Ghettos In The Church
During the hurricane Katrina crisis, many Americans and foreigners were appalled by the plight of black Americans who had lived for years in squalid conditions in Ameirca's Big Easy. As we watched on our Television sets, I noticed politicians, clerics, journalists and others who swarmed to the Gulf Coast and appeared to show a genuine interest in those who were suffering, grieving, displaced and in despair. I won't judge any of their motives!
President Bush in one of his addresses that followed, explained that the chronic conditions of the poor in New Orleans was as a result of the legacy of racism in that region of the country. Preachers, some celebrity, joined in and decried the conditions of the chronic poor (just a portion of american's permanent underclass). There was a resounding resonance both themes, i.e, that there was a reason for those that we sawwho were left behind being the financial condition that they were in; also it was made clear that there was a culprit that was responsible for those who were in those conditions. So we have both a reason and a responsibility. All agreed that a solution must be forthcoming. Many pledges and promises were made on the spot. The promises were of this nature, to assist those who had been displaced, that were in despair and those who were missing loved-ones. So what?
My concern today has to do with this. Despite the apparent outpouring of love and care, along with the U.S. Government, how many churches, along with the United States Government(s), i.e, Federal, State and Local, will simply return to the status quo once the crises is over. How many will continue to allow the type of abject poverty and income disparities to persist, not only in this country but in their own parishes. Even today's modern churches have actually sanctioned the income disparities between the puplit and their congregants, and accepted the ghettos that exist in their own churches? America, with all of its wealth has been perfectly willing to tolerate the existence of a permanent underclass in this country, many working poor people. But why have the churches, who show up to commiserate with those who in pain, allowed for the same in their churches and church organizations? Have you every visited ward 7 or 8 in Washington DC, right under the noses of the United States Federal Government and inhabited by numerous churches?
I entitle this pieced, Ghettos In The Church, for I have noticed that as American churches have become larger and wealthier, and many of those in those same churches prosper financially, they too have been too willing to absorb a chronic poor underclass within their churches and an increasing income disparity between the pulpit and the laiity.
For example, considering the disparity between the ministers in many denominations in comparison to the parishioners. In many churches, there are those who are poor and have been poor for generations while the salaries of ministers rise, and the opulence of ministers increase. Many of these have attended this type of churches for decades. Lets onsider ministers today who, to borrow from scriputre, seem to be in a mad drive to tear down their barns (existing houses and temples) to build or purchase even larger ones, while (just as the government does) ignoring the needs of their church- as they continue to acquire wealth.
Consider ministers with their grand automobiles, attire, airplanes, jewelry, golden parachutes, investment packages and the like. These same ministers have demaned offerings, tithes, showings of appreciation (services that can last a week or more to raise money for already phat preachers) over the years. Sadly, much of this resource comes from the elderly and poor in their congregations who are and have been in the same condition as those picture in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina Crises for years.
Many of those pictured on our TV sets, have been members of churches in New Orleans for years. And this problem is not unique to New Orleans. Parishioners all over this country have given time, service and finances for years, at the very least 10% of their incomes, in addition to offerings? But what have the churches done to lift their own parishioners out of poverty? Have any of these churches who raise millions of dollars a year, ever done anything to help left their parishioners out of poverty. One thing that I admired about The Rev Billy Graham was that he always tried to keep his salary in line with those of his parishioners.
What has happened to the spirit of our ministers today? Have they too become greedy captialist as well, using the Gospel to realize their goals of wealth and prosperity? They are certainly not like Billy Graham! They are certainly not like Jesus. What if Jesus told them to go and sell all that they had and give it to the poor. They seem to copy the model of the American Capitalist System. They get all that they can, despite the disparities between their incomes and those of their members? Capitalism tolerates wealth and greed while others suffer in squalor. Why are the churches following the same model? In the book of Acts, it refers to believers having all things in common and taking care of each other.
What will churches do to permanently help lift the poor in the ghettos of their own churches from poverty? Will you sell all that you have and give to the poor? Or will you continue as you have been doing and allowing the poor to stay poor as they give to you and minister to your desires, new suits, cars, shoes, airplanes, television programs, travel, et al?
Wasn't it Hegel who said that man's inhumanity to man was atrribuatble to, "...ownership of property and pursuit of power through class struggle". Are rich and powerful church land-owners, who raise great sums of money and extend their power through the airwaves to accumlate wealth a part of the inhumane problem, or are they really a solution to the problem as they hand out care baskets and return to their opulent lifestyles?
