverIs...(nomatterhowgoodthings are,I'malwaysstrivingformore) Whatonethingneedstochangetomakethe worldabetterplace? Morecriticalthinkers...Ithinkmorepeopleneedto understandhowtoabsorbandanalyzeinformation ratherthanblindlyfollowingwhatthecoolkidsare doingorwhatispopular Howdoyoupracticeself-care? Iallowmyselftobe... Whatadvicewouldyougiveyour18-year-old self? Dreambigger,buyahouse,andbelieveyou'reworthit allofit! Whichscriptureisthefoundationofyourlife's motto? Luke12:48 Wheredoyouseethechurchasaninstitutionin tenyears? Doingministryoutsideofherfourwalls Whatisyourfavoritetraveldestination? Onabeach...anybeach...especiallybeacheswithblue watersandwhitesand:) Who/whereareyoucalledtoserve? EarlyinmyministryIwascalledtoserveyoungadults butasIhavegrownandmyministryhasgrown,Ifeel confidentthatIamcalledtoserveministryleaders seekingnewwaystoengagetheircongregationsand communities. TAKE TEN WITH REV. LAKESHA WOMACK 05MINISTRY MATTERS MAGAZINE
There’sjustsomethingso evocativeaboutthelynching tree’sfruit Itstandsasamemorialforthe invisiblelikeme So,asyoucansee,beforethe hashtagtherewasthetree
THE ISSUE OF BLOOD: THE LYNCHINGS CONTINUE
Thebloodpenetratesthesoil, criesoutinoursilence
Itcriesoutintheboldestactof holydefiance There’sbloodontheleaves, there’sbloodattheroots
Whycan’twelookawayfromits mysteriousfruit? ODeath,wefeelyoursting O Grave,youclaimthevictory Blacklifeisaboutlivinginastate ofperpetualmisery Therainsmaycomeandwash thebloodaway Butthestainremains,evenuntil thisveryday There’sbloodontheleaves, there’sbloodattheroots Apeculiarpeoplearethe lynchingtree’sstrangefruit.
Thebranchessagfromwhite women’sdeception. Theydroopunderwhiteman’s devastation. Buttheywillnotlettheirprecious cargofall. Untilhearingtheancestors’call. There’sbloodontheleaves, there’sbloodattheroots
There’sbloodontheleaves, there’sbloodattheroots
designatethelocationofthelynchingofMary Turner,adistantrelativeofmywife.Themarker hassincebeenremovedduetovandalismby whitesupremacists. ArtworkbyTammeraMalicki Wong (fineartamericacom) (MaryTurner) NinaSimone’srenditionof“StrangeFruit”(written byAbelMeeropol) 1Corinthians15:55 06 MINISTRY MATTERS MAGAZINE
Photo:MarkerplacedinNorthBrooksCounty,GAto
Rev. Corey L. Brown, MDiv
initsstrangefruit
Thepowerofthelynchingtreelies
Hostedby Dr.MarrixSeymore Mondays 8pmCST FB:@DrMarrixSeymore RETHINKING CHRISTIANEDUCATION LIVETALKS
Intoomanyinstances,wegetburnedoutbecausewe are serving from an empty cup The question becomes, how do we revive leadership? Howdowerevivethoseresponsibleforignitingthefireinothers?
