Adapted from an article first published as “Growing Church” in The Alliance Witness January 1, 1986.
by Warren Bird
Something took place this month that offers great potential for expanded C&MA ministries among African Americans. And the event affects every district pastor and congregation. The U.S. Black Field, a nationwide group of 11 member churches and 4 affiliated congregations, has decided to become part of The Alliance’s geographically based districts. The votes were cast in October, but the change became effective January 1, 1986.
Working Together
“We’re more part of the family now,” said Rev. Alfonso Tyler, pastor of Union Avenue Alliance Church in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of the 9 field pastors and 35–40 African Americans in attendance at October’s annual field conference.
“We’ve been well received in our district contacts thus far,” he added.
“The change was a necessary move,” said Rev. Vernon J. Lewis, Sr., pastor of Peter Robinson Memorial Tabernacle in Pittsburgh, Pa. “When blacks and whites are on separate sides of a fence talking about the love of God, people don’t always believe us.”
“Now whites and blacks can have a wider range of fellowship with each other,” stated Rev. Otha Hunt, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Gainesville, Fla. “And those churches that were already racially mixed will do a much better job of fitting in.”
“At first we were conspicuous as a separate group,” said Rev. Gary Hughes, pastor of C&MA Church in Atlanta, Georgia. “And soon, on the district level, we became conspicuous by our absence.” His conclusion? “Now that we are together, all 1,600 or so U.S. C&MA churches can collectively reach the black community.”
The Black Field churches will join a number of racially mixed or predominately African-American district congregations, about 10 of which are pastored by African Americans. These district pastors reacted quite favorably to the vote.
A typical response came from Rev. Gus H. Brown, pastor of Akron (Ohio) Alliance Fellowship: “The new unity is going to give us more potential to grow, especially as districts catch the vision for planting churches among black people,” he said. “I might even live to see the day when a district hires an extension director to focus solely on the black communities under its jurisdiction.”
Hard Journey
This reentry into the districts, however, did not come without several changes taking place among both blacks and whites.
In 1975 most Alliance churches in African-American communities voted to leave their district affiliations and instead form a 12-church field under newly created Specialized Ministries. At that time they felt that as a separate unit they would have increased strength and visibility and would be more effective in reaching African Americans than they had been through district relationships.
Rev. Charles H. Williams of Portland, Ore., was elected as director of the field and has led it since taking office in 1976. He has recruited most of its pastors and drawn attention to African-American ministry. In 1978 he became the first African American to serve on the Board of Managers. In 1984 he received the distinction of becoming the first director of an Alliance field to he elected to a fourth term.
His new role will be that of consultant on ministry to African Americans. He will also continue as an evangelist and radio broadcaster.
Fellowship among Black Field pastors will likely continue through the creation of a non-legislative association. African Americans serving district churches will also be invited to join.
Expanding Ministry
Since 1975 districts, too, have shown increased interest in reaching out to the African-American communities within their borders. They have successfully planted or affiliated churches, often with help from Mr. Williams, in Washington, D.C.; Akron, Dayton, and Toledo, Ohio; Los Angeles, California; York, Pennsylvania.; and elsewhere. Other district churches, such as one in Brooklyn, New York, have successfully changed their racial makeup from predominantly white to predominantly black as their surrounding neighborhoods underwent a similar transition.
In communities where the C&MA already has works among African Americans, pastors of the two races have gotten together through monthly ministeriums or other special meetings. As friendships have grown, racial stereotypes have been shattered and serious-minded cooperation has taken root.
And more new churches are in sight. The Southern, Midwest, Western Pennsylvania, and Northeastern Districts, for example, are discussing the planting of churches in their areas’ African-American communities. Several of these consultations have involved Mr. Williams.
At a recent leadership conference that drew together district superintendents and field directors, many district leaders expressed strong commitments to expand their ministries among African Americans.
Venture of Faith
Indeed, a new era seems to be opening for African Americans in The Alliance and for outreach to African-American communities. Almost everyone involved is hopeful about what God will do.
Change can sometimes be hard to accept. But as one of the pastors who voted against the merger said, “Since I’m the only black pastor in my district I’ll have less voice and less representation than I did in the Black Field. But if this decision is going to help us reach the lost for Christ, then I have no other conclusion than that I’m all for it.”
Learn More
Today, the Association of African-American Pastors, Consecrated Women, and Licensed Official Workers represents the growing numbers of African-American men and women who serve the C&MA in a variety of ways on the pastoral and district levels. Read more at “On the Shoulders of a Great Cloud of Witnesses” by Kelvin Walker.