2-THE CAROLINA TIMES—SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 10. 1990
The Mission, Role And
Future Of the Black Church
Historians, theologians and
academicians gather for the
12th program in the Black
Issues Forum series, "The Role
of the Black Church." An in-
depth discussion of the origin of
the black church, its
development in America,
dominant agendas within the
black church and its future
challenges is featured. The one-
hour program will air on all 10
channels of North Carolina
Public Television on Tuesday,
Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. The progt^
was taped before a live
audience at Shaw University.
Addressing the origin of the
black church and the charge
that it has been used as a tool of
white America, Bishop John
Hurst Adams, senior bishop of
the sixth Episcopal District,
Atlanta, Ga., states that "the
assumption is that Christianity
is fundamentally a European
religion, which it is not It had
its roots in a different part of
the world and is as much
African in its beginning as it is
mything else."
Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, professor
of religion and culture, Duke
University Department of
Religion, cites the fact that
"there was no effort to bring
blacks into the church (in
America) until 1701." This was
one hundred years after blacks
began arriving in America.
According to Dr. Lincoln, up
until that time, blacks had not
only been denied education in
the Christian faith, but they
were also prohibited from
practicing the religious beliefs
brought O'/a from Africa.
Discussing the differences
between the black and the white
churches, the Rev. Albert
McKnight, executive director of
the National Black Catholic
Clergy Caucus. Opelousas, La.,
says, "the black church is a
different institution because it
was molded and fashioned by
African culture.” Dr. Lincoln
adds that "the black church is
the absolute womb of black
culture."
While debating the role other
i!:itutions play in the black
community. Rev. Dwight Jones,
board of directms. National
B^tist Convention USA, Inc.,
Richmcmd, Va., says, "th^ is
no other institutkHi yet bran that
has the cqiability of addressing
the issues that the black church
is addressing today."
Dr. Talbert O. Shaw,
{xesident of Shaw University,
recognizes the threat of other
institutions taking power away
from the church. Ife says, "if
other social institutions take
predominance over the church,
we lose the identity of the
mission." Rev. Jones adds that
no other institution has as
powerful a voice of authority
that the church does in the black
community and mat it is the
church where issues of justice
and humanitarian concerns are
discussed and answers given.
Dr. David Forbes, Sr., senior
minister of Christian Faith
Baptist Church in Raleigh,
believes that other institutions
in the black community have
developed because of the
influence of the black church.
While discussing how
effectively the church has dealt
with the problems and concerns
of the black community. Dr. D.
Forbes says, "the richness of the
black experience in this country
is indebted to the marvelous
and excellent way that the black
church has been functional in
providing responses" to the
issues facing blacks.
Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr.,
senior minister of Riverside
Church in New York City,
reminds the audience that "if we
talk about a Christian church,
then we ought to pay some
attention to Jesus. Jesus never
separated the fire of the spirit
from the focus on liberating
The moderator for Black
Issues Forum is Mrs. Valeria
Lee, chair of The University of
North Carolina Center for
Public Television Board of
Trustees and program
development officer for the Z.
Smith Reynolds Foundation.
Dr. Paul F. Vandergrift, Jr. is
the series’ executive producer
and Jim Bramlett is the
producer. Bob Royster is
executive-in-charge of
production.
North Carolina Public
Television is the program
service of The Univrasity of
North Carolina Center for
Public Television.
Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, professor of religion and culture, Duke University Department ot
Religion, and Dr. David Forbes, Sr., senior minister of Christian Faith Baptist Church in
Raleigh, listen as Rev. Dwight Jones, board of directors. National Baptist Convention USA,
Inc., Richmond, Va., says, "there is no other institution yet born that has the capability of
addressing the issues that the black church is addressing today."
Nelson Mandela’s Historic Visit To
America Chronicled On Video
New York, NY, — "Mandela
In America," a commemorative
home video which documents
the South African leader’s
United States tour, will be
released November 20 by
A’*Vision Entertainment,
Atlantic Records new home
video subsidiary. Produced by
Globalvision, the company that
created the PBS series "South
Africa Now," the video
provides a behind-the-scenes
view of the huge welcome
Nelson Mandela received from
Harlem to Hollywood. A
portion of the proce^ Irom the
video will go to the Nelson
Mandela Freedom Fund.
"When Mandela toured the
United States last June, millions
of Americans were anxious to
catch a glimpse of him on the
streets or on national
television," says Stuart Hersch,
A*Vision president. "This
commemorative video provides
an opportunity for everyone to
re-live, understand and also get
an insider’s view of this historic
visit."
"‘Mandela In America’ is
uplifting, entertaining and
informative. More than a
political travelogue, it probes
into the real meaning of
Mandela’s visit to our country,"
says Danny Schechter, director
of the video and creator of
"South Africa Now."
"Mandela In America"
follows the Deputy President of
the African National Congress
(ANC) from arrival to
departure, from the United
Nations to a Detroit auto
factory. More than 100 people
were interviewed for the
program, which covers
encounters with such celebrities
as Eddie Murphy, Spike Lee
and Jane Fonda, and showcases
musical tributes by Tracy
Chapman, Aretha Franklin,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
Johnny Clegg, Hugh Masakela
Kim Coles to Perform at NCCU
Who’s the hottest
comedienne on the Comedy
Circuit? It’s Kim Coles! The
Alfonso Elder Student Union
and WQOK present live in
concert "Kin. Coles"! Miss
Coles, a framer Nrath Carolina
Central University student, will
make a special appearance at
the BJIjjuke AuditCR-ium, on
the campus of NCCU on
November 10. Showtime is 8
p.m.
Aspiring comedians, this is
your opportunity to become a
star! Kim Coles and WQOK
will be the judges at open
auditions on November 10, 10
a.m. until noon. Two top
humorists will perfram a fifteen
minute stand up routine as part
of the opening act.
Tickets are on sale at the
NCCU box office. The cost for
all students will be $6 and $8
for non-students.
For more information call
Glraia McCrae (919) 489-4127.
The concert is produced by
iCocrae Entertainment Inc.
and Ice T. Stevie Wonder’s
performance of "Keep Our
Love Alive," a song he wrote
especially for Mandela’s visit,
is available to the public for the
first time on the video.
"Mandela In America" also
includes interviews and
appearances by leading political
figures such as Jesse Jackson,
New York Governor Mario
Cuomo and Senator Ted
Kennedy.
A*Vision Entertainment, a
full-service home video and
television company, is a
subsidiary of the Atlantic
Recording Corporation.
A*Vision provides a wide
spectrum of visual
entertainment, encompassing
music-related and other forms
of original video/television
programming. The company
concentrates on music-oriented
videos, including live concerts,
artist compilations, interactive
programming, video magazines
and simultaneous audio/video
releases.
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