Setstandards. It can be easy to allow people to do what they want (or what you need them to do) to serve God, but that often leads to chaos and an inability to hold others accountable.Whenthestandardisfocusedongettingthejobdonebutnotensuringthe valuesandbeliefsoftheorganizationareupheld,peoplecansometimestakeshortcuts. Createstandardstoidentifywhatministrysuccesslookslikeandholdallofyourleaders accountable.Whentheteamknowseveryoneisheldtothesamestandard,itiseasierto correct problems as they occur because no one feels like they are being singled out whileeveryoneelseisgettingawaywithunderperformance Your
I often work with churches whose leadership team needs a revival! There is no shade in thatstatement,justasimpletruth
5 Tips to Revive
Leadership Team Rev.LaKeshaWomack 08 MINISTRY MATTERS MAGAZINE
Intoomanyinstances,peopleservewheretheyareneededbythe organization but not where they are called to serve. Not operating in your calling can leadtoapathyandalackofpassion.Spendtimewithyourleadershipteamtohelpthem discern who they are called to serve (demographics of the group they feel passionate about helping) and where they are called to serve (teaching, missions, outreach). Don’t limit the calling on the lives of your leaders. You will be surprised how much excitement willbeinfusedintoyourministrywhenpeoplearepassionateaboutwhattheyaredoing anditsimpactonthelivesofthosetheyserve.
Discerntheircalling.
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Evalua o your leadersabouttheirperformance.Theseevaluationscanbeperformedquarterlyoratthe endoftheyear.Thegoalisnottopickapartwhattheleadersaredoingbuttohelpthem grow as leaders. You can perform a SWOT analysis with them to assess the past quarter/year'sperformanceandtogettheirideasfortheupcomingquarter/year.These regular check ins will also allow you to gauge when someone is losing interest, when they may be working in an area that is not working for them, or how to overcome challenges,sotheydon’tgetfrustrated.
Allowpeopletoopt-out.Thistypeofpermissioncanbeanunconventionalviewinsome spaces, but we should allow people to resign from leadership positions without fear of guiltorretaliation.Ifsomeoneidentifiesthattheopportunityisn’tworkingforthem,allow themtotakeabreakandseeiftheremaybeanotherareathat’smorefitting.Wehave to learn to respect people who dare to admit when something isn’t working. Otherwise, weendupwithQuietQuitters,peopleholdingontothepositionbutnotdoingthework. Encouragebreaks.Isuggestthatallleaderstakeamonthawayfromministry Thistime awaygivesthemabreakandencouragesthemtoreturntotheministrywithfresheyes andideas Toooften,wefindourselvesinacut and pasteministrybecausewelackthe energyforinnovationandcreativity
Revivals should not be restricted to worship experiences We should constantly seek waystoremainexcitedandengagedinministrywork Ourjobstohealthesick,feedthe hungry,andfreetheboundaretoocrucialforustoloseinterestandexcitement. If you and your team aren't excited about ministry, how do you think the congregation feels? LaKesha Womack
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TREMAYNEMOORE
When we really think about it, the Black Church needs to hit the reset button. What was done in the past, such as “feel good” messages and traditions of the past, needs to be done away with. Granted, how we treat our temples (our bodies) must be addressed. We talk about health in the black church, yet so manyintheblackchurcharestrugglinganddyingbeforetheirtimeduetoType 2Diabetes.Wetalkfaith,yetwewantGodtodoeverything forgettingthatfaith 11
THE STATE OF THE BLACK CHURCH
In fact, when I was going to this one church during my time at FAMU, I was told that all these other black churches are tombstones, signifying that our church wastheonlytruechurch.Ofcourse,Ididn’tbelievethepastorwhenhesaidthat; however, I did some thinking about black churches while living in Tallahassee, Florida, at the time I could definitely say that in certain parts, there was a black church just a few blocks from another black church. It said to me that there are so many churches, yet not many people in the pews thus questioning if God reallycalledsomeofthesepastors. Eventually,Iwouldleavethechurchin2000,then26yearsold,andafterleaving that particular church, I learned that the church at large needs a cleanup job inside. Particularly in the black church, I was able to identify some of the problems within the black church. I mentioned earlier about segregation by congregation; that is one aspect of the problem. The other problems within the black church are that we care more about church membership, our pastor, and our denomination than the Bible. And this is where there are so many black people are hopeless. If Jesus is Lord, then He needs to be at the forefront of our church. He has given us so many forefathers within our race that we need to understandthatlove–whoJesusis–wastheframeworkfortheiractions.Loveis what we need to teach and not what will cause church growth. A change must takeplacefromtheinsideoutandnotfromtheoutsidein
WhenIlookatthestateoftheBlackChurch,Ihavetoask myself, how did I grow up? I ask because I didn’t initially grow up in the church; I didn’t start going to church faithfully until I was 22. That was when I got saved, filled with Holy Spirit This was around 1996 When I went to FloridaA&MUniversityin1998,then24yearsold,Irealized that the black church is very cliquish. I would eventually learn that the black church is segregated by congregation.
