The Atlanta Journal Constitution offers this piece on corporate partnerships between some African American megachurches and Daimler-Chrysler. Something about a den of thieves echoes in my head.
Now this is encouraging. An aging, dwindling predominantly white congregation gives away its church building to a growing predominantly African-American congregation. The only thing that would be better is if the older white members would stay and labor with the new church.
Interesting and maybe sad Baptist and politics factoid:
“Baptists divide along partisan lines defined by race. Black Baptists, like all black members of Congress, are Democrats, while most white Baptists are Republicans. Notable exceptions include incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who will serve as president pro tem in the new Senate, making him third in succession to the presidency after the vice president and House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.” See story here.
One reason why careful discernment is needed on the question of church and culture. Another reason, this time with video.
Apparently, Rick Warren is being credited with redefining missions, with a little help from IV. Is it me… or does the new missions sound a lot like the old “social gospel”? “The old model was to win people to Christ and then involve them in ministry,” Warren said. “Now, it’s the other way around.” Hmmm….
Like a lot of people, I’ve held that perhaps the only reason to legitimately “split” a church body is if language is a barrier. Well, maybe not for long. See here.
