*The state of the Black church is a major item of interest for Jason Shelton. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) sociologist, whose new book, “The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion” explores the current scene surrounding Black houses of worship, is bringing personal and professional experiences and influences into his newest project while exploring religion in Black America.
For him, it was a matter of finding a church home that helped build a foundation for him and his family.
“It was important to me to find a thriving Black Methodist congregation that I could raise my daughters in, and my wife and I had a difficult time,” Shelton said in a recent interview while sharing how he got the idea for “The Contemporary Black Church”
“Here we are in (the Dallas-Fort Worth area), and it’s hard to find a young congregation that’s thriving, where I feel like my daughters can develop their memories and find bonds with other kids, and we can be with other young families. And so that really made me realize there’s a story here to be told about religion in Black America.”
Topics touched on in the work include beliefs and practices of Black churchgoers, among others.
Chatting with Religion News Services (RNS), Shelton, who weighs in on religious differences in Black America, the effects of “disestablishment” on Black churches and whether the “spiritual but not religious” can be reclaimed by them.
A portion of the 48-year-old UTA Center for African American Studies director’s interview can be found below:
For years, experts such as Eddie Glaude have asked if the Black church is dead. As you look at the numbers, do you agree or disagree?
I wouldn’t say that it is dead, but certain denominations are in a lot of trouble — that Black Methodist tradition I’ve called home is in a lot of trouble. I’d say the Baptists are also a tradition that has to look and see some trouble down the road. On the flip side, I would say the Holiness Pentecostal tradition in Black America has always been small, but it’s held its ground over the decades. The Black Catholic tradition, always been small, but held its ground. So is the Black church dead? It really depends on which traditions we’re talking about.
You mention the changing levels of education of the Black clergyperson and the Black churchgoers. What’s happened there? What’s at stake?
The idea was that the Black preacher was the leader of the community for most of Black history. In light of all that racism and segregation, the pastor was typically the most educated person in the community because that person could stand up and read the Bible and interpret the Bible and speak to the masses in that congregation. Fast-forward the clock: African Americans in church are oftentimes more educated than the senior pastor in the pulpit. In this modern, technological, mainstream American society, you can sit in church and question what the pastor’s saying in real time.
I argue that a consequence of the success of the Civil Rights Movement is that the church has become voluntary. There was the time that we were expected to be at church. Of course, it’s holding in particular families, don’t get me wrong. But overall, as more and more Black folks have made it to the middle class, and as more and more of us have more options on Sundays, it has undermined organized religion in Black America, and education is the driving force.
You cited hopes of Christians you interviewed for changes that could help draw more young people back to church. Can you give an example? Are you aware of churches that are succeeding?
One of them was to remove status barriers within the church, the classic idea that a pastor wears the robe. Less formality was one of those things. Another one of those things, which a lot of people emphasized, was giving leadership opportunities to 30-somethings.
I can tell you, in my own personal life, part of the reason that we picked the church we did is that a lot of those things are happening. We don’t call our pastor “Reverend,” we call him Derek. There are a lot of young people in leadership. Grandmama is on the usher board too, but there are a lot of younger people that are engaged and a part of it as well. Those are the kinds of things that, particularly, folks have found welcoming.
For RNS’ complete interview with Jason Shelton, click here.
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