In summary, the state of the black churchisonlifesupport So,howdo we get off of life support? I’m glad you asked. We need to get back to teaching the bible, and not on our denomination, our political stance, or our opinions. This is one of the mainreasonswhywe’renotmaking an impact in the world and in our cities.Weneedtobreakthespiritof division off of us the devil has usedthatcardagainstusforfartoo long, and it’s the cause for our lack of togetherness We’re too busy trying to be like the world and not being the change that our communities desperately need fromus.It’snotjustthemembersin the congregation that need to step up; the leaders do, too; as we say, it’sallaboutthetoneatthetop.The leaders with titles in the church needtounderstandtheimportance of integrity and character (and admit when they are wrong). The BlackChurchiswhereitmuststart for the world to see that we can stand together. We need to understand that to win the black community and the world for that matter, we must be unified. As my assistant pastor would say, we can’thaveunitywithoutU-N-I.Ifwe don’t implement this, we may as well get off of life support, and sadly,thestateoftheblackchurch will be no more We talk about agreement per Amos 3:3, yet we in the church can’t even agree on what’s right and what’s wrong per theBible! Please don’t misunderstand me; I dohavehopefortheblackchurch. AsablackmanandamanofGod, I understand that my life as a Christian is of importance for this worldwearelivingin.Ican’tcontrol the actions of my fellow brothers and sisters; I do understand that I do have control over one thing: my life. What I mean by that is this: I can control how I think, how I act, and how my character is to be defined. When you think of the late Rosa Parks and the late Dr. King, they individually made a difference, and I am able to do the same by speaking life and living with the desire to always be integral in my conduct and in my deeds. The key is that it starts with one person and how badly I want to be the agent of change. And we each have to ask how badly we want to be the agent of change thatthisworldiscryingfor.
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withoutworksisdead.Wespeaklife intheblackchurch,yetsomanyare internally bleeding to death because of generations of child neglect/abuse, father wounds repeating the curse that was created by the ungodly Willie Lynch to where fathers are absent, and singlemotherhoodisboastedlikea trophy. We talk about agreement per Amos 3:3, yet we in the church can’t even agree on what’s right andwhat’swrongpertheBible!
INTRO TO SPIRITUAL CAREWebinarSeriesHostedby: TheFunkyChaplain alker Seriesat hurchstrategies.com
MargaretL.Conley,LCSW,MDiv
injury;weliveandlieinwaittobetriggered bysystematicoppression,whitesupremacy, andcontinueddevaluationofblack embodiment Yet,wefindourselvesmoving forwardinatrauma inducedstrength We respondtomattersfromemotionalwounds. Andthesewoundsareinfectedbynotions thatshowanyneedforclarity;tohaveany levelofself compassion;tohaveaccessto internalconnectednesswithourpainisa lackoffaith Yet,thereisaneedtoseeand touchourwoundsinternalandexternal woundedspaces.Seeingandtouchingallow ustounderstandourtriggers,dealwiththe pain,andaddresstheillsthatChristhas commissionedustoofferourwitness;we aretoobserveallthingscommandedby Christ Christ'sfirstcommandmentofferedinthe gospelsistoLoveGodwithallourheart,soul, mind,andstrength(body).Christthen followsupwiththesecondcommandment, tothenloveourneighborsoutofthisactof lovingGod,whichinturnislearninghowto loveourselves.Thoughsomehavebeen taughtthisiscounterintuitivetoourfaith, awarenessofourwoundsisaholyand righteousactofself care.Thislevelof awarenessgivesacknowledgmenttoour hearts,souls,minds,andbodiesand permissionforustoseeandtouchwounds forhealing. Toseeandtouchourwoundsisnotanact tobeshamed,yetthisshouldbeseenasan actofusheringinpeaceandhealingforour emotionalpain Inthetext,Christoffered 14
John20:24-25NRSV
SEEING AND TOUCHING WOUNDS A MOVE FROM DOUBT TO CURIOSITY FOR HEALING
ButThomas(whowascalledtheTwin),oneofthetwelve,wasnotwiththem whenJesuscame.Sotheotherdisciplestoldhim,‘WehaveseentheLord.’But hesaidtothem,‘UnlessIseethemarkofthenailsinhishandsandputmy fingerinthemarkofthenailsandmyhandinhisside,Iwillnotbelieve.’
