During the past 10 years, the Diocese of South Carolina has experienced one of the highest rates of growth in baptized members and attendance in The Episcopal Church, but to the consternation of Bishop Mark Lawrence the diocese’s African American congregations and clergy have not shown abundant growth.
The realization of this disparity came to light during a meeting on Sept. 6 involving Bishop Lawrence, members of the clergy and lay leadership of the diocese’s African American congregations, as well as other African American clergy. This was Bishop Lawrence’s first opportunity to meet and greet many of these individuals since he was consecrated bishop last January. In all, about 85 persons attended and have agreed to work together to strengthen the diocese’s African American congregations.
The fastest growing congregations in the country denominational and nondenominational are the ones that are encouraging multi-ethnic/racial congregations. Segregation is not the answer. Most historically black congregations in Florida (where my experience is) are made up of middle to upper middle class and often european and caribbean people of color. The majority of the black folks in the south are neither. Perhaps another approach would be to look at “mixed” congregations and see how they work — mixed as in socio-economic and racial. There are even some of those in the episcopal church! We worship at one.
here are a few questions. Has any majority African American congregation in the TEC left and joined common cause? Are there any prominent African American clergy involved in common cause? If not why? There have to be some conservative black clergy out there somewhere. I have yet to meet any. What is the theological bend of the black churches in South carolina?
There has been one congregation (black clergy — mixed congregation) that left the Diocese of Florida — however, they are few and far between. That is part of the problem. Many (not all) of the black community are conservative. If they are not conservative they are actively involved in social justice issues. I believe that South Carolina has a unique opportunity in this area. It will involve some creative liturgy and unique pastors. We have found in our church that music and preaching style are key issues. Black and mixed congregations are much more expressive in worship than traditional episcopal/anglican churches.
The Reformed Episcopal Church, an important Common Cause member, has a large percentage of active black churches, which is a continuation of what was Episcopal ministry over 140 years ago. It would be great cross fertilization to learn from them and their Bishops.
+Lawrence is not resting on the diocese’s laurels (the healthy growth in SC) and has made a concerted effort to reach out to the minority groups and help bring about better results for them. And this is the man that the liberals across ECUSA tried, with a straight face, to tell us was unqualified to be a bishop? We really learn a lot more about ECUSA from that fiasco than we do about +Lawrence……