The Black Church
Dating back to slavery, black people have always tended to fall back on the Bible and Christianity to keep their hopes up and spirit alive. The church gave people a sense of security when it seemed like the entire world was against them. Post civil war, the church, and religion became the number two priority after family. Many political leaders, singers, poets, musicians, etc. all got their start from the black church. As once stated by Rev. Eugene Rivers “ the church was the black people's last hope”, which proves extremely true. With the support and community togetherness, the church provides a lot of people would not have been able to survive without it. The black church has shaped the black culture and been a launch
…show more content…
From the Methodist church, the African Methodist Episcopal church was created. The Front Street Methodist Church lost 1600 members to the AME church where they replaced the white minister with a black one. (Hine, 296). In Charleston, SC during 1882, the Denmark Vesey act forced an AME church to stop its ministries but it was resurrected 40 years after. (Hine, 296). In 1870 there were 3 flourishing AME congregations in Wilmington, …show more content…
Women have always been the most prevalent in church, Nannie Helen Burrough started Woman’s day in the Baptist church. Woman have many roles in the church such as missionaries, but the men hold the majority of the power in the church. Eventually, woman began to fight against sexism in the church. The AME Church was at the forefront of the fight against sexism, they have been ordaining women since 1898. Today out of the 8,000 ministers of the AME church 3,000 of them are women. The black church tends to have strong views on gender and sexuality. Most ministers will preach the importance of a woman submitting to her man and men being the head and the leaders, whereas women should follow behind him. As far as sexuality the church tends to preach against homosexuality and believes marriage is solely for a man and a