Asindividualsinsidethiscollectivehuman experience,weseeongoingillsofschism;we seemicroaggression,whichleadstomoral
Hewasn'tthere,sowhyshouldhebelieve whattheyweresaying?Thisquestioncomes tomindwhenIthinkofthestoryof"Doubting Thomas"Hewasnotthereforany appearancesofChristaftertheresurrection. So,heneededproofthatChristwasoutof theGrave.ThelastreportgivenwasChrist's facewasbeyondrecognitiondueto physicallyabusiveacts;Christdied,was removedfromthecross,andplacedina borrowedtomb.So,wasitdoubts,orwasita logicalreasonforthetwintosaythathe neededtoseethewoundsbeforehe believedChristrose? Inthelastthreeyears,thishumanexperience hasappearedtobethelongest"LowSunday" ever.Wehaveheardrumorsofthings comingbackalive,watchedthingsfallapart, andfoundourselveswiththesameposture asThomas,"UnlessIseethemark…andput myhandinhisside Iwillnotbelieve" Yet wouldweconsiderthisplaceofwaitingfor resurrectedoutcomesaspaceofdoubtor seekingclarityaroundwhatwethought wouldsaveus?Andthinkingthroughthis thoughtwithaclinicalpastorallens,this experiencehasleftthecommunitywith imagesthatmaybetoohardtokeepinour forefront,soweburiedthemintheborrowed spacesofourminds,toonlybenoticedwhen triggeredbyexternalfactors
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nd “BlackWomen’sFaith,Black
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49.
2022 0021.
Yet,itdoessuggestthat hewasabletocryoutintrustandbelief,whichallowedhis curiositytomovetowardcompassionandconnectionwith himselfandwiththecommunityofindividualspresent,which possiblyallowedforChristtosay.However,youhadtosee otherswillnotseemebutwillseethewoundsthroughyour experienceofresurrectionpowerinthesightoftheexternal wounds. Asweliveoutourhumanexperience,wewillhavetimesthat wemayneedtoseeandtouchwounds
Bosman,FrankG.2022.“ToTouchortoBeTouched.Doubting ThomasintheBible,ApocryphalTexts,andtheArts.ALiterary Perspective.”Perichoresis20,no.4:27 https://doi.org/10.2478/perc
Turman,EboniMarshall Women’sFlourishing”TheChristianCentury AccessedAugust2, 2022.https://www.christiancentury.org/article/critical essay/black-women-s-faith-black-women-s-flourishing.
