INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–Same-sex “marriage” and an upsurge in the release of felons from prison were among the main topics of discussion at the annual meeting of the African American Fellowship June 13 at Gabriel Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
“It is very important that we as the National African American Fellowship make a statement on same-sex ‘marriage,'” Anderson said. “We’ve been silent too long.”
But first came discussion of ways the fellowship is moving from rhetoric to intentionality, as the organization’s president, Robert Anderson, reported to about 300 people at a banquet meeting the evening before the opening of the June 15-16 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.
“These are things we really want to give special attention to,” Anderson said in explaining a strategy plan developed by the group’s executive committee over the last year. “This will help give an assessment of what we are doing and an account of how we are doing.”
“The African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention is a time we come together to show our passion for Jesus Christ, to let the larger body see who we are and whose we are, and to help us stay focused,” said E.W. McCall Sr., pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif.
“This time of meeting together keeps us faithful in Kingdom building, keeps us faithful to do our part and encourages us to be faithful to our calling, to make sure Christ is at the apex of our lives, and to unite us to make us one,” McCall said. “We need to see that on a local, state and national level, and to share what Christ is doing in our life. That’s the purpose of the national SBC and the national African American Fellowship.”
In addition to joining the host church in worship, recording artist Jacqueline Anderson performed worship music. Guest speaker Jerry Dailey, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, spoke from Isaiah 5:1-6 about the danger of God cutting off those who do not tend to the vineyard with which He entrusts them.
“This is a song of indictment; there’s not much celebration in it,” Daily said. “God wants, God expects your best — especially in light of all He’s done for you. He’s healed you, protected you, delivered you, provided for you….”
Robert Anderson, at the Monday afternoon business session, introduced a new enlistment and assimilation committee chaired by Joesph Lyles, pastor of Ft. Foote Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Md. Anderson also unveiled a name modification — the addition of the word “National” — for the African American Fellowship, which was formed in 1992.
Officers through 2005 include Anderson, pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md., president; Mark A. Croston Sr., pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va., vice president; Frankie Harvey, laywoman at Nacogdoches (Texas) Bible Fellowship, secretary; and Leon Johnson, pastor at Bread of Life Baptist Church in Chicago, treasurer.
Lincoln Bingham, a pastor at West End Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., received special recognition as a stalwart in Kentucky Baptist life.
“The African American Fellowship honors Dr. Lincoln Bingham for decades of service as a mentor to pastors and denominational servants,” said Donald Sharp, president of the Illinois Baptist State Convention. “It’s exciting to see what’s taking place here and to not forget those who paved the way. You can’t mention Baptist work in Kentucky without mentioning Dr. Bingham. … Most of all, he loves the Lord.”
The fellowship has grown deeper and stronger with each of its six presidents, Anderson said. What originated as straight fellowship evolved under the leadership of George McCalep, pastor of Greenforest Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., to an entity organized for growth.
With the addition of the enlistment and assimilation committee, the fellowship’s growth can be channeled to make a Kingdom-building difference, Anderson said.
“We’ve been practicing the theology of presence,” Anderson said in reporting on attendance at various SBC meetings throughout the year. “The stronger you build the bridge, the heavier equipment you can take over it. Our presence at the [SBC] Executive Committee meetings is an opportunity for us to represent our fellowship in ways important and strategic.”
Five major initiatives the fellowship plans to focus on are strengthening churches, starting churches, understanding SBC life, impacting SBC life and mobilizing people in African American churches for mission, Anderson said.
He encouraged churches to give 10 percent of the gifts they receive through the SBC’s Cooperative Program and to complete the Annual Church Profile statistical report.
“These are ways we can help,” Anderson said. “We all need to feel the same heartbeat. We want to extend a hand and say we’re family. We’re here to implement Acts 1:8.”
The president turned his remarks to social concerns.
Noting a wave of people being released from prison who were incarcerated during the 1970s’ and ’80s’ war on drugs, Anderson noted that the upswing started last year and will continue for another two or three more years.
“More than 600,000 are being released every year, and 42 percent of them are African American,” Anderson said. “Please consider economic development in reaching and helping these coming out of jail.
“Yes, there’s a risk,” Anderson said. “If it were easy, everyone would do it. If we’re talking about reaching the low, reaching the poor, reaching the needy … let us consider these people and their families.”
For those who don’t have a problem with accepting government money, funds are available through the president’s faith-based initiatives to help rehabilitate people being released, he said.
Anderson’s words turned toward the sanctity of marriage.
“There is a very aggressive movement for same-sex ‘marriage,'” he said. “The black church has been silent on this. We need to speak up because they have come into our territory to proclaim the mantle of civil rights for their cause. We as blacks ought to be able to give voice to God’s Word. Leviticus 18:22 says homosexuality is an abomination before the Lord.
“Maybe we’ve been silent because we have them singing in our churches,” Anderson said. “For them to be thinking homosexuality is OK, we have done them an injustice. Wrong is wrong and God doesn’t cover up sin.”
Anderson referred to Psalm 11:3: “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
“People want to get the goodies from God without the relationship with Him,” he said. “You can go to hell getting all the good. There are times God says stand, and this is such a time. God is going to fight the battle for you, but you must stand.”
Anderson urged fellowship members to contact their two senators before the Federal Marriage Amendment comes up for a vote in July and voice support for the measure.
“Fight the good fight,” he said. “I want you to know; God is waiting for you to do so.”
NAAF will sponsor the pastor’s wife’s breakfast at Black Church Leadership Week at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina, set for Aug. 2-6. The next meeting of the NAAF executive board is Sept. 23-24 in Detroit.
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