Award-winning pastors
unite in historic church
in suburban D.C.
TIMOTHY COX
SPECIAL TO
THE CHRONICLE
Two pastors presented
with the Chairman's Award
during the 47th annual
NAACP Image Awards
united in suburban
Washington, D.C. on
March 1.
The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss
III was the main speaker at
the Alfred Street Baptist
Church, the historic church
organized in suburban
Alexandria in the mid
1800s.
Moss, the former pastor
of Augusta, Ga.'s historic
Tabernacle Baptist Church,
is pictured with the Rev.
Dr. Howard-John Wesley,
pastor of Alfred Street
Baptist Church.
Both Moss and Wesley
Were recently acknowl
edged by the NAACP's
National Board of
Directors during the orga
nization's nationally-tele
vised 47th annual NAACP
Image Awards.
The Los Angeles-based
event lauded both pastors
with the prestigious 2016
Chairman's Award, touting
the ministers as "outstand
ing trailblazing leaders
under the age of 50."
Other recipients of the
special award included
Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, pas
tor of Empowerment
A.M.E. Church in
Baltimore, and actor/singer
Jussie Smollett of the Fox
TV series, "Empire."
Moss addressed the
capacity-filled church and
kicked-off a month-long
lecture series called
"March Gladness." He dis
cussed several topics,
including the "Black Lives
Matter" movement, and the
nation's current political
climate.
Moss served as
Tabernacle Baptist's pastor
from 1997 to 2006, before
leaving to head Chicago's
Trinity United Church of
Christ, where he's currently
minister. His ministry
espouses a black-based
theology concerned with
positively reaching inner
city black youth.
The Rev. Jeremiah
Wright Jr. is pastor emeri
tus at Trinity United
Church of Christ. Moss is
the son of the Rev. Otis
Moss Jr., retired pastor of
Olivet Institutional Baptist
Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
The elder Moss was a col
league of the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. and
the Rev. Jesse Louis
Jackson Sr., a graduate of
North Carolina A&T
University in Greensboro,
N.C.
Lesson
from page B5 "
he do to inherit eternal life? Jesus
immediately focuses in on the word
"good" and asks a question of the
man who evidently had been follow
ing Jesus and was aware of His "good
deeds" in the community and His
teaching on the subject of eternal life.
But Jesus focuses in on the word
"good." Jesus points out that none
are "good" but God. "Do you know
the commandments?" Jesus inquires
and quotes them. Maybe this is more
for the man and those listening than
for Jesus' info to answer the question.
The ruler's response is that he has
done all the commandments require
since childhood. He is probably feel
ing pretty good about himself until
Jesus says, "Then the only thing left
for you to do is sell all you have and
give to the poor and follow me."
(vs.22) This is an unexpected sacri
fice that proves too much for the ruler
and he leaves, preferring his riches
here on earth rather than eternal life
and promised riches in glory,. God
knows our hearts even when we
sometimes don't. Jestls points out
that earthly riches may prove to be a
problem for those seeking entry into
the kingdom (vs.25). Someone in the
crowd now asks the question, "Who
then can be saved?"(vs.26)
The answer has a familiar ring to
it. "The things which are impossible
with men are possible with God."
(Luke 18:27) Peter, ever the inquisi
tor, then speaks up, saying, "We have
all left our lives behind to follow you
... what should we expect?" Christ
tells Peter that the rewards that await
them and others who follow Him are
many and hundredfold (vs. 30). Jesus
says that these shall be enjoyed here
in this temporal life as well as in the
eternal future. But Jesus also says
there will be persecution along the
way (vs.30). Jesus' closing remark
here is, "But many that are first shall
be last; and the last first." (v.s31)
Remember, with God all things are
possible and without spiritual insight
... confusing.
For Your Consideration: What
did the rich ruler discover about him
self? Are you willing to search your
heart to find what derails eternal life
for you?
Life's Application: For the
young ruler, riches were his God. L
How does Christ challenge us today
with sacrifices to follow Him? Maybe
it's education, careers, comforts or
pleasures. Read Philippians 3:5, 8
then ask what things do I need to
"count as dung" that I may gain
Christ? What sacrifices has God
placed on my heart to make? Who
does God want me to serve? How
does He want me to serve? Pray and
ask God to reveal these things and
give you courage and wisdom to be
obedient to His direction. (UMI
Annual Commentary 2015-16)
The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, left, was the main speaker at historic Alfred Street
Baptist Church on March 1, whose pastor is the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley,
right.
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Photo by Timothy Ramsey
Writer and producer
Clay Cane introduces
his documentary
"Holler if you hear me,
gay in the churc" on
Saturday, March 5 at
Salem College.
Oay
trom page B5 ~
her mother who does not
approve of her lifestyle and
the tribulations she endured
soon after. She then goes to
live inside a youth home
for LGBT teens that have
been exiled by their family
and friends and have
nowhere else to go.
Also featured in the
film is the existence of gay
churches, the role of LGBT
individuals inside the
church, as well as how
LGBTs affect the bottom
line of a church through
offerings and tithes.
Throughout the film,
young people expressed the
hurt and ridicule they
received from those inside
of the church, along with
members of their own fam
ilies. The mother of one of
the engaged young ladies
getting married even
refused to attend tne wed- ?
ding due to her not agree
ing with her daughter's
lifestyle. Another young
lady attempted a heterosex
ual relationship to please
those around her, but felt as
though she was prostituting
herself with this man
because she did not love
him and only entertained
the thought of being with
him to be seen, as some
would say, "normal."
A preacher in the film
even stated that along with
having secretly gay mem
bers in the congregation,
there are also many secret
ly gay preachers who dare
not come out of the closet
due to not wanting to lose
members.
Following the film
there was a Q & A session
that became rather intense
due to having individuals
from both sides who want
ed to argue some of points
presented in the film.
A young man stated
that he does not believe in
the term "gay Christian,"
which incited a debate that
allowed everyone to give
their viewpoints on many
issues from the uniqueness
of being black and gay
inside the church versus
being white and gay inside
the church, to the older
individuals inside the
church that have seen the
gay community growing
inside of the church for
decades.
The majority of the
responses were positive in
response to the film. Cane
stated he does not believe
that being gay is a sin and
asked the question, "Where
does your soul go when
you have been taught you
are an abomination?" This
was a question presented to
all to illustrate some of the
thoughts that some LGBT
individuals wrestle with
daily. Food for thought.
Day
from page B5
chairman of the N.C. bemocratic Party
and subsequently was named political
director. As a result of his political
achievements. Dr. Ward made history in,
1989 as the first African-American execu
tive director of the N.C. Democratic Party.
Dr. Ward has chaired two university
advisory boards. From 2009-2011, he was
chairman of die Board of trustees Of Saint
Augustine's University, his family's
beloved alma mater.
Dr. Ward was bom on the campus at St.
A^nes Hospital. He continued his family's
)
tradition by receiving his Bachelor of Arts
degree from Saint Augustine's College.
He earned a Master of Arts degree' from
North Carolina State University. In 2003,
Ward earned a Ph.D. from NC A&T. State
University's School of Education.
Dr. Ward currently serves as vice chair
man of the Association of Episcopal
Colleges and Universities and recently
accepted an appointment to the Board of
Visitors of Saint Mary's School in Raleigh.
Dr. Ward is a lifelong member of Davie
Street Presbyterian Church USA where he
is a Ruling Elder and member of the
Presbyterian Men's Council. Dr. Ward is
also a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Frategtity, Inc.
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