withourwoundswilltaketimeonceacknowledged
Secondly,theonewiththeexternalwoundsenteredthrougha closedspace.Howcanonecomethroughaspacethatis locked?Andhowdowegettothefreedomswehaveshut ourselvesofftoavoidseeingthewounds?Ourtriggerswill comeandstandwithuswhenwemakeitknownweare readytoseethem.Thisisadelicatespacethatshouldbe treatedwithcompassion
Once therequestismet,the initialresponsetoseeing thevisiblepainmaybe overwhelming.Working
peace,anofferthatthe woundsbetouched,and spacefortrustinbelief I imaginethatThomas'cry, "MyLordandMyGod," camewithavisceral response.Theoverjoyed sightofseeingthe resurrectedChristfilled withshock:frozenscreams, dysregulatedbody functions,unfamiliar sensations,andstreamsof emotionaltearswasthen offeredasoothing"peace bewithyou"bytheone withtheexternalwounds. First,thiswasnotan immediateresponsetothe requestthatThomas made.Ittook"aweek…"or rather,ittooktimeandthe rightenvironmentforthe requesttobemet The needforwoundstobe seenandtouchedwasnot madeinisolationbutwithin thecommunity.Ourneeds donothavetobeheld inside.Theycanbemade knownwithoutthe presenceofshamein spacesthatcanidentify withourcondition
Thetextdoes notofferthatThomasreachedoutandfollowedthroughwith Christofferingtotouchthewounds
Thereisnoneedtopathologizeor demonizewoundstohealourpain Wemust,atleast,seethewoundsevenifwedonottouch them.Fromawomanist thought,IwouldliketoconsidertheaccountgivenofThomas' needtoseeandtouchthewoundsas"…anintersectional perspectivethatseesoppressionasmultidimensional,anda bluntinterrogationofdoctrineandpriortheologicalclaims."In thisunderstanding,forsome,justthesightoftheexternal woundsactivateshealinginourinternalspaces
Sometimesinlife,our mindswillblockwoundsfromoursightsothatwecan continuetomoveforward,butthosehiddenwounds eventuallywillneedtobetouchedandtendedtoforour mentalandphysicalwellness.Knowingthatpainispresent, we,likeThomas,canalsoannounceourneedtoseethe wounds.Inthat,wemayexperienceemotionalhealingand reconnectwithalifewethoughtwaslost.Inaddition,wemay experienceresurrectionpowerthroughsightandtouchthat bringspeacetoourcuriousmindsandwearysouls
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Not only was Solomon attracted to non Israelite women, but he was also attracted to theirgodsandevenbuilttemplestotheirgods. So,Iaskagain,“WasSolomonsowise?WasSolomonevenlisteningtoLadyWisdom,the sameWisdomhewastellinghischildrentolistento?DidSolomon’sactionsindicatehe wasabeliever,atruebeliever?
PreachedbyRev CoreyL Brown,MDiv ColumbiaTheologicalSchool,Decatur,GA
July29,2022
As I read Proverbs 1:20-22, I made note of three characteristics or observations of Wisdominthescripturethatmaynotbesoapparentinacursoryreadingofthetext At thesametime,Iintendtointerweaveastoryintomypoints Wisdomisvocal.Inthepericope,Wisdomcriesout,raiseshervoice,andspeaks.WhenI read this, it immediately reminded me of the silencing of the African Diaspora over the centuries. The atrocities committed against the Black community are so voluminous, but I want to share one with you. Over a period of seven days in May 1918 in South Georgia, a mob lynched 10 Black men and one Black woman. Allow me to tell you the story about the murder of two of those people, a husband and wife, Hayes and Mary Turner Hayes Turner was wrongfully arrested for the death of a white plantation owner andsittinginjailinQuitman,GA
If there’s one thing we can say about Solomon, it’s that he was an equal opportunity womanizer Believeitornot,thiswasn’tthemostcontroversialpartofSolomon’slife
Wisdomcriesoutinthestreet;inthesquaresshe raiseshervoice. Atthebusiestcornershecriesout;attheentrance ofthecitygatesshespeaks: “Howlong,Osimpleones,willyoulovebeing simple?Howlongwillscoffersdelightintheir scoffingandfoolshateknowledge? (PROVERBS1:20-22) Intoday’stext,wehearfromWisdom,theDivineFeminine,ordowehearfromSolomon aboutWisdom?Asweallknow,muchofProverbshasbeenattributedtoKingSolomon, Ruth and Boaz’s great grandson. Remember, he’s the one scripture tells us G d gave unsurpassedwisdom,discernment,andabreadthofunderstandingasvastasthesand ontheseashore.IntheChristianfaith,Solomonrepresentsthebenchmarkforwisdom.
