(Adapted from UMNS version)

CINCINNATI—More than 400 members of The United Methodist Church’s African-American membership caucus celebrated the 50^th anniversary of its earliest beginnings, even as many speakers addressed work that still needs to be done in fighting racism and inequity in the church and society.

The 1967 preliminary meeting that led to the caucus’ founding drew about 30 black Methodist leaders to Detroit, to strategize and prepare for the end of racial segregation and the anticipated formation of the new United Methodist Church that would take place at the 1968 Uniting General Conference. They planned a National Conference of Negro Methodists for March 1968 in Cincinnati. When that conference ended, they had organized as Black Methodists for Church Renewal.

BMCR celebrated the 50^th anniversary of that historic 1967 first meeting at its 2017 General Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 8-11. Caucus members, spanning multiple generations and including at least five members from the Eastern PA Conference*, reveled in worship and fellowship during the event.

BMCR’s first chairman, the Rev. James Lawson, a leader in the U.S. civil rights movement, attended the anniversary celebration with his brother, the Rev. Phil Lawson and other former leaders, including retired bishops Woodie White, Melvin Talbert and Charles Jordan.

The Rev. William Bobby McClain, an original caucus board member and professor emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, recalled early heroes and highlights in the movement of black Methodist history that led to the caucus’ formation.

But citing Methodism’s perennial struggle over race, McClain also echoed “the enduring question” raised at critical times, he said, when the church either divided or reunited: “What shall we do with the blacks?”

About eight members stood when McClain asked who was at the 1968 General Conference when the racially segregated Central Jurisdiction was abolished after 29 years. He recalled that many who came to BMCR’s initial meetings feared threats of retaliation for their activism but came anyway. Some had considered leaving the denomination.

The retired and revered professor, who has taught preaching to hundreds of seminary students, reprised some reasons he often gives for why African-Americans joined and retained “their fierce fidelity to Methodism despite its checkered career in race relations.”

“Our very presence is both a testimony and a protest,” he said. “We have stayed to affirm and live out the gospel of God’s amazing grace, to claim our history and heritage, that The United Methodist Church is as much ours as anybody else’s.”

BMCR National Chairperson Deborah Dangerfield, in her address, followed with a list of historic accomplishments attributed in part to BMCR’s efforts and influence. They included creation of the General Commission on Religion and Race, the Black College Fund, the Strengthening the Black Church for the 21^st Century initiative, and the African American Methodist Heritage Center, as well as the election of many African-American bishops.

She referred to black Americans’ many triumphs during long struggles against racism and oppression as “punching holes in the darkness.” But, she added, “there is still too much darkness in the land for BMCR to rest on its laurels, too many churches broken, too many of our folks destitute and distraught, too much hatred, bigotry, racism, sexism, classicism and even Methodism.”

Indeed, the meeting’s lengthy theme began with “Celebrating a Legacy of Faith, Hope and Renewal,” but speakers more often quoted the second part of the theme: “More Rivers to Cross, More Milestones to Reach.”

West Ohio Area Bishop Gregory Palmer, who hosted the gathering, emphasized the unfinished mission in his sermon during the opening night’s worship service.

Preaching from Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes’ popular verses in “I’ve Known Rivers,” Palmer lauded the often “hidden figures” of black ingenuity and intellect, stretching from design of the earliest African pyramids to present-day high achievers. But he also lamented the ongoing sufferings of black people that have always inspired their dependence on God for refuge, help and strength.

“Don’t mistake your milestones for your destination,” he admonished the congregation, decrying excessive celebrations of church anniversaries, successful programs and even the election of black bishops, when too many churches “are going to rot” or are virtually empty during Sunday worship.

Recalling his father’s inexpressible joy and wonder at the historic election of former President Barack Obama in 2008, Palmer ridiculed the premature notion of the U.S. having become a “post-racial society.”

