Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 August 1997 — Page 17

EDUCATION

C SECTION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9.1997

RELIGION

Meet Scott UMC’s first female pastor!

By BARATO BRITT Religion Editor New Scott United Methodist Church Pastor Gwen Roberts has only been in Indianapolis a short while, but for every minute she has been here, thoughts of her mission crowd her mind. Since becoming the church's first female pastor, she has conducted several meetings with several church boards, while still unloading boxes in her office and home. There’s 24 hours in the day, and she intends to use each second wisely. “This has been a blessing for me. Being the first female pastor here, the congregation has accepted me extremely well,” said Roberts. “People tend to mother and father me here, though.” According to Roberts, her presence and the presence of other woman clergy members is representative of the changing face of religion. But, as with most changes, there is a hint of skepticism she and her female counterparts must combat while males do not. “I can understand where people want their pastors to be a man,” she said. “You have people who have grown up with a man and ask themselves ‘What’s this woman supposed to do?’ God is not bound by gender. He just needs you to do what needs to be done.” Because of the United Methodist relocating process, Roberts was fairly prepared for a move. In fact, her beliefs have taken her around the globe. The lay leader in youth ministry for the Protestant program in Izimir,

The newly appointed Pastor of Scott UMC, Gwen Roberts Is helping to raise community consciousness within her congregation. Turkey, Roberts’ travels have given her the conviction and humility to better cater to an impoverished community. And, because of that exposure, her lifestyle changed from the materialistic westernized view. “We are a people who complain about being poor.

Poor in this country means no color TV,” Roberts said. “We're in a country where the middle class in Black America does not give back to the economically deprived. We couldn’t give things away there (Turkey) because it would interfere with the market. People here choose not to give back.” While Roberts admitted her first Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration was a grand event, Indianapolis, so far, is no different. “This is a metropolitan area where minorities are in very powerful positions,” she said of her first impression of the city. “But, there is a group that’s being left behind. I was in shock that much of this community is left unattended. I would say we all have a responsibility here." Roberts has no intention of wasting time during her tenure in Scott UMC. Wasting time has never been one of her strong points. At her last assignment, at Grace A.M.E. in Bellefontaine, OH, she doubled the church’s population. Hardly the work of a slacker. Her new office is still bare, but for Roberts, personal gratification comes second to community restoration. It’s not the most comfortable fit just yet, but it’s getting there. “I really believe in a city like Indianapolis, I'll be able to use the resources I have,” said Roberts. “ All the things I have brought with me have come into play here.” She’s still relatively new to the city, but what Gwen Roberts has brought has already had a positive impact on the religious community. And, when she can find time to put her things up, the fit, she says, will feel just fine.

James Hall & Worship and Praise

James Hall & Worship and Praise go to next chapter

James Hall has been practicing to be a choir director for as far back as he can remember. “As a kid,” he recalls, “I would have my nieces and nephews come together. They would sing, I would direct and we’d act out the whole ritual at church.” But Hall would have to wait until he was a student at James Madison High School before he would test out what he’d been practicing. And, it was with that moment, that his destiny was sealed. “I was nervous at first,” Hall recounts, “but once I got really comfortable. It was all over. It was like second nature.” In no time at all. Hall’s choir gained a local following. But the school wasn’t so comfortable with them venturing out on singing dates. So, in 1987 he formed his choir ensemble, “Worship & Praise”. “We were having such a good time that we decided to continue after graduation,” Hall reports. “In 1988, we were doing all the local church choir functions. We even went to some programs we weren’t invited to and would wait our turn as if we belonged. That’s how badly we wanted to sing.” Then, in 1991, they traveled to Atlanta to appear on Bobby Jones Gospel. “That’s about the time I wrote “God Is In Control,” Hall recounts. “When we got to the facility, we were given a set five minutes on stage. Kirk Franklin was making his Bobby Jones debut that same night. But the spirit fell and when the curtains came down on our performance, the audience was messed up for a good five to ten minutes.” It was just the break they had been looking for. The exposure garnered from the show landed them a record deal with a small independent label, Tehillah Records (with distribution through Central South). When demand for “God Is In Control”exceeded the label’s capabilities. Central South gospel buyer Larry Blackwell told an Intersound executive about the choir and the CD. Shortly thereafter, a pact was made with Intersound. With greater distribution and exposure the debut album soared up the Billboard charts, becoming a top ten hit, and Hall was being hailed as a major force on the New York choir scene. In 1995, with his sophomore set “King Of Glory” (released through Intersound) “King Of Glory”, Hall scored another top ten release and was dubbed “the Doctor” by new York industry professionals like WWDJ gospel announcer Sam Williams who cites Hall as one who “really knows how to operate gospel music”. Similar accolades have come from writing

James Hall contemporaries who refer to him as “the Professor”. The youngest of seven, Hall was bom and raised in Brooklyn, the son of a jazz musician. Seeing his keen musical talent and striking soprano range, his mother, a trained pianist, enrolled him in classical training and at the age of five, put him up to sing solos in church, where he was addressed as “Master James Hall”. His fascination with church choirs took form at his Brooklyn-based church, the Institutional Church of God In Christ, which was also home to the Institutional Radio Choir. So strong was the attraction that as a young boy he would beg his mother to take him to church choir anniversaries and while browsing through record stores, would affix his eyes to anything with a choir on it and ask her to buy it for him. He became hopelessly hooked when at the age of nine, his mothertookhim to see the Hawkins Family and James Cleveland in conceit. Tragedy struck when at the age of 13, his mother died. Still, he credits her with his gospel successes. “Having grown up in the projects, I could have gone so many different ways,” he said. “Most of my friends got caught in a lot of negative stuff, but I decided to stay in church See HALL, Pag* C4