SERMON: I'M A BELIEVER
OnMay17,1918,hewasbeingtransferredfromQuitman to Moultrie when a mob stopped the sheriff’s car, removed Hayes, still handcuffed, and lynchedhim.Whydoesthishithomeforme?Remember,theyweretakingHayesTurner from Quitman to Moultrie. I live in Moultrie; my parents live in Quitman, where I was raised.AnothertouchpointformewasthatMaryTurnerwasadistantcousinofmywife. Two days after Hayes Turner’s lynching, on a Sunday, his wife, Mary Turner started a one woman protest movement. Just as Wisdom did, Mary Turner cried out and raised hervoiceinobjectiontothelynchingofherhusband.Asaresultofherprotests,awhite
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Butwashereallythewisestman?
Wisdom doesn’t cry out in the temples or synagogues, or churches. And if the COVID pandemic should have taught us one thing, it’s that we’ve had to seek G d in places other than the church. Proverbs tells us that Wisdom cries out in the streets, in the squares, on the busiest corner, and at the entrance of the city gates Remember Mary Turner? She pleaded to the court before she tookherproteststothestreets.
Wisdomiscritical. Wisdom asks a reflective question, “How long?” I imagine 21st Century Wisdom asking, “America, how long will you silence me, how long will you silence my sisters, Righteousness and Justice and Equity? America, how long will you not only remain silent but be complicit in the face of white supremacists’ actions? Now back to Mary Turner. I imagine the white terrorists waited until the preacher gave benediction because they abducted Mary Turner around noon on Sunday. They took her to Folsom’s Bridge 16 miles north of Valdosta, bound her legs, and hung her upside down. But that’s not how the story ended. The mob threw gasoline on her and burned the clothes off her body Mrs Turner was still alive when someone from the mob took a large butcher’s knife, probably one used to process deer. They cut her abdomen open, allowing the unborn baby to fall from her body.WhenthebabyfellfromMaryTurner,a member of the mob crushed the crying baby’sheadwithhisfoot.Andafterward,just as they did to Hayes Turner’s body, the mob then riddled Mrs Turner’s body with hundreds of bullets, killing her, all because she needed to be silenced and put in her place. Remember, I wanted to share with you my observations of Wisdom. Wisdom is vocal, Wisdom has left the building, and Wisdom is critical. So, how do we deal with this heaviness, with the travesties of justice toward Black and Brown bodies? We must start with truth; we can’t be like the Proverbs fool who rejects knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.MaryTurnertoldhertruth
whichisourtruth SilencingMrs Turneristhe equivalence of silencing Wisdom, Justice, Righteousness,andEquity.Evenindeath,she continuestobesilenced.Twoofthemarkers placed at the site that told her story have beendestroyedbygunfire,andnowtheonly thingthatstandsisa7 foottall,rustedsteel cross. It’s as if Mary Turner’s story serves as the backdrop for James Cone’s The Cross and the Lynching Tree. Wanna talk about a passion story?! Mary Turner spoke her truth, knowing full well the risk Why doesn’t her story draw the same reverence, the same compassion,thesameempathyasJesus’? At this point, we Christians have a decision tomake.Arewegoingtoembracethetruth, no matter how ugly? Are we going to do what it takes to start on the path to reconciliation and redemption? Or is the Christian religion beyond redemption, awaiting G d’s reckoning? Mary Turner’s storyisonlyoneofthousands Does what we believe include the passion narratives of Black and Brown bodies and thelackofjusticeandrighteousness?Arewe strongenoughtonotjustseekbuttobelieve inmorethanjustyourtruth?
