The Failure of the Black Church - Part I

By Heru Ammen

In the commentary entitled "A Solution for Socio-Economic Impotence," we outlined the problems that our people are facing within our urban communities and the cultural and social dynamics that continue to exacerbate these issues. In short, a combination of capital disinvestment and black flight are two of the primary factors that have caused the degradation and destruction of urban communities. Another important factor that has precipitated the destruction of urban communities is the fact that many of the individuals, groups, and organizations that exist within our communities do not contribute anything to and for the communities that they supposedly serve. Front and center in their neglect and disdain for urban communities is the black church.

The black church is the worst culprit of what I term purveyors of conscious neglect. This institution, which should be standing in the gap for its poor and disenfranchised constituents represents the worst exploiter of the poor and disenfranchised that has ever existed in the African American community. Its raw embrace of individualism and materialism is couched in a feel good message of salvation and prosperity. Unfortunately the message of salvation and prosperity that the black church promotes seems to only apply to a few of its select clergy and members. That's apparent in the fact that most of its members have yet to achieve anything close to the prosperity that is supposedly free and only requires the initiates unquestioned belief and faith in the Christian God and consistent tithing to their particular house of worship.

The grandiose cathedrals and makeshift storefronts that are in or near our urban communities are diametrically contrasted against a backdrop of decay, violence and ignorance. Some of the largest and most influential black churches exist in communities that are the most violent and dysfunctional communities in America. Cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York boost some of the largest black churches in the country; with active memberships ranging from 5000 members upward to around 30,000 members. Yet these same cities are always at or near the top in African American related homicides, rapes, poverty, illiteracy, single parent households, drug abuse, child abuse and other socio-economic ills.

Their are approximately 70,000 black churches in the United States. Partial statistics show us that the median-average income of black churches is $200,000 annually. With a combined annual income approaching fourteen-billion (or more), the black church has the financial capability to effect change within our urban communities on a scale that is as wide as it is deep. Yet the evidence is clear that the black church has utterly failed the people it is spiritually and morally commissioned to serve and uplift.

Additionally the black church exacerbates and in some cases exploits the schisms that exist within our communities. By promoting a message of intolerance of differing intra-faith doctrines, preaching and teaching denominational and spiritual exclusivity, promoting passivity in regards to social issues, and engaging in spiritual bigotry against those whom embrace other belief systems, the black church is continuing the systemic destruction that was perpetrated against our people originally by Europeans during the African Holocaust and later by American Caucasians during the slave and Jim Crow eras.

In part 2 of this series, I will offer evidence which will show that the black church was designed on the slave plantations of North and South America, Europe, and the Carribbean exclusively for the purpose of destroying African culture and all of its liberating benefits. Stay tuned...