Isn't it also time for all of us to hold our churches as well as the government accountable for what is being done with not on the wealth but resources in our country and churches?
President Bush in one of his addresses that followed, explained that the chronic conditions of the poor in New Orleans was as a result of the legacy of racism in that region of the country. Preachers, some celebrity, joined in and decried the conditions of the chronic poor (just a portion of american's permanent underclass). There was a resounding resonance both themes, i.e, that there was a reason for those that we sawwho were left behind being the financial condition that they were in; also it was made clear that there was a culprit that was responsible for those who were in those conditions. So we have both a reason and a responsibility. All agreed that a solution must be forthcoming. Many pledges and promises were made on the spot. The promises were of this nature, to assist those who had been displaced, that were in despair and those who were missing loved-ones. So what?
My concern today has to do with this. Despite the apparent outpouring of love and care, along with the U.S. Government, how many churches, along with the United States Government(s), i.e, Federal, State and Local, will simply return to the status quo once the crises is over. How many will continue to allow the type of abject poverty and income disparities to persist, not only in this country but in their own parishes. Even today's modern churches have actually sanctioned the income disparities between the puplit and their congregants, and accepted the ghettos that exist in their own churches? America, with all of its wealth has been perfectly willing to tolerate the existence of a permanent underclass in this country, many working poor people. But why have the churches, who show up to commiserate with those who in pain, allowed for the same in their churches and church organizations? Have you every visited ward 7 or 8 in Washington DC, right under the noses of the United States Federal Government and inhabited by numerous churches?
I entitle this pieced, Ghettos In The Church, for I have noticed that as American churches have become larger and wealthier, and many of those in those same churches prosper financially, they too have been too willing to absorb a chronic poor underclass within their churches and an increasing income disparity between the pulpit and the laiity.
For example, considering the disparity between the ministers in many denominations in comparison to the parishioners. In many churches, there are those who are poor and have been poor for generations while the salaries of ministers rise, and the opulence of ministers increase. Many of these have attended this type of churches for decades. Lets onsider ministers today who, to borrow from scriputre, seem to be in a mad drive to tear down their barns (existing houses and temples) to build or purchase even larger ones, while (just as the government does) ignoring the needs of their church- as they continue to acquire wealth.
Consider ministers with their grand automobiles, attire, airplanes, jewelry, golden parachutes, investment packages and the like. These same ministers have demaned offerings, tithes, showings of appreciation (services that can last a week or more to raise money for already phat preachers) over the years. Sadly, much of this resource comes from the elderly and poor in their congregations who are and have been in the same condition as those picture in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina Crises for years.
Many of those pictured on our TV sets, have been members of churches in New Orleans for years. And this problem is not unique to New Orleans. Parishioners all over this country have given time, service and finances for years, at the very least 10% of their incomes, in addition to offerings? But what have the churches done to lift their own parishioners out of poverty? Have any of these churches who raise millions of dollars a year, ever done anything to help left their parishioners out of poverty. One thing that I admired about The Rev Billy Graham was that he always tried to keep his salary in line with those of his parishioners.
What has happened to the spirit of our ministers today? Have they too become greedy captialist as well, using the Gospel to realize their goals of wealth and prosperity? They are certainly not like Billy Graham! They are certainly not like Jesus. What if Jesus told them to go and sell all that they had and give it to the poor. They seem to copy the model of the American Capitalist System. They get all that they can, despite the disparities between their incomes and those of their members? Capitalism tolerates wealth and greed while others suffer in squalor. Why are the churches following the same model? In the book of Acts, it refers to believers having all things in common and taking care of each other.
What will churches do to permanently help lift the poor in the ghettos of their own churches from poverty? Will you sell all that you have and give to the poor? Or will you continue as you have been doing and allowing the poor to stay poor as they give to you and minister to your desires, new suits, cars, shoes, airplanes, television programs, travel, et al?
Wasn't it Hegel who said that man's inhumanity to man was atrribuatble to, "...ownership of property and pursuit of power through class struggle". Are rich and powerful church land-owners, who raise great sums of money and extend their power through the airwaves to accumlate wealth a part of the inhumane problem, or are they really a solution to the problem as they hand out care baskets and return to their opulent lifestyles?
Isn't it also time for all of us to hold our churches as well as the government accountable for what is being done with not on the wealth but resources in our country and churches?
posted by Solomon at 8:31 AM
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