Takingacuefromoneofmyfavoritemovies, Idareyou,Sayhername:MaryTurner!
Watch your beliefs, for they become thoughts
Watch your thoughts, for they become words Watchyourwords,fortheybecomeactions Watchyouractions,fortheybecomehabits
MayG
I double dog dare you; say her name: Mary Turner! I triple dog dare you; say her name: Mary Turner! Ibelieveyourtruth,MaryTurner!
Watch your habits, for they become your character Watch your character, for it doesn’t just become your destiny; it becomes OUR destiny. “What do our thoughts, our words, and our actions towards ourselves and others say aboutourbelief?”Areyouabeliever? I’mabeliever!IAMABELIEVER!
dhavemercyonoursouls!Amen. 18 MINISTRY MATTERS MAGAZINE
mob decided that this Black woman should besilenced Wisdom has left the church building.
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JanielE.Youngblood,CPA
So, I encourage church leaders to go where God is sending you and exercise financial stewardshiptoavoidbeingsentencedtoimprisonmentforfailuretopaytaxesorfailureto losefocusonGod’swillforministry.
SENT VS. SENTENCED
As a church finance consultant, I often tell my clients when it comes to reporting income paid to individuals at church, especiallythepastor,“Wedon'twanttoinadvertentlyhaveour churchleadersinaprisonministrywhenGoddidnotintendto send them there.” How might this occur? There are some ministers who willingly go into the prison of their own free will andservethosewhoareincarceratedbysharingtheloveand grace of Jesus Christ And unfortunately, there are some who havegonetoprisonduetotaxevasion.
Howtoproperlyreportcompensationiscriticalwhenexercisinggoodstewardship Proper financial management is the responsibility of the finance team at church as well as the Pastor. The areas where I see the most common pitfalls are when it comes to the love offering, the special church or pastoral anniversary offering, the pastor appreciation offering, the birthday blessing, or the Christmas blessing to the Pastor on behalf of the church. While these special monetary offerings to the church leaders are indeed an expression of love and appreciation and may be permissible, they are also taxable and mustbereported.TheIRSlovestheloveoffering;theywanttheirshareofthelove.
Church leaders should take full advantage of the tax laws that benefit them as self-employed individuals
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Of course, I wouldn’t want anyone to pay more taxes than necessary. Church leaders shouldtakefulladvantageofthetaxlawsthatbenefitthemasself-employedindividuals, for example, or the housing allowance for ordained ministers But I firmly believe that as followers of Christ, we should have a spirit of integrity to appropriately report and pay required taxes. On the matter of paying taxes, in Matthew 22:21, Jesus says, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”Inmodernterms,thatmaymeanpaying“UncleSam”what’shis,orsimplyput,pay theIRSthetaxesdue.SinceGodissofaithfulandprovidesthemeanstohavemoney,He will certainly provide enough to pay the taxes too. When churches engage in “paying people under the table” to bypass paying taxes, it puts the church at risk. The finance leadersmuststayabreastofthetaxlawsconcerningthechurch.
Beyond taxes, church leaders must avoid being imprisoned by the wrong mindset regarding church finances Too often, the focus is on getting more money, but if there is poormanagementwiththelittle,howcanoneexpectGodtoblesswithmore?According to Matthew 25:23, when one is faithful over a little, that is an indication that they can be trustedtotakecareofmuchmore.Thefocusshouldnotbesomuchonthemoneyitself butwhatthemoneyrepresents,aseedsownforGodtobringtheincrease.Thefocusmust remain on His mission, the Great Commission, and He will bring the increase. As the financialresourcesareusedforHisgloryandforthechurchtoactasanextensionofHis mouth and His hand on the earth, He can continue to bring salvation, freedom, and deliverancefrombondageandimprisonment.
