Title: Black clergy call for halt to Georgia regional minister's search
Date: March 11, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98b-14
DECATUR, Ga. (DNS) -- African American clergy of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) March 5 called on the denomination's Georgia region to suspend the search for a new executive following the November rejection of an African American candidate by its governing board.
In a news conference at Ray of Hope Christian Church, here, the Black Ministers' Fellowship specifically asked that the process be halted until members of the regional board undergo anti-racism training.
A January 13, 1998 meeting of Georgia board members with General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm led to a commitment to participate in the training module. The training process, however, likely would not begin until next fall, Hamm said. African American clergy were adamant that training be completed before the search is finished.
The clergy group's demand stems from a November 1997 decision by the regional body which failed to forward the Rev. William H. Edwards' name to the Georgia Regional Assembly for vote as regional minister. In the meeting, Edwards received eight of 15 votes by regional board members. The regional constitution requires a two-thirds vote, or 10 tallies, to forward a nominee's name to the assembly for action.
The clergy group decried what it viewed as the element of racism involved in the decision. In rejecting Edwards' candidacy "the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia failed to elect the most qualified candidate," said the Rev. Thomas L. Murray, Memphis, reading from a letter addressed to the regional board. Murray is currently interim minister of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.
"In a time wherein the issue of race should have been well behind us . . . we find it reprehensible that a region of our church would still manifest and exhibit the actions and behavior which our country has worked so hard to overcome," read the statement. The actions of the Georgia region underscore the need for affirmative action policies within the denomination and in society, according to the church leaders.
The Georgia regional office received the letter March 6, according to the Rev. Clinton Wolf. The interim regional minister, however, hadn't "had time to share it with anybody" other than regional Moderator Eddie K. Parker of Augusta.
In a column printed in the March edition of The Christian Messenger, Parker said the new regional board confesses with previous board members that the group's decision "was impacted by many factors, attitudes and beliefs."
In the January meeting with General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm "it was acknowledged that racism and regionalism were strong issues that divided the board members, and by extension, the members of the Christian Church in Georgia," Parker added. "The current board wishes to acknowledge and apologize for the hurt, anger, astonishment, and misunderstanding that has resulted."
Parker said he would share the fellowship's letter with the Georgia Regional Board March 31. Wolf anticipates that the board will formally respond to the letter sometime early in April.
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[Editor's note: The text of the letter from the Black Minister's Fellowship is
attached.]
An Open Letter to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia failed to elect the most qualified candidate, the Reverend Dr. William H. Edwards, for the position of Regional Minister. According to retired Georgia Regional Minister David L. Alexander, in a recent press release from the Disciples News Service, Reverend Dr. Edwards' race was one of the contributing factors. As a result, those of us gathered for the 24th Annual Black Minister's Retreat meeting in Atlanta, Ga., and the Black Minister's Fellowship of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are voicing our extreme disappointment, hurt, and total disgust with the actions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia.
In a time wherein the issue of race should have been well behind us, and a place wherein so many of the strides towards equity and parity have been made, we find it reprehensible that a region of our church would still manifest and exhibit the actions and behavior which our country has worked so hard to overcome.
As ministers we are committed to the preaching, teaching, and living of the gospel. We name racism as sin. We call on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia to repent of the transgression committed against Reverend Dr. Edwards, African-American Disciples, and all people who stand for justice and righteousness. We ask that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia suspend the Regional Minister search process until the anti-racism training process is complete. We also ask that this search process not be a repeat of the first; we hope race is not an issue in the selection of the Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia.
We are standing together as African -American churches and pastors in an act of protest to ensure that this injustice will be exposed to people of goodwill everywhere. The faithless actions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia underscore the clear and present need for affirmative action policies within the structures of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in particular, and our society in general.
In conclusion we state emphatically that the absence of racial justice in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia precludes any realistic chances for true wholeness within our church.
The undersigned faithfully await a specific response from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia to the above concerns.
In the love of Christ,
24th Annual Black Minister's Retreat and The Black Minister's Fellowship of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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