Violence, murder and the Black church

by Rufus Burrow, Jr. Special to The Recorder Every African American must necessarily be concerned about / self-imposed genocide among young African American males. This phenomenon has a number of forms, e.g., alcohol and drug abuse, drug dealing, participation in violent gang activity, violent crimes against persons, and crimes against property. Anyone or combination of these can and frequently does lead to the disappearance of young Black males from the community for short, long, and permanent periods of time. They end up being incarcerated in correctional facilities, or taking up permanent residence in the cemeteries of urban battle zones. In a definitive book edited by Jewelle Taylor Gibbs (Young. Black, and Male in America. 1988) we leam that young African American males are “an endangered species.” Indeed, for more than 25 years there have seldom been days in. major urban centers when one or more young African Americans have not been gunned down by one or more young African American males! By the end of the 1980s intracommunity homicide was the leading cause of death for African American males between the ages of 15 and 24. In the face of such a tragedy one wonders about the role(s) of Black churches. Historically the Black church was, along with Black families and schools, the most respected and powerful institution in the Black community. More than any other it teaches and

COMMENTARY

conveys to African Americans their most significant life and community-sustaining values, e.g., spiritual values, respect for self, family, community, education, cooperative endeavor, giving back to the community, and work. In addition, historically the Black church led the fight for Black survival, liberation and empowerment. Until now that fight was primarily against outside forces. The tragedy of intracommunity violence and murder is an inside enemy, though the conditions which cause it are a result of outside factors, e.g., white racism and economic exploitation. It is, however. Black fingers that pull the triggers of Uzis that kill African Americans. For example, late afternoon on July 11, 1997 gunshots were heard in the vicinity of east 38th and Emerson Streets. Dead at the scene was 21-year old Michael Webster, shot 10 times by at least one other young African American male. Both victim and culprit (also a victim!) are sons of the Indianapolis Black community. The most pressing issue confronting Black communities and churches across the nation is the senseless intracommunity violence that is critically maiming and killing large numbers of our sons. This must be a major concern of Black churches, the voices of which have been strangely silent regarding the daily murders. See VIOLENCE, Page C4

Superstar opera is coming

Footlite Musicals, 1847 North Alabama Street, will present the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, with Lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, weekends from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23. Friday and Satu r lay performances are at 8 p.m. and the Sunday matinee begins at 2:30 p.m. The popular rock opera tells the story of the last days of Jesus Christ and includes such memo-

rable musical numbers as “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Heaven on Their Minds,” “Hosanna,” “Superstar,” and many more. Tickets cost $ 12 for adults; $8 for high school and college students with I.D.;.$8 for seniors 65 and older, and $6 for children 12 and under. Rese«”aiions are recommended and can be made by calling (317)926-6630.

(Pictured from the left) LaDotina Bums, Hilary Ward, Dante Murray, Rashida Walker, Keith Beatty and Natalie Perkins make up part of the Jesus Christ Superstar cast. ■ *

H

From the Front Pew lyETHEl McCAME OPINION

Pastoral power struggles

In accordance with our editorial policy, the names of churches and individuals have been omitted from the following letter: Dear Ms. McCane, I am writing this letter as a frustrated member of a church where I have served for many years. I belong to (a church) where "god jr." is the pastor. I have watched this man virtually tear our church apart through the years. He has been accused of financial mismanagement, infidelities and other crooked deeds. Yet, I watch in amazement as his buddies sing his praises. Well, "god jr." has struck again. This past week, he fired our new drummer in a less than Christian manner. Then, when the (musical) director disagreed with the way it was handled, he fired him on the spot. Our church has probably had more choir directors than any other church in this city. Whenever we get someone we, (the lowly members) and the choirs like, he (the pastor) does something to make them leave. Not only does he create the problem, but he seems to take pride in the fact that he had a hand in getting that joker out of here. I think it is a shame before God how this "man of God" handles people. If he reads or hears about this letter, it will probably be the topic ofa Sunday morning sermon. * ~ He also takes pride in trying to embarrass people from the pulpit. There is no wonder so many churches need musicians in our city. If other churches treat their musicians the way our pastor does, I could see why musicians wouldn't want to play for them. Please pray for us. I know somebody will probably say, why do you stay there? I have been a member of this church for a long time and I don’t feel that I should let his ignorance run me away. I won't give my name because I'm sure he'll put me out too! Dear No Name, I understand your frustration. And my prayers will go out for you and your entire church because our churches need all the prayer they can get. Not knowing all of the circumstances regarding your church, I can’t speak of specifics. However, I have had enough experience and research hours in the AfricanAmerican religious community to know we need to change a lot of our ideology. Too many of us still get confused as to whom we worship. Still toooften in ourchurches, God and His agenda get bumped down to second place - while the pastors and their agendas move up to first place. -Unfortunately, there are too many unqualified religious leaders out here in this old crael and unsettled world. It’s sad when churchgoers turn our heads to un-Chris-tian, impractical, unscrupulous dealings of pastors and other church leaders. This allows those leaders to spread their ominous wings and overshadow the good and decent leaders. As I stated, I'm only hearing your side of the story, but assuming you're right, you're in a troubled church and if other members have die same concerns, perhaps all of you should ask for a meeting with your pastor and voice your concerns and where youid like to see improvement. Granted, some pastors wonlt listen to their members

- 4» i*

4

4

——

.