ThroatedFaith)goesintodetailaboutthe importanceoftranslatingfromBiblicalGreekisto Dr Parker Shegoesonfurthertotalkabouthow herWomanistsensibilitieswillalwaysleadbeyond theacademy’strainingandscholarshipto“center theexperiencesofembodiedBlackfolk”(70).The remainderofthechapterdissectstheimplications ofconventionalEurocentricframingoftheGalatian context Conclusion(BreathingWomanistAir)isabout tellinguswhatshehastoldus Parkerdoesnot simplyleaveusthere;shereiterateshow“White supremacistauthoritarianismisoftenembedded inChristiannotionofbiblicalauthority,stifling God’sbreath”(92). Overall,IfGodStillBreathes,WhyCan’tI:Black LivesMatter&BiblicalAuthorityisanexcellent additiontoanylibrary,whetheryouhavea seminarydegreeorareanewChristianora “seasonedsaint.”Ihighlyrecommendthisas mandatoryreadingforanyBlackpastor/minister tohelpseethemselvesandtheircongregantsand knowwhendogma,doctrine,andscholarshipcan besuffocating AngelaParkerchallengesustonot justsettleforthestatusquobuttoallowourvery beingtoplayaroleinhowweseethingsandnot discountourintersectionality,especiallyasa Womanistscholarandtheologian. IF GOD STILL BREATHES, WHY CAN'T I? BY ANGELA N. PARKER BOOK REVIEW BY REV. COREY L. BROWN, MDIV 22 MINISTRY MATTERS MAGAZINE Dr.AngelaParkermanagedto createanacademic/theological workfortheBlackchurchforsucha timeasthis.Herwomanistviewpoint isnotsomethingthatshouldbe consideredancillarytothefaithbut shouldbeusedtoreframetheBlack church’smodusoperandi.TheBlack churchhasoperatedinastateof assimilationintothewhite Eurocentricevangelicalreligion calledWesternChristianity.Her parsingofBiblicalGreekthroughout demonstratesthepotentialfornon white,non
NotGod’sBreath)iswhereshetakestheconcepts ofinerrancyandinfallibilityandbuildsonthemto showhowtheyarenecessarytocreateand maintainthedoctrineofprotectivestrategy.Inher conclusion,Parkerproposesthataprotective strategyisaboutmaintainingcontrolofonegroup overanother(43).Inotherwords,itisallaboutwho controlsthenarrative,inthiscase,the understandingoftheBibleandtheresulting orthopraxy. Chapter3
Theintroductionlaysthefoundation
Chapter2(WhiteSupremacistAuthoritarianismis (StopGaslightingMe)explainshowthe (MovingfromStifledBreathtoFull malescholarstosee themselvesasapartoftheImago Dei.Dr.Parkerexposesthehuman inspiredcanonizationswithinthe canonofsacredscripture forherargumentsintheremaining chapters.Parkerhighlightshow centeringbiblicalunderstandingon BlackandBrownbodiesisa contentiouspointinwhitespaces (3) Herpointsontheissueswith inerrancyandinfallibilityofbiblical scripturearethoroughand thought provoking. Chapter1(StifledBreathing:Trained toBeaWhiteMaleBiblicalScholar) cutstotheheartofthematter abouthowtheologicaltraining focusesoncreatingwhitemale Biblescholars(13),eveniftheyare neitherwhitenormale.Throughout thechapter,Dr.Parkerexplainshow thetensionbetweenherhumanity asaWomanistscholarandwhite malebiblicalscholarshipcreates theinabilitytobreathe
actsofmicro aggressionandgaslightingcoupled withtheWhitesupremacistauthoritarianviewsof inerrancyandinfallibilityareadangerous combination Thedangerliesinnotjustthe historicalgaslightingofthewomenbythemenin thetextbutbythecontemporarymalescholars whointerpretthetext. Chapter4
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