The James A. Gray Endowment Symposium opened with guest speaker Rev. Dr. Diane L. GivensMoffett addressing issues of the African-American church in the 21st century.
On Thursday Oct. 4, the James A. Gray Endowment Symposium began its first lecture for the fall semester at Winston-Salem State University on “Religion and Ethics” in the Dillard Auditorium at the Albert H. Anderson Conference Center. The Gray lectures address some of the most pressing moral and ethical issues of our time.
Moffett is a senior pastor at Saint James Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. One of her sermons, Giving Birth,” was featured in the June 2004 issue of “Outstanding Black Sermons” published by Judson Press.
Moffett, a writer, poet and singer addressed the issue of “The Role, Rationale and Relevancy of the African-American Church in the 21st Century.” She opened up her lecture by greeting her audience with “Jesus Joy.”
According to Moffett, the first black churches were founded as early as 1776.
After giving a brief descriptive history on the African- American church, Moffett addressed the issue of where the African-American church is today. She also described how the African-American church aided in the healing process during and after slavery.
“Boundary Breaking Ministry organized underground railroads,” said Moffett. She commented on the historical African- American church that helped slaves obtain their freedom through the Underground Railroad and mentioned it wasn’t until the civil rights movement that the African- American church opened up its doors to all who were seeking freedom.
Moffett also talked about her concern with the African- American church in the 21st century and “Who is God calling us to be.” Some of her other concerns are that 60 percent of the black church is female, and that black people are breaking away from their roots, she said.
Moffett feels that the decline is perhaps because the black church is not meeting the needs of black men.
“In historical times the black church was about community and now people are all about ‘me,’ Moffett said.
The James A. Gray Endowment Symposium is scheduled for five more lectures within the next year. For more information, see the WSSU Web site or contact the program director of the James A. Gray Endowment Symposium, Dr. Cedric S. Rodney, Professor of Religion and Ethics at 336-750- 2479. Or e-mail him at rodneyc@wssu.edu.