February is Black History Month, and to continue learning about the history, evolution, and culture of The Black Church, Chantel McHenry, Director of Special Initiatives & Operations and Executive Search Consultant at Vanderbloemen, spoke with Christian leaders to guide us through the history of The Black Church and the critical purpose it serves as part of the big “C” Church.
These conversations cover some of the critical events in early US History all the way up to current events in an effort to help us understand and appreciate the conception and development of The Black Church. We're releasing these episodes in chronological order each week to help us better experience the path taken to reach where The Black Church stands now. Not only does this series acknowledge and celebrate the people who have taken this journey, but it also serves to inform all people of the impact that this history has had on the full Kingdom and to help us love and understand each other more fully.
This series will include conversations with:
Episode 1: Dr. Eric M. Washington, Associate Professor of the History Department and Director of African and African Diaspora Studies at Calvin University on the origins of The Black Church from the pre-slavery origins of The Black Church, exploring the work of missionaries in Africa from 1750-1850.
You can also read a breakdown of the conversation with Dr. Washington here.
Episode 2: Dr. Anthea Butler, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Graduate Chair in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania on the the origins of The Black Church from the time African slaves were brought to the United States up to Emancipation, painting a picture of the early defining moments of The Black Church.
You can also read about the conversation with Dr. Butler here.
Episode 3: Dr. Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, Professor of Religion at Shaw University Divinity School, Raleigh, NC, and Ordained Elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on the significant role of The Black Church all the way from 1900 through the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Read about the conversation with Dr. Cheryl Kirk-Duggan here.
Episode 4: Pastor John Faison, Senior Pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee on the impact that segregation and gentrification has on black communities and the role the black church has played to support these communities.
Read about the conversation with Pastor Faison here.
Episode 5: Kermit Moss, Pastor of Christ Church UMC in Paterson, New Jersey, and Interim Director, Center for Black Church Studies, Princeton Theological Seminary. They cover the significant impacts that the Civil Rights era had on The Black Church and how the church responded to this critical period in history, as well as how these events mirror what's happening in our country today.
Read a full breakdown of the conversation with Pastor Moss here.
At Vanderbloemen, we value constant improvement and invite you to walk alongside us as we learn more about how to better love and serve the whole church. Subscribe to The Vanderbloemen Leadership podcast to be alerted when we drop new episodes in The History And Evolution Of The Black Church Series and other podcast interviews with leaders like Jo Saxton, Beth Moore, and Carey Nieuwhof. We look forward to sharing this series with you as the latest episodes of The Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast.