Roland Martin: Does the Black Church have Presence or merely Present?
By Rev. Samuel Williams, Jr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) Second District Bishop James L. Davis invited journalist Roland Martin to serve as a featured speaker for the 2021 Virtual Mid-Winter meeting in February. Martin did not disappoint.
Martin a renowned African American journalist, who hosts the weekly #ROLANDMARTINUNFILTEREDDAILYDIGITALSHOW, was truly “unfiltered” in his commentary to the Second District and had no cut cards with the delivery of his message. That message came in the form of a question in respect to the Black Church’s role in effectuating change: Does the Black Church have Presence or merely present?
Martin admonished the white conservative evangelical church, chastising them for throwing support behind President Donald Trump who Martin termed as “the most evil and corrupt” president in American history.
“The Black Church must assert its authority and position in molding what is happening in American society,” Martin said. “Now is the time for the Black Church to rise again and take the lead of moral leadership in this country and serve as a clarion call to address issues specific to the African American community. The call for social justice is not enough; the Black Church must demand change in economic and racial equity as well.”
According to Martin, the Black Church has fallen victim to the same mentality that plaques Black fraternities and sororities as well as leading civil rights organizations throughout the nation: “insular” focus.
“The Black Church, in my opinion, is operating like our Black sororities and fraternities, focusing inwardly and neglecting to leverage our collective influence, our potential for power externally.”
Martin suggested that the AMEC should be initiating efforts to unite with the Church of God and Christ (COGIC), African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church ((AMEZC), the National Black Baptist Convention (NBBC) and other predominately Black churches.
“Can you imagine if Black Church leaders from various denominations showed up on Capitol Hill with an army of Blacks standing at their backs? The mere presence would cause them to ask ‘what do you want?’ And that is where the change begins.”
Martin also alerted the District Two audience that the Black Church should lead the demand for equal distribution of billions of American dollars generated by pension funds fueled by the Black community.
“A huge amount of the people paying into the nation’s pension fund is Black and Brown people,” Martin said. “But minority communities never see that money. Why aren’t politicians and business leaders reinvesting money from pension funds people of color to those communities?”
Marin said if the Black community is going to do or demand something, sadly, they must force American leaders to do so. He said the Black community can no longer accept what white American leadership is trying to do.
Martin closed by issuing a challenge to the AMEC’s highest authorities.
“If the AMEC bishops are not modern day Nehemiahs, then it may be time for them to retire,” Martin said.
Martin’s speech can be accessed in full at the AMEC Second District website: ame2.com.
Rev. Samuel Williams, Jr. serves as men’s ministry coordinator under St. Paul AMEC NW DC Senior Pastor Wanda E. London.