Citing current crises like police killings of young black men and the national epidemic of opioid addiction, he said there will always be “an infinite number of rivers to cross, until we can see the ultimate and complete reign of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

Cincinnati was a meaningful location for this 50^th General Meeting of BMCR. Not only was it the site of the caucus’ organization in 1968, but it also was where many black runaway slaves, escaping to freedom via the Underground Railroad, landed when they crossed the Ohio River in the 1800s. Many referred to the river in biblical terms as the River Jordan.

Featured banquet speaker the Rev. Clarence G. Newsome stressed that symbolic connection, as head of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, located on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. The $110 million institution, which some members visited, opened in 2004 and honors historic and present-day efforts around the world to “abolish human enslavement and secure freedom for all people,” including victims of human trafficking.

Newsome, a Baptist minister and former dean at the divinity schools at Duke and Howard universities, challenged BMCR with “A Divine Summons for Church Renewal through Prayer.” His passionate speech, which lasted over an hour, ranged from politics, philosophy and religion, to heroic accounts of escaped slaves and abolitionists, to principles of “inclusive freedom” based on self-determination.

Newsome came to the Freedom Center in 2013 and, by building partnerships, increased its endowment from $4 million to $10 million. He leaves March 31 to return home to North Carolina, where he serves on Duke’s Board of Trustees and the state’s Board of Ethics.

Several breakout discussion groups offered concerns, information and ideas to the caucus board for consideration and further development by its Advocacy Committee. One advocacy statement, which members approved, calls for “solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement” and calls on the “connectional church” to engage in self-education, advocacy and organizing in the quest for social justice. That statement is now in the hands of the BMCR board for perfecting before it is shared with the full membership, according to Dangerfield.

“One major concern,” said Dangerfield in an interview, “is where are we as black people and black churches going to be with the conversation that’s happening now about the possibility of a change or a split in the church?”

Thus, BMCR, born as Methodism’s racial segregation was ending and a new denomination was being created, now finds itself facing another possible schism in the church and asking the “enduring question” William McClain posed in his keynote address: “What shall we do with the blacks?”

(From left) The Rev. Eric Carr Jr., the Rev. Shayla Johnson, John Coleman, the Rev. William B. McClain, the Rev. Anita Powell and Betty Henderson. Local Reactions to  BMCR Meeting Several BMCR General Meeting attendees from the Eastern PA Conference shared reactions to the national meeting: The theme of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of BMCR, “More Rivers to Cross, More Milestones to Reach,”  was especially appropriate for the times in which we live. Those attending were reminded repeatedly that the work of BMCR is not finished. We were passionately challenged to pursue the goals established 50 years ago, to focus our efforts and address the current realities of today’s world. I was excited to hear this call to recommitment and eager to see where we go from here. –The Rev. Anita A. Powell, Central District Superintendent As a black United Methodist pastor, this meeting affirmed my seat at the table of the denomination.  One of the most inspiring and transforming things I heard was Bobby McClain saying that the decision to remain Methodist is ‘both a testimony and a protest.’  That statement alone has reshaped my thinking about my “seat at the table.” While the worship was wonderful and the seminars were valuable, as one of the younger members of BMCR, I left still questioning our voice as a national caucus about various concerns that were raised. I left concerned about our generation who are looking for answers and firm positions to address specific matters. However, I was encouraged feel a part of the larger body and challenged by Bishop Palmer not to relax or fixate on what appears to be our destiny but is not. There are many more bridges that we must continue to cross. –The Rev. Eric W. Carr Jr., Pastor of MidTown Parish UMC and Wharton-Wesley UMC, in Philadelphia  A good experience.  As a first time attendee and knowing very few persons, having a past National BMCR chairperson (Betty Henderson) introduce Eric and me to many people and to hear about the history of BMCR was invaluable. We younger generations need more of this mentorship, hospitality and connecting. And more of our laity and younger people need to become more active in BMCR. To have the opportunity to go to these conferences will create a deeper feeling of connection to a greater body. There is truly strength in numbers. We must find ways to create and fund young people to attend these types of conferences. This is the best path towards raising up future leaders. –The Rev. Shayla Johnson, Pastor of Mother African Zoar UMC and President of Philadelphia BMCR (Read the UM News Service version of this story, “Black caucus celebrates 